How to Call Italy from the USA - Complete Step-by-Step Guide
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Calling Italy from the U.S. is not a tangled web, ONLY when you know the exact steps. One wrong digit and you will get a busy tone/failed calling, or even end up calling someone you weren’t supposed to.
To avoid all such events and to achieve a successful calling to Italy from the USA, this guide is about to uncover smart ways, along with a simple guide to help you with international calling.
Basic Steps to Call Italy from the U.S
The process of calling a landline and a mobile number is slightly different. To get your call connected to Italy from the U.S without any hindrance, carefully follow these steps:
1. You have to dial the U.S. exit code. Why? Because this code will tell your phone carrier that you are placing an international call. The U.S. exit code is 011, so dial it in your phone’s dialpad.
2. Next, you have to enter the country code of Italy, which is 39. This way, your call will be directly to Italy’s telephone network.
For landline calling
- Now you have to enter the area code. In Italy, each region has a different area code that starts with 0: you have to enter the area code of the region where you want to direct your call. Check out the table below to know the area code of different regions in Italy to find out the one you are looking for.
- Lastly, add the local phone number of the receiver and hit call.
This is what your dialing order will look like when you call Italy from the U.S:
(U.S Exit Code) - (Italy’s country code) - (Area code starting with 0) - (Local phone number).
For instance, if you are making a call to Milan, you will dial 011-39-02-XXXXXXX.
For Mobile Number calling
- In Italy, mobile numbers start with a 3-digit prefix that starts from 3 and does not have a zero at the start.
- Then enter the local phone number and hit call.
This is what your dialing order will look like when you call on an Italy’s mobile number from the U.S:
(U.S Exit Code) - (Italy’s country code) - (Local phone number that has a three-digit prefix starting with 3 at the start.)
For instance, if you are making a call to Milan, you will dial 011-39-3XX-XXXXXXX.
Italian Area Codes and Number Formats
Before you go straight to calling Italy from the U.S., look at how Italian phone numbers are structured. In Italy, Landline and mobile numbers have slightly different formats. Messing up with this format will result in a failed call.
Italian Landline Numbers
When calling an Italian landline number, you will see two different parts:
- Area Code that begins with Zero (0).
- Local phone number.
By area code means, different cities and regions in Italy have different area codes. For instance, for Milan the area code is 02, and for Rome it is 06.
Calling a landline in Milan from the U.S. will look like this: 011 39 02 XXXXXXXX.
Dialing the Rome Landline from the U.S will look like 011 39 06 XXXXXXXX.
Italian Mobile Numbers
Calling an Italian mobile number begins with 3 and has a total of 10 digits of the number with no separate area code. For instance:
If the local Italian mobile number is 345 6789102, then dialing will look like this: 011 39 345 6789102.
Table of Common Italian Area Codes
Table of Common Italian Area Codes | |
---|---|
City | Area Code (starting with 0) |
Milan | 02 |
Rome | 06 |
Naples | 081 |
Venice | 041 |
Florence | 055 |
Bologna | 051 |
Turin | 011 |
Palermo | 091 |
Verona | 045 |
Bari | 080 |
Genoa | 010 |
Best Times to Call
When calling internationally, you cannot ignore the time zone difference.
Along with this, you must also have an idea of typical Italian work hours, daily routine, cultural habits, and the most famous and important siesta/riposo, which is the Italian long lunch break. During this time, many businesses place a temporary pause on their work for rest.
Time Zone Differences
Italy follows Central European Time (CET) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight saving. Because of this, a gap is created between the U.S. and Italy’s time zones. Check out this table to know better.
U.S Time Zone | Time Difference with Italy |
---|---|
Eastern (EST) | +6 hours (CET) / +5 (CEST) |
Central (CST) | +7 hours (CET) / +6 (CEST) |
Mountain (CST) | +8 hours (CET) / +7 (CEST) |
Pacific (PST) | +9 hours (CET) / +8 (CEST) |
Typical Italian Daily Rhythms
Compared to the U.S, Italian life moves a bit differently, especially when looking at business hours:
- Morning work hours: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Lunch/Siesta (riposo): 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Afternoon work hours: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Dinner Time: 8:00 PM onwards
Following this time, it is very common to find your voicemail or calls unanswered during Lunch or Siesta time.
Best Hours to Call
For business purposes, you should try calling during Italy’s morning hours (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM) and late afternoon (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM). It means the U.S time will be:
U.S Time Zone | Ideal Business Call Hours |
---|---|
EST | 3:00 AM – 6:30 AM & 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
CST | 2:00 AM – 5:30 AM & 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
MST | 1:00 AM – 4:30 AM & 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
PST | 12:00 AM – 3:30 AM & 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Other Ways to Communicate
Direct phone calling is the basic way to call Italy from the U.S., but there are other ways as well to get in touch besides this one. For instance:
If you are looking for the most reliable method of communication after direct phone calling, then email is the one, especially for formal and professional communication. You can:
- Send detailed information.
- Send attachments.
- Communicate across different time zones.
- Also, have a written record of conversations.
Social Media Direct Messaging
Social media is a versatile way to communicate. You can use it for both formal and informal communications, like small businesses, restaurants, hotels, etc. The best social media platforms are:
- Facebook Messenger
Using Online Forms for Customer Service
If you have to book a hotel, make restaurant reservations, or get tour information. Or customer support for products or services, then you can check online contact forms available on their websites.
This way, you can explain your issue or get an answer to your question, complete your purpose, and generate a faster response.
Using LinkedIn for Professional Reach-Out
If you have to contact someone for a corporate or international business purpose, then do try out LinkedIn. It offers professional networking platforms for those who are looking for a job, partnership opportunities, and building connections outside of the U.S. etc.
Final Words
Now you know the ways to make calls to Italy from the U.S., along with the correct dialing format, Italy's time zones, the best hour to call, and alternative methods like email, social media, online forms, and LinkedIn.


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