Greece

Marijuana is illegal in Greece, and penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking any illegal drugs are severe.

Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Cannabis is illegal in Greece, and travelers can be arrested for possessing even small amounts. Under article 29 of drug law 4139/2013, buying, possessing or using drugs exclusively for personal use — including growing a few cannabis plants — is a criminal offence punishable by up to 5 months in prison, and there is no published quantity threshold you can rely on: courts judge "personal use" case by case. Amounts a court finds beyond personal use are treated as felony trafficking, with a minimum 8-year sentence. The UK Foreign Office warns to expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through Greek airports.

Personal-use procurement, possession, use, or small-scale cannabis cultivation: imprisonment up to 5 months (Law 4139/2013 art. 29(1)); the court may deem an entirely occasional act unpunishable (art. 29(2)), and convictions under art. 29(1) are not entered on criminal-record copies (art. 29(3)). Quantities not justified as personal use are prosecuted as trafficking — which expressly includes import, export and transit: at least 8 years' imprisonment and a fine up to EUR 300,000 (art. 20), rising in aggravated cases to at least 10 years or life and fines of EUR 50,000–1,000,000 (arts. 22–23). Driving under the influence of narcotics: at least 5 months' imprisonment, a EUR 1,000–15,000 fine, and 2–5 years' licence deprivation (art. 25). The UK FCDO states: "You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports."

Carry prescription medication in its original packaging with your doctor's prescription and check with the Greek embassy before travel; medications must be for personal use and approved for use in the United States.

Medicines without proper documentation may be held or cause problems at customs.

It is illegal to bring mace, pepper spray, guns, ammunition, or even spent shells or casings into Greece.

These items will be confiscated and police may arrest or detain you.

Cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving Greece / the EU.

Undeclared or incorrectly declared cash is subject to penalties and may be detained.

Greece's drink-drive limit is 0.5 mg/ml of blood for standard drivers, dropping to 0.2 mg/ml for novice, professional, motorbike and moped drivers.

Over 0.5 mg/ml: 200 euro fine, 5 licence points and a 6-month licence withdrawal; over 0.8 mg/ml rises to 700 euro and more points.

Unauthorized photography of law enforcement, military personnel, or military installations is prohibited and may lead to arrest, and removing anything (even rocks) from archaeological sites is strictly prohibited.

Arrest possible for unauthorized photography of security/military sites

There are no legal restrictions on consensual same-sex sexual relations; same-sex marriage has been legal since 2024 and anti-discrimination protections apply, though social discrimination persists in rural areas.