🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all known regulation around recreational and commercial drone use over the Eiffel Tower and more generally within France. Give a 👍 at the end of this post & feel free to share your experience or any updates you might have in the Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our knowledge & does not replace official sources & your research.
The Eiffel Tower is located in the heart of Paris which follows the common rules of the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) & the Ministry of Ecological & Solidarity Transition (MTES). If you're looking for the unmanned aerial vehicle rules of France then click here.
As for a shortcut, no matter where in France, you should fly:
at a maximum altitude of 150 m & within sight at all times (note that many zones in France are limited to 100 m and/or 50 m, depending on your location) - more info.
if your drone weights more than 800 g, then you have to register it here.
at least 1 km away from airports (any airport, seaplane base or area where aircraft take off and land). Note, if you're within 6 km, then you're restricted to fly at 50 m & 100 m if you're within 10 km of any airport.
away from people or large crowds & respect individuals' privacy. (If you take a photo of someone or someone's property, you will need their approval prior sharing it).
To help you out, we will approach this research with questions to ask yourself before flying your drone over the Eiffel Tower.
Can I bring my drone to France?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within France as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Can I fly a drone over the Eiffel Tower?
As a shortcut answer, you will need permission to fly above the Eiffel Tower. As you could imagine, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of the world, attracting thousand of people every day. Add on this, that it is in the heart of the capital city Paris that itself is on high alert due to local unrest and terrorism and you get why a permission is required to fly there.
How to obtain a permit to fly above the Eiffel Tower?
🚨 This permit is only available for professional licensed drone pilots. Good news is that if you hold a foreign drone license, it should be recognised as long as you can provide an official translation of it (here's a local French sworn translator we used).
The process itself is pretty straightforward as you will need to complete the CERFA 15476*01 form with your details including:
full personal and contact details
context about your flight (only research and commercial allowed).
details about your flight path
a copy of your insurance
✅ Once completed, you can send it to pref-drones@gers.gouv.fr
🕔 The time frame is quite specific here as you should submit the form no earlier than 1 month before or no latter than 5 working days prior the intended flight day (1 Month > Flight > 5 Working Days).
Ok so now that you know you can and how to fly your drone over the Eiffel Tower, we will help you get there as Paris transport information is not always available in English.
How to get to the Eiffel Tower?
Paris is well deserved when it comes to public transport so your options will more depend on the time you want to spend in transportation and your budget.
🚈 By metro: the closest Paris Metro station to the Eiffel Tower is Champ de Mars / Tour Eiffel on line RER C. Other Metro stations close to the Eiffel Tower include Ecole Militaire on Line 8, and Bir-Hakeim on Line 6. It will cost you about 2€ one way, too easy.
🚖 By taxi: most convenient but not the cheapest.. also make sure you know where you are using your map location as some rider enjoy becoming tour operators and make your ride a little more "scenic".
🚎 By bus: the most convenient Bus Line is number 82 which will bring you almost at the Eiffel Tower's footstep. It also passes walking distance from the Arc de Triomphe and the Hôtel des invalides, quite a good ride. It will cost you about 1.5€ one way.
🚲 By bike: our preferred way as you can stop whenever, Paris ha a public bike system open for foreigners to rent providing a bond from your credit card. The system is called Velib and cost as much as 0€ if used less than 30mins in a row on a daily pass.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying over the Eiffel Tower' awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
If you are considering getting your first drone or upgrade, feel free to check our recommendations in the travel page or click on the model you like below to get its full specs. Any purchase done from one of our affiliate links helps Dronemade stay free and available to all. Thanks for your support and safe flights ahead!
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone over the Eiffel Tower! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
Relevant Reads
Other resources
GeoPortail, France's official fight drone map
Sources
JORF n°0298 du 24 décembre 2015 page 23897, texte n° 22 (drone flight law)
JORF n°0298 du 24 décembre 2015 page 23890, texte n° 20 (drone operational law)
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