The Canary Islands use the same time zone as the UK: Western European Time (GMT) in winter and Western European Summer Time (GMT+1) in summer, changing on the same dates. That makes them one of the easiest places in Europe to work UK hours remotely, with no early starts or late calls.
Time zone at a glance
| Place | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| UK | GMT | BST (GMT+1) |
| Canary Islands | WET (GMT) | WEST (GMT+1) |
| Mainland Spain | CET (GMT+1) | CEST (GMT+2) |
Note that the Canaries are one hour behind mainland Spain.
Why it matters
- Your working day matches your UK team exactly.
- You can finish work and still enjoy afternoon sunshine.
- Calls with continental Europe are one hour later for you.
- US East Coast calls happen in your afternoon or evening.
A typical day
- Morning swim or walk.
- Work 9:00 to 17:30 UK time.
- Sunset by the sea after work.
Our verdict
For UK-based remote workers, the Canaries are hard to beat. Read Best Canary Island for Digital Nomads.