

There’s a reason we aren’t allowed to visit these forbidden locations, even if some of us are determined to risk it all to find out why. Moscow Metro-2 Some people believe there is a secret metro system underneath the streets of Moscow. The tunnels are known as Metro-2 and are thought to connect many important locations, including Vnukovo International Airport and the Federal Security Service. The majority of the world didn’t learn about their existence until 1992 thanks to Vladimir Gonik. The author spent 20 years piecing together the clues until he had enough evidence to show the rest of the world. It’s thought the tunnels were built for Stalin in World War II, but the building was ceased after his passing in 1953.

The Lascaux Cave There have been many ancient caves discovered over the years, but the Lascaux Cave is one of the most impressive in existence. Four young boys were playing when they found a cavity in the side of the Earth. They dug until it was large enough to climb through and used just a lamp to explore the cave. Amazingly, the walls were lined with what are believed to be the oldest cave paintings in the world. It wasn’t long before the cave was opened up to the public and everyone got a chance to see the creations for themselves. Sadly, the doors were closed in 1963 as the 1,500 visitors a day were bringing in a host of extra carbon dioxide which was having disastrous effects on the paintings. The cave has been closed ever since with only the best of the best scientists getting a ticket inside.



Google data center Google data centers might be one of the worst kept secrets. The search engine has grown to become the most popular in the world with more than 63,000 searches being made every second. That means around 5.6 billion searches a day, or 2 trillion a year, make their way through this site. It’s thought there are 12 Google data centers across the nation, but that’s not all. The company has set up a virtual tour of the centers meaning that no unauthorized personnel need to make their way through the doors. So what are they hiding behind it all? It looks as though they need enough servers to keep the site running smoothly, as well as hundreds of fans and pipes to keep everything cool. To top it off, Google admits to using LED lights on their servers as they are energy efficient, bright, and long-lasting.

Poveglia Island The Black Plague swept through Europe throughout the 1300s, and it’s thought the illness could have wiped out up to 60% of the population. Poveglia Island was once used as a quarantine to stop people contaminating Venice. However, that all changed in the 4th century. The island became a place for Italy to send anyone with the Black Plague. People were often left to fend for themselves to help stop the spread of the illness. Hundreds of years later, the island was brought back to life with a mental hospital that opened in 1922. Unfortunately, the torture was set to continue. The leading doctor was said to perform medical exams without anesthetic – or permission – until he eventually ended his own life. Now, it’s illegal to visit the island as many believe it’s still haunted by the thousands of lost souls, including the 100,000 people buried across Poveglia island.

Area 51 There are conspiracy theories, and then there are the mysteries surrounding Area 51. The facility is located in the Nevada desert and is surrounded by some of the top security in the world. There are cameras watching every angle and a security fence surrounding the entire facility to ensure no one makes it through the main gates. Area 51 was first used to test military aircrafts, but it’s now believed the space is home to many unearthly finds. Yes, aliens, spaceships, and anything else from out of this world are all said to be hiding within the walls of this facility. Many have watched giant vehicles arrive with a host of items covered on the back, while others believe the moon landing was actually filmed inside Area 51. The tight security and continually patrolled fence line mean it’s unlikely that we’ll find out what’s really inside anytime soon.

RAF Menwith Hill It appears that militaries all around the world want to make sure that their best-kept secrets remain just that. RAF Menwith Hill is no exception. The base is found in England, and the unusual golf ball-like buildings have caused quite a stir over the years. It’s believed they house equipment needed to monitor any communication across the Middle East and Europe. However, it seems as though no one knows the base’s true purpose, and only a few chosen people are ever allowed to enter.

North Brother Island The City That Never Sleeps has become known for the hustle and bustle. However, it seems as though there’s one place many can feel lonely in New York: North Brother Island. The only way to get there? A permit granted by the New York Department of Parks and Recreation. The island was once a place for anyone with a highly contagious illness, including the famous Typhoid Mary, as the city wanted to keep them away from the population. However, medical advancements mean it’s been abandoned for almost 60 years.

Bank of England vaults Believe it or not, but a fifth of all the gold in the world is currently stored underneath London, and it’s thought to be worth $248 billion. However, the 6,256 tons of gold is heavily guarded and kept away from the rest of the world. In fact, it takes several three-foot long keys to access the vaults as many experts agree it’s safer than relying on technology alone. Although the vaults were used as shelters in the war, they have since returned to being off-limits to the majority of the world.

The Ark of the Covenant There have been many legends surrounding the Temple of King Solomon over the years, and it appears as though we might finally be closer to finding the answer. Some experts believe they have discovered walls of the temple while others feel as though it’s other temples around the world. Whatever the case, it looks as though this grand structure could be the home to one of the most sought-after possessions on the planet: The Ark of the Covenant. It’s said the Ark contains items including the Ten Commandments.

Vatican secret archives It takes more than being a scholar or historian to get access to the Vatican secret archives. Many believe there is evidence of Jesus, aliens, demons, and or the apocalypse inside while others think it’s controlled by the Illuminati. Whatever the case, the archives contain some of the most impressive pieces on Earth. Some of the many pieces include a transcript of the Knight Templar starting in 1907, letters from Abraham Lincoln, and a petition from King Henry VIII requesting his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Admax Admax prison is entirely off-limits to the public, but that might not be such a bad thing. This is known to be one of the toughest federal prisons in the world thanks to the long list of some of the worst of the worst criminals across the nation. Here, prisoners are kept in isolation for 23 hours a day in their 7 by 12-foot cells that have been designed so anyone inside can’t see anyone on the outside. Even when they are let out into the yard, each prisoner must remain individually in their own caged cell.

Ise Grand Shrine This is thought to be the most sacred of all the shrines across Japan as the Ise Grand Shrine is believed to be a spiritual home. Some of the shrines are torn down and rebuilt every 20 years while others have been standing strong since the 3rd century. Although many of the shrines are open all year long to the public, some of the most sacred are reserved for a select few priests and any members of the imperial family. As if that wasn’t enough, no one is allowed to take photos of the shrines once inside.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault This is a building that is built to last. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is found on a remote island off the shore of Norway and is dug deep into the side of a mountain. The storage facility is built to withstand any natural or human disaster. It doesn’t end there. The vault contains the world’s most extensive collection of crop diversity with over 1,700 food crops alone. The idea? To ensure there are enough seeds in case we ever need to repopulate the Earth.

Chernobyl Incredibly, the Chernobyl Disaster was almost kept a secret when it first took place in 1986. That was until it wiped out an entire community and saw many fleeing for their lives thanks to the worst nuclear disaster ever to strike the world. The exclusion one grew to become a wildlife park as the city turned into a true ghost town. People are now allowed back on guided tours, but it seems as though only those brave enough have taken steps inside the land that has been abandoned for so long.

U.N. buffer zone The U.N. buffer zone lies between Cyprus and Turkey where it is now heavily controlled by the United Nations. Also known as the Green line, this zone acts as a solid border between the two nations to prevent any further conflict. Inside lies an abandoned airport, falling watchtowers, crumbling buildings, and streets that were once filled with life. It’s believed that 10,000 people now live inside the buffer zone, but photos are usually prohibited and the majority of the buildings are left to fall down.

Surtsey Island The world is millions of years old, yet it seems as though Mother Nature still plans on creating new land along the way. Surtsey Island was born in 1963 thanks to a number of volcanic eruptions that exploded off the coast of Iceland. As well as becoming a World Heritage Site, Surtsey island is also home to many species of birds and invertebrates that have all claimed the island as their own. Now, it is off limits to anyone as scientists work to preserve the brand new ecosystem.

Coca-Cola vault There have been many protected secret recipes over the years, with Coca-Cola’s being one of the most famous. Many of us enjoy the soft drink, but it appears we won’t know how to recreate the great taste anytime soon. Visitors are allowed to explore many aspects of the vault where they can learn all about the creation of the drink as well as get closer to the secret formula than ever believed. However, no one other than a few anonymous employees will ever learn the true recipe.

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Qin Shi Huang has been buried underneath the hills of China for more than 2,000 years. The emperor was buried with everything he might need in the afterlife, including thousands of life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Although many have been lucky enough to witness the army that has since reached the surface, it seems as though we won’t be getting a look in the tomb anytime son scientists worry we don’t have the technology needed to excavate the tomb and therefore want to preserve it for now.

Snake Island Ilha da Queimada Grande is an island located off the coast of Brazil. Believe it or not, but there is one venomous snake per square foot of the island. That’s a lot of snakes. The golden lancehead snake is thought to be the most dangerous. Plus, this viper is solely found on Snake Island island. The only people now allowed on the island are members of the navy who periodically arrive to check the lighthouse and ensure no one is straying too close to the island as it’s now illegal to set foot on the shores.

North Sentinel Island There are a few places left in the world that are untouched by technology, yet the people of North Sentinel Island are some of the last indigenous people in the world. Anyone who tries to make contact with the people is often met with force. John Allen Chau recently attempted to make contact with the population but lost his life as soon as he stepped foot on the shores, and his body has been left there ever since. Perhaps as a warning that the Sentinelese population want to be left alone?

Okinoshima Japan is actually made up of 6,852 islands. It should come as no surprise, then, that many of them have their own little quirks and eccentricities. Some islands are home to more cats than people, while others may only be accessed by members of the Japanese royal family. The island of Okinoshima has quite different rules. It only has one permanent resident – a priest who maintains its shrines – and only allows a select group of men access on one day of the year, after they’ve purified themselves. No woman has ever set foot on it.

Heard Island Heard Island is one of the most remote places on Earth. Technically an external territory of Australia, it’s about two thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. It’s a two-week sail – at a minimum – from the island to any other major land mass. On top of that, a volcano has been actively spewing lava on it since 2000. Coupled with its notoriously poor weather, this has led to the only living beings on the island being its diverse wildlife, which includes penguins and seals.

The Spy Museum of China Many countries have spy museums, which showcase the history of their own intelligence and espionage services. China is no different. Well… Not quite. If you’re a foreign tourist looking to visit Nanjing’s Jiangsu National Security Education Museum, forget about it. The museum’s director labeled the place, which contains collections of things like tiny pistols and miniature cameras, “too sensitive for foreign eyes.” In other words, foreign visitors are banned. If you’re Chinese, congrats – you do get to go, but you can’t take any photos inside.

Diego Garcia Diego Garcia is an atoll, or a ring-shaped coral reef, in the Indian Ocean. Named after a Spanish explorer from the 16th century, this island seems like a tropical paradise. With its pearly white beaches and turquoise waters, it just seems like the perfect holiday destination. Only… Well, between 1969 and 1973, the British and American governments evicted all of the island’s indigenous residents, and promptly declared it a no-entry military zone. Today, it houses an American army base and is off-limits to any civilians.

Bhangarh Fort India isn’t just a country – it’s a sub-continent. Its size is only rivalled by its beauty, and it’s a favorite spot for tourists from all over the world. Bhangarh Fort, located in the state of Rajasthan, seems like it would be a premier destination. The 17th century fort, and the village that surrounds it, now stand abandoned. As Bhangarh is considered one of the most haunted places in India, the government has officially declared it off-limits between sundown and sunrise. Those who break that rule… are not heard from again.

Mount Weather Back in 1959, the US Government formed Mount Weather. The mountain lies between Clark County and Loudoun County in Virginia and is shrouded in mystery. It’s believed that it’s been established as a long-term bunker for any important government officials. The mountain has allegedly been kitted out with 564 acres of dining rooms, dorms, and offices. There is everything that an official could need to survive a crisis. If you’ve seen the sci-fi show ‘The 100,’ then this might sound familiar.

The Mormon Church Vault The chances are that if something has the word “vault” in the title, you probably aren’t allowed to enter. The Mormon Church Vault is no exception. It was dug out of a mountain in Utah in the 1930s. Here, there is a collection of around 100,000 rolls of microfilm and 3 billion pages of information about families living all across the US. It’s self-sufficient and entirely off-limits to anyone except for the experts. These are the only people that know what’s truly inside.

Bohemian Grove This is one of the biggest grown-up playgrounds in the world, as is found in California. However, you won’t be getting an invite to the annual two-week vacation unless you are one of the top people in the world. Musicians, business leaders, and presidents have all supposedly been invited here over the years. No one really knows what is discussed in these meetings. However, we do know one thing: making deals and talking business is out of the question.

Mezhgorye Forget about small places that are off-limits to the public; the entire town of Mezhgorye is out of bounds to almost anyone. It was built back in 1979 and is said to be home to nuclear missiles. Officials claim that the town is nothing more than a bunker for government officials, a vault filled with Russian national treasures, and a mine. It’s likely we will never know. The town is surrounded by guards, and the only detailed photos are from satellites.

Niihau Island Niihau Island is also called ‘The Forbidden Island.’ Yes, you guessed it, that means that it’s off-limits to most of the world. The island is found in Hawaii, but even its location is a mystery to many. The only way to spot the island is to stand on Kekaha Beach as the sun sets. It’s been passed down through one family for over 150 years and has been kept away from most all that time. The only people who live on the island are descendants of a tribe that have inhabited the island for years.

The Queen’s bedroom Would you believe that 15 million people visit Buckingham Palace each year? While they might be able to tour most of the palace, there are a few rooms that are kept away from the public. One on the list is the Queen’s bedroom – and it’s likely to stay that way. One man was able to break into the room during the 1980s in one of the greatest security breaches of all time. Apparently, it was all to win a bet with his friends, but we’re not sure that he was laughing at the end.

Robins Island Robins Island has long been shrouded in mystery. It’s found off the coast of New York and is 435 acres of private land. It has been passed from person to person throughout the years, leading to many owners with new ideas. Now, the island is owned by Louis Bacon who has dedicated the island to a great purpose. It’s home to one of the largest turtle populations in the state and is completely off-limits to help save the ecosystem.

Fort Knox Perhaps you’ve heard people compare situations to getting into Fort Knox? There’s a good reason. The military base has been used for all kinds of things throughout history and is now home to America’s gold. There is a lot of value lying behind these walls, to get in, you will have to face barbed wire, armed guards, security cameras, and minefields. That is if you aren’t caught by the fleet of apache helicopters that are ready to take off at any moment.

Pine Gap Although Pine Gap is found out in the Australian Outback, it is owned and controlled by the American military. It was first opened in 1966 thanks to the Cold War and has remained open ever since. It’s used to control satellites that keep track of any airstrikes that could take place across the planet. There is no way to get inside the facility unless you have clearance from a whole host of people. That is unless you hike in the surrounding mountains or fly over the facility.