Greece

Area code 30Common abbreviation GRLast updated 17-2-2008
Road classSyntax explanationAdministrative subordinationSub classesZonesSystemRemarks
European roadE[0-9]<2-3>EuropeSee Europe
Motorway A[0-9]<1-3>national1-dGridSequential exit numbers
2-ddetermined by first digit
3-dOnly known number 642
National road[0-9]<1-2>{A}national1-dGrid
2-d
General description:
Motorways: The A1 is the main north-south route replacing most of national route 1. The A2 is the so-called Via Egnatia, the main east-west route from Igoumenitsa to the Turkish border. In general, odd numbers denote north-south routes, and even numbers denote east-west routes. Exit numbers are unique throughout the country. Number ranges are assigned to each motorway, but new exits are numbered sequentially which leads to discontinuities.
National roads: Odd numbers generally denote north-south routes, and even numbers denote east-west routes, but there are some exceptions. Route 1 is the (old) main road linking Athens (Athina) to Macedonia. The parts of it that are of motorway standard have now been reclassified as A1. 3 and 5 are main north-south routes in the northwest and 7 and 9 are in the southwest. Route 2 is the main east-west road from Florina to Thessaloniki and along the Aegean coast to Turkey, which is now being replaced by the A2. 4, 6 and 8 are other main east-west routes (with numbers increasing to the south).
Odd 2-digit numbers increase to the east, even numbers increase to the south. Thus, for example, 12 is an east-west route in the north and 95 is a north-south route in the east.
Road signs: On main roads, signs are both in the Roman alphabet and in Greek. Green signs are used on motorways and blue signs on other roads.
Road typeBackgroundTextRoad numbers
GreekRomanShapeBackgroundText
MotorwaysGreenYellowWhiteGreenWhite
Other roadsBlueRectangleBlueYellow
History: The national road numbering system was introduced in 1963. Motorway numbers were introduced around 2002.
Sources and links: various maps and atlases

    Official sites:
  1. Ministry of foreign affairs Section about highways
    Other links:
  2. Attiki Odos motorway
  3. Egnatia Odos Via Egnatia
  4. Rion-Antirion bridge: Gefyra
  5. Rion-Antirion bridge: Buckland & Taylor
  6. Athens ring motorway
  7. Greek-motorway.net
  8. Discussion on Skyscrapercity about Greek road numbering
    Other pages within this site:
  9. Europe

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