The time in mainland Portugal is 3 hours ahead of Brasília in winter and 4 hours ahead in summer. When it is 12:00 noon in Brasília, it is 3:00 p.m. in Lisbon in winter and 4:00 p.m. in summer. The Azores are 1 hour behind the mainland, and Madeira uses the same time as Lisbon.
Portugal's time zones
Portugal has two time zones, both with daylight saving time:
- Mainland and Madeira: Western European Time, UTC+0 in winter (WET, same as GMT) and UTC+1 in summer (WEST).
- Azores: UTC−1 in winter and UTC+0 in summer, always 1 hour behind Lisbon.
Brasília has been on UTC−3 all year since 2019, so the gap moves only because of the Portuguese side. See also the page on the time difference between Brazil and Portugal and the one on GMT time.
When Portugal changes its clocks
Portugal follows the European calendar: clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October, always at 01:00 UTC. The next changes are:
- October 25, 2026: clocks go back 1 hour (end of summer time);
- March 28, 2027: clocks go forward 1 hour (start of summer time).
In Brasília the switch happens at 10 p.m. on the preceding Saturday. See the full calendar on daylight saving time in Europe.
Table: difference from Brasília through the year
| Period | Regime | Lisbon and Madeira | Azores | When it is 12:00 in Brasília |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Until Mar 28, 2026 | Winter | +3h | +2h | 3 p.m. in Lisbon, 2 p.m. in the Azores |
| Mar 29 to Oct 24, 2026 | Summer | +4h | +3h | 4 p.m. in Lisbon, 3 p.m. in the Azores |
| Oct 25, 2026 to Mar 27, 2027 | Winter | +3h | +2h | 3 p.m. in Lisbon, 2 p.m. in the Azores |
| From Mar 28, 2027 | Summer | +4h | +3h | 4 p.m. in Lisbon, 3 p.m. in the Azores |
So in January and November the gap is 3 hours, and in April and July it is 4. October depends on the day: 4 hours until the 24th and 3 hours from the 25th in 2026.
Best time to call between Brazil and Portugal
Assuming 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. working hours on both sides, the shared window, in Brasília time, is:
- Portuguese summer: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Brasília, which is 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Lisbon.
- Portuguese winter: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Brasília, which is 12 noon to 6 p.m. in Lisbon.
- Azores: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Brasília in summer and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter.
Quick tips: call in the Brazilian morning to catch the Portuguese afternoon, and avoid calls after 2 p.m. in Brasília during Portuguese summer, when the workday there is over. When scheduling, always name the zone, for example "3 p.m. Lisbon time (11 a.m. Brasília)". To test times, use the time zone converter or the meeting planner.
Common mistakes when scheduling with Portugal
- Mixing it up with Spain: Madrid is 1 hour ahead of Lisbon all year, so "European time" is not enough; name the city.
- Forgetting the changeover week: around October 25, 2026 and March 28, 2027, recurring meetings shift in Brasília time even if they stay fixed in Lisbon.
- Ignoring the Azores: if you serve clients or family on the islands, subtract another hour relative to Lisbon.
- Relying on memory alone: calendar invites with a set time zone avoid the problem; text messages such as "at 3 p.m." do not.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours ahead of Brazil is Portugal?
3 hours in winter and 4 hours in summer, relative to Brasília.
What time is it in Portugal when it is 12:00 in Brazil?
3:00 p.m. in winter and 4:00 p.m. in summer in Lisbon.
What is the time difference for the Azores?
1 hour less than Lisbon: 2 hours ahead of Brasília in winter and 3 in summer.
Does Madeira have the same time as Lisbon?
Yes, the mainland and Madeira share the same time all year.
When does daylight saving time end in Portugal in 2026?
On October 25, 2026; the next one starts on March 28, 2027.
Summary
Portugal is 4 hours ahead of Brasília in summer and 3 in winter; the Azores are 1 hour less. The next change is on October 25, 2026. To see the exact time right now, open the world time page.