Photography Prohibited: A Traveler's Guide to No-Photo Zones

Whether for the photo album or social media: Travelers love to bring home pictures of landmarks. However, in some cases, this is prohibited. At the following locations, it's better to keep your camera and smartphone in your backpack.

Rome and the Vatican offer a wealth of photo opportunities - but the Sistine Chapel is off-limits for cameras. While photos are allowed in other Vatican Museums, without selfie sticks and flashes, and only for private use, this is not the case for the famous chapel and its imposing ceiling painted by Michelangelo, explain the Vatican Museums.

For artistically talented visitors, there is a consolation: With a permit from the museum's administration, exhibits and sights may be sketched - but only with a pencil.

The famous building in India is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Photographing the Taj Mahal from the outside is not problematic - except with a drone. Inside the mausoleum, it's different.

Visitors are not only prohibited from touching the walls, but souvenir photos are also not allowed. Cameras and tripods can't be brought inside, and smartphones must be silent. Instead, the museum administration recommends hiring professional photographers for your visit.

Amsterdam is not only known for its canals and the Van Gogh Museum. If you visit the Red Light District, be careful where you point your camera.

Street photos are allowed, and you can photograph the 'Oude Kerk,' the city's oldest church. However, photos must not include the women in the windows of the Red Light District. Cameras also monitor the enforcement of this rule on the streets.

The famous church in England's capital is not only where kings and queens are crowned but also where they are laid to rest. However, photos are restricted in this historic place. Photography is not allowed during services, according to the church's website. At other times, flashes must be turned off, and selfie sticks are not allowed.

There are also areas of Westminster Abbey where photography is completely forbidden: St. Faith's Chapel, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, and the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor cannot be captured using a smartphone or camera.

Even though it's not the original, photography and filming in the Amber Room of the Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg are strictly prohibited. Flashing lights could tarnish the amber over time, and photos without a flash could unnecessarily crowd the area.

There are exceptions to the photo ban: During the White Nights from the end of May to mid-July, visitors who have booked photography in the Amber Room, such as part of a luxury cruise, are allowed to use their cameras.

There's a specific time of year when a photo ban is enforced: the Floating Stage in Bregenz. During the summer months when the Bregenz Festival takes place, theater-goers can admire the impressive set designs on Lake Constance.

Due to copyright restrictions, photographing and filming the sets during performances is not permitted, according to the festival's website. It would also disturb the artists. Professional photography equipment and selfie sticks are not allowed in the festival venue's audience area.

Social media is flooded with photos of the famous Parisian landmark. Daytime photos of the Eiffel Tower are unrestricted for professional photographers. However, the lighting installations after dark are protected by copyright, according to Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel. The restrictions apply to the lighting installations, not the structure itself.

Therefore, if you plan to use an image of the Eiffel Tower at night commercially, permission is required. Businesses should contact the Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel for usage conditions.

For private photographers, it's more relaxed: 'Any individual can take photos and share them on social networks,' according to the SÉTÉ website.

The world-famous castle in Bavaria appears in countless photos. However, there are areas where cameras or smartphones are forbidden for organizational reasons. In any area where access is only possible on a guided tour, photos are prohibited. This would not only slow down the tour, but preserving the equipment is also a reason for the ban, according to the Bavarian Palace Administration.

This rule not only applies to Neuschwanstein Castle but also to Linderhof Palace and the Würzburg Residence. In any rooms accessible without a tour, photography is permitted.

The 'Lion's Rock' in Sri Lanka is a sight not only because of the ruins of the ancient temple. On the way up to the UNESCO World Heritage site, the 'Cloud Maidens' can be viewed - ancient frescoes of bare-chested women with elaborate headpieces.

Taking a souvenir photo of them is possible only with restrictions. Visitors can obtain a photo permit - without it, even your camera might be confiscated.

Travel Reporter