GREEK POSTAL CODES - ZIP CODES OF GREECE

The Postal Code (ZIP) constitutes the main organization model of the Greek Postal Office (ELTA). Its establishment helped the Postal Office to make the processes of classification, transmission and performance of mail easier, simpler and faster.

Our country is divided into 21 postal regions (hubs). Each one of them contains one or more districts, which are determined by the first two digits of the five-digit Postal ZIP Code. Numbered postal areas are the basis upon which the classification and forwarding of all mail is founded on.

Analysis of the structure of the Greek ZIP Postal Codes

• The first two digits of the postal zip code indicate which of the 21 postal regions the address belongs to. In cases where a postal area includes more than one prefectures or cities with over 50,000 inhabitants, then the first two digits indicate the prefecture or city which the address belongs to. When the first two digits identify a major city for example “65” for Kavala and the third digit is "0", it means that the mail is destined for the post offices in the city, while the fourth and fifth digits indicate the specific Post Office.

• When the third digit is "1", it means that the mail is intended for mailboxes of the Main Post Office of the city, while the fourth and fifth digits show us part of the mailboxes.
  When the third digit is "5" then it means that mail rural (agricultural) and distributed to rural distributors. In this case the last two digits are always "00".
  When the third digit is "2", "3" or "4", it means that the mail is intended for the city and is distributed by urban distributors, while the fourth and fifth digits show the distribution zone which the address belongs to.

• For cities or towns within the same prefecture, the first two digits are common, while the third digit "1" through "9" indicates that this city is habituated by 4,000 to 50,000 people.
  In these cases, the fourth and fifth digits are "00" meaning that mail is intended for the urban area of the city and the digits "01", "02", etc. show a smaller Post Office city or region.
  When the third digit is "0", it means that these towns or villages have populations less than 4,000 inhabitants. The fourth and fifth digits show which town or village is concerned and therefore which Post Office.