Coin operated public phones in Berlin
 

Hi,

I will in Berlin next week and needs to make 2 short calls to a local mobile number. I don't plan to use my mobile as I don't want to incur roaming charges. I need to make a call before I leave Tegel airport and once when I arrive at my rented apartment. Are coin operated phones easily available in Tegel airport and also in U stations?

thank you.

There are several issues with coin operated phones these days. They are very hard to find and they are usually in sad shape. I tried to use one before I found a SIM store in Germany last month, and I could not figure out what sequence I use the phone, dial first or coins first - neither worked. I was't sure if the phone was working at all.

Are you from the US? If you are really talking about short calls, they should cost no more than $1.50/min. When I am a country for a short time and I need to make one 40sec call, that is what I do. It really is the cheapest solution for this type of use model.

The roaming charge you need to worry about is the data roaming, because it racks up enormous charge on its own. You can easily disable the data roaming part of your phone while turning the voice part when you need it.

Yes there are coin operated phones at Tegel airport and also in major subway stations.
Though, during the last decades the numbers have decreased and they may not be as easy to spot as in the old days when you had half a dozen side by side.

You put coins in first. 20c is usually minimum for a 2-3 min local calls. Use 50c if you want to be on the safe side. You can usually use any coin 10c and up.
Then dial the local number. Berlin's area code is 030 ( or +49 30 if you call from out of Germany) so all the digits after that are the local number.

Thank you greg and cowboy 1968 for your replies. I am from malaysia where roaming charges can be very expensive.

Cowboy 1968, I have been given a mobile no that starts as +49176 followed by another 8 digits. If I were to use a public phone, I should omit +49 but should I dial 030 followed by 176.....
Thank you

What cowboy mentioned regarding the Berlin's area code applies to land lines.

However, +49176... means you are given a cellphone number. My LIDL German cellphone telephone number starts the same way. That means,

1. In Germany you dial: 0176.... The land line area code is not used at all.
2. You will also be paying mobile connection fee of the RECEIVING phone. I think it is around 0.16€/min.

I just looked up Malaysia mobile voice roaming charge, for example Celcom. It claims a voice call within Germany is RMT 3.50/min or about 0.88€/min. I would not totally rely on finding a functional coin operated phone at U-bahn stations especially if you are ending up in a small station. You might need to find a local who might let you use the phone or learn how to use your Malaysian phone as a last resort by learning how to set your phone so that only voice/sms part comes on when you power up your phone after landing. Turn off unnecessary automatic SMS you might be receiving in Malaysia before leaving, so that your phone does not get SMS dumped as soon as you turn on your voice roaming.

sorry... my bad, I did not get it that it was a mobile number.

Mobile numbers are not "local" in Germany.
You always dial the full number, including area codes, regardless where you are.


With a mobile phone from Germany (like yours) you do not pay any fees for incoming calls or text messages from anywhere as long as you stay within Germany.

So if someone from Malaysia calls your German mobile phone number while you are in Germany, you pay nothing to receive the call.

Roaming fees only apply when you go abroad with your German mobile phone, e.g. to neighboring EU countries or elsewhere.

Thanks greg for you reply. I think I will just use my mobile to call. If I were to use my mobile in Germany but the roaming network will be German, do I still need to dial +49176.. or just 0176....?

Sorry for being so clueless. Despite 3 trips to Europe, this will be the first time I need to call somebody there.

Cowboy, thank you but I think you misunderstand my question.