How to Call Paris from US
How to Call a Landline in Paris (France)
Calling a Paris landline from the United States (US) follows a standard international format:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial France's country code: 33
- Dial the Paris regional code (zone digit - drop leading '0'): 1
- Dial the 8-digit local phone number: e.g., XX XX XX XX
For example, if you're calling a landline number in Paris (Zone 1), with the local number 12 34 56 78, you would dial: 011 33 1 12 34 56 78.
French landline numbers consist of the country code (33), a 1-digit zone identifier (1 for Paris/Île-de-France), and an 8-digit local number. Always drop the leading '0' of the national number when dialing internationally.
Dialing a Paris landline:
How to Call a Mobile Phone in France
Calling a French mobile phone (including those used in Paris) from the United States (US) uses this pattern:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial France's country code: 33
- Dial the French mobile number (starts with 6 or 7, drop the leading '0'): 6 XX XX XX XX or 7 XX XX XX XX (9 digits total after country code).
For example, if the French mobile number is 06 12 34 56 78, you would dial: 011 33 6 12 34 56 78 from the US.
French mobile numbers are 9 digits long following the country code and start with a 6 or 7. No area code is needed for mobile phones.
Dialing a France mobile:
France Regional Area Codes (Zone Identifiers)
France uses a geographic numbering plan for landlines. The first digit after the country code (33) indicates the zone. Paris is in Zone 1. When calling a landline from the US, use the format: 011 + 33 + Zone Digit + 8-digit Local Number.
| Zone Digit | Region(s) including Major Cities |
|---|---|
| 1 | Île-de-France (Paris region) |
| 2 | North-West (e.g., Nantes, Rennes, Le Havre) |
| 3 | North-East (e.g., Lille, Strasbourg, Nancy) |
| 4 | South-East (e.g., Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Grenoble, Montpellier) |
| 5 | South-West (e.g., Bordeaux, Toulouse, Limoges) |
Mobile Phone Networks in France
French mobile numbers are 9 digits long (after the country code 33) and start with a 6 or 7. These prefixes do not strictly tie to a single network anymore due to number portability.
| Major Network Providers | Mobile Prefixes (Start of the 9-digit number) |
|---|---|
| Orange | 6, 7 (followed by 8 digits) |
| SFR | |
| Bouygues Telecom | |
| Free Mobile |
Remember to dial 011 + 33 + Full Mobile Number (starting with 6 or 7) regardless of the network when calling from the US.
Time Difference in Paris (France)
Paris operates on Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1 during standard time, and Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2 during Daylight Saving Time (DST).
France observes Daylight Saving Time, typically from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October.
This means the time difference with the United States (US) varies:
US Eastern Time (ET): Paris is 6 hours ahead of EST (US Standard Time) and 5 hours ahead of EDT (US DST).
(Example: 9 AM EST is 3 PM CET in Paris; 9 AM EDT is 2 PM CEST in Paris)
US Central Time (CT): Paris is 7 hours ahead of CST and 6 hours ahead of CDT.
US Mountain Time (MT): Paris is 8 hours ahead of MST and 7 hours ahead of MDT.
US Pacific Time (PT): Paris is 9 hours ahead of PST and 8 hours ahead of PDT.
(Example: 9 AM PST is 6 PM CET in Paris; 9 AM PDT is 5 PM CEST in Paris)
Always check the current time difference before calling, especially during the transition months for DST in both the US and France (March/April, October/November).
France's Phone System
France possesses a highly developed and modern telecommunications network. Mobile phone usage is widespread with excellent 4G and growing 5G coverage offered by major providers like Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free Mobile. Landline infrastructure is robust and reliable, particularly in urban areas like Paris. VoIP services, including popular apps like WhatsApp, are commonly used for both domestic and international communication.
Best Times to Call Paris
Considering the time difference, coordinating calls between the United States (US) and Paris requires planning.
Typical Paris business hours are Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM CET/CEST. Lunch breaks (often around 12 PM - 2 PM) can be common.
The best overlap for calls often occurs during the US morning. Aim for 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM US Eastern Time (which corresponds roughly to 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM CEST / 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM CET in Paris). Calling earlier in the US morning catches Parisians during their afternoon work hours.
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Using our service is simple:
Dial local access number
Call the local access number provided with your card (relevant for the United States (US))
Enter your PIN
Input your unique PIN when prompted
Dial France number
Follow the format based on your destination (after entering PIN):
For Paris/France Landlines: 33 + 1 + 8-digit number (or other zone digit)
For France Mobiles: 33 + 6 or 7 + 8-digit number
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