France • Local Time
Sunday, December 28, 2025
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Paris, the City of Light and capital of France, operates on Central European Time (CET/UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST/UTC+2) from late March to late October. One of the most visited cities on Earth, Paris is the global epicenter of art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture, home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre-Dame.
CEST begins last Sunday of March at 2:00 AM (clocks spring forward), ends last Sunday of October at 3:00 AM (clocks fall back). France follows EU DST rules, synchronized with most European countries.
Paris is UTC+1 (winter) / UTC+2 (summer). When it's noon in Paris: London 11:00 AM, New York 6:00 AM, Dubai 3:00 PM, Tokyo 8:00 PM, Sydney 10:00 PM.
French businesses typically operate 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a sacred lunch break (12:00-2:00 PM) especially in smaller establishments. Many shops close Sundays and some Mondays. Banks open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, often closed for lunch. Department stores like Galeries Lafayette open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
France adopted CET in 1940 during German occupation and kept it post-war. Paris shares its timezone with Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and Amsterdam. The city is perfectly positioned for business: 1 hour ahead of London, 6 hours ahead of New York, and within reasonable hours of most of Africa and the Middle East.
Spring (April-June) brings mild weather, blooming gardens, and outdoor café culture.
Diverse population with significant communities from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. World capital of art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Oceanic with warm summers (20-25°C) and cool winters (3-8°C). Rain possible year-round but rarely heavy. Spring and fall most pleasant.