What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

What are the main area codes for Italy's business centers?

Rome uses 06, Milan uses 02, Naples uses 081, Turin uses 011, Bologna uses 051, and Florence uses 055. Milan is Italy's financial and fashion hub, making 02 numbers particularly recognizable in B2B contexts. letsdial offers virtual Italian numbers with these codes, giving your business a credible local presence in Italy's key commercial cities.

How does Italy's long lunch break affect when I should schedule letsdial calls?

Italian business culture traditionally observes a long midday break running from approximately 1 PM to 3 PM or even 4 PM, especially in smaller businesses and southern regions. The best windows for letsdial calls to Italian contacts are 9–12 PM and 3–6 PM local time (CET). Calling during the pausa pranzo will likely result in missed calls or voicemail.

Is WhatsApp the right pre-call channel for Italian business contacts?

Yes — Italy has one of the highest WhatsApp penetration rates in Europe, and it is used for both personal and professional communication. Sending a brief WhatsApp message before placing your letsdial call to an Italian contact is standard practice and greatly increases the likelihood of a successful connection. Voice notes on WhatsApp are also popular in Italian business culture.

What time zone is Italy in, and does it observe daylight saving?

Italy observes Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer, switching in late March and late October. Business hours are typically 9 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 7 PM, reflecting the split schedule. letsdial's built-in time display helps you hit the right window whether you're calling from Asia, the Americas, or elsewhere.

Can letsdial display an Italian number as caller ID to improve answer rates from Italian contacts?

Absolutely. letsdial virtual Italian numbers (with codes like 02 for Milan or 06 for Rome) can be set as your outbound caller ID. Italian recipients are significantly more likely to answer a call displaying a local Italian number than an international or unknown foreign number, making this feature essential for businesses running sales or customer service operations targeting Italy.

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Italy

+39

Country code

International prefix

Italy's country code +39 covers Europe's third-largest economy — a global powerhouse in fashion, design, food, tourism, and manufacturing. Italy's SME-rich business landscape and strong regional identities make local numbers vital for B2B and B2C success.

Best hours:9 AM – 5 PM CET

Language:Italian

Capital:Rome

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🇮🇹

Italy

IT · Europe

+39

dial code

Capital

Rome

Currency

EUR (€)

Language

Italian

Population

60 million

Best calling window

9 AM – 5 PM CET

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

Central European Time (CET) · UTC+1 to UTC+2 (CEST)

Country

Italy

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+39

ISO Alpha-3

ITI

Loading map…

Rome

Capital

Live

Rome

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

Central European Time (CET)

Quick Facts

CurrencyEUR (€)

LanguageItalian

Population60 million

GMT OffsetUTC+1 to UTC+2 (CEST)

Best Hours9 AM – 5 PM CET

Step by step

How to call Italy from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+39

Country code

Italy international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

1234 5678

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

00—39—06—1234 5678

Shorthand (works from any device): +39 06 1234 5678

Calling Guide

Best time to call Italy · Central European Time (CET)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling Italy
with letsdial

Start free trial

Get a local +39 number

A Milan +39 02 or Rome +39 06 caller ID signals an Italian business presence — critical in a market where calls from foreign numbers are routinely ignored.

Italy and 50+ countries, one plan

Call Italy and 50+ global markets from one letsdial subscription — no per-city charges for Rome, Milan, Naples, or Turin.

Full call analytics

Track every Italy call in CET/CEST — monitor answer rates during Italian business hours and agent performance in one dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +39 number lets your team appear local in Italy from any device, anywhere.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach Italy and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to Italy and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +39 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

Italy& neighbouring countries

Italy's +39 system is unique: fixed-line numbers retain the leading 0 when dialled internationally (e.g. +39 06 for Rome). Mobile numbers (starting with 3) have no leading 0 and are 10 digits total.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Italycurrent1234 5678+39 06 1234 5678

France23 45 67 89+33 1 23 45 67 89

Germany1234 5678+49 30 1234 5678

Spain123 456 78+34 91 123 456 78

United Kingdom7123 4567+44 20 7123 4567

Netherlands123 4567+31 20 123 4567

Good to know

Tips for calling Italy

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Italy keeps the 0 for fixed lines — mobiles drop it

Unlike most countries, Italy retains the leading 0 in fixed-line area codes when dialling internationally — Rome (06) 1234 5678 becomes +39 06 1234 5678. Mobile numbers (starting with 3) have no leading 0.

WhatsApp is ubiquitous in Italian business

WhatsApp is deeply embedded in Italian professional communication. Send a WhatsApp message before calling — it warms the contact and is the preferred channel for quick messages and scheduling.

Show a local +39 caller ID

Unknown international calls are routinely ignored in Italy. A letsdial +39 02 (Milan) or +39 06 (Rome) caller ID signals a local business presence and substantially improves answer rates.

Italy is on CET — avoid the lunch break

Italy runs on CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Core hours are 9 AM–1 PM and 3 PM–7 PM. Avoid calling between 1 and 3 PM — the lunch break is firmly observed.

Market data

Italy communication insights

86%

Internet penetration

78% of Italy's population uses the internet, with urban areas significantly better connected.

89%

Mobile users

88% of Italians use mobile phones, making mobile a key channel for business outreach.

71%

Smartphone owners

68% of Italians own smartphones, with WhatsApp widely adopted for business messaging.

87%

Digital businesses

78% of Italian businesses have integrated digital tools into their communication workflows.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

Italy calling FAQs

Frequently asked about Italy

Italy is unique among major European countries in that the leading zero of the area code is retained even in international dialing. So Rome's 06 becomes +39 06 (not +39 6), and Milan's 02 becomes +39 02. letsdial correctly handles Italian number formatting — always include the zero after +39 for landlines, while Italian mobile numbers (3xx) do not carry a trunk zero.

Get a local Italy number

Get a local Italy number in minutes.

Build trust with Italy customers using a local +39 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

Italy

Italy

How to call Italy from abroad

Benefits of calling Italywith letsdial

Get a local +39 number

Italy and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

Italy& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling Italy

Italy keeps the 0 for fixed lines — mobiles drop it

WhatsApp is ubiquitous in Italian business

Show a local +39 caller ID

Italy is on CET — avoid the lunch break

Italy communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about Italy

Get a local Italy number in minutes.

Benefits of calling Italy
with letsdial