Electricity, Measurements & Time Zones
Canada uses — like the USA — some systems that differ from European ones:
⚡ Electricity
120 volts, 60 Hz — like in the USA. German plugs (type C/F) do NOT fit. You need a travel adapter for North American sockets (type A/B — flat, parallel pins). Best to buy before departure (from 5 € on Amazon).
Note: Some devices (razors, chargers) automatically work at 100–240 volts — check the label on the power supply. Hairdryers and curling irons often need a voltage converter or use those provided in the hotel.
📏 Measurements
Canada officially uses the metric system — unlike the USA!
- Distances: Kilometers (not miles!) — speed limits in km/h
- Temperature: Celsius (not Fahrenheit)
- Weight: Kilograms and grams officially, but pounds are still colloquially used
- Liquids: Liters (gasoline is sold per liter, not per gallon)
🕐 Time Zones
Canada has 6 time zones:
| Time Zone | UTC | Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PST/PDT) | UTC -8/-7 | British Columbia, Yukon |
| Mountain (MST/MDT) | UTC -7/-6 | Alberta, NWT |
| Central (CST/CDT) | UTC -6/-5 | Manitoba, Saskatchewan |
| Eastern (EST/EDT) | UTC -5/-4 | Ontario, Québec |
| Atlantic (AST/ADT) | UTC -4/-3 | New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI |
| Newfoundland (NST/NDT) | UTC -3:30/-2:30 | Newfoundland (half-hour!) |
Daylight Saving Time is observed from March to November — like in Europe, but the change falls on different weekends.
