The +386 country code connects calls to Slovenia, a small country of 2.1 million people tucked between Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia. Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 after a brief ten-day war and has since joined both the EU and the eurozone. Ljubljana, the capital, has about 290,000 residents and sits roughly in the center of the country.
If you see a phone number starting with +386, it comes from Slovenia. The country uses 8-digit subscriber numbers and has a trunk prefix of 0 that you drop when dialing from abroad.
Quick answer: Dial +386 followed by 8 digits. Mobile numbers start with 30, 31, 40, 41, 51, 64, 68, 70, or 71. Landlines use area codes (1 for Ljubljana, 2 for Maribor). Drop the leading 0 used in domestic calls when dialing from abroad.
How to call Slovenia: quick reference
Slovenia uses 00 as its international exit code for outgoing calls. Callers outside Slovenia just need +386 followed by the subscriber number, without the domestic trunk prefix 0.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +386 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-386-[local number] |
| UK | 00-386-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-386-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-386-[local number] |
| France | 00-386-[local number] |
Understanding Slovenia phone numbers
Slovenian phone numbers are 8 digits long after the +386 country code. Mobile and landline numbers are distinguished by their leading digits.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use 2-digit prefixes (30, 31, 40, 41, 51, 64, 68, 70, 71) followed by 6 digits: +386 XX XXX XXX. The prefix historically indicated the carrier (30/31 for Telekom, 40/41 for A1, 51 for Telemach), but number portability has made this unreliable.
Landline numbers
Landlines use geographic area codes. Ljubljana has the shortest area code (1), giving it 7 local digits: +386 1 XXX XX XX. Other regions use 1-digit area codes with the same total of 8 digits after +386.
Area codes
| Region/City | Area code | Example format |
|---|---|---|
| Ljubljana | 1 | +386 1 XXX XX XX |
| Maribor | 2 | +386 2 XXX XX XX |
| Celje | 3 | +386 3 XXX XX XX |
| Kranj | 4 | +386 4 XXX XX XX |
| Nova Gorica | 5 | +386 5 XXX XX XX |
| Koper (Coast) | 5 | +386 5 XXX XX XX |
| Novo Mesto | 7 | +386 7 XXX XX XX |
Slovenia uses single-digit area codes (1-7), so all landline numbers follow the same pattern: +386 + 1 digit area code + 7 local digits = 8 digits total.
Mobile carriers in Slovenia
Slovenia has three main mobile operators for a population of just 2.1 million.
Telekom Slovenije
The state-owned incumbent, Telekom Slovenije has the widest coverage including rural and mountainous areas. They operate the largest 4G/5G network and also provide the main fixed-line infrastructure. Mobile prefixes are historically 30, 31, and 71.
A1 Slovenija
Part of the Austrian A1 Telekom group (formerly Si.mobil), A1 is the second-largest operator. They have strong coverage in urban areas and along motorways. Historical mobile prefixes are 40 and 41.
Telemach
Originally a cable TV provider, Telemach expanded into mobile and is now the third operator. They are owned by United Group and also offer fixed broadband. Mobile prefix is historically 51, with newer numbers on 64 and 68.
Don't confuse +386 with nearby codes
Slovenia's +386 code is often confused with nearby countries, especially Slovakia.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +421 | Slovakia | The most common mix-up. Both countries even use "SI" and "SK" as their ISO codes. Slovenia is +386, Slovakia is +421. Completely different numbers. |
| +385 | Croatia | One digit off. Croatia borders Slovenia to the south and east. Croatian numbers are +385 followed by variable-length digits. |
| +387 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Also just one digit off from +386. Bosnia is +387. |
| +43 | Austria | Borders Slovenia to the north. Austrian numbers start with +43 and use area code 1 for Vienna. |
The Slovenia/Slovakia confusion is legendary. Both countries are small, Slavic, and gained independence in the early 1990s. Their embassies reportedly exchange misdirected mail on a monthly basis. For phone calls, just remember: Slovenia is +386, Slovakia is +421.
Time zone considerations
Slovenia uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October.
| Your location | Time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST/EDT) | +6 hours | 8 AM - 12 PM your time (2 PM - 6 PM Slovenia) |
| US West Coast (PST/PDT) | +9 hours | 7 AM - 10 AM your time (4 PM - 7 PM Slovenia) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +1 hour | 9 AM - 8 PM your time |
| Australia (AEST/AEDT) | -9 hours | 5 PM - 10 PM your time (8 AM - 1 PM Slovenia) |
| Japan (JST) | -8 hours | 4 PM - 10 PM your time (9 AM - 3 PM Slovenia) |
Slovenia shares the same time zone as Austria, Italy, Croatia, and Hungary, so calls to neighboring countries don't require time zone calculations.
Communication in Slovenia
Business hours
Standard business hours are 8 AM to 4 PM or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Many shops close at 1 PM on Saturdays and are closed Sundays. Government offices typically work 8 AM to 3 PM. Slovenians take lunch seriously, usually between 12 PM and 1 PM, and smaller businesses may not pick up the phone during that hour.
Communication style
Slovenians are polite but direct on the phone. Greet with "Dober dan" (good day) when calling someone you don't know. English proficiency is high, especially among younger people and in Ljubljana. In border regions, Italian (near Trieste) and Hungarian (near Lendava) are also commonly spoken. German is widely understood throughout the country due to proximity to Austria.
Network quality
Slovenia has strong telecom infrastructure for its size. 4G LTE covers over 98% of the population, and 5G is available in Ljubljana and Maribor. VoIP call quality over Slovenian internet connections is typically good. The mountainous northwest (Julian Alps, Triglav area) can have patchy mobile coverage in valleys, but major roads and ski resorts are well-covered.
The Slovenia diaspora
Where they went
Slovenia's diaspora is relatively small compared to its neighbors, largely because the country's economy has been stable since independence. The largest communities abroad are in Germany and Austria (geographic proximity and work opportunities), Argentina (a wave of post-WWII emigration produced a community of around 30,000 Slovenian descendants, mostly in Buenos Aires), and the United States. Cleveland, Ohio has the largest Slovenian-American community, with an estimated 50,000+ people of Slovenian descent. There's also a notable community in Australia, particularly in Melbourne.
Why they call
Slovenians working in Austria or Germany often call family weekly since the countries are so close that some people commute across the border. The Argentine community maintains connections through cultural organizations and calls during holidays. The Cleveland community, now several generations old, calls less regularly but keeps ties through Slovenian parishes and cultural clubs. Lake Bled photos on social media reliably trigger calls from relatives abroad wanting to visit.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile phone in Slovenia
To call a Slovenian mobile number 031 234 567 from abroad, drop the leading 0 and dial: +386 31 234 567. From a US landline: 011 386 31 234 567.
Calling a landline in Ljubljana
To call a Ljubljana landline 01 234 56 78 from abroad, drop the 0 and dial: +386 1 234 56 78. From a UK phone: 00 386 1 234 56 78.
Calling a landline in Maribor
To call a Maribor landline 02 234 56 78 from abroad, drop the 0 and dial: +386 2 234 56 78. From an Australian phone: 0011 386 2 234 56 78.
Calling within Slovenia
For domestic calls, keep the trunk prefix 0. Dial 031 234 567 for mobiles or 01 234 56 78 for Ljubljana landlines. All domestic calls require the full number including the 0, even for local calls within the same area code.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing Slovenia with Slovakia
This happens constantly. Slovenia is +386, Slovakia is +421. The country names sound similar in English but are completely different countries with different languages, currencies (Slovenia uses the euro, Slovakia also uses the euro but they are geographically far apart), and phone systems. If you're unsure, check the number: +386 is Slovenia, +421 is Slovakia.
Keeping the trunk prefix 0
Inside Slovenia, numbers start with 0 (e.g., 031 for mobile, 01 for Ljubljana). When calling from abroad, drop that 0. Dial +386 31... not +386 031... The extra zero will cause the call to fail.
Wrong digit count
All Slovenian numbers are 8 digits after +386. Both mobile (2-digit prefix + 6 digits) and landline (1-digit area code + 7 digits) add up to 8. If your number has more or fewer digits, check for errors.
Dialing +385 instead of +386
Croatia is +385, Slovenia is +386. They are neighbors and the codes differ by one digit. If your call reaches someone speaking Croatian instead of Slovenian, you probably dialed +385 by mistake.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +386 code?
Slovenia. The +386 country code has been assigned to Slovenia since 1991 when it declared independence from Yugoslavia.
How many digits are in a Slovenian phone number?
8 digits after the +386 country code. This applies to both mobile and landline numbers. Domestically, numbers are 9 digits including the trunk prefix 0.
What is the difference between +385 and +386?
+385 is Croatia and +386 is Slovenia. They are neighboring countries with codes that differ by one digit. Both were part of Yugoslavia before 1991.
Do I need to drop the 0 when calling Slovenia from abroad?
Yes. The leading 0 is a trunk prefix for domestic calls only. When dialing from abroad with +386, skip the 0. For example, if the local number is 031 234 567, dial +386 31 234 567.
How much does it cost to call Slovenia?
With CallSky, calls to Slovenian landlines start at $0.32/min (Economy) or $0.82/min (Premium). Mobile calls start at $0.66/min (Economy) or $0.80/min (Premium). No subscription required.
For more dialing guides in the region, see Croatia (+385), Austria (+43), or Slovakia (+421). Or browse the full country codes directory.