Post Codes and Addresses

Find out how to use the Greek postal system: how to address a letter, locate a post office or forward mail. In addition, learn how to search for a post code in Greece...

Hellenic Post - ΕΛΤΑ/ELTA (Ελληνικά Ταχυδρομεία), is the Greek national postal service. The English-language website has information on the services provided: paying bills, transferring money, financial products, postal accounts and postal services.

• ELTA Customer Service Centre - Tel: 800 118 2000

Postal Codes in Greece

Greek post codes are five digits long and are usually written as follows: 123 45.

The first three digits are used to identify the city, municipality or prefecture, for example the digits between 100 and 180 relate to the city of Athens, with 180 to 199 being used in the rest of Attica. The last two digits identify a street or part of a street.

• To search for a postcode: Click here and select Postal Codes. Larger cities, including Athens and its suburbs, are listed in category "A"; the rest of Greece is in category "B"

There may be more than one postcode for the same street. It is important to have the exact street number in order to obtain the exact postcode. Many street names exist several times in Greece: for instance, there are more than 50 streets named Kolokotronis in Athens alone.

Post Offices

A post office is known as a tachidromeio (ταχηδρομείο) in Greek.

Most post offices are open Monday to Friday from 07:30-14:00. Many post offices are at their busiest from about midday until closing time. Larger Post Offices may have longer opening hours.

• To search for a local Post Office: Click here and select Postal Agencies

Writing Addresses

Post in Greece can be addressed with Latin letters using simple transliteration. Most Greeks know how to write their name in Latin letters, though how this is done can vary between people. For example Γιαννής may call himself John, Yannis, Ioannis, Gianni or Johnny in Latin and sometimes Ιωάννης in Greek.

There is seldom a standard translation for street names or villages, although most business will provide their address in Latin letters on web pages or correspondence.

Addresses are written on the lower right hand side of the postal item or letter, with the return address either on the back of the envelope or on the upper left hand side of the front.

On letters it is acceptable and common to write the given name first, while most Greek paper work and official documentation will write surnames first, followed by given names. Writing surnames first is considered more formal.

Post codes are often written underneath area names, but there is no standard.

Postal Services

Mail can be sent first or second class, registered or unregistered and express. Prices rise incrementally for letters depending on weight.

Some of the main services provided by the post office include:

• Paying bills (electricity, telephone) and fines (such as parking)
• Stamps, books of stamps and personalised stamps
• Domestic and international money transfers
• Bulk purchase of tickets for public transport
• Post: letters, packages and parcels
• Mail tracking
• Postal savings accounts
• Mail box rental

Postal Accounts

Postal savings accounts are available from the Postal Savings Bank T.T. and have higher interest rates than other bank accounts.

These accounts are often used by people living in rural areas. The Hellenic Post has an extended network of post offices all over Greece, and the postal account services are available in all of these service points.

• Greek Postal Savings Bank

Mail Forwarding

The Hellenic Post (ELTA) provides a mail forwarding service for up to six months. Applications for this service should be made at the local post office.

Note: This service is not available when moving overseas.

Further Information

• Information on Greek Postal Codes from Wikipedia: Click here