If you’re in Tenerife this weekend, remember to put your clocks back in the early hours of Sunday 25 October. The change marks the end of summer time and gives everyone an extra hour in bed… assuming the children, pets or neighbours have other plans.
At 2am on Sunday, clocks across Tenerife will go back to 1am.
The change applies across all the Canary Islands, so whether you’re living here or visiting on holiday, it’s worth checking your devices before heading to bed on Saturday night.
Will Tenerife still be on the same time as the UK?
Yes. The UK changes its clocks on the same weekend, moving from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time.
That means Tenerife and the UK will continue to have the same local time, making it easy to arrange calls home or keep track of British television schedules.
Mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands also change their clocks, but they remain one hour ahead of Tenerife.
What does it mean for sunrise and sunset?
The clock change shifts daylight earlier in the day according to the clock.
Mornings will become lighter earlier, while sunset will arrive earlier in the evening. If you’re used to enjoying a late beach walk, an outdoor dinner or a drink on the terrace as the sun goes down, you’ll notice the difference.
Of course, the change doesn’t actually remove an hour of daylight. It simply shifts how daylight lines up with the time on your watch.
Will your phone change automatically?
Most smartphones, tablets and computers should update automatically, provided the date, time and time-zone settings are correct.
Older watches, car clocks and some household appliances may need adjusting manually. If you prefer to do it before bed, remember to move them back by one hour.
If you have an early flight, airport transfer or excursion booked for Sunday, double-check your alarm and the local time shown on your booking. It’s an easy detail to overlook when you’re on holiday.
Is this the last time Tenerife will change its clocks?
There has been discussion about ending the twice-yearly clock changes across the European Union. Spain has called for the system to be scrapped, citing uncertainty over energy savings and concerns about the effects on sleep and daily routines.
However, there is still no agreed date to end the practice. Although the European Parliament supported abolishing the changes in 2019, EU governments have yet to agree on the necessary legislation.
For now, the existing system remains in place, so Tenerife will continue changing its clocks in spring and autumn.
In the meantime, enjoy that extra hour on Sunday morning. It’s one of the few occasions when you can genuinely get more sleep without having to rearrange your entire day.