Area Code 864 – Castellón

Overview of Area Code 864 (Castellón)

Area code 864 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the province of Castellón, located in the Valencian Community, eastern Spain. It serves the capital city, Castellón de la Plana, and surrounding municipalities including Villarreal, Burriana, La Vall d'Uixó, and Vinaròs. This code is part of the Spanish national numbering plan under ITU-T E.164, with the full international dialing prefix +34 864.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in Castellón from within Spain, you must dial the 9-digit national number, which includes the area code. For example, a local number might be 864 123 456. From abroad, you would dial +34 864 123 456. Note that Spain does not use trunk prefixes like '0' or '1'; the national significant number (NSN) is always 9 digits, starting with the area code.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 864 code covers the entire province of Castellón, which is divided into comarcas (districts) such as Plana Alta, Plana Baixa, and Alto Palancia. The province is known for its Mediterranean coastline, agricultural production (oranges and ceramics), and growing tourism sector. The code is administered by the Spanish telecommunications regulator, Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC).

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Historically, Castellón used the area code 964. In 2009, Spain introduced an overlay plan for certain provinces to increase number capacity. As a result, new landline numbers in Castellón may be assigned with the 864 code, while existing 964 numbers remain unchanged. This means that both codes are active in the same geographic area, and local calls require dialing the full 9-digit number (including the area code) even for calls within the same locality. There is no need to dial an additional trunk prefix.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Spain): Dial the 9-digit number, e.g., 864 123 456.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the US/Canada), then Spain's country code 34, followed by the 9-digit number: +34 864 123 456.

When calling from a mobile phone in Spain, you can dial the number directly in international format (+34 864 123 456) or national format (864 123 456).

Important Notes

Numbers beginning with 864 are landlines and are typically associated with fixed-line operators such as Telefónica, Vodafone, Orange, and MásMóvil, as well as alternative local providers. As with all Spanish geographic numbers, calls are usually charged at standard local rates, but the exact tariff depends on your phone plan. Be aware of potential scams: if you receive an unsolicited call from an 864 number, it may be a legitimate business, but always verify the identity of the caller before sharing personal information.