Bangkok Country Code (+66) and How to Call Bangkok From the USA

The country code for Bangkok, Thailand is +66. To call Bangkok from the USA or Canada, dial 011 (the international exit code), then 66, then the number without its leading 0. A Bangkok landline written locally as 02 623 5500 becomes 011 66 2 623 5500 from the US, or +66 2 623 5500 from any mobile phone.

Bangkok has no separate country code; +66 covers all of Thailand. What makes Bangkok numbers look different is the area code, 2, which Thai businesses write as "02" for local calls. This guide shows the dialing pattern from the US and elsewhere, how Thai mobile numbers work, and how to get a local SIM when you arrive.

How to call Bangkok from the USA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which assigns country codes, lists Thailand as country code 66 and the United States and Canada as using 011 as their international prefix. Put together, the sequence from a US landline or a US mobile without the plus key is:

1. 011: the exit code for international calls from the US and Canada.
2. 66: Thailand's country code.
3. The Thai number without its first 0. Thai numbers are written for domestic use with a leading 0 (the "trunk prefix"), which you drop when calling from abroad.

A real example: the US Embassy in Bangkok publishes its number as 02-205-4000 from inside Thailand and +66-2-205-4000 from outside. From a US phone, that is 011 66 2 205 4000.

Using the plus sign on a mobile

On any smartphone, hold the 0 key to type +, which replaces the exit code of whatever country you are in. Saving Bangkok numbers in your contacts as +66 followed by the number without the 0 means they work whether you dial from home, from a Thai SIM, or from a third country. It is the simplest habit to adopt before a trip.

Calling Bangkok from the UK, Australia and elsewhere

Only the exit code changes. The ITU's dialing tables list the international prefix as 00 for the United Kingdom and most of Europe, and 0011 for Australia. So the same Bangkok number, 02 205 4000, is:

• from the UK: 00 66 2 205 4000;
• from Australia: 0011 66 2 205 4000;
• from any mobile: +66 2 205 4000.

Bangkok landlines and Thai mobile numbers

Bangkok landlines start with 02 when written for local use. Official sites show the pattern consistently: the Grand Palace lists its information line as +66-2-623-5500, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives 02 203 5000. Mobile numbers are written with a leading 0 followed by a longer number, and you drop the 0 in exactly the same way when dialing from abroad: +66, then the rest.

Once you are in Thailand on a Thai SIM, you dial numbers as written locally, with the 0: 02 623 5500 for the Grand Palace information line, for example. The same applies to hotel front desks and restaurant reservation lines listed in our Bangkok hotel guide and restaurant guide.

Time difference: when to call

Thailand is on UTC+7 all year, with no daylight saving time, according to the ITU tables. Bangkok is 11 hours ahead of US Eastern time during US daylight saving time and 12 hours ahead in winter, and 14 or 15 hours ahead of the US West Coast. A 9 a.m. call from New York in summer reaches Bangkok at 8 p.m., so a late-evening call from the US East Coast reaches Bangkok early the next morning.

Local SIM cards and eSIMs in Bangkok

If you will be making calls or using data for more than a day or two, a Thai tourist SIM is usually cheaper than roaming. The Tourism Authority of Thailand advises visitors to buy a local SIM card or a portable Wi-Fi device. A few things to know:

• Where to buy: the major networks have counters in the international arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport (in Samut Prakan province, just outside Bangkok), and shops across the city. AIS lists tourist plans of 8, 15 and 60 days.
• Registration: AIS says SIM cards must be registered under the rules of Thailand's telecom regulator, the NBTC, using your passport; its tourist SIMs can also be verified by sending your passport number by SMS. Have your passport with you when you buy.
• After 60 days: AIS says tourist SIM users who keep a number beyond 60 days from activation must reconfirm their identity.
• eSIM: if your phone supports eSIM, ask whether the tourist plan you want is available as an eSIM, and check compatibility before you travel.

Prices change often, so compare the plans at the counter rather than relying on figures quoted online.

Free and app-based calling

Many Thai businesses and public bodies list a LINE messaging account alongside their phone number; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does, for example. Calls over apps use data rather than minutes, so on hotel Wi-Fi they cost nothing extra. For anything urgent, though, a regular phone call to the published number remains the reliable option.

Numbers to save before you land

• Tourist Police: 1155, 24 hours, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
• TAT Call Centre: 1672, for tourist information.
• Your hotel's front desk in +66 format, and your embassy's number.

For planning the rest of your trip, see our guide to Bangkok attractions.

Sources: ITU, list of country codes (E.164), ITU, dialling procedures, U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Thailand, Contact, The Grand Palace, Practical Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Visitor Information, AIS, Tourist SIM. Checked September 26, 2026.