How To Call Portugal From US
Quick Reference Summary
To call Portugal from the United States:
011 + 351.+ Local Number
Examples:
- For Lisbon landline: 011 + 351 + 21 + XXX XXXX (7 digits)
- For Portugal mobile phone: 011 + 351 + 9X + XXX XXXX (7 digits)
When it’s 12 PM (noon) in New York (EST), it’s 5 PM in Portugal (5 hours ahead).
How to Call a Landline in Portugal
To call a Portugal landline from the United States, follow these steps:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial Portugal’s country code: 351
- Dial the area code (2 digits)
- Dial the local phone number (7 digits)
For example, if you’re calling a Lisbon number written as 21 123 4567 in Portugal, you would dial 011 351 21 123 4567 from the United States.
Unlike many countries, when calling Portugal you don’t need to drop any leading zeros, as Portuguese area codes don’t include zeros at the beginning. The area code is always a 2-digit number that helps identify the region you’re calling.
How to Call a Mobile Phone in Portugal
Calling a Portuguese mobile phone follows the same pattern:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial Portugal’s country code: 351
- Dial the mobile prefix (2 digits, usually starting with 9)
- Dial the rest of the mobile number (7 digits)
For example, if the Portuguese mobile number is 91 123 4567, you would dial 011 351 91 123 4567 from the US.
Portuguese mobile numbers can be identified by their first two digits, which typically start with 9 followed by another digit that indicates the mobile service provider.
Understanding Portuguese Phone Numbers
Portuguese phone numbers follow a consistent structure that makes international dialing straightforward once you understand the system.
Landline Numbers
Portuguese landline numbers consist of:
- A 2-digit area code
- A 7-digit local number
Total digits: 9 (including the area code)
Mobile Numbers
Portuguese mobile numbers have:
- A 2-digit mobile prefix (starting with 9)
- A 7-digit personal number
Total digits: 9 (same as landlines)
Portuguese Area Codes
When calling Portugal from the US, you need to include the area code. Here are the main area codes for different regions:
| City/Region | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Lisbon | 21 |
| Porto | 22 |
| Coimbra | 23 |
| Setúbal | 26 |
| Algarve/Faro | 28 |
| Braga | 25 |
| Madeira | 29 |
| Azores | 29 |
For example, to call a landline in Porto with the number 22 123 4567, you would dial 011 351 22 123 4567 from the US.
Mobile Phone Networks
Portuguese mobile numbers start with the digit 9, followed by another digit that typically identifies the mobile network:
| Network | Typical Prefixes |
|---|---|
| MEO (formerly TMN) | 91, 93, 96 |
| Vodafone | 91, 92, 93 |
| NOS (formerly Optimus) | 93, 96 |
When calling a Portuguese mobile from the US, dial 011 351 9X XXXXXXX (where X is the second digit of the mobile prefix).
Special Numbers
Portugal has several special number formats:
| Type | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toll-free | 800 XXX XXX | Free calls within Portugal, may not be accessible from US |
| Shared cost | 808 XXX XXX | Cost shared between caller and receiver |
| Premium | 760 XXX XXX | Higher cost services |
For these special services, it’s best to check if they can be reached from outside Portugal as many are designed for domestic use only.
Time Difference
Portugal follows Western European Time (WET), which is UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer (when Daylight Saving Time is in effect).
The time difference between the US and Portugal depends on your location in the US and the time of year:
- Eastern Time (ET): Portugal is 5 hours ahead (winter) or 4 hours ahead (summer)
- Central Time (CT): Portugal is 6 hours ahead (winter) or 5 hours ahead (summer)
- Mountain Time (MT): Portugal is 7 hours ahead (winter) or 6 hours ahead (summer)
- Pacific Time (PT): Portugal is 8 hours ahead (winter) or 7 hours ahead (summer)
Portugal changes to Daylight Saving Time on the last Sunday in March and back to standard time on the last Sunday in October.
Best Times to Call
Considering the time difference, the optimal times to call Portugal from the US are:
- From Eastern US: 7 AM – 12 PM (corresponds to 12 PM – 5 PM in Portugal)
- From Central US: 6 AM – 11 AM (corresponds to 12 PM – 5 PM in Portugal)
- From Mountain US: 5 AM – 10 AM (corresponds to 12 PM – 5 PM in Portugal)
- From Pacific US: 4 AM – 9 AM (corresponds to 12 PM – 5 PM in Portugal)
Business hours in Portugal typically run from 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday.
Portuguese Phone System Features
The Portuguese telecommunication infrastructure is modern and well-developed. Some features to be aware of:
- High-quality digital connections, especially in urban areas
- Extensive mobile coverage throughout the country
- Phone numbers remain the same length whether dialed domestically or internationally
- No need to drop or add digits when dialing internationally (unlike some countries)
- Most Portuguese people speak English, especially younger generations and those in business and tourism
Call Portugal For Less With Phone Card Choice
Calling Portugal from the United States can be expensive with standard carriers, but our international calling cards provide an affordable alternative for staying connected with family, friends, or business associates in Portugal.
Our customers who frequently call Portugal appreciate the excellent connection quality and budget-friendly rates, whether they’re calling Lisbon landlines or mobile phones in the Algarve.
Calling to a landline in Portugal? See our best international calling cards for Portugal here.
Calling to a mobile in Portugal? See our best international calling cards for Portugal here.
Using our service is straightforward:
- Dial the local access number provided with your card
- Enter your 10-digit PIN number
- Dial Portugal (351 + area code + local number)
Our international phone cards work from any phone in the United States. What makes our phone cards special:
- Call to 200+ countries including all regions of Portugal
- Call from any landline or mobile phone
- Call to Portuguese landlines or mobile phones with competitive rates
- No hidden fees or surprise charges
- 100% prepaid so you always know what you’re spending
- No reactivation fees even after periods of non-use
- Phone card details delivered instantly via email
- Credit rollover ensures you never lose what you’ve paid for
- Reliable service that keeps you connected
To start calling Portugal at affordable rates, visit Phone Card Choice or call our customer service for personalized assistance.
