Before you snap that selfie, read this. Here are 10 places where photography is forbidden.
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The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, which is why forbidden photography and videography here catch a lot of visitors off guard. And the original reason is a unique one: The chapel underwent a long and pricy restoration from 1980 to 1994. The project was funded by the Nippon Television Network Corporation of Japan (NTV), and cost around $4.2 million. Of course, NTV didn’t hand offer up that cold, hard cash for nothing! They received exclusive rights to film and photograph the artwork for three years after each part of the restoration was complete. Do the math, and you quickly realize that the copyright agreement has expired. So why does the “no photos, no video” rule remain? Simple: The Vatican decided to keep it in place to protect the precious artwork from camera flashes. Oh, and if you do try to sneak a photo, you’ll likely be approached immediately, told to delete it and asked to leave.
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The Eiffel Tower
Planning a romantic getaway to Paris? C’est super (that’s great)! But you might want to reconsider sharing a cute couple’s photo in front of the Eiffel Tower after dark. Nighttime photos of the Eiffel Tower aren’t technically illegal; sharing or distributing them for financial gain without purchasing rights is the issue. Here’s why: The light show, installed by Pierre Bideau in 1985, is considered an artistic display and therefore protected by copyright. The lights shimmer for five minutes at the top of each hour, from nightfall until midnight (except during the summer when the Tower closes at 12:45 a.m., so the lights glitter one final time at 1:00 a.m.).
If you capture a photo when the Eiffel Tower is lit up, it’s best not to post or share it anywhere and risk violating the copyright. (In reality, the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, the organization that manages the Eiffel Tower, is unlikely to come after you unless you are a photographer or creator who is, in fact, using the images for financial gain. Pursuing millions of tourists for casual selfies on social media would be costly and time-consuming.) But if you simply stick to daytime photos, you’re in the clear!
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Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey isn’t just a gorgeous Gothic church; it’s been the coronation church of British monarchs since 1066. You can take photos in some places here (hooray!), but there are restrictions. Thankfully, the Westminster Abbey wesbite has a whole page dedicated to the do’s and don’ts. Photography is allowed inside the church and Cloisters, but not during services, not with flash, and not in the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, St Faith’s Chapel or The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries. Also important to know: Leave the extra photography equipment in your hotel room, and forget about filming Instagram reels or TikTok videos here. Videography, extra lighting, tripods and selfie sticks are all prohibited. If you’re a professional photographer, you’ll need to apply for a permit through the Abbey’s press office.
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Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal in India is frequently mistaken as a palace or mosque. But it’s actually a mausoleum, commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his late wife. As such, photography is forbidden inside the main mausoleum, and visitors are asked to keep quiet inside, out of respect for the memorial space. But don’t worry; you can pose outside and capture the impressive exterior, just like Princess Diana did (just don’t do so for marketing purposes or financial gain, or you could face jail time like a former Miss Universe did back in 2013!).
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Supreme Court
Public spaces at the Supreme Court, a popular historic landmark in Washington, D.C., are fair game for photography. However, if you enter the Courtroom, you’ll need to put your camera away. Federal Rule 53 states: “Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.” The same goes for when court is not in session.
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The Tower of London
There’s plenty to see (and photograph) in the Tower of London: the architecture, armor from past royalty and other historic artifacts. One of the most popular displays, the exquisite Crown Jewels, has been dazzling visitors here in the Jewel House since 1661. Sadly, you aren’t allowed to photograph them for security reasons. And with the intimidating security guards watching your every move, you definitely won’t want to even try! Take a chance, and they’ll likely confiscate your phone and escort you out immediately.
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Las Vegas casinos
Las Vegas casinos have a long history of forbidding photography and filming on the casino floor to ensure players’ privacy, prevent cheating and protect the casino from a potential robbery. But according to lasvegasadvisor.com, some casinos uphold this rule, while others give a pass to people who just want to capture a moment for personal use. With this rule no longer as clear as it was in the past, it may be best to simply ask the casino’s policy when you enter—rather than snapping away and attracting the attention of security in Sin City!
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The Pentagon
As the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, it makes sense that security is strict at the Pentagon. As a civilian, you can only explore it by going on an official tour. Once you arrive, no photos are allowed—not even outside the building. And you definitely won’t have a chance to snap a sneaky photo of the interior; cell phones and cameras cannot be brought inside.
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The post office
None of the locations on this list so far should have been too shocking. But the post office? Really? Yes! There are actually guidelines for taking photos inside a U.S. post office. You can only take photos for personal use at the discretion of the postmaster. Your photography cannot disrupt the employees and is only permitted in areas that are accessible to the public. And there’s another big caveat, according to the United States Postal Service website: “No picture can depict any Postal Service employee, customer, security camera, or cover of mail (i.e., the exterior of a mailpiece, which would show customer name and address among other things).” Once all of those things are taken out of the equation, there’s really not much left to photograph anyway!
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Neuschwanstein Castle
Dubbed “the castle of the fairytale king” after the eccentric King Ludwig II of Germany, this 19th-century palace is among the most visited castles in the world. You might also recognize it as the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Cinderella story and the Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland in California. But before you plan a full-on fairytale photoshoot, be warned; no photography or filming is allowed inside without prior permission. According to Neuschwanstein Experience, this is to “protect the privacy of our space and image rights.” Visitors are also informed that prohibiting photography and filming protects the artwork and furnishings from damage caused by flash. The good news is, you can still bring your storybook dreams to life outdoors where photography and filming are permitted.
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Sources:
- Westminster Abbey: “Photography in the Abbey”
- La Tour Eiffel: “The Eiffel Tower’s Illuminations”
- Snopes.com. Is it Illegal to Take Photographs of the Eiffel Tower at Night?
- Peta Pixel: “Miss Universe Faces Fines and Jail Time for Unsanctioned Photo Shoot at Taj Mahal”
- Supreme Court of the United States: “FAQs – Visiting the Court”
- History Royal Places: “See the Crown Jewels”
- Las Vegas Advisor: “Can We Take Photographs in Casinos?
- U.S. Department of Defense: “Pentagon Tours – Security”
- United States Postal Service: “Requests for Filming and Still Photography on Postal Service Premises”
- Schloss Neuschwanstein
- Neuschwanstein Castle Tickets: “Why Is Neuschwanstein Known As The Disney Castle?”
- Neuschwanstein Experience: “Important Information for Your Visit”
