Area Code 261 – Praia, Santiago
The phone area code for Praia, Santiago is 261 (international format +238261). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Praia, Santiago
Geographic Overview
The +238 261 prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital city of Praia, located on the southern coast of Santiago Island in Cape Verde. Praia is the largest city and the administrative, economic, and political hub of the archipelago. The code serves the central business district and surrounding residential areas, including the Plateau, Achada de Santo António, and Fazenda. As a geographic number, it is tied to the PSTN infrastructure of the region, although modern deployments may also use VoIP for backhaul.
Dialing Formats
When calling a Praia landline from abroad, the international format is +238 261 XXX XX (or +238261XXXXX). From within Cape Verde, callers must dial the full national number: 261 XXX XX. The local number is 7 digits long, with the NDC '261' being an integral part of the national significant number. There is no trunk prefix '0' in Cape Verde; the country code +238 is used for all international calls.
Caller Instructions
- International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most of Europe, 011 from the US/Canada), followed by 238, then the 7-digit number (261XXXXX). Example: from the US, dial 011 238 261 1234.
- Local callers: Simply dial 261 followed by the 5-digit subscriber number (e.g., 261 1234). No area code is needed beyond the NDC.
Numbering and Overlays
Cape Verde's numbering plan follows ITU-T E.164. The NDC '261' is specific to Praia and does not have an overlay code; other regions on Santiago, such as Assomada, use different NDCs (e.g., 262). The country's telecom regulator, AGER (Agência de Regulação Económica), manages the allocation of geographic numbers. As of recent years, there has been no plan to introduce overlay codes, but number portability exists for mobile services, not fixed lines.
Practical Notes
Fixed-line penetration in Praia is moderate, with many businesses and households relying on mobile or VoIP services. Calls to +238 261 numbers are typically charged at standard international rates, which vary by provider. For travelers, it is common to use local SIM cards for mobile calls, but for reaching hotels, government offices, or banks in Praia, the 261 prefix remains essential.