Lifestyle Trend: The 5 most restricted places on Earth—and where to go for a similar experience You Should Know

Located within the Nevada Test and Training Range, Area 51 occupies a remote basin north of Las Vegas, surrounded by mountains and unmarked desert roads. Its existence was officially acknowledged by the US government only in 2013, long after it had entered public mythology. Rumours of UFO research and advanced technology have been amplified by media coverage, documentaries and films, turning the location into a global symbol of mystery. This combination of real historical significance and limited information keeps curiosity alive, even though access remains strictly prohibited. Historically, the site has been used to test experimental aircraft, including the U-2 spy plane and later stealth technology. Its isolation was chosen deliberately, allowing flight tests to take place far from populated areas and commercial air traffic.

Area 51 is restricted because it remains an active military installation tied to national defence. The surrounding airspace is closed, ground access is prohibited and the perimeter is monitored continuously. These controls place it firmly among the most restricted places on Earth. Travellers interested in its context rather than access can explore authorised aviation museums across Nevada and California, including the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, which explains the broader history of military research in the region. The surrounding desert landscape itself, open and stark, provides a similar sense of scale and remoteness.