Area codes in Germany facts for kids
Area codes in Germany, called Vorwahl in German, are special numbers you dial before a phone number to connect to a specific area or city. Think of them like a postcode for phone calls! These codes help phone systems know where to send your call.
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What Are German Phone Codes?
How German Area Codes Work
German area codes usually have between two and five digits. This number doesn't include the first zero. You need to dial this first zero if you are calling from inside Germany. But if you are calling Germany from another country, you should not dial the first zero.
You usually don't need to dial the area code if you are calling another phone in the same area. However, if one of the phones is a mobile phone, you will always need to dial the area code.
Short Codes for Big Cities
Did you know that bigger cities in Germany often have shorter area codes? For example, a large city might have a two-digit area code. Smaller towns, on the other hand, usually have longer area codes. This helps manage all the phone numbers across the country.
Where Do the Numbers Go?
The first digit of an area code (after the leading zero) tells you which part of Germany the phone number is from. It's like a map for phone calls!
- (0)2 codes are found in the western part of Germany.
- (0)3 codes are used in the eastern part.
- (0)4 codes cover the northern regions.
- (0)5 codes are for the north-central areas.
- (0)6 codes are found in the south-central parts.
- (0)7 codes belong to the southwest.
- (0)8 codes are in the south.
- (0)9 codes are used in the southeast.
Special Phone Numbers
Some phone numbers start with (0)1 and are used for special services. These include:
- Mobile phones: Numbers starting with 015, 016, or 017 are for cell phones.
- Shared cost services: Numbers like 0180 mean the cost of the call is shared between the caller and the person or company being called.
- Televoting numbers: These are used for voting in TV shows, often starting with 013.
- Dial-around services: Numbers like 010 allow you to choose a different phone company for your call.
Some older special codes have changed to meet international rules. For example, numbers that used to be 0130 for free calls (like 1-800 numbers in other countries) are now 0800. And numbers that used to be 0190 for premium-rate services (where you pay more for the call) are now 0900.
See Also
- Telephone numbers in Germany
