Phone Calls Within Germany

Not a dumb question at all. It is confusing for first-timers.

If you are using your US mobile phone on a US plan, you dial the number when you are in Germany the same as if you were dialing from the US.
Do not use 011, as that is for reaching the US international operator from a landline.

Start with the +49, drop the (0) (which is for German-to-German calls without the country code) and then enter the rest of the numbers. It is common for European phones to vary in the number of digits.

If that doesn’t work, try it again with the “0”. I have on occasion in Italy needed that.

Enter the number the same way for texting, but remember you can only text mobile phones, not land lines.

When calling (or texting) home to the US from Germany, start with +1 instead of +49.

The length of the area code and the number are not fixed. The division between the two is usually indicated by a space or a '-'.
Phone numbers are made up of 3 parts: {country code} {area code} {number}
In Europe (and many other countries), from a landline you dial:
{number}
or: 0 {area code} {number}
or 00 {country code} {area code} { number}

The '0' and '00' are the national and international exit codes, but these are different depending on which country you are in. The USA uses different exit codes, 1 and 011 respectively.
'+' means whatever your local exit code fro international calls is where you are. From a mobile phone you can also actually dial '+' and it works.

To take your first example: +49 (0) 6131 960 11 0
6131 is the area code, 960 11 0 is the number:
From a landline in area 6131, dial: 960 11 0
From a landline in a different area in Germany, or a German mobile, dial: 0 6131 960 11 0
From a landline in a different country in Europe, dial: 00 49 6131 960 11 0
From a mobile with a number from a different country in Europe, dial: 00 49 6131 960 11 0, or: +49 6131 960 11 0
From a US mobile, dial: 011 49 6131 960 11 0

You US phone retains its US number while you are in Germany. Just dial as if you were still in the USA.
Clear?

When call back to the US from Germany from an internet cafe, pay phone or a hotel (only in those dire circumstances), I dial "0" to access outside, or if not, then "001 + area code + phone number. "

The other way around , then it's 011 plus their numbers from here.

Calling within Germany to a German tel no., punch in the (0) first, the area code.

See, I can never remember the right opening sequence (is it 001 or 011???), but if I use the + and country code I it find super easy. As described above, for Germany dial +49, drop the leading 0 and dial the rest of the number. Super simple.

Some of the above is just enhancing the confusion, especially references to “001” versus “011”. When dialing a European number from inside the US, you only start with 011 IF you are using a landline, not a mobile phone.

From a mobile phone, you start with 00 to dial an international number. The + is a shortcut and it is less confusing to just think of that, not 00.

If you are dialing a country other than the US, whether you are calling from the USA, another European country, or from inside that country, and you are using your US mobile account, you start with the +, followed by the country code.

If you are calling home to the US from Europe on that same mobile account, you need to add the US country code, which is “1”. So you start with +1 which is the same as dialing 001.

So just forget about 011 (which you never use with a mobile phone) and 001. Just use the “+” (figure out how to get it on your phone) followed by the country code for the country you are calling.

Thank you Lois...that was very clear. But just one clarification. When using a US cell phone using a US carrier but I am in Germany, I still use the + and then the country code (49) to call a hotel or person within Germany.

I think I’ve got it but it sure does get confusing with all the different options. And, I am really glad that this seems to be a question that others have also.

Yes. Dial the country code with +49 and (dropping the zero) then the rest of the number, from your US cell phone, whether you are in Germany or the US.