Greece +30

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a southeastern European nation known for its ancient heritage, thousands of islands, and strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its telephone system is managed by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) and primarily served by OTE (now part of Deutsche Telekom) along with several alternative operators. The country code +30 is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). When calling Greece from abroad, you must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from North America), followed by +30, and then the ten-digit subscriber number, which always begins with the digit '2' for landlines or '6' for mobile phones. No trunk prefix '0' is used after the country code; the leading '0' of the national significant number is dropped when dialing from outside Greece.

Area Codes and Numbering Structure

Greece adopted a closed numbering plan in 2002, meaning all fixed-line numbers are ten digits long, including the area code. Fixed-line numbers start with '2' followed by a two-digit geographic code (e.g., 21 for Athens, 231 for Thessaloniki, 261 for Patras). The area code is an integral part of the subscriber number, and it is always dialed, even for local calls within the same area. For example, to call a number in Athens, you dial 210 1234567, and the '210' is the local code. Mobile numbers start with '6' (e.g., 69x), and are also ten digits. Non-geographic numbers include toll-free numbers starting with '800', premium-rate numbers starting with '90', and shared-cost numbers beginning with '801'. When dialing from a Greek landline to another Greek number, you must include the full ten-digit number. From a mobile phone, you do the same. There are no separate area codes for mobile numbers; the entire mobile number is dialed.

Special Dialing Rules and Services

Greece does not use a trunk prefix like '0' for domestic calls; the '0' is only used when dialing from within Greece to a number in a different city if you are using an older phone system, but in practice, the full ten-digit number is always dialed. For international calls from Greece, the access code is '00' (or '+'), followed by the destination country code and the national number (dropping the trunk prefix if any). Emergency numbers in Greece are: 112 for general emergencies (EU-wide), 100 for police, 166 for ambulance, and 199 for fire. These are toll-free and can be dialed from any phone. Directory assistance is available at 11888 for domestic and international numbers, though charges may apply. Greece also has a special 'European emergency number' 112, which works across the EU and is accessible in Greek and English. For calls to Greek numbers from abroad, you must not include the '0' that precedes the area code in domestic notation; for instance, a landline in Athens is dialed as +30 210 1234567, and a mobile as +30 691 2345678.

Area Code Context and Major Cities

The geographic area codes in Greece are organized into three-digit codes after the initial '2'. Athens and its surrounding region use the code 21 (e.g., 210 for central Athens, 211 for some newer areas). Thessaloniki, the second-largest city, uses 231, while Patras uses 261, Larissa uses 241, and Heraklion (Crete) uses 281. The codes are not strictly aligned with administrative regions but rather with telecommunication districts. For example, the code 22 covers many islands and eastern mainland towns, but with variations: 222 for the Cyclades, 224 for the Dodecanese, 225 for Lesbos, etc. When calling from abroad, you dial +30, then the three-digit code (starting with 2), then the seven-digit subscriber number. It is important to note that some areas have overlapping codes due to number portability, but the geographic assignment remains largely stable. For travelers, it is useful to know that many hotels and businesses use the standard landline format, but increasingly, they may have mobile numbers for convenience.

Special Rules for Mobile and Satellite Services

Greek mobile numbers always begin with the digit '6' and are ten digits long, for example, 691 234 5678. There is no separate area code for mobiles; the entire number is dialed. When calling a Greek mobile from abroad, you dial +30 followed by the full mobile number, omitting any leading '0' (which is not present anyway). Greece also has satellite telephone services, but these are not assigned under the +30 code; they use a separate country code (e.g., +881 for Inmarsat). For maritime communications, ships in Greek waters may use +30 through coastal stations, but most use satellite or VHF radio. One special rule: when calling a Greek number from a foreign mobile phone while roaming in Greece, you must dial the number in international format, including +30, because the local network will not recognize a national format without the country code. Similarly, when dialing from a Greek mobile to another Greek number, you can simply dial the ten-digit number, but if you are roaming abroad with a Greek SIM, you must dial +30 followed by the number.

Traveler and Business Tips

For travelers, it is advisable to have an unlocked phone and purchase a local prepaid SIM card from providers like Cosmote, Vodafone, or Wind (now Nova) to avoid high roaming charges. These SIMs are available at airports and kiosks, and you may need to register with a passport. When making calls within Greece, always include the full ten-digit number, even if you are calling from a landline in the same area code. For business calls, it is essential to respect Greek office hours, which are typically from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a long lunch break from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the summer. Many businesses close on Wednesdays and Saturdays in August. When dialing from abroad, be aware that Greek numbers may be listed with a leading '0' (e.g., 0 210 1234567); you must drop that '0' after dialing +30. Also, be mindful that some Greek companies use 9-digit numbers for fax or older systems, but these are rare and have been migrated to 10-digit. For emergency services, 112 is the best option as it works with any network and can handle English. Always carry a written list of important contacts in case your phone battery dies, and remember that public payphones are scarce but still exist; they accept phone cards or coins.