Quick answer: +353 is the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the UK and uses +44. Irish mobiles have 9 digits after +353 and start with 8. Landlines have 7 to 9 digits. If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+353 87 123 4567.
How to dial Ireland
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +353 + number without the 0 |
| US or Canada landline | 011 353 + number without the 0 |
| UK landline | 00 353 + number without the 0 |
| Australia landline | 0011 353 + number without the 0 |
Irish numbers are written with a leading 0, like 087 123 4567 or 01 234 5678. That 0 is only for calls inside Ireland. From abroad, leave it out: 01 234 5678 becomes +353 1 234 5678.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles are written 08x xxx xxxx, starting with 083, 085, 086, 087 or 089. People keep their number when they switch network, so the prefix no longer tells you the network.
Landlines are an area code of 1 to 3 digits plus a local number of 5 to 7 digits, so Irish numbers vary in length. Dublin is 01 with 7-digit local numbers.
| City | Area code in Ireland | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 01 | +353 1 + 7 digits |
| Cork | 021 | +353 21 + local number |
| Galway | 091 | +353 91 + local number |
| Limerick | 061 | +353 61 + local number |
| Waterford | 051 | +353 51 + local number |
| Kilkenny | 056 | +353 56 + local number |
| Wexford | 053 | +353 53 + local number |
| Dundalk | 042 | +353 42 + local number |
Codes that get mixed up with +353
+352 is Luxembourg and +354 is Iceland. Belfast, Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland are on +44, the UK code, not +353.
Time difference
Ireland is on UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, the same as the UK. It changes its clocks on the same dates as the UK and the EU.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Ireland is 5h ahead | Ireland is 5h ahead |
| US West Coast | Ireland is 8h ahead | Ireland is 8h ahead |
| UK | Same time all year | |
| Germany or France | Ireland is 1h behind all year | |
| Sydney | Ireland is 11h behind | Ireland is 9h behind |
The US changes its clocks on different dates from Europe, so for two to three weeks in March and about one week in late October or early November the gap with the US is one hour shorter. A 9 AM call from New York reaches Dublin at 2 PM for most of the year, and at 1 PM during those weeks.
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FAQ
Can I call an Irish 1800 number from abroad?
Usually not. Irish 1800 freephone numbers generally can't be dialled from outside Ireland. Look for the company's regular number, such as one starting with 01, which works from abroad with +353.
Can I use 048 to call Northern Ireland?
Only from a phone in the Republic of Ireland. 048 is a shortcut for Northern Ireland landlines, not an Irish area code, so +353 48 won't work. From anywhere else, dial +44 28 and the 8-digit number.