France Country Code +33: A Complete Dialing Guide

Setting up a trip to France, or just wondering what its “Code de Pays” is? 

Whether you’ve got a trip in the works, or need to keep in touch with someone in this beautiful nation, this handy guide takes you through everything from national codes to phone area dialing codes. 

By the way, don’t forget to bring an iRoamly France travel eSIM to stay connected online, even without a French SIM card.

What is France’s Country Code? 

The country code for France is +33. That simple number is your key to phone calls to one of the world’s most culturally rich nations. The code is crucial to international calls, making sure every call you make reaches its French destination smoothly and quickly.

France’s Telephone Area Codes 

Since 1996, the telephone numbering plan in place for mainland France uses a ten-digit closed numbering plan. The first two digits indicate the geographical area, or the type of service – mobile or non-geographic:

What are the Five Zones?

France is split into five geographical phone zones, each with its own character and appeal. It helps to know them if you’re making calls in those regions, but it can also be useful when planning trips around the country. Here's what you'll find in each zone:

Zone 01: Île-de-France

Covering: Primarily the area in and around Paris

Features: As the political and cultural capital of France, Paris itself should need no introduction – it's home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame, and the economic heart of the country, with a staggering amount of business conducted within its limits.

Zone 02: Northwest France

Covering: Brittany and Normandy, plus parts of Pays de la Loire

Features: Fisheries, farms, forests and French fancies await in this zone, with its historied coastline, Celtic leanings, and attractions like Mont Saint-Michel, the D-Day landing beaches, and the châteaux of the Loire Valley. This region exemplifies what France is known for—a rich tapestry of history and natural beauty.

Zone 03: Northeast France

Covering: Champagne, Alsace, Lorraine, and part of Burgundy

Features: Wine country, trading history, and grand old cities define the third zone, with famous vineyards, cities like Reims (where French kings were once crowned), Strasbourg (home of a great Gothic cathedral, and more) and the cultural powerhouses of Dijon and Nancy to explore.

Zone 04: Southeast France

Covering: Provence, Côte d'Azur, and the Alps

Features: Sun-kissed Med shores and fragrant lavender fields are the hallmarks of the fourth zone, along with cities sure to be on any Riviera lovers' lips – Nice, Cannes, Marseille, the oldest city in France, Saint-Tropez – plus the world's best skiing, in the French Alps.

Zone 05: Southwest France

Covering: Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon

Features: Few regions better represent the diversity of France's landscape than the final zone, taking in Pyrenean peaks, the idyllic Bordeaux wine region, and harboring cities like Toulouse and Montpellier – historical powerhouses with a modernist cultural kick – in its rich heartland.

French Toll-Free Numbers

For French toll-free numbers, such as those commonly used by businesses and services, there are some specific codes:

How to Dial a French Phone Number

In France, every phone number is 10 digits long, down to local numbers that don’t require the geographic area code. It makes for a simple system, and all phone numbers are equally accessible, starting with a 0 and five digits

How to Dial Within France

Regardless of where in the country you are – whether you're calling from Paris to the Côte d'Azur or from Strasbourg to Reims – entire dial code numbers are 10 digits long. That's the code for the area you're calling, followed by the specific number.

International Calls to France

When calling France from another country, you'll first need to dial the international access code, often represented as “00” (or alternatively known as “IAC” – International Access Code – by the International Telecommunications Union).

From there, input the country code for France, “+33”, and then the French number, dropping the initial 0. So, a number beginning 05 xx xx xx xx for South-East France can be dialed as +33 5 xx xx xx xx.

Pronunciation of French Phone Numbers

When reading phone numbers in France, locals will split the 10 digits into groups of 2. So a number like 01 23 45 67 89 would be recited as “zero one, twenty three, forty five, sixty seven, eighty nine”. It’s an approach mandated nationwide, making numbers that bit easier to memorize and convey to others.

Calling France from a Landline

When calling a French number from your home country on a landline, you'll also need to replace the "+" in the country code with the international call prefix of the country you're calling from. Here are the international prefixes of some of the most common countries to call France from:

Summary

Knowing the country code for France (+33) and its city dialing codes can save you frustration during your travels or communications. 

Whether watching football at a Paris bistro or sampling some of Bordeaux’s wines, staying connected is vital – keep this guide close to hand while you explore the sights and sounds of France.