Iceland
Reykjavik
Current time
Monday, June 22, 2026
- Capital
- Reykjavik
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Reykjavik
- UTC offset
- UTC
Iceland operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) year-round, with no daylight saving time adjustments. This makes scheduling with neighboring European countries straightforward, as Iceland maintains the same offset as the UK and Ireland during winter but does not advance to GMT+1 in summer. The country's single time zone simplifies travel and business coordination within its borders.
Time Zone and Daylight Saving
Iceland observes GMT (UTC±0) throughout the year, aligning with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Unlike most European nations, it does not implement daylight saving time, so clocks remain unchanged in summer. This results in Iceland matching London's time in winter but being one hour behind Central European Time (CET) and two hours behind Eastern European Time (EET) year-round.
For international scheduling, note that Iceland is 4 hours ahead of New York (EST) and 8 hours behind Beijing (CST) during standard time. When the US and Europe observe daylight saving, the gap narrows to 5 hours behind New York (EDT) but remains 8 hours behind Beijing. Businesses coordinating with Iceland should confirm time differences, especially during DST transitions in other regions.
Business Hours and Public Holidays
Standard business hours in Iceland are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT, with government offices typically closing earlier on Fridays. The country celebrates public holidays like Independence Day (June 17) and Christmas, during which businesses may operate reduced hours. Unlike some nations with midday breaks, Icelandic workplaces generally maintain continuous operations.
Remote workers collaborating with Icelandic teams should note that the country’s westernmost location places it geographically in a different day than parts of North America. For example, when it’s noon in Reykjavik, it may still be early morning (4:00–8:00 AM) the same day in the US or late evening (8:00 PM–12:00 AM) the next day in East Asia, depending on the season.
FAQ
- Does Iceland observe daylight saving time?
- No, Iceland remains on GMT (UTC±0) year-round without daylight saving adjustments.
- What is the time difference between Iceland and New York?
- Iceland is normally 4 hours ahead of New York (EST) but 5 hours ahead during US daylight saving time (EDT).
- How many time zones does Iceland have?
- Iceland has a single time zone (Atlantic/Reykjavik) covering its entire territory.