Ever stared at a ten-digit number starting with zero and felt a bit lost? You aren't alone. Dialing a number in France—or "the Hexagon" as locals often call it—is actually a pretty logical system once you peel back the layers. If you're looking for an area code in French style, you're looking for the indicatif. It’s that two-digit prefix that tells you exactly where in the country a person is sitting, or if they’re just carrying a mobile phone in their pocket.
It hasn't always been this way.
Before 1996, the French phone system was a bit of a chaotic mess. You had different lengths for numbers depending on where you were. Then, the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse (ARCEP) stepped in and standardized everything. Now, every single number in mainland France is ten digits long. It always starts with a zero.
Why the First Two Digits Rule Everything
In France, the "area code" is the second digit of the number. The first digit is always 0, which is the access code for the national network. If you're calling from outside the country, you drop that zero and use +33.
But inside the borders? That second digit is your map.
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If you see 01, you're looking at the Île-de-France region. This is Paris and its immediate surroundings. It’s the most prestigious prefix, sort of like the 212 in New York. If you’re doing business in France, having an 01 number on your business card carries a certain weight. It says you're at the heart of the action.
Moving clockwise around the country, the numbers follow a specific geographic flow. 02 covers the Northwest. This includes the rugged coasts of Brittany, the rolling hills of Normandy, and the Centre-Val de Loire. If you're calling a cider farm in Trouville or a tech startup in Nantes, you're dialing 02.
Then you hit 03. This is the Northeast. Think Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. From the champagne cellars of Reims to the industrial hubs near Lille, 03 is the key.
Down to the Southeast we go for 04. This is the sunny part. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Corsica, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. If you're booking a hotel in Nice or calling a ski chalet in Chamonix, that 04 is unavoidable.
Finally, 05 covers the Southwest. This is Bordeaux, Toulouse, and the rest of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. It’s the land of wine and aerospace.
The Death of Geography? Mobile and Non-Geographic Codes
Here’s where it gets interesting. While the geographic area code in French regions still matters for landlines, most people you meet will give you a number starting with 06 or 07.
These are mobile numbers.
They aren't tied to a city. A person could have started their contract in Marseille (which would normally be 04) but their phone will still start with 06. In fact, France ran out of 06 numbers years ago because everyone and their toddler has a smartphone now, so they opened up the 07 range.
There's also 09. You see these a lot now. They are "non-geographic" numbers, usually used for VoIP (Voice over IP) lines that come with internet boxes from providers like Orange, Free, or SFR. They are great because they cost the same as a local call, but they don't tell you anything about where the person is. They could be in a high-rise in La Défense or a farmhouse in the Pyrenees.
Dialing From Abroad: The +33 Factor
If you are sitting in London, New York, or Tokyo and trying to reach a French number, the "0" disappears. It’s a common mistake. People dial +33 01... and it never connects.
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You must drop the leading zero.
So, a Paris landline becomes +33 1 XX XX XX XX. A mobile becomes +33 6 XX XX XX XX.
One thing to keep in mind is the cost. While the European Union abolished roaming charges for members, calling a French landline from outside the EU can still be pricey. Many businesses use 08 numbers. Be careful with these.
0800 numbers are generally free (vert/green numbers).
0810 or 0820 numbers (gris/grey or bleu/blue) usually involve a shared cost.
0899 numbers? Avoid them unless you have to. These are premium rate "magenta" numbers and they can eat your balance faster than a hungry local eats a warm baguette.
The Overseas Territories (DROM-COM)
France isn't just the Hexagon in Europe. It has territories all over the world, and they have their own specific codes. This is where things get a bit more complex.
Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana used to have much shorter numbers, but they’ve been integrated into the ten-digit system. However, they don't use the 01-05 regional codes.
For example:
- 0590 for Guadeloupe
- 0594 for French Guiana
- 0596 for Martinique
- 0262 for Réunion
If you are calling these places from mainland France, it's usually treated as a domestic call depending on your phone plan, but always check the fine print.
The Cultural Impact of the 01
In French culture, the 01 prefix isn't just a number; it’s an identity. There is a long-standing tension between Paris and "the province" (everywhere else). Having an 01 number suggests you are part of the elite, the centralized power of the French state.
Conversely, people in the south are often very proud of their 04 or 05 numbers. It represents the terroir, the connection to the land and a slower, perhaps more "authentic" way of life. When companies move their customer service centers out of Paris to save money, they often try to keep an 01 "virtual" number just to maintain the appearance of being a Parisian powerhouse.
Practical Steps for Navigating French Numbers
If you're planning a trip or doing business, here is how you handle the area code in French daily life:
1. Identify the Source: If the phone rings and you see an 01, expect a business or someone from the capital. If it's an 06 or 07, it's a personal cell or a direct line to a professional.
2. Formatting Matters: French people almost always write phone numbers in pairs. You won't see 0145678910. You will see 01 45 67 89 10. When you give your number to a Frenchman, speak it in pairs: "zéro un, quarante-cinq, soixante-sept..." It’s the only way they’ll be able to write it down easily.
3. Watch the 08: Before calling a business, check if it’s an 0800 number. If it starts with 089, try to find a standard geographic alternative on their website (often listed for international callers) to save money.
4. WhatsApp is King: Like much of Europe, many people in France prefer using WhatsApp for initial contact, especially if you have a non-French number. It bypasses the confusion of international dialing codes and potential costs.
The French numbering system is remarkably stable. Unlike the US, where new area codes are "overlaid" on top of old ones every few years, the 01-05 system has remained the same for nearly three decades. It’s a rare bit of administrative consistency that actually makes life easier for everyone involved.
Whether you're trying to reach a bistro in Lyon or a tech firm in Bordeaux, just remember the map. 01 for the center, and then a clockwise circle starting from the Northwest. It's as simple as that.
To move forward with your communication in France, verify if the number you've been given is a landline (01-05) or a mobile (06-07) to determine the best way to send a text or place a call. If calling from outside France, always remember to replace the initial 0 with the +33 country code to ensure the connection goes through.