What is Moscow Time (MSK)?
Moscow Time (MSK) is the time zone designation for UTC+3, covering Russia's capital Moscow and most of European Russia. It is one of the 11 time zones in Russia and by far the most populous, with over 100 million people living in this zone - more than two-thirds of Russia's total population.
MSK stands for Moscow Standard Time and has been permanently set to UTC+3 since 2014, when Russia abolished Daylight Saving Time. This means Moscow Time remains constant year-round without seasonal clock changes.
Current Time in Moscow
The live clock above displays the current time in Moscow, Russia. It updates every second using your device's system clock and the official IANA time zone identifier Europe/Moscow.
Quick Facts About Moscow Time
- Time Zone: MSK (Moscow Standard Time)
- UTC Offset: UTC+3 (year-round, no DST)
- IANA Identifier: Europe/Moscow
- Population: Over 100 million people
- Major Cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Volgograd
- DST: Not observed (permanent standard time since 2014)
Major Cities in Moscow Time Zone
The Moscow Time zone is home to Russia's most important cities, including:
Moscow (Москва)
Russia's capital and largest city with over 12 million residents in the city proper and 20+ million in the metropolitan area. Moscow is Russia's political, economic, and cultural center, home to the Kremlin, Red Square, and countless historic landmarks.
St. Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург)
Russia's "cultural capital" and second-largest city with 5+ million residents. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg is known for the Hermitage Museum, the Winter Palace, and its stunning architecture.
Kazan (Казань)
Capital of Tatarstan and one of Russia's oldest cities, Kazan is a unique blend of Russian and Tatar culture. Population: approximately 1.2 million.
Sochi (Сочи)
Russia's premier Black Sea resort city and host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Known for its subtropical climate and mountain scenery.
Other Major Cities
- Rostov-on-Don (1.1 million)
- Volgograd (1 million, formerly Stalingrad)
- Krasnodar (900,000+)
- Voronezh (1 million)
- Perm (1 million)
Time Difference: Moscow vs. Major World Cities
Understanding how Moscow Time relates to other major world cities:
| City | Time Difference from Moscow | When it's 12:00 PM in Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| London, UK | -3 hours (winter) / -2 hours (summer) | 9:00 AM / 10:00 AM |
| New York, USA | -8 hours (winter) / -7 hours (summer) | 4:00 AM / 5:00 AM |
| Los Angeles, USA | -11 hours (winter) / -10 hours (summer) | 1:00 AM / 2:00 AM |
| Tokyo, Japan | +6 hours | 6:00 PM |
| Sydney, Australia | +8 hours (winter) / +7 hours (summer) | 8:00 PM / 7:00 PM |
| Vladivostok, Russia | +7 hours | 7:00 PM |
Note: Time differences vary for cities that observe DST. Moscow does NOT observe DST.
History of Moscow Time
Pre-Soviet Era
Before the Soviet Union, Russia used local solar time, which varied by location. Moscow observed its own local time based on solar noon.
Soviet Standardization (1919)
The Soviet government introduced standardized time zones in 1919. Moscow was placed in the UTC+2 zone initially.
Daylight Saving Time Era (1981-2014)
The USSR adopted DST in 1981. For decades, Moscow switched between UTC+2 (winter) and UTC+3 (summer).
Permanent Summer Time (2011-2014)
In 2011, President Medvedev kept Russia on permanent summer time (UTC+4 for Moscow), abolishing the clock changes. This resulted in very late winter sunrises.
Current System (2014-Present)
In October 2014, Russia switched to permanent standard time. Moscow moved to UTC+3 year-round, where it remains today. This provides a more natural alignment between clock time and solar time.
Business Hours in Moscow
Understanding typical business hours is crucial for international coordination:
- Government Offices: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Mon-Fri)
- Banks: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Fri), some open Saturdays
- Retail Shops: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (daily), malls until 10:00 PM
- Restaurants: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM (varies widely)
- Business Offices: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Mon-Fri)
Best Times to Call Moscow from Abroad
From New York (EST/EDT)
Call between 1:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST to reach Moscow during business hours (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM MSK). Not ideal, but early morning (7:00-9:00 AM EST) catches Moscow afternoon.
From London (GMT/BST)
Call between 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM GMT to reach Moscow during business hours. This is quite convenient for UK-Russia business.
From Tokyo (JST)
Call between 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM JST to reach Moscow during business hours. Evening calls from Tokyo work well.
FAQs About Moscow Time
Is Moscow always UTC+3?
Yes, since October 26, 2014, Moscow has been permanently on UTC+3 with no seasonal changes.
Does Moscow observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Russia abolished DST in 2014. Moscow Time is consistent year-round.
What does MSK stand for?
MSK stands for "Moscow Standard Time," the English abbreviation for the UTC+3 time zone used in most of European Russia.
How many hours ahead is Moscow from GMT/UTC?
Moscow is 3 hours ahead of UTC/GMT year-round.
Is Moscow in the same time zone as St. Petersburg?
Yes, both cities are in the Moscow Time zone (MSK, UTC+3).
Useful Tools
- Time Zone Converter - Convert between Moscow time and other zones
- All Russian Time Zones - Interactive map of all 11 zones
- Vladivostok Time - Learn about Russia's Far East