Greece has a well-established postal service that dates back to 1828. The Hellenic Post (ELTA) is the official postal service provider in Greece. In addition, there are several private courier companies that offer mail and package delivery services across the country.
Hellenic Post (ELTA)
The Hellenic Post (ELTA) is the state-owned postal service provider in Greece. It is responsible for providing various postal services, including domestic and international mail delivery, postal savings, and postal money orders.
The ELTA has a vast network of post offices and agencies throughout Greece. Customers can access postal services from more than 1,300 post offices and 2,500 postal agencies located across the country.
Private Courier Companies
In addition to ELTA, there are several private courier companies that offer mail and package delivery services across Greece. These companies include DHL, FedEx, UPS, and TNT, among others. These companies provide faster and more reliable delivery services, especially for international deliveries.
Speed and Reliability
The speed and reliability of the postal service in Greece are generally good. Domestic mail delivery within Greece takes 1-3 business days, while international delivery times vary depending on the destination country.
However, customers can opt for express delivery services provided by private courier companies like DHL, FedEx, and UPS, which provide faster delivery times and more reliable services.
Additional Services
Apart from standard mail delivery services, ELTA offers various additional services to its customers. These services include:
- Postal Savings
- Postal Money Orders
- Bill Payment Services
- Stamps and Philatelic Products
Delivery to Every Home
The postal service in Greece delivers to most of the addresses within the country. However, there are some remote areas where regular postal service is not available. In such cases, customers may need to collect their mail from the nearest post office or postal agency.
Address Format
When sending mail to Greece, it is important to write the address in the correct format to ensure timely delivery. The address format in Greece is as follows:
- Name
- Street Address
- Postal Code and City
- Country (if sending from outside Greece)
For example:
Maria Papadopoulos
23, Kassandrou Street
111 44 Athens
Greece
Postcodes
Postcodes in Greece are made up of five digits, the first three indicating the prefecture or city and the last two the delivery area. The postcode should be written before the city name in the address.
Customers can look up postcodes for any area in Greece on the official ELTA website. Alternatively, customers can also use online postcode lookup tools like postcode.gr to find postcodes for specific addresses in Greece.
In conclusion, the postal service in Greece is well-established and offers reliable services across the country. Customers can access postal services through ELTA’s extensive network of post offices and agencies or opt for faster delivery services offered by private courier companies. With proper addressing and use of correct postcodes, customers can ensure timely delivery of their mail and packages.