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How to telephone to or from France:

To call France from abroad:

• Dial 00 to make an international call (011 from the USA), 33 for France, then the nine digit number of your correspondent (do not include 0 at the beginning). Example (making a call to a fixed-line)
To call someone in France, whose number is 01 22 33 44 55, you must dial 00 33 1 22 33 44 55

To call a French mobile phone from abroad:

• Dial 00 to make an international call, 33 for France, then the nine digit number of your correspondent (do not include 0 at the beginning)
Example ((making a call to a mobile phone)
To call someone in France, whose number is 06 22 33 44 55, you must dial 00 33 6 22 33 44 55

To call France from France:

• You must compose the ten digit number beginning with 0

To make an international call from France:

• Dial 00 to make an international call, followed by the country code, followed by the telephone number of you correspondent.

Country codes: Download international dialling codes.doc (222ko)

 

Phone cards (télécartes)

Public telephones are available in metro stations, train stations and other public places. There are also phone cards that you can buy from France Télécom, La Poste, the main office of the Paris Tourist Information Office and from tobacconists and newspaper kiosks. They cost between €8.00 and €15.00 depending on the number of units.

It is also possible to use a French banking card in a public telephone. A limit of €15.00 is imposed on the call. You will only be charged the amount that appears on the display, and should the cost of the call reach €15.00, the call will be disconnected.

Two types of phone card are available:

those with a chip, which you just insert into the phone and dial your number; and those with a code, which you do not enter into the machine (simple follow the instructions on the card).

If you wish to make an international call, international phone cards are also available and offer very competitive rates. International phone cards can also be used for domestic calls.

Mobiles

Contact your operator to find out if your mobile phone is technically and commercially compatible with the French networks, and if so, how calls are charged in the destination country and / or the country of origin (domestic and international rates).

Connecting to a French network. Foreign mobile phones do not automatically connect to French networks. It is necessary to use the “select network” function on your phone and connect to a network manually.

For your mobile phone to work in France, it must be GSM900 or GSM1800 compatible. If the phone is not compatible with these standards, it will not work. It is possible to rent a mobile phone from numerous specialist shops.

Mail

If you have a postcard or a letter to send, you can do so on most street corners by putting it in one of the yellow post-boxes. Stamps can be bought from post offices and tobacconists. The postage for a letter weighing up to 20kg is €0.50 for France and other EU countries, €1.00 for the USA, Asia and Australia.

Post offices are open 08.00 – 19.00 Monday to Friday and 08.00 – 12.00 Saturdays. Closed on public holidays.

Good to know!

Don’t queue at the counter : there are automated machines available which you can use to weigh and stamp your mail.
In some big hotels, the concierge will post any mail that you leave stamped at the front desk.

Internet

While in Paris you can take advantage of the many cyber-cafés to read and send e-mail. Some are late opening and prices can be quite low. Some also offer special rates for students. Below are the addresses of some cyber-cafés, for further listings you should consult the site of the Paris Tourist Information Office.

- LA BAGUENAUDE (For information : category "to be restored")

Open 11.00 – 21.45 Monday to Friday and 14.00 – 21.45 Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

30, rue de la Grande-Truanderie 75001 PARIS
Métro : Etienne Marcel
tél. : 01.40.26.27.74

- BORNES RATP (RATP INTERNET POSTS)

RATP provides its customers with free access internet posts in all train stations.