Quick answer: +49 is Germany. German numbers vary in length: most have 10 or 11 digits after +49, and some older landlines have fewer. Mobiles start with 15, 16 or 17 after +49. Germans write numbers with a leading 0: drop it when you call from abroad. Example:
+49 151 2345 6789.
How to dial Germany
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +49 + number without the 0 |
| US or Canada landline | 011 49 + number without the 0 |
| UK, Turkey, Poland or Austria landline | 00 49 + number without the 0 |
Inside Germany, every number starts with 0, like 030 1234 5678 or 0151 2345 6789. That 0 is only for calls within Germany. From abroad, leave it out: 030 1234 5678 becomes +49 30 1234 5678.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles start with 015, 016 or 017 in German format and have 10 or 11 digits after +49.
Landlines are an area code of 2 to 5 digits (after dropping the 0) plus a local number. Newer numbers total 11 digits after +49, or 10 in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. Older numbers can be shorter.
| City | Area code in Germany | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 030 | +49 30 + local number |
| Hamburg | 040 | +49 40 + local number |
| Munich | 089 | +49 89 + local number |
| Frankfurt | 069 | +49 69 + local number |
| Cologne | 0221 | +49 221 + local number |
| Düsseldorf | 0211 | +49 211 + local number |
| Stuttgart | 0711 | +49 711 + local number |
| Leipzig | 0341 | +49 341 + local number |
| Dresden | 0351 | +49 351 + local number |
| Hanover | 0511 | +49 511 + local number |
Not every number that looks like an area code is a landline. 0800 is freephone, 0900 is premium rate, and 032 numbers are not tied to any city.
Codes that get mixed up with +49
+43 is Austria and +41 is Switzerland. Both are German-speaking, so a wrong code is easy to miss. +48 is Poland.
Time difference
Germany is on Central European Time: UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
| Where you are | Late March to late October | Late October to late March |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Germany is 6h ahead | Germany is 6h ahead |
| US West Coast | Germany is 9h ahead | Germany is 9h ahead |
| UK | Germany is 1h ahead all year | |
| Turkey | Germany is 1h behind | Germany is 2h behind |
| India | Germany is 3h 30m behind | Germany 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 Berlin at 2 PM instead of 3 PM.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Can I call a German 0800 or 0180 number from abroad?
Often not. Many German 0800 freephone and 0180 service numbers only accept calls from inside Germany. Look for the company's regular number with a city area code, often listed for callers from abroad.
Why won't my call to +49 go through?
Check three things: you left out the leading 0, you dialed 49 and not 43 or 41, and you have every digit. German numbers vary in length, so a missing digit is easy to overlook.