Calling France from the Philippines

How do you dial France from Philippines?

Country code

+33

Mobile numbers

Example: +33 6 12 34 56 78

Mobile numbers start with 06 or 07. Drop the leading 0—dial +33 6 or +33 7, not +33 06.

Landline numbers

Example: +33 1 23 45 67 89

Landlines start with 01-05 by region. Paris is 01, Southeast is 04, Southwest is 05. Drop the leading 0.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Keeping the leading 0—dial +33 1, not +33 01
• Calling during French lunch (12-2 PM)—the French take lunch seriously
• Calling in August—many French people are on vacation and businesses close

When is the best time to call France?

Timezone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) during daylight saving (late March - late October)

Afternoon call

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM French time (8:00 PM - 12:00 MN Philippine time your time)

Your evening catches their afternoon. Good for business or catching people after lunch.

Evening call

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM French time (12:00 MN - 2:00 AM Philippine time your time)

If you're a night owl, this catches French people after work. Avoid calling after 9 PM French time.

What should you know about calling France?

France has excellent mobile coverage nationwide. Major carriers are Orange,
SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free Mobile. Landlines are still common,
especially for older contacts and businesses. Call quality is consistently
high across the country.

Calls to France connect reliably from the Philippines. Both mobile and
landline connections are clear. If you're calling French overseas
territories (Réunion, Martinique, etc.), those use different codes.

Cultural tips

The French value their personal time. Avoid calling during meals—lunch
(12-2 PM) is sacred, and dinner runs 8-10 PM. Sunday is family day; avoid
non-urgent calls. For business calls, be formal initially (use "vous" not
"tu" if speaking French). Get to the point but don't be abrupt.

Holidays to know

August is vacation month—many French leave cities and businesses close
for weeks. May has multiple holidays close together (May 1, May 8,
Ascension). Bastille Day (July 14) is the national holiday. Christmas
and New Year's are family time. The "pont" (bridge) tradition means
many take extra days off around holidays.

Alternatives to phone calls

WhatsApp is popular in France for messaging and calls. For business,
email is often preferred for initial contact. Younger French people use
Snapchat and Instagram messaging. Video calls via WhatsApp or FaceTime
are common for staying in touch with family.

Frequently asked questions

Related calling guides