Telephones

The country code for Italy is 39. The area code for Rome is 06. Example: A call from New York City to Rome would be dialed as follows: 011 + 39 + 06 + phone number.

LONG-DISTANCE
Since hotels tend to overcharge, sometimes exorbitantly, for long-distance and international calls, it is best to make such calls from Telefoni offices, where operators will assign you a booth, help you place your call, and collect payment when you have finished, at no extra charge.
There are Telefoni offices, designated "telecom", in major train stations and in the central business districts.
The long-distance services of AT&T, MCI, and Sprint make calling home relatively convenient, but in many hotel rooms it may be impossible to dial the access number, so try the lobby pay phone instead.
The local access numbers for the major U.S. telephone companies are AT&T USADirect (tel. 172-1011); MCI Call USA (tel. 172-1022); Sprint Express (tel. 172-1877).
Rates to the United States are lowest round the clock on Sunday and 11 PM-8 AM, Italian time, on weekdays.
You can place a direct call to the United States by reversing the charges or using your phone credit card number.
When calling from pay telephones, insert a 200-lire coin which will be returned upon completion of your call.

OPERATORS AND INFORMATION
For general information in English, dial 176.
To place calls to another European country via operator-assisted service, dial 15.
To place intercontinental telephone calls via operator-assisted service (or for intercontinental information), dial 170 or long-distance access numbers.

PAY PHONES
Pay phones take either a 200-lire coin, two 100-lire coins, a 500-lire coin, or a carta telefonica (prepaid calling card).
Scheda phones are becoming common everywhere.
You buy the card (values vary--5,000 lire, 10,000 lire, etc.) at Telefoni offices, post offices, and tobacconists.
Tear off the corner of the card, and insert it in the slot. When you dial, its value appears in the window. After you hang up, the card is returned so you can use it until its value runs out.

Return to Pratical Information main page