Area Code 361 – Kardzhali

Geographic Overview

The area code 361 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Bulgarian telephone numbering plan, assigned under the country calling code +359. It serves the region of Kardzhali, a province located in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains in southern Bulgaria. The administrative center is the city of Kardzhali, which is the primary locality covered by this code. The region is known for its diverse ethnic composition and proximity to the Greek border, and the code covers the city itself along with surrounding towns and villages within the province.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in Kardzhali from within Bulgaria, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. The national format is:

• 0 361 XXX XXX (where X represents the local subscriber digits)

For international callers, the Bulgarian country code is used, and the leading trunk prefix is omitted. The international format is:

• +359 361 XXX XXX

For example, a local number might be listed as 361 45 67 89. To call this from abroad, you would dial +359 361 45 67 89. From a Bulgarian mobile or another fixed line, you would dial 0361 45 67 89.

Numbering Structure

Bulgarian geographic numbers, including those in the 361 area, typically consist of seven digits after the trunk prefix. The area code 361 is followed by a six-digit subscriber number, making the total national significant number length nine digits (including the leading 0). This structure aligns with ITU-T E.164 recommendations, ensuring international interoperability.

Regulatory and Technical Notes

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) of Bulgaria oversees the allocation and management of numbering resources. The 361 code is designated for fixed-line services, and numbers within this range are generally assigned to traditional PSTN and VoIP-based fixed telephony providers. As of recent years, there have been no overlay codes introduced for the Kardzhali region, meaning that the 361 code remains the sole geographic code for the area. Callers should be aware that while some businesses may use VoIP technology, the geographic nature of the code remains tied to the Kardzhali region.

Caller Guidance

For local callers within Kardzhali, it is still necessary to dial the full national number, including the trunk prefix and area code, as Bulgarian numbering does not allow local calls without the area code. For international callers, it is essential to replace the trunk prefix '0' with the international access code of their country (typically '00' or '+') followed by 359 and then the area code without the leading zero.