Flying Drone in Greece | Complete Free Guide

🇬🇷 This guide is part of our comprehensive Greece Travel Guide.

If you are planning a trip to Greece with a drone, this guide covers the practical checks I would make before flying: EU/EASA paperwork, Greek authority guidance, archeological-site restrictions, and the common mistakes that can get travelers into trouble.

The short version: Greece follows the EU/EASA drone framework, but famous places like the Acropolis, temple sites, islands, ports, and crowded beaches can have extra restrictions. Check the exact location before you launch.

Flying a drone is permitted in Greece, according to the country's national aviation regulator, the Hcaa, but we advise being informed of and abiding by the drone laws stated below before doing so.

Here is their contact information if you'd like to get in touch with them before your trip with any queries you might have: +30 210 891600 / info.dagr@hcaa.gr

Before You Fly: Get Your EU Drone License

If your trip includes the EU or an EASA-associated country, sort your drone paperwork before you pack the batteries. For most drones from 250 g, the A1/A3 certificate is the baseline remote pilot proof; A2 may be needed for some heavier open-category flights closer to people. EASA's open-category guidance explains the A1, A2, and A3 operating subcategories, and the national aviation authority still controls registration, maps, insurance, and local restrictions.

Start the online EU drone license training with DroneLicense.eu

Affiliate disclosure: this is our partner link. DroneLicense.eu can help with EU drone training and exams, but always check the official EASA open-category rules and the national aviation authority for your destination before you fly.

2026 Quick Rule Check for Greece

Greece follows the EU/EASA framework, with local guidance from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority. Start with the HCAA General Aviation & Drones page and the HCAA where you are allowed to fly UAS in Greece page before planning a flight.

Before you fly:

• Confirm your operator registration and remote pilot certificate status.
• Check whether your exact location requires a flight request or special permission.
• Treat archeological sites, military areas, airports, ports, and crowded beaches as high-caution areas.

General Rules for Flying a Drone Within the European Union

Greece must follow by the drone laws established by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency because it is a member of the EU (Easa). Greece additionally has laws that are nation-specific in addition to these rules.

Here are the most crucial guidelines for drone operation within the European Union, as determined by our research and interpretation of the regulations.

Based on the weight of the drone and the intended use, there are three operational categories that influence drone laws. Only the Open Category will be covered in this part; Flying Drones In Europe to view all legislation and classifications pertaining to the European Union.

Open Category

A drone can be operated in the “Open “category if:

• One of the class identification labels for the drone is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

• The drone was purchased prior to January 1, 2026, and it lacks the aforementioned class identification label.

• The maximum takeoff mass of the drone is less than 25 kg (55 lbs).

• The drone is kept safely away from people by the remote pilot.

• Unless the drone carries a class identification label or weighs less than 250 g, it cannot be flown directly over humans (0.55 lbs). (To learn where you can fly your drone, please see the subcategories of operations: A1, A2, and A3)

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• A UA observer will aid the remote pilot if necessary to preserve visual line of sight (VLOS).

• The remote pilot won't fly the drone higher than 120 meters (400ft).

• The drone won't drop any materials or transport any hazardous cargo.

General Rules for Flying Drone in Greece

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Greece.

• You must complete an application for each individual drone flight you plan to conduct. Hcaa Uas Flt Request Editable.pdf. If your application is approved by the HCAA, you then must verify our identify and share your flight plans with the local police department. We have covered in detail about this entire process in our Watch mentioned in the post below.

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• You may fly up to 120 meters (393 feet) above the ground.

• Commercial pilots must obtain permission for all operations. More information can be found Notice To Uas Unmanned Aircraft Systems Users 01.

• Drones may not be flown at night.

• Drone operators who fly for commercial purposes or in the “Specific” or “Certified” category must have drone insurance.

• Drone operators who fly for hobby or recreation only do not need drone insurance unless their drone weighs more than 4 kg, falling into the “Open-A2 category.” See Articles 7, 8, and 9 of Hcaa%20uas%20regulation.pdf from the HCAA for more information on UAS categories.

• Drones may not weigh more than 25 kilograms (55 pounds).

• Drones may not be flown over people, prisons, hospitals, government and military facilities, and other sensitive areas.

• Drones may not be flown over private property without permission from the property owner.

For more information on Greece’s drone laws, see Hcaa%20uas%20regulation.pdf.

Can you fly drone on Archaeological Sights?

Well if you are planning your trip to Greece then I am sure you would be thinking about exploring Best Things To Do In Athens and when you are in Athens with a Drone then your mind would keep on suggesting you to go for a flight over the Acropolis.

The important point is simple: do not fly over the Acropolis or archaeological sights in Athens without the relevant approval. Greece treats cultural heritage sites seriously, and a casual tourist flight can create legal problems.

And when I reached out to the team for the approval in 2020 at that time the asked for the cost of 500 EUR for the shooting over the Acropolis. So I chose to skip flying near Acropolis.

The email from which you can get the approval is this gda@culture.gr you have to explain about the case and why you want to fly and once you have received the email approval from the team you have reapply with the form and co-ordinates mentioned above to the HCAA to get the final approval for the flight.

Near the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, my safer framing was to avoid flying over the temple itself and keep the flight outside the archaeological site. That kind of conservative plan is usually easier to explain than asking for a dramatic overhead shot.

Below is the sample email from the Cultural Ministry which you can check

One more important thing for non-EU citizens: confirm the current UAS registration process before you travel. EASA's general rule is that non-EU operators register in the first EASA member state where they intend to operate, but Greece can still have local forms and location-specific approvals.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Greece? Here you go:

Watch my Greece drone video on YouTube

FAQ: Flying a Drone in Greece

Do I need an EU drone license in Greece?

If your drone or operation requires pilot competency proof under EASA rules, yes. Sort A1/A3 or A2 before your trip.

Can I fly a drone over the Acropolis?

Do not plan on it without explicit approval. Archeological sites require special caution and may need permission from cultural authorities as well as aviation checks.

What should non-EU visitors do first?

Check EASA's non-EU visitor guidance, then verify the current HCAA process for registration and location approvals before flying in Greece.