Selfie Sticks / Phone Gimbals

I use a DJI 6 gimbal for my iphone. I took it everywhere. It is retractable to a short handle. It was not confiscated nor disallowed in any of the attractions we visited. Now there are places where you can't extend the gimbal and use it. I think I got busted in one of the more crowded rooms in the Alcazar after a friendly security person let me know it was not permitted at that particular spot. I would suggest checking with the museum sites to see what is not permitted. As long as you keep it retracted you shouldn't have any issues--it just looks like a handle then.

I have a small gimbal that holds my phone, as well as a pocket gimbal. The one that holds my phone is larger and I wouldn't really want to use it in a museum, though I did use it in Sagrada Familia. It is small enough that it is not in the way, like a selfie stick would be.
The pocket gimbal is really small and I doubt most people would even be able to see that I had it.
I just got a GoPro, but haven't used it yet.
There are restrictions in some places, like museums or art galleries that you cannot take videos as well as no photos and this has to do with copyright laws for the artwork. I always ask first if it is ok to film. This includes the pocket gimbal.

Check the websites of the museums you want to visit.

Thanks for the comments. I would not have thought that DJI or Insta360 gimbals would be allowed inside most sites because they are bulky even when retracted. I have a selfie stick / tripod combo, which is 9" or 25cm even when retracted. So it still looks like a selfie stick.

I'll certainly reach out to the places I intend to visit and ask them for their policies. I'm sure they'll just say that selfie sticks, camera gear, etc. are not allowed though.

Thanks again for the insights.

DJI makes all sorts of gimbals. I really, really like my DJI pocket gimbal. Light, easy to use, and very unobtrusive. Maybe look at getting one of those?

That'd be illegal in our shores. Your belongings can't be hijacked. Worst case scenario (say you're bringing something extremely bulky, 25cm is not!), then you'd be prevented entrance.

Yet, you'll be asked NOT to use the stick in certain museums and other sites with lots of visitors (ie. Sagrada Família in Barcelona).

From the main page of Madrid’s Royal Palace website: It is permitted to take photographs without flash for personal use, except in places expressly prohibited. The use of tripods, selfie sticks or other similar accessories is not permitted. The privacy of visitors and workers must be respected.

The site doesn’t say anything else.

Like others are saying, at most a docent will tell you that something is not allowed, no confiscation or armed guards involved. If at a security point they find something not allowed, they would just point you to a bag check, it is more likely the museum will not allow backpacks/bags.

The prohibition, in the old days, on tripods and such had more to do with limiting professional level photographs of works and just the footprint and disturbance a tripod causes for others trying to see the works..

Basically, if it looks like you are doing something other than taking a few pics, or potentially causing a disturbance, you'll be asked to stop. If they have concerns that a camera on a gimbal/stick might bump into people or art works, yeah, they will tell you to stop. If you are doing a full YouTube/Instagram shoot, yep, they will likely tell you to leave or move on.

My advice regarding cameras is always to get those shots that will be memories, but do not see Europe through a viewfinder.