Being on holiday comes hand in hand with taking lots of pictures, but not all tourist destinations will appreciate you snapping photos.
Many holiday hotspots, from the Sistine Chapel to the Eiffel Tower at night, forbid photography. Not all tourists are aware of this, which can get them in trouble. Which? research found 65% of UK travellers admitted to breaking foreign photography rules without realising, while local authorities across Europe, the US, and Australia have confirmed that penalties can range from €100 fines to confiscation of cameras or even bans from re-entry. For example, visitors are banned from photographing the crown jewels in the Tower of London. The ban is in place to stop any would-be criminals using footage to spot security weaknesses around the jewels.
Jessie Chambers, travel expert at Global Work & Travel, said: “Most of us instinctively pull out our phones when we travel — but at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, it’s the one thing you shouldn’t do.
“These bans aren’t there to ruin your holiday. They exist to protect sacred spaces, fragile history, and, in some cases, people’s safety. A single flash photo may not feel like much, but multiply it by millions of visitors a year, and the impact is huge.
“For travellers, the key takeaway is simple: always check local rules before you click. A quick bit of research could save you a fine, embarrassment, or even losing your camera.”
10 tourist hotspots where taking pictures can get you in trouble
Sistine Chapel, Vatican City - confiscation of devices/removal
Taj Mahal, India - deletion of photos, fine
Eiffel Tower - £86+ fine/photo takedown
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia - photo deletion, fines up to £3,044
Valley of the Kings, Egypt - removal, £5 fine
Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, UK - £200+ fine
Westminster Abbey, UK - photo deletion, removal
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany - removal
Red Light District, Amsterdam - fines, photo deletion, removal
The Alamo, USA - removal
