Quick answer: +381 is Serbia. Most Serbian numbers have 8 or 9 digits after +381. Mobiles start with 6 (06 inside Serbia). If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+381 64 123 4567.
How to dial Serbia
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +381 + 8 or 9 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 381 + 8 or 9 digits |
| UK, Germany, Austria or Switzerland landline | 00 381 + 8 or 9 digits |
| Australia landline | 0011 381 + 8 or 9 digits |
Serbians write numbers with a leading 0, like 064 123 4567 or 011 234 5678. That 0 is only for calls inside Serbia. From abroad, leave it out: 011 234 5678 becomes +381 11 234 5678. Belgrade's 011 is an area code, not the US exit code, so from a US landline a Belgrade number is 011 381 11 234 5678.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles have a prefix from 060 to 069 inside Serbia, then a 6- or 7-digit number: 064 123 4567 becomes +381 64 123 4567. People can keep their number when they switch carrier, so the prefix no longer tells you the network.
Landlines are an area code plus a 6- or 7-digit local number. Most area codes have 2 digits after the 0; a few have 3.
| City | Area code in Serbia | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Belgrade | 011 | +381 11 … |
| Novi Sad | 021 | +381 21 … |
| Niš | 018 | +381 18 … |
| Kragujevac | 034 | +381 34 … |
| Subotica | 024 | +381 24 … |
| Novi Pazar | 020 | +381 20 … |
| Čačak | 032 | +381 32 … |
| Kraljevo | 036 | +381 36 … |
| Pančevo | 013 | +381 13 … |
| Leskovac | 016 | +381 16 … |
Codes that get mixed up with +381
+382 is Montenegro, +383 is Kosovo, +385 is Croatia and +387 is Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Time difference
Serbia is on CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, the same as Germany and Austria.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Serbia is 6 hours ahead | |
| US West Coast | Serbia is 9 hours ahead | |
| UK | Serbia is 1 hour ahead all year | |
| Germany, Austria or Switzerland | Same time all year | |
| Sydney | Serbia is 10 hours behind | Serbia is 8 hours behind |
The US and Europe change their clocks on different dates, so for about three weeks in March and one week around the start of November the gap with the US is an hour shorter. Sydney's gap is 9 hours for a few weeks in October and around early April. A 9 AM call from New York reaches Belgrade at 3 PM for most of the year.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
I have an old +381 number for someone in Montenegro or Kosovo. Will it work?
Probably not. Montenegro moved to +382 after independence in 2006, and Kosovo's networks moved to +383 in 2016 and 2017. Ask the person for their current number.
Why won't my call to +381 go through?
Check three things: you left out the leading 0, you have 8 or 9 digits after +381, and you dialed 381, not 382 or 383.