Out of bounds: Famous attractions and landmarks now closed to visitors
While there are many incredible destinations waiting to be explored this year, there are a handful that travellers won’t get the chance to see.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, many tourist attractions have struggled to recover, while others have been tested by the cost of living crisis.
Here are some of the most famous cultural landmarks that are either temporarily or permanently closed this year.
Noma, Copenhagen
Widely regarded as the world’s best restaurant, Noma will conclude its gastronomic journey this year. This threeMichelin-starred culinary gem, a pioneer in Nordic cuisine, has been critically acclaimed for two decades thanks to its innovative eco-conscious menu that’s rooted in foraged seasonal ingredients.
Founder Rene Redzepi, the Danish chef, said the closure comes as a result of challenges posed by high standards and the labour-intensive nature of the restaurant’s cuisine.
The plan is for it to transform into a full-time food laboratory, focusing on e-commerce and pop-up dining experiences. While the restaurant will be open until the end of the year, good luck getting a table.
Splash Mountain, Florida
This Disney World attraction has thrilled theme park-goers in Florida and California for three decades, but the famous log flume ride took its final plunge last year. The closure is part of Disney’s initiative to address racially sensitive elements derived from the film Song of the South, which Splash Mountain was based on. The ride is now being revamped and renamed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, featuring characters from The Princess and the Frog , including Tiana, the studio’s first black princess.
Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser, Florida
Disney’s Star Wars-themed hotel closed in September after a little more than 18 months of operations in the Epcot Resort Area at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
It was a two-night live-action role-playing choose-your-ownadventure experience that took place on a simulated cruise in outer space within the Star Wars universe. The high cost, limited appeal to less-enthusiastic fans and absence of classic characters, however, have been noted as its downfalls.
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Part of Berlin’s Unesco World Heritage-listed Museum Island complex, the German capital’s most visited museum has closed for three-and-a-half years for extensive renovations – and the south wing is only expected to reopen in 2037.
The building, which was constructed from 1910 to 1930 by order of Emperor Wilhelm II, was facing structural issues, including outdated technical systems. The $1.6 million restoration will address the museum’s deterioration, but also create a new pedestrian zone and expanded exhibition halls. It is also home to the Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon.
Elephant Trunk Rock, Taiwan
Taiwan’s Elephant Trunk Rock no longer resembles an elephant’s trunk after it collapsed into the sea on December 15. While the natural feature, which was about 10km from Taipei’s popular tourist area of Jiufen, had been cordoned off to visitors since 2010, it was still a beloved photo spot.
Continuing erosion and its thin arched structure made the rock formation precarious. Its collapse has resurfaced concerns about other geological formations on Taiwan’s northern coast, including the at-risk Queen’s Head rock at Yehliu Geopark.
Cheim & Read, New York
The celebrated gallery closed permanently last month after about three decades of operations. Known for exhibiting influential modern and contemporary artists including Diane Arbus, Louise Bourgeois and Joan Mitchell, the gallery shared the closure news on Instagram, saying it was “grateful” for its followers’ support.
The closure follows co-founder John Cheim’s consignment of highlights from his personal collection to Sotheby’s, fetching a total of $34.7 million, which included pieces by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Robert Mapplethorpe and Cy Twombly.
Phantom of the Opera, Broadway
The curtain has fallen on Broadway’s longest-running show after running for an impressive 35 years in New York City. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical had been performed 14,000 times since its 1988 debut, engaging more than 20 million audience members and grossing $1.3 billion.
The show had been losing money even before the pandemic, but after the decision to close was announced it started turning a profit again.
Moles, Bath
Despite last year being a bumper profit-maker for arena-level acts, it has been described by people in the UK’s grassroots live music scene as the “worst year for venue closures”, according to NME. One of the biggest losses was this venue in Bath, one of the final places left standing where Oasis toured for the first time.
The venue, which hosted acts such as Ed Sheeran and Blur, played a pivotal role in nurturing British talent. But after 45 years of challenges, operators said the cost of living crisis, soaring rental rates and increased operational expenses were the final nails in the venue’s coffin.
Sycamore Gap, Northumberland
Thousands of tourists every year headed to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland to see the Sycamore Gap tree, but last year, the 300-year-old beloved landmark was illegally felled, prompting a police investigation and subsequent arrest.
The tree, which was found sawed at the base, was famous for its appearance in 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Le Gavroche, London
This month marks the closure of a London culinary veteran, as chef Michel Roux Jr follows through with the closure of his celebrated two-Michelinstarred restaurant.
The venue in Mayfair had been running for 56 years after the Roux Sr brothers opened the only French restaurant of its kind in London in 1967.
The restaurant’s legacy includes nurturing talents such as Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White. While the physical space will disappear, the name will live on as future pop-ups are planned in the UK and abroad.
The legacy of London’s Le Gavroche includes nurturing talents such as Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White
Katy Perry: Play, Las Vegas
Since its 2021 debut, the American singer’s Las Vegas residency brought in hundreds of thousands of spectators and millions of dollars. It came to an end in November, with Celine Dion watching the final hurrah.
Katy Perry: Play, which took place at Resorts World Las Vegas, was a colourful five-act show during which the star performed 20 musical numbers, including her No 1 hits.
The California Gurls singer described it as a blend of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Pee-wee’s Playhouse, featuring oversized props.