Calling Turkey from Germany

How do you dial Turkey from Germany?

Country code

+90

Mobile numbers

Example: +90 532 123 4567

Mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 5. Common prefixes: 530-539 (Turkcell), 540-549 (Turk Telekom), 550-559 (Vodafone). Drop the leading 0.

Landline numbers

Example: +90 212 123 4567

Istanbul European side is 212, Asian side is 216. Ankara is 312. Izmir is 232. Drop the leading 0.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Keeping the leading 0—dial +90 532, not +90 0532
• Confusing Istanbul's two area codes (212 European side, 216 Asian side)
• Forgetting Turkey is ahead during German winter (2 hours) but closer in summer (1 hour)

When is the best time to call Turkey?

Timezone: TRT (UTC+3)—Turkey is 1-2 hours ahead of Germany

Evening calls

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM TRT (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM German time (winter) / 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (summer) your time)

Your late afternoon/evening catches their evening. Good overlap for family calls.

Weekend morning

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM TRT (8:00 AM - 10:00 AM German time (winter) / 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (summer) your time)

Weekend mornings work well for longer family conversations.

What should you know about calling Turkey?

Turkey has three major carriers: Turkcell (largest), Vodafone Turkey,
and Turk Telekom. Mobile coverage is excellent in cities and tourist
areas. Rural eastern regions may have patchier coverage. Most Turks
use mobile as their primary number.

Call quality to Turkish cities is excellent. Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir,
and tourist destinations have reliable connections. The relatively
short distance between Germany and Turkey means low latency calls.

Cultural tips

Turkish hospitality extends to phone calls—expect warm greetings and
genuine interest in your wellbeing before business. Tea time (late
afternoon) is a good calling window. Avoid calling during meal times,
especially dinner (8-9 PM). Respect for elders is important—always
greet them properly.

Holidays to know

Ramadan affects calling patterns—people may be resting during the day
and active at night. Eid al-Fitr (Şeker Bayramı) and Eid al-Adha
(Kurban Bayramı) are major 3-4 day holidays with family gatherings.
Republic Day (Oct 29) and other national holidays may affect business.
Summer months see many Turks in Germany visiting family in Turkey.

Alternatives to phone calls

WhatsApp is widely used in Turkey for messaging and calls. Video calls
via WhatsApp are popular for families to see each other. Younger Turks
also use Instagram messaging. For business, email and WhatsApp Business
are common.

Frequently asked questions

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