Forbidden places in the world that are not allowed to visit
Nowadays, searching for anything is at hand and can be done with just a few clicks. You can learn all things by using your phone or laptop, and there are few barriers for curious people, unless they're trying to figure out what's inside these top-secret sites.
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- In today's digital age, information is easily accessible, but some locations remain off-limits due to secrecy or danger.
- Area 51 is one of the most infamous restricted military sites, shrouded in rumors of extraterrestrials and guarded by steep penalties for trespassers.
- Environmental damage caused by tourism forced Indonesia to close Maya Bay, once a popular destination thanks to a Hollywood film.
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- Legends and religious significance surround the Temple of the Tablet in Ethiopia, where only a single guardian is allowed to view the sacred Ark of the Covenant.
- France's Chauvet Cave is closed to the public to preserve its ancient Paleolithic artwork, with violators facing hefty fines.
- Climbing or accessing sacred areas of cultural landmarks like Mexico’s Chichen Itza Pyramid can result in public outrage and serious consequences.
- Brazil's deadly Snake Island is strictly off-limits due to its dense population of venomous snakes, posing both a mortal threat and legal penalties to intruders.
All sites on this list are severely restricted, meaning they are restricted to the public due to dangerous circumstances, political issues, rumors of being inhabited by spirits or alien creatures, or other reasons. All of these places impose heavy fines, if not prison sentences, on those who are foolish enough to try to sneak inside in order to take pictures with their smartphones.
1. Zone 51
Location: Paradise Ranch, Nevada (formerly known by this name)
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Cost of a visit penalty: $2,280*
Area 51 is one of America's most famous military installations, thanks to the large number of rumors, city legends, and myths surrounding it. This top-secret U.S. air base is located in Nevada, and everything that's going on there is top secret.
Although Area 51 was the subject of a Netflix movie of the same name, what actually happens there remains within the realm of conjecture. Fines and penalties for infiltrating the location of aliens and UFOs are extremely expensive, amounting to upwards of $2,000 per violator.
2. Maya Bay
Location: Indonesia
Cost of the visit penalty: undisclosed
After the release of the 2000 film The Beach, starring actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Indonesia's Maya Bay became famous for its clear waters and white sand. Millions of tourists flocked to this bay, but that visit was not without price.
The Maya Bay ecosystem has been severely damaged by boat traffic, with congestion and pollution killing 80% of the reef. As a result, Maya Bay was closed and its visit banned.
3. Temple of the Tablet
Location: Ethiopia
Cost of visiting penalty: $25 – $250*
The Temple of the Tablet is located in the city of Aksum, Ethiopia, and is supposed to be the site of the Ark of the Covenant. The sarcophagus itself is said to be guarded by a virgin guard who is never allowed to leave the temple.
This guardian of the covenant is the only person allowed to see the ark in the catacombs of this temple, and it is forbidden to the commoners. Whether this tale – reminiscent of PARA and his adventures – is real or fictional, it has made the temple famous, bringing curious tourists from all over the world to this small Ethiopian city.
4. Chauvet Cave
Location: France
Cost of visiting penalty: up to $16,000*
Located in southeastern France, Chauvet Cave contains some of the best well-preserved cave paintings and drawings in the world. In addition to these artworks, other Upper Paleolithic relics are also inside the cave.
Due to its historical importance, the Chauvé cave is forbidden to be displayed in public. The techniques and tools used to paint the artworks in the Chauvé Cave are numerous and varied, and the artwork itself covers a wide range of themes and events from the Paleolithic period.
5. Chichen Itza Pyramid
Location: Mexico
Cost of a visit penalty: $5,856*
In 2022 a public opinion issue was raised in which the protagonist was a woman who climbed the side wall of the Chichen Itza temple in Mexico. People booed her and cursed her with profanity, and Mexico punished the aggressor for not respecting the temple.
While you can see the city of Chichen from the outside, the interior is restricted to access (as well as climb). This archaeological site is invaluable to human history, so its natural wonders should not be subjected to outside interference.
6. Great Ise Shrine
Location: Japan
Cost of visiting penalty: $712 or 3 years imprisonment (maximum)*
Known as the Great Ise Shrine, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. Located in Japan, the shrine consists of the two main buildings, Naiko and Geku. Visitors are allowed to roam the complex and beyond, but cannot enter.
Every twenty years, Esse is demolished and rebuilt, in compliance with Shinto theories of death and resurrection. Only priests, priestesses, and members of the Japanese imperial family can enter Ise Shrine, and the rest of the public can only look at it from afar.
7. Ilha da Queimada Grande
Location: Brazil
Cost of Visitation Penalty: Possibly Death
Located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil, the "Snake Island" (Ilha da Quemada Grande) is not a place you might want to visit. Visitors are not allowed on this dangerous island, which is home to the world's most dangerous and endangered snake species.
There are about 15,000 species of snakes that make the island home, and its 106 acres are filled with millions of reptiles. Going to Snake Island illegally is a sure way to get a nasty and most likely fatal bite. If you survive, you will face a fine from Brazil for trespassing, if not jailed.
