Confused by the endless numbers we need to dial? Here's how to get through to Greece - and FROM Greece!
Difficulty Level: average Time Required: 5 min
Here's How:
- For calls within Athens, made from Athens, omit the area code (in this case, 01).
- Deposit your coins (increasingly rare) or insert your previously-purchased phone card. Make sure your phone card matches the logo on the booth you're using.
- Listen for the "dial tone" - a series of beeps. This won't be the tone you're used to and sounds like an interrupted busy signal. It's not.
- Dial the number. Constant beeps indicate it's busy.
- For calls from Athens to another Greek city, add the area code of the city you're calling.
- For calls from Athens to another country, first count your money - it's expensive! Beware of hotel surcharges, often equal to the cost of the phone call itself.
- Find a modern phone booth, or go to the OTE (Greek Telephone Company) office located in all substantial towns.Some phone booths may not handle international calls. Ones with more up-to-date looking equipment are more likely to do so.
- Dial the country code.
- Dial the number, including the area code (but omitting the "1" sometimes dialed for long-distance before the area code)
- If using a phone card from your own country, follow the instructions provided by the issuer.
- Calling a ship? Contact the ship-to-shore operator at 158.
- Athens Area code is 01; Thessaloniki is 031, Patras is 061, Iraklio 081. When you're dialing a number in these cities from the same city, omit this area code and just dial the seven-digit number.
- To call the US or Canada, begin with 001 followed by the area code and number. UK is 0044.
- Long distance calls made FROM Greece are extremely expensive. Be prepared for a big bill no matter how you pay or where you call from. Mobile cel phone users may actually pay less in some cases than hardwired callers, but will still pay more than they are accustomed to at home.
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