7 Travel Destinations with Strict No-Photography Rules

If there’s one thing I believe every capable person in the world should do, at least once, it’s travel.

You get to explore other cultures and take pictures of the most famous monuments.

Although the former goes without saying, the latter isn’t always guaranteed.

What does that mean? Well, not every location you visit will allow you to take pictures.

So, if you don’t want to fall into trouble, check this list of the seven most famous travel destinations with strict no-photography rules.

1. Taj Mahal, Agra in India

This one surprises a lot of people. As one of the most iconic architectural landmarks in the world, everyone wants to take a picture of the Taj Mahal. However, the security and organizers have imposed a strict no-photography rule.

You’re probably thinking: “If visitors can’t take pictures of the Taj Mahal, how come it’s one of the most photographed places in the world?”

Well, that’s because the prohibition only applies to the main mausoleum. You can take pictures of the exterior structure and the gardens with no trouble.

Why is that the case? The mausoleum is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, who was the former Mughul emperor of India. So, the organizers expect visitors to be respectful of such a sacred place and refrain from taking photos.

2. The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Antoine Taveneaux, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Many photographers dream of visiting the Sistine Chapel and taking a picture of Michael Angelo’s masterpiece themselves.

Unfortunately, photography is strictly prohibited in that chapel. So, you might want to redirect that dream to a more photography-friendly spot.

The reason behind this prohibition is somewhat up for debate to this day. Some people think it’s because the flash of the camera might damage the painting on the fresco. That’s not the real reason, though.

You see, it all started in 1980 when Vatican officials wanted to restore the Sistine Chapel along with Michael Angelo’s paintings. Obviously, restoring such an influential sight would cost a fortune—a fortune that they knew they didn’t have.

So, they decided to collaborate with other entities to fund the restoration. Eventually, they settled for Nippon Television Network Corporation of Japan, which paid $4.2 million. However, that exchange came at a price.

The Nippon Corporation had exclusive rights to take pictures and videos of the paintings, and everyone else was banned from doing so.

Does that corporation still have exclusive rights? No! It ended three years after making that deal, but the ban remained in effect anyway.

3. The Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Switzerland

Credit: Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Abbey Library is a goldmine for history lovers. It’s one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains over 2,000 treasured manuscripts dating back hundreds of years.

It’s one of those places that you have to visit yourself to understand how magical it is.

Holding such a historical significance, you can expect the security inside the library to be top-notch. They’ll take any cameras they find at the entrance.

While they’ll let you keep your phone, the guards will monitor all the visitors to ensure no one is taking photos.

It’s worth noting that you can ask for permission to take pictures, but you have to submit your permit 14 days before your visit. However, there’s no guarantee it’ll be accepted. But if you think it’s worth a shot, by all means, go ahead and give it a try.

4. Golden Gai, Tokyo

Credit: OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA-2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.

If you want to experience authentic nightlife in Japan, I can’t think of a better place to go than Golden Gai. Although it’s made up of only six alleys, it hosts over 200 bars.

The energy emitted from that district is something out of this world. Unfortunately, as you walk around, you’ll find countless signs stating that photography is prohibited.

There isn’t a definitive reason why, but people speculate it’s because it could make visitors uncomfortable, as they might not want to appear in other people’s photos.

5. Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang in North Korea

Credit: Mark Scott Johnson from Sydney Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Initially built to be the residence of the North Korean leader, Kim II Sung, the Kumsusan palace ended up becoming his final resting place. Right now, it exhibits some of his most prized possessions, such as his outfits, medals, personal vehicle, and more.

As you might expect from North Korea, security measures are quite strict. Not only can you not take pictures inside the palace, but you can’t even enter with personal belongings. You leave everything on you with security.

That said, you can still take pictures of the palace from the outside, so there’s a bit of a silver lining there.

6. Westminster Abbey, England

Credit: Atoosa Ryanne Arfa

Few places can compete with the serenity and peace Westminster Abbey brings to its visitors. Who wouldn’t want to capture these feelings with a picture?

Unfortunately, that would be a bit difficult, as photography is strictly prohibited before, during, or immediately after a service. If you’re a professional photographer, you need permission from the Abbey’s press office to take pictures.

It doesn’t stop there. There are several locations in the Abbey that prohibit photography—with no exceptions this time. These include the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor, St. Faith’s Chapel, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries.

7. The Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan), Abu Dhabi

Credit: Dario Ciraulo

Yes, believe it or not, you can visit the presidential palace (Qasr Al Watan) of the United Arab Emirates and explore the history that led to this country being what it is today.

Every corner of this place pays homage to the rich Arabian heritage. Don’t get me started on the Spirit of Collaboration area. It’s where the leaders of the UAE come together to determine how to move the country forward.

Despite its cultural and political significance, Qasr Al Watan is still a governmental complex. So, of course, it’ll have strict security measures. That includes photography and videography prohibition.

You won’t need a camera anyway. You’ll want to spend every second taking in every detail of this magnificent structure.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, there are a lot of travel destinations with strict no-photography rules. Some of them come from a security standpoint, others come from a cultural one.

As such, the next time you plan a visit to a famous tourist destination, make sure it doesn’t prohibit photography. That way you’ll know what to expect and will avoid getting into trouble.