Quick answer: +41 is Switzerland. Every Swiss number has 9 digits after +41. Mobiles start with 7 (075 to 079 in Swiss format). Swiss numbers are written with a leading 0: drop it when you call from abroad. Example:
+41 79 123 45 67.
How to dial Switzerland
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +41 + 9 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 41 + 9 digits |
| UK, Germany, France or Italy landline | 00 41 + 9 digits |
| Australia landline | 0011 41 + 9 digits |
Inside Switzerland, every number starts with 0, like 044 123 45 67 or 079 123 45 67. That 0 is only for calls within Switzerland. From abroad, leave it out: 044 123 45 67 becomes +41 44 123 45 67.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles start with 075, 076, 077, 078 or 079 in Swiss format and have 9 digits after +41: 079 123 45 67 becomes +41 79 123 45 67. People keep their number when they change provider, so the prefix doesn't tell you the network.
Landlines have a 2-digit area code and a 7-digit local number. Zurich has two area codes, 044 and 043.
| City | Area code in Switzerland | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 044 or 043 | +41 44 xxx xx xx |
| Geneva | 022 | +41 22 xxx xx xx |
| Basel | 061 | +41 61 xxx xx xx |
| Bern | 031 | +41 31 xxx xx xx |
| Lausanne | 021 | +41 21 xxx xx xx |
| Lucerne | 041 | +41 41 xxx xx xx |
| Lugano | 091 | +41 91 xxx xx xx |
| St. Gallen | 071 | +41 71 xxx xx xx |
| Winterthur | 052 | +41 52 xxx xx xx |
| Thun and Interlaken | 033 | +41 33 xxx xx xx |
Central Switzerland's area code, 41, is the same as the country code, so a Lucerne or Zug number starts +41 41. That is correct, not a typo.
Codes that get mixed up with +41
+423 is Liechtenstein, +43 is Austria and +44 is the UK.
Time difference
Switzerland is on Central European Time (UTC+1) in winter and summer time (UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, the same dates as the rest of Europe.
| Where you are | Late March to late October | Late October to late March |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Switzerland is 6h ahead | Switzerland is 6h ahead |
| US West Coast | Switzerland is 9h ahead | Switzerland is 9h ahead |
| UK or Portugal | Switzerland is 1h ahead all year | |
| UAE | Switzerland is 2h behind | Switzerland is 3h behind |
| India | Switzerland is 3h 30m behind | Switzerland is 4h 30m behind |
The US changes its clocks two to three weeks before Europe in March and one week after it in autumn. During those weeks the gap is one hour smaller, so a 9 AM call from New York reaches Zurich at 2 PM instead of 3 PM.
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FAQ
Can I call a Swiss 0800 number from abroad?
Often not. Swiss 0800 freephone numbers are set up for callers inside Switzerland, and many don't connect from other countries. Look for the company's regular number with an area code, such as 044 or 022.
Is Liechtenstein part of +41?
No. Liechtenstein used Swiss numbers (+41 75) until April 1999 and has had its own country code, +423, since then. Dial +423 followed by the 7-digit number, with no area code.