Area Code 286 – Castro Verde
The phone area code for Castro Verde is 286 (international format +351286). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 286
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Castro Verde
Geographic Overview
The area code 286 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the region of Castro Verde, a municipality located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. This code is part of the Portuguese public switched telephone network (PSTN) and is used for fixed-line services within this specific geographic area. Castro Verde is known for its rich cultural heritage and copper mining activities, and the 286 prefix serves the town and its surrounding rural parishes.
Dialing Formats
When calling a fixed-line number in Castro Verde from within Portugal, subscribers must dial the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 286 and the subscriber's 7-digit local number. For example, a local number might be formatted as 286 123 4567 when dialed domestically. From outside Portugal, callers must use the international access prefix (typically 00 or +), followed by Portugal's country code 351, then the area code 286 (without the leading zero) and the subscriber number. Thus, the international format would be +351 286 123 4567.
Caller Instructions
For local callers within Castro Verde, it is common to dial only the 7-digit subscriber number when calling within the same exchange area, though this practice may vary depending on the operator's dialing plan. For long-distance calls within Portugal to Castro Verde, the full national format (0-286-XXXXXXX) is required. International callers should always use the +351 country code and omit the leading trunk prefix 0.
Regulatory and Technical Notes
The 286 area code is regulated by ANACOM, Portugal's national communications authority, and follows the ITU-T E.164 numbering plan. It is a geographic code, meaning that the tariff for calls to this number is typically based on the caller's location and the distance, although many modern flat-rate plans include national calls. There are no known overlay codes for this area, so the 286 prefix is unique to the Castro Verde region. As with all Portuguese fixed-line numbers, number portability may allow subscribers to retain their number when switching providers, but the geographic significance remains tied to the original assignment.