The +379 country code is assigned to Vatican City, the world's smallest independent state at just 0.44 square kilometres. Located entirely within Rome, the Vatican is home to around 800 residents - mostly clergy, Swiss Guards, and a handful of laypeople who work for the Holy See.
Here's the thing that confuses almost everyone: the Vatican has its own country code (+379), but most Vatican phone numbers actually use Italy's +39 code with the prefix 06 698. The +379 code exists and is valid, but it's used for a very limited set of internal lines. If you're calling the Vatican Museums, Vatican Radio, or any public-facing Vatican office, you'll almost certainly be dialling a +39 06 698 number. The +379 code is mainly reserved for the Vatican's internal telephone network and certain official lines.
Quick answer: Vatican City's country code is +379, but most Vatican numbers use Italy's +39 code with the prefix 06 698. Numbers on the +379 code are typically 4-digit internal extensions. There is no trunk prefix. If you're calling a Vatican museum, office, or radio station, use +39 06 698 followed by the extension. The +379 code is rarely needed for public calls.
How to call Vatican City: quick reference
Since most Vatican numbers use Italy's +39 prefix, the table below covers both the +379 code and the much more common +39 06 698 format.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +379 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-379-[local number] |
| UK | 00-379-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-379-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-379-[local number] |
| France | 00-379-[local number] |
Understanding Vatican City phone numbers
Vatican City has an unusual dual numbering system. Most public-facing numbers sit on Italy's +39 network, while a separate internal system uses the +379 code.
Italian-prefix numbers (+39 06 698)
The majority of Vatican phone numbers use Italy's country code +39 with the Rome area code 06, followed by 698 and then a 5-digit extension. This gives a total format of +39 06 698XXXXX. These numbers are part of a block allocated to the Vatican within Italy's numbering plan. The Vatican Museums, Vatican Radio, the Vatican Press Office, and most administrative offices all use this format.
Vatican-prefix numbers (+379)
Numbers on the +379 code are shorter - typically 4 digits used as internal extensions within the Vatican telephone exchange. These are not widely published and are mostly used for internal communication between Vatican departments. If someone gives you a +379 number, dial +379 XXXX from outside the Vatican.
Number structure
| Type | Prefix | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public offices (via Italy) | +39 06 698 | +39 06 698X XXXX | +39 06 6988 4676 |
| Internal lines | +379 | +379 XXXX | +379 1234 |
No mobile numbers
The Vatican does not issue mobile phone numbers. Residents and workers use Italian mobile SIMs from carriers like TIM, Vodafone, or WindTre. There's no Vatican mobile prefix.
Telecom in Vatican City
The Vatican's telephone system is small and self-contained. There are no commercial carriers competing for customers here.
Vatican Telephone Service (Servizio Telefonico)
The Vatican operates its own telephone exchange, managed by the Governorate of Vatican City State. This internal system handles landlines within Vatican walls and connects to the Italian phone network through Rome's exchange. The Vatican installed its first telephone system in 1886, making it one of the earliest adopters in Europe. The current system is modern and fully digital.
Italian carrier coverage
Since the Vatican sits in the middle of Rome, Italian mobile carriers provide full coverage across the entire 0.44 square kilometres. TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, and Iliad signals all reach every corner. Vatican residents and Swiss Guards use Italian SIMs for mobile calls. There's no "Vatican mobile network" - everyone is on Italian infrastructure for wireless.
Internet and VoIP
The Vatican has its own internet domain (.va) and internal network. Internet connectivity comes through agreements with Italian providers. Wi-Fi is available in some Vatican offices and residences, and VoIP calls work without any issues.
Don't confuse +379 with nearby codes
The +379 code is easy to mix up with neighbouring codes, and the Vatican's use of Italian numbers adds extra confusion:
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +39 | Italy | Most Vatican numbers actually use +39. The Vatican sits inside Rome. Confusing which code to use is the main issue. |
| +378 | San Marino | One digit off (+378 vs +379). Both are Italian enclaves with their own country codes. |
| +377 | Monaco | Two digits off (+377 vs +379). Another European microstate often confused in the 37X block. |
| +376 | Andorra | Part of the same 37X microstate cluster. Easy to mis-dial. |
The biggest confusion is between +379 and +39. If you find a Vatican phone number online, it will almost always start with +39 06 698. Using +379 for that number won't work - the two systems are separate. Only use +379 if the number was specifically given to you with that prefix.
Time zone considerations
Vatican City uses the same time zone as Italy: Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October.
| Your location | Time difference from Vatican City | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST/EDT) | +6 hours | 8am-11am your time (2pm-5pm Vatican) |
| US West Coast (PST/PDT) | +9 hours | 7am-9am your time (4pm-6pm Vatican) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +1 hour | Anytime during business hours |
| Australia East (AEST/AEDT) | -9 to -8 hours | 5pm-8pm your time (8am-11am Vatican) |
| Japan (JST) | -8 to -7 hours | 4pm-7pm your time (8am-11am Vatican) |
Note: Vatican offices tend to close earlier than Italian businesses. Most Vatican departments shut by 1pm or 2pm, so the morning is your safest window.
Communication in Vatican City
Business hours
Vatican offices follow a condensed schedule. Most departments open from 8:30am to 1:00pm or 2:00pm, Monday through Saturday. The Vatican does not follow Italian public holidays - it has its own calendar tied to the liturgical year. Offices close on major Catholic feast days including the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29), the Assumption (August 15), and Christmas through Epiphany. Calling in the afternoon is usually pointless for official business.
Language
Italian is the everyday working language of Vatican City. Latin is the official language of the Holy See but nobody answers the phone in Latin. Many Vatican employees also speak French, Spanish, German, English, or Portuguese depending on their nationality. If you're calling the Vatican Museums or a public-facing office, Italian or English will get you through. For the Roman Curia (the church's central administration), Italian is the default.
Reaching the right office
The Vatican doesn't have a central switchboard that routes all external calls. Each department has its own published number. The Vatican website (vatican.va) lists phone numbers for the Press Office, Vatican Museums, Pontifical Council offices, and other departments. If you can't find a specific number, the Vatican switchboard at +39 06 6982 can sometimes redirect you, but don't expect the same flexibility as a corporate phone system.
Who calls Vatican City?
Catholic institutions worldwide
The Vatican is the administrative centre of the Catholic Church, with 1.3 billion members globally. Dioceses, parishes, religious orders, and Catholic universities regularly need to reach Vatican offices. Calls come from bishops' conferences in every country, Catholic charities coordinating with Caritas Internationalis, and seminaries arranging pilgrimages or study programmes. This traffic is steady year-round and comes from every continent.
Media and press
The Vatican Press Office (Sala Stampa) handles calls from journalists worldwide, especially during papal events, conclaves, synods, and major announcements. Major news events like papal elections or encyclical releases generate heavy phone traffic. Accredited journalists use published direct lines to reach Vatican spokespeople.
Pilgrims and tourists
About 5-6 million people visit the Vatican Museums each year, and many more attend papal audiences or visit St. Peter's Basilica. They call ahead to book museum tickets, arrange group visits, confirm audience seating, or reach the Floreria (the office that handles Papal audience tickets). Most of these calls go to +39 06 698 numbers published on the Vatican's official booking pages.
Dialing examples
Calling the Vatican Museums from the US
The Vatican Museums booking line is +39 06 6988 4676. From a US mobile, dial exactly that: +39 06 6988 4676. From a US landline, dial: 011 39 06 6988 4676. This is an Italian-prefix number, so you're technically calling "Italy" as far as your carrier is concerned.
Calling a +379 internal number from the UK
If someone at the Vatican gave you the extension 1234 on the +379 code, dial: 00 379 1234 from a UK landline, or +379 1234 from a UK mobile. These short numbers are uncommon, and you'll only use them if specifically instructed to.
Calling the Vatican Press Office from Australia
The Sala Stampa number is +39 06 6988 4797. From Australia, dial: 0011 39 06 6988 4797. From an Australian mobile: +39 06 6988 4797. Again, this routes through Italy's network.
Calling Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio (now part of Vatican News) can be reached at +39 06 6988 3551. The dialling format is the same as any Italian number. From anywhere with a mobile: +39 06 6988 3551.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using +379 for numbers that need +39
This is the most common error. You find a Vatican phone number like 06 6988 4676 and dial +379 06 6988 4676. It won't connect. That number belongs to Italy's +39 network. Only use +379 for the rare short-format internal numbers. If the number has 06 698 in it, use +39.
Assuming Vatican numbers work like other countries
Most countries have one country code for all their numbers. The Vatican is different - it has two systems running in parallel. The +379 code handles a small internal phone exchange, while the +39 06 698 block handles everything public-facing. Treating it like a normal single-code country leads to failed calls.
Calling during the wrong hours
Vatican offices close early, usually by 1pm or 2pm. If you're calling from the Americas, this means you need to call first thing in your morning. By the time it's noon on the US East Coast, it's already 6pm in Vatican City and everything is closed. The Vatican also closes on Catholic holy days that aren't public holidays in other countries.
Expecting a call centre experience
The Vatican is not a corporation. There are no automated phone trees, no "press 1 for English" menus, and no hold music on most lines. You'll get a person who answers in Italian, or the phone will ring until it doesn't. Be prepared with the specific office and extension you need before calling.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +379 code?
Vatican City. It's the smallest independent state in the world, located entirely within Rome, Italy. The +379 code is assigned to the Vatican but is rarely used for public calls. Most Vatican phone numbers use Italy's +39 code with the prefix 06 698.
Should I dial +379 or +39 for Vatican numbers?
For almost all public Vatican numbers (museums, press office, radio, administrative offices), use +39 06 698 followed by the extension. The +379 code is only for short internal numbers that someone at the Vatican has specifically given you. When in doubt, use +39.
Does Vatican City have mobile phone numbers?
No. The Vatican does not issue mobile numbers. Residents and employees use Italian mobile SIMs from carriers like TIM or Vodafone. There is no Vatican mobile network or prefix.
How much does it cost to call Vatican City?
With CallSky, calls to Vatican City on Premium cost $0.04/min for both landline and mobile. Since most Vatican numbers use Italy's +39 prefix, you may find those calls billed at Italian rates instead, which are also low.
When are Vatican offices open for phone calls?
Most Vatican offices open from 8:30am to 1:00pm or 2:00pm (Rome time, CET/CEST), Monday through Saturday. They close on Catholic feast days. The afternoon is generally not a good time to call.
For more European dialing guides, see Italy (+39), San Marino (+378), or browse the full country code directory.