German Phone Numbers: How to Read, Save, and Dial +49

German numbers are easier to understand if you split them into three parts: the international code +49, the local or mobile prefix, and the subscriber number itself. The main rule is simple: when dialing from abroad, add +49 or 0049, and drop the first 0 from the German prefix.

What a German number consists of

The usual structure looks like this:

+49 - Germany’s international code (Ländervorwahl).
Vorwahl - the city code or mobile prefix.
Rufnummer - the subscriber’s individual number.

Example for Dusseldorf:

Situation	How to dial
From within Germany	0211 5684962
From another country	+49 211 5684962
If you cannot type a plus sign	0049 211 5684962

The zero at the start of 0211 is needed only inside Germany. In international format it disappears: +49 211, not +49 0211.

Landline numbers: Festnetz

A landline number (Festnetz) is tied to the geographic code of a city or region. For example:

030 - Berlin
089 - Munich
040 - Hamburg
069 - Frankfurt am Main
0211 - Dusseldorf
0711 - Stuttgart

Author: Maximilian Dörrbecker

If you call a landline within the same Ortsnetz, many operators let you dial only the subscriber number without the city code. That is why signs for local shops sometimes show short numbers without a prefix. For calls from another city or from a mobile phone, it is safer to use the full number with the city code.

Mobile numbers

Mobile numbers in Germany usually start with the prefixes 015, 016, or 017. Inside Germany they look like this:

0171 6895430
01513 6895430

From abroad, the first zero is dropped:

+49 171 6895430
+49 1513 6895430

In the past, people often guessed the operator from the prefix, for example Telekom, Vodafone, or O2. That is no longer reliable because a mobile number can be transferred to another operator. The original prefix does not guarantee which network the subscriber currently uses.

A practical approach is to save all German contacts right away in international format as +49 …. Then the number will work both in Germany and abroad.

How to avoid dialing mistakes

From abroad: use +49 or 0049, then the prefix without the first zero.
Inside Germany: normally dial the number with the initial zero in the prefix.
From a mobile phone: it is better to use the full number, including the city code or mobile prefix.
Do not use +49 and the leading 0 at the same time.
If a number is published as (0)211 1234567, the brackets mean the zero is needed only when dialing from within Germany.

Special and premium-rate numbers

Germany has special number ranges (Sonderrufnummern). They can be free, standard service numbers, or premium-rate numbers. Before calling an unfamiliar prefix, it is worth checking the price, especially if the number does not begin with a normal city or mobile code.

Prefix	What it usually means	What to watch out for
0800	Free service numbers	In Germany, calls are usually free for the caller; from abroad there may be restrictions or charges
0180	Service numbers	The price is regulated and depends on the subrange; it should be shown next to the number
0900	Premium-Dienste	Paid services; since 2024, the first digit after 0900 indicates the tariff category
0137	Mass-calling numbers, voting, contests	Used for short-term high call volumes; the price depends on the subrange

For 0900, the Bundesnetzagentur has set tariff categories: for example, 0900-0 means 0.49 euros per minute, while 0900-8 means 2.99 euros per minute. If you see a 0900 number, do not call automatically. First check the price and what the service is for.

For 0180 and 0137, prices are also regulated and must be shown when the number is published. Older articles often list different prices for landlines and mobile networks; under the current rules, what matters for these ranges are the uniform Bundesnetzagentur prices set for each subrange.

Emergency numbers in Germany

Germany uses two main emergency numbers:

110 - police;
112 - fire brigade and medical emergency services.

Calls to 110 and 112 must connect without delay and free of charge. 112 is also the common emergency number across the European Union. Call these numbers only in a real emergency.

If your phone shows an incoming call allegedly from 110 or 112, treat it as suspicious: official emergency numbers should not be used as a normal outgoing caller ID for calls to the public.

How to find a phone number in Germany

For companies and some private contacts, you can use online directories such as dastelefonbuch.de. A number appears there only if the person or organization is listed and allows the publication of their data. For companies, it is often faster to search by the organization name, address, and the word Telefon.

If you are looking for a public authority, doctor, school, bank, or insurance company, it is better to use the number from that organization’s official website rather than from a random listing.

How to get a German number

Mobile number

The easiest way is to buy a German SIM card or eSIM. There are usually two options:

Prepaid-SIM - a prepaid plan without a long contract;
Mobilfunkvertrag - a regular paid contract with an operator.

To activate a SIM card in Germany, identity verification is usually required. The provider will tell you whether this is done through VideoIdent, PostIdent, eID, or another method.

Landline number

A landline number usually comes together with home internet or a telephone connection. If you move within Germany, ask the provider whether you can keep the number: for landlines this depends on the Ortsnetz, meaning the local numbering area.