Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Calls made from landlines to German mobile phone numbers are charged at higher rates
than those to other landlines. Incoming calls on mobile numbers are free.
Phone Codes
German phone numbers consist of an area code, which starts with 0, and the local number.
The area code for Berlin is 030. If dialling a Berlin number from a Berlin-based landline,
you don't need to dial the area code. If you're using a landline outside Berlin, or a mobile
phone, you must dial it.
Calling Berlin from abroad
Dial your country's international access code, then 49 (Ger-
many's country code), then the area code (dropping the initial 0, so just 30) and the local
number.
Calling internationally from Berlin
Dial 00 (the international access code), then the coun-
try code, the area code (without the zero if there is one) and the local number.
Phonecards
Most public payphones only work with Deutsche Telecom (DT) phonecards, available in de-
nominations of €5, €10 and €20 from DT stores, post offices, newsagents and tourist offices.
For long-distance and international calls, prepaid calling cards issued by other providers
tend to offer better rates. Those sold at Reisebank (
www.reisebank.de
)
branches are reliable
and offer fairly competitive rates. Landline calls within Germany and to the UK, for in-
stance, are charged at €0.05 per minute. Calls made from mobile phones or phone booths
cost an extra €0.23 per minute.
Time
Clocks in Germany are set to central European time (GMT/UTC plus one hour). Daylight-sav-
ings time kicks in on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. The
use of the 24-hour clock is common. As daylight-savings time differs across regions, the fol-
lowing times are indicative only:
