online tours of famous places

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100+ Virtual Tours of Popular Tourist Attractions Around the World [2024]

Christy Rodriguez

Travel & Finance Content Contributor

87 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 36 U.S. States Visited: 31

Jessica Merritt

Editor & Content Contributor

78 Published Articles 452 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 4 U.S. States Visited: 23

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

29 Published Articles 3048 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 45 U.S. States Visited: 28

Los Glaciares National Park

Great barrier reef, hamilton island, sydney opera house tour, uluru-kata tjuta national park, schönbrunn palace, vienna, amazon rainforest, iguazu falls, sanctuary of christ the redeemer, rio de janeiro, angkor wat, siem reap, niagara falls, old quebec, quebec city, polar bears, churchill, the bund, shanghai, forbidden city, beijing, guilin mountains, guangxi, zhangjiajie glass bridge, hunan, prague castle, prague walking tour, pyramids of giza, giza, sphinx, giza, tomb of queen meresanhk iii, giza, catacombs of paris, paris, château de versailles, versailles, eiffel tower, paris, louvre, paris, musee d’orsay, paris, acropolis, athens, ice cave and aurora borealis tour, red fort, delhi, taj mahal, agra, borobodur temple, java, prambanan temple, yogyakarta, cliffs of moher, county clare, tel aviv museum of art, colosseum, rome, uffizi gallery, florence, valley of the temples, sicily, hanami around the world, onsen all over japan, samburu national reserve, museo frida kahlo, mexico city, teotihuacan, climb mount everest, anne frank house, amsterdam, keukenhof tulip fields, lisse, van gogh museum, amsterdam, hobbiton, hinuera, waitomo glowworm caves, otorohanga, machu picchu, trinity lavra of st. sergius, sergiyev posad, gardens by the bay cloud forest, marina bay sands, domica cave, kečovo, kruger national park, robben island museum, cape town, alhambra, granada, casa batlló, barcelona, dali museum, figueres, sagrada familia, barcelona, aurora borealis, abisko, malmö street art walk, nature of sweden, gombe stream national park, burj khalifa, dubai, the british museum, london, england, buckingham palace, london, england, giants causeway, bushmills, northern ireland, london walking tour, london, england, the roman baths, bath, england, stonehenge, wiltshire, england, alcatraz island, san francisco, california, baseball hall of fame, cooperstown, new york, bryce canyon national park, bryce, utah, carlsbad caverns national park, carlsbad, new mexico, grand canyon national park, arizona, hawai’i volcanoes national park, kenai fjords national park, seward, alaska, kennedy space center, cape canaveral, florida, the metropolitan museum of art, new york city, new york, monterey bay aquarium, monterey, california, national museum of natural history, washington, d.c., redwood national and state parks, crescent city,  california, san diego zoo, san diego, california, statue of liberty, new york, walt disney world rides, orlando, florida, the white house, washington, d.c., yellowstone national park, wyoming, yosemite national park, yosemite, california, victoria falls, international space station, outer space, final thoughts.

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Satisfy your wanderlust by exploring famous sights — all from the comfort of your couch!

We’ve put together a list of over 100 virtual tours from more than 35 countries worldwide so that you can explore without having to catch a flight or spend a dime! We’ve organized this gigantic list by country so you can easily navigate to your country of choice or simply work your way down the list and digitally travel all over the globe.

Grab a snack and get ready to explore!

Hot Tip: We’ve also created extensive guides to virtual tours across U.S. National Parks , in addition to museums  and walking tours !

Google Earth has a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, which is located in southwestern Argentina. This park contains the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is one of the only advancing glaciers in the world. It is nearly 20 miles long and is a popular tourist attraction and ice-hiking site.

You can also discover other parts of Argentina through Google Earth including:

• Cerro Uritorco, the highest hill in the Sierras Chicas mountain range
• Palacio San Jose, the residence of the first constitutional president of Argentina
• Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, the oldest and largest national park, located in the Patagonia region

To view the virtual tour page, click here . 

David Attenborough leads you on an interactive underwater tour to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Through interactive time-lapses, videos, and weather maps, the tour shows you the Earth’s most bio-diverse ecosystem.

All the while, a tracker notes miles traveled, total sailing time, and the effects of climate change during your “exhibition,” making this a great educational tour for adults and kids alike!

To start your virtual tour, click here .

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. This island features beautiful beaches and is close to the Great Barrier Reef. All you need is a tropical drink to be transported!

You’ll find these videos on YouTube, but the site recommends downloading the YouTube app for the best experience. Swim with sea turtles at the Great Barrier Reef, play golf at Hamilton Island’s championship golf course, take a helicopter tour over the iconic heart reef, or sail to the famous Whitehaven Beach on a yacht!

To start your virtual tour, click to explore . 

YouVisit has an interactive tour of Sydney available. You start your journey by taking a ferry to Sydney, walking around Circular Quay, viewing the Harbour Bridge, seeing the Royal Botanical Gardens, and finishing by exploring both Luna and Hype Parks.

The 360-degree views really make you feel like you’re a part of the action!

Views of the iconic Sydney Opera House are synonymous with Sydney itself. Now you can explore this landmark virtually!

The Sydney Opera House and the Google Cultural Institute joined together to provide an interactive tour that takes you around the famous exterior, allows you to tour sets and the orchestra pit, and even features a performance by Nicole Car and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

One of Australia’s most scenic spots is the Uluru rock formation, also known as Ayers Rock. Uluru is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area and the surrounding area features an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings.

Qantas Airlines has a virtual reality app that allows you to experience an epic flyover via helicopter. You can experience it on your phone, or even a virtual reality (VR) device like Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive.

To view the virtual tour page and instructions on how to download the app, click here . 

Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and is the most-visited tourist attraction in Vienna. The palace consists of over 1,400 rooms and is considered one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in Austria.

Once you leave the palace, be sure to venture out to the gardens to explore an impressive maze, orangery, and a botanical garden — all containing impressive fountains and sculptures.

To start your virtual tour, click to explore the palace or start by strolling through the park .

“Under The Canopy” is a VR experience produced by Conservation International and its partners. This unique view into the Amazon Rainforest and River Basin allows you to see how indigenous tribes live, follows along with a sloth’s journey, and goes deep into the rainforest.

The goal of this educational tour is to teach viewers how to protect the rainforest against the worst impacts of climate change. To get the full experience, you need to download the YouTube app, but you can also view the tour directly on the website.

Start here for more details.

While the exact number of waterfalls varies by season, the majestic Iguazu Falls are considered to be the world’s largest waterfall system and are also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

AirPano offers interactive photos and videos to explore these stunning vistas from both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of the falls. Whether you choose the viewing platforms, trails, or videos via helicopter, you are sure to be amazed!

The Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro and was voted one of the “New7Wonders of the World.” This statue is a symbol of Christianity across the world and also a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. 

Google Arts & Culture allows you to visit the statue virtually through its app. See unique details, such as the mosaic coating made of small, triangular-shaped pieces of soapstone that cover the entire surface of the statue!

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then begin your virtual tour here .

Google Street View lets you experience the mysterious temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. There are many other temples to explore, including:

• The “lost temple” of Beng Mealea
• Angkor Thom
• Ta Prohm (made famous by Tomb Raider!)
• Pink temple of Banteay Srei

Each walk includes the history and detailed descriptions of important pieces of artwork found along the way. And the best thing is — no crowds!

Start your virtual tour here . 

Journey Behind the Falls is a popular tourist attraction on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. It offers a unique view below and behind the falls that you are now able to experience in virtual reality!

Niagara Falls Tourism has brought this experience to life with an interactive video detailing your trip. Experience the power of the falls from multiple vantage points — without the need for a rain poncho!

Visit Niagara Falls virtually here .

Known for its classical architecture and a distinctive European feel, Quebec City is a popular tourist destination. Old Quebec is the historic area of the city, rich in historic landmarks and museums. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Start with a sunrise walk on the Dufferin Terrace, where you can see the St. Lawrence River and a breathtaking view of the Château Frontenac. Take a funicular to get to the Petit-Champlain District and admire the charming boutiques and terraces. The 360-degree views will certainly impress!

Start your virtual stroll here .

Churchill, Canada is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World! Using Google Street View, search for polar bears as you trek along the frozen tundra — without needing your warmest winter coat!

This joint effort by Polar Bears International, Earth Outreach, and Google Maps allows you to learn more about the bears and their habitat, the impacts of climate change, and the work being done to advance the cause of polar bear conservation.

Begin your virtual trek here .

The Bund is the waterfront located on the western bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China. It is famous for its grand buildings and the epic view of the city skyline.

On this interactive walking tour, you can see the city during the day and night, explore the Bund Bull and Monument to the People’s Heroes, and learn about the history of Shanghai through the architecture of its buildings.

Visit the Bund by clicking here . 

The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing, China. It was the former Chinese imperial palace and state residence of the emperor of China from the Ming dynasty until 1924. It is also China’s best-preserved imperial palace.

This tour allows you to see the main areas of the complex, including:

• Hall of Supreme Harmony
• Imperial Gardens
• Meridian Gate
• Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs

Begin your virtual tour by clicking here . 

The Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China. With over 10 million visitors each year, it is one of the world’s most-visited tourist attractions.

This virtual tour lets you walk along the Jinshanling to the Simatai section of the wall, experiencing multiple seasons along the way. This 6.5-mile stretch provides guests with some of the best views of the wall since this region is well-known for having some of the most well-preserved sections with original features still intact.

Walk along the Great Wall by starting here .

“Avatar” fans will be interested to know that the movie’s floating mountains were based on the karst formations in the Guilin mountain range. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its natural scenery and wild and untouched landscape.

AirPano takes you on a flight over the area, exploring famous sites such as Seven Stars Park, Reed Flute Cave, Folded Brocade Hill, and Green Lotus Peak.

Start your interactive flight here . 

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is a skywalk bridge that is made from glass — making it completely transparent. It spans 1,410 feet across China’s Grand Canyon. When it opened, it was the longest and tallest glass-bottomed bridge in the world!

The safety of this bridge has been called into question after incidents at similar bridges resulted in injuries. This makes for an even better reason to virtually experience this bridge safely and enjoy the heart-stopping views from the comfort of your own home!

Start your video tour here . 

Czech Republic

Prague Castle sits overlooking the beautiful city of Prague. It serves as the official office for the president of the Czech Republic. Prague Castle is among the most-visited tourist attractions in Prague — attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.

The Czech government has put together a virtual look at the courtyard, gardens, the castle’s picture gallery, and even the inside the Cathedral of St. Vitus.

Step into this fairy tale town with a 4K virtual walk around Prague, also known as the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Start your tour at Charles Bridge, wander down the twisting cobblestone streets, and end your day by visiting one of Prague’s pubs.

You will really feel like you stepped into Prague with the city sounds and tourist chatter in this real-time stroll to Powder Tower — passing many historic buildings along the way.

Start your walking tour here .

Among the most famous tombs in the world, the Pyramids of Giza were built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The pyramids originally held the royal mummies and their worldly effects to be used in the afterlife.

Stand beside these 4,500-year-old pyramids that overlook the modern city of Cairo. The behind-the-scenes portion of the Google Street View trek gives you details about the construction process and purpose of this Ancient Wonder of the World.

Start your walk to the pyramids here .

The Great Sphinx was believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom (around 2500 B.C.). This limestone statue has the body of a lion and the head of a human and faces from west to east, directly in the shadow of the famous pyramids of Giza.

Google Earth allows you to virtually see the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau.

Start your explorations here .

Close to the Great Pyramid lies the tomb of Queen Meresankh III, the wife of Khafra and granddaughter of Khufu. The Giza Project, presented by Harvard University, allows us to virtually explore her tomb.

You will find many well-preserved wall reliefs as well as 10 large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall. It is believed that the women represent Meresankh herself, her mother, and her daughters.

Venture underground by starting here . 

Not for the squeamish, the Catacombs of Paris hold the human skulls and bones of more than 6 million people in a network of subterranean tunnels underneath the streets of Paris . Explore these catacombs, some of which date back over 1,200 years!

There are 5 areas you can navigate through:

• The Alcôve de L’Ossuaire
• The Atelier
• The Cloche de Fontis
• The Galerie de Port-Mahon
• The Lampe Sépulcrale de L’Ossuaire

Begin your virtual tour here . 

The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682 until 1789. What began as a simple hunting lodge transformed into a palace with over 2,300 rooms! Explore many of these rooms on your virtual tour.

Google Arts & Culture provides the unique experience of seeing Versailles free of tourists. Zoom in on artifacts, step into 3D renderings of rooms and wander around the expansive gardens. This is definitely a unique experience!

The best experience can be found by downloading the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ), but you can also start your journey here .

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was visited by almost 7 million people last year, but you can avoid the crowds and take a virtual tour instead!

TV5 Monde created a 360-degree virtual reality tour that reveals every aspect of the Eiffel Tower in 3 minutes, featuring a sunrise from the Champ-de-Mars and a panoramic ascent to the top, both inside and out. Learn about 130 years of history and enjoy the stunning views.

Begin your virtual ascent here .

The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and contains some of the world’s most amazing artwork and treasures. If you spent 60 seconds looking at each of the objects for 8 hours a day, it would take you 75 days to see them all.

Here is just a sampling of some of what you can view virtually:

• Roman Antiquities Hall
• “Winged Victory”
• Napoleon’s Apartment
• Tuileries Garden

Begin your journey through the Louvre here .

Hot Tip: We’ve also created a guide to the 50 best museums that you can tour and visit virtually !

The building of the Musee D’Orsay is just as beautiful as the artwork it contains. The Beaux Arts-style building was formerly a train station and later a hotel.

Inside, the museum contains a wide range of magnificent French art from the period 1848 to 1914, including furniture, paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Paintings by greats such as Renoir, Monet, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh are on virtual display throughout the museum.

As is usual for Google, you can explore via Street View or download its app for a more interactive adventure.

The Acropolis stands watch over the city of Athens. These ruins serve as a reminder of the rich history of Greece. Today, it is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site and home to several temples that you can visit courtesy of the Acropolis Restoration Service.

On this virtual tour, explore the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, and the Temple of Athena Nike while learning about the historical significance of the Acropolis and restoration efforts that are taking place.

Start your virtual tour here or you can follow directions on how to download the app.

Tikal was once the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. The site is part of Guatemala’s Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

There are thousands of ancient structures and temple complexes at Tikal, but only a fraction of these sites have been excavated. On this virtual tour, explore some of the most prominent surviving pyramids — Temples I to VI — some of which are over 200 feet high!

Start exploring virtually by clicking here .

Ice caves are an extraordinary and mesmerizing wonder of nature. They’re a common tourist attraction in Iceland. The best time to visit is from November to March when the weather has been consistently cold enough for the ice caves to become stable enough to visit and explore properly.

Hike along with this YouTube adventurer to explore the freezing ice caves in Vatnajokull and the aurora borealis from the comfort of your warm home!

Start your virtual hike here .

The Red Fort is a historic fort in the city of Delhi and served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. It was constructed by the same architect that built the Taj Mahal.

Google Maps Street View allows you to get an up-close look at this fort. Explore the 1.5 miles of defensive walls, walk through the main gate, and explore the beautiful domed ceilings.

Start your Google Maps walk here . 

The Taj Mahal is a marble mausoleum in Agra, India. This UNESCO World Heritage site was commissioned in 1632 by the emperor to house the tomb of his favorite wife. The Taj Mahal receives close to 8 million visitors a year and in 2007 it was declared one of the “New7Wonders of the World.”

Google Maps allows you to walk around this beautiful site from the comfort of your computer, tablet, or phone. It advertises that you can “enjoy postcard views or discover rarely-seen perspectives” as well as “get up close to the hand-carved details and explore expansive landscapes.”

Start your virtual walk here .

Borobudur Temple is a famous Buddhist temple dating from the 8th and 9th centuries located in central Java. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s.

Google Earth allows you to explore the beauty of the temples in Borobudur. Tour the various tiers and wall reliefs, including numerous stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. Also, enjoy the gorgeous views overlooking the island.

Begin your virtual tour here .

Prambanan attracts many visitors from around the world. Built during the 10th century, it is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. While it went through a period of decline, the British rediscovered Prambanan, along with Borobudur above, in the early 19th century.

While a major earthquake in the 16th century caused serious damage, there are still many beautiful temples to explore. By using Google Earth, you can walk among many stunning structures with stone spires and sculptures.

Start your wandering here . 

The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located in County Clare that run for about 9 miles. The stunning cliffs rank among the most-visited tourist sites in Ireland with around 1.5 million visits a year!

Start your walk at multiple sweeping viewpoints along the cliffs, move to the view from the top of O’Brien’s Tower, and explore the visitor’s center on your interactive tour.

Enjoy the views of the sea by starting here .

Jerusalem is one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations since it is considered holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. 360 Virtual Tour has put together a digital tour of Jerusalem so you can experience what it’s like to explore the Holy Land.

See many of the most-visited sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, and more.

Explore the art collection in Tel Aviv’s Art Museum. You can visit select exhibitions, including the SOLAR GUERILLA, at the Tel Aviv’s Museum of Art.

This exhibition showcases how cities can be used as tools for change. It presents case studies from Chicago, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, London, New York, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv and highlights ideas such as sponge cities and solar trees.

Start exploring the exhibition here .

The Colosseum is located in the center of the city of Rome . It is the largest amphitheater ever built —holding between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests and other events, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, and reenactments of famous battles.

Take a virtual tour around the corridors of the arena’s unknown underground, learn historical details, and more.

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then start your tour here .

The Uffizi is an art museum located in Florence. It is one of the largest and best-known museums in the world, holding an immense collection of priceless works from the Italian Renaissance.

Google Arts & Culture allows you to tour inside the museum without any crowds virtually through its app. Walk down the hallways and explore the collection.

A sampling of the artwork inside includes:

• “Annunciation” by  Leonardo da Vinci
• “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
• “La Primavera” (Spring) by  Botticelli Filipepi
• “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino Mazzola

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then begin your tour here .

The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological site in Sicily. Once part of the Ancient Greek empire, it is one of the most outstanding examples of Greek art and architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the main attractions of Sicily.

Your tour will allow you to take a virtual walk around the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Zeus, and the early Christian acropolis.

Venice is a magical city situated on a group of 118 small islands — linked by over 400 bridges. Travel the canals, walk the streets, ride boats, and cross bridges to reveal one of the world’s most unique cities.

This virtual tour is a fantastic introduction to Venice, especially for those who have mobility issues that make crossing bridges difficult, but also useful in times when you can’t travel.

Explore the city virtually by clicking here . 

While the pandemic spoiled many people’s plans to visit the cherry blossoms in Japan, Google Earth has got you covered. Enjoy the amazing experience of Hanami in Japan!

This tour starts in Japan but also jumps to 9 other popular sakura spots around the world, including Paris and Washington, D.C. It can also help you plan prime-viewing locations for when you are able to take your trips!

Start experiencing the cherry blossom festival here . 

Mt. Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain, known for its perfect conical shape. Fujisan, as it is reverently referred, is used as a cultural icon of Japan and is frequently visited by sightseers and climbers.

Now, you can see the beautiful Mt. Fuji from home. Google Street View lets you see what it would take to hike to the top and be rewarded with stunning views from the summit.

To begin your virtual tour, click here .

An onsen is a Japanese hot spring — and since Japan is a volcanically active country, it has thousands of onsens scattered throughout its major islands.  Locals and tourists alike flock to the traditional inns and bathing facilities that these hot springs feed into.

Take a tour through the hot springs of Japan. Google Earth allows you to explore 13 of these magical hot springs situated all over the country.

Start your explorations here . 

Petra is an ancient city located in Jordan. The Nabataeans might have settled in what would become the capital city of their kingdom as early as the fourth century B.C. It is famous for its pink sandstone walls and stunning carvings.

Trek through the Siq and explore sights such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, Little Petra, and Monastery. Learn about the people who inhabited Petra while staying out of the sun!

Start your walk around Petra here .

The Samburu National Reserve is a game reserve on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro in Kenya. This river provides water, without which the game could not survive. The elephants of this region have been studied by Save the Elephants  for over 20 years.

Get to know the landscape, people, and wildlife of Samburu through this virtual trek. Learn about conservation efforts and see elephants up close!

Start your virtual safari here .

The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House, is a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Use Google Street View to see inside of the Mexico City museum and zoom in on some of her most-famous artwork including:

• “Frida and the Caesarian Operation” (1931)
• “Long Live Life” (1954)
• “Portrait of My Father Wilhelm Kahlo” (1952)

Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located near modern-day Mexico City. It is known for its Mesoamerican pyramids and also for being the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas at its peak.

You can now see the pyramids at Teotihuacan from home. On this tour, walk along the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, and more — and experience each viewpoint in 360 degrees!

Begin your virtual journey here . 

Mount Everest is Earth’s highest mountain above sea level at 29,029 feet. Everest attracts many climbers, but it also presents dangers, such as altitude sickness, weather, and avalanches. More than 300 people have died trying to reach the summit.

But you don’t have to risk death to experience what it takes to summit Mt. Everest. You will need a VR device to be fully immersed in this experience, but if you don’t have one, you can always watch a video of the final ascent here .

Start your VR experience here . 

The Netherlands

The Anne Frank House, now a museum, is located in central Amsterdam and hid the young Jewish diarist, her family, and 4 other people from Nazis during World War II.

The Anne Frank Museum offers a virtual tour so that you can experience a video diary, see the Secret Annex where she lived and what it looked like when she was there, and more.

Begin your tour of her life here . 

Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens and is widely known for its beautiful tulip fields. Keukenhof opens for 8 weeks from mid-March to mid-May, with peak viewing for tulips arriving near mid-April, where it can receive 26,000 visitors per day.

The exhibition’s blooms are available virtually — free of crowds!

Begin your virtual walk around the gardens here . 

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is a must for anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter. The Google Arts & Culture app allows you to see his works up close by virtually visiting this museum.

This collection contains the largest number of his artwork, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 of his personal letters.

Some of the most famous items include:

• “Almond Blossom”
• “The Potato Eaters”
• “Sunflowers”

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then start your virtual tour here . 

New Zealand

Any Lord of the Rings fans will recognize Hobbiton — it was created as the movie set for the Shire. It is situated on the North Island of New Zealand and the set is around 12 acres large!

On this virtual tour, you will be able to explore many parts of the set, including the Green Dragon Inn, Frodo and Bilbo’s much-loved Bag-End, and more.

Begin your virtual journey here. 

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are located on the North Island of New Zealand. They are known for their population of glowworms found only in New Zealand.

On this virtual tour by National Geographic, you can experience what it is like to take a boat ride under the glowworms.

Float in the caves by clicking here . 

Machu Picchu takes your breath away. It stands high above the tropical mountain forest and is among the greatest artistic and architectural achievements made by the Inca civilization.

See Machu Picchu without the trek! Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site by seeing the views from multiple outlooks, wandering around the residences and burial grounds, and seeing the current residents — the alpacas!

Explore virtually by starting here . 

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is also home to over 300 monks and serves as an educational center for young priests.

Use Google Earth to explore the entire complex, including many stunning churches, the famous Holy Trinity icon, as well as many important burial sites.

Explore the ornate buildings starting here . 

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay is an indoor greenhouse with diverse vegetation and rare plants from all over the globe. The goal of the attraction is to expose visitors to these disappearing plants and discuss conservation efforts underway.

Be amazed as you encounter the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, descend through the surreal mist-filled Cloud Walk, and finish with the Treetop Walk.

Begin walking around the dome here . 

Visit Singapore’s most iconic hotel virtually! The Marina Bay Sands hotel has put together a virtual tour so that you can visit from home.

See views from various rooms throughout the hotel, a museum, and get a glimpse into some of the shopping the hotel offers. The main attraction is the Sky Park, which contains the infinity pool overlooking the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay.

Start your virtual tour here .

The Domica Cave is made from light limestone and the passages were shaped by the waters of the underground river Styx. The cave is the largest of over 700 in the area.

Venture underground in Slovenia to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site, courtesy of Google Earth.

Walk around the caves starting here . 

South Africa

One of the largest game reserves in Africa, an amazing array of wildlife calls Kruger National Park home, including the “Big Five” of lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, and Cape buffaloes, as well as zebras, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hyenas.

The WildEarth team broadcasts 3-hour-long live safaris daily at sunrise (starting at 11:30 p.m. EST) and sunset (starting at 9 a.m. EST).

Begin your virtual safari here .

Robben Island Museum is an island off the coast of Cape Town. It was fortified and used as a prison from the late 17th century to 1996, after the end of apartheid. Many of its prisoners were political — including Nelson Mandela.

Google Arts & Culture brings you to the former island prison and educates you on the 18 years Nelson Mandela spent there.

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Andalusia. It is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting Islamic architecture together with 16th century and later Christian buildings and gardens due to its many different occupants.

Take a virtual tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit the following:

• Charles V Palace
• Justice Tower
• Square of Cisterns

Tour the palace and gardens here .

Casa Batlló is considered one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces. Many things inside (and on top of!) the house were designed by him, including some of the furniture, windows, and even the staircase railings.

There are few straight lines inside, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles. The roof is arched and the structures have been compared to the back of a dragon. It’s truly a unique house!

Begin your virtual tour inside the house starting here .

The Dali Museum is dedicated to the artist Salvador Dali in his hometown of Figueres. There are an incredible 96 oil paintings and other artworks displayed in this space.

The virtual tour of this museum is pretty incredible — you can click through the rooms, zoom in on important pieces of art, and learn more about the life of Salvador Dali.

Some of the most outstanding works on display are:

• “Port Alguer” (1924)
• “Portrait of Gala with Two Lamb Chops Balanced on Her Shoulder” (1933)
• “Self-Portrait with l’Humanité” (1923)
• “The Spectre of Sex-Appeal” (1932)

The Sagrada Familia is considered to be the best example of Modernist architecture. The design developed by Antoni Gaudi was so complex and detailed that it remains unfinished to this day!

On the virtual tour of Gaudi’s famous cathedral, you can walk inside the basilica, see the different façades, and even see the tomb of Gaudi.

Tour inside the church by clicking here .  

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, come alive as streaks of pink, green, and purple dancing across the night sky. The best time to visit is during the coldest and darkest months. Still, visitors flock to see the show during the long winter nights.

See the spectacle from home thanks to Lights Over Lapland. The site also has a dog-sledding adventure to experience!

Experience the northern lights here . 

Malmö is Sweden’s third-largest city and home to a variety of street art thanks to the 2014 Artscape Festival, Sweden’s first large-scale street art festival. There are large sculptures and murals hidden around every corner!

Google Street View makes it easy to explore street art in Malmö.

Take a walk through the city to explore some of these gems!

Maybe a quiet escape to the outdoors in beautiful Sweden is more your speed? Visit Sweden has put together a virtual reality tour that you can experience either through your computer or VR device.

There are multiple adventures you can choose from: go for an evening swim, camp in the mountains, or meet the King of the Forest.

Escape to nature here . 

The Gombe served as a home for Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research. It is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, and only accessible by boat. Besides chimpanzees, primates inhabiting Gombe include beachcomber olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and more.

Learn about Goodall’s life, her work with the chimpanzees, and see the beautiful place they call home. You can also experience a “day in the life” of a chimpanzee family.

Start your Street View Trek here . 

United Arab Emirates

The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. The floors are arranged in a unique spiral formation to provide stability from the strong desert winds.

Google Street View allows you to go to different rooms and floors within the building, and the behind-the-scenes section shows you the views from a window washer’s viewpoint on the 80th floor. Learn more interesting facts and figures about this amazing building on this trek.

Start your Street View Trek here .

United Kingdom

The British Museum, located in London, has a permanent collection of 8 million works — making it the largest and most comprehensive collection in existence. Many of its treasures were widely sourced during the era of the British Empire.

Google Street View begins the walk outside, but you can click through to experience some of the vast collection. Just a sampling of the objects include:

• The Book of the Dead
• Egyptian mummies
• Parthenon sculptures
• The Rosetta Stone

Read more about the British Museum in our guide to the best museums in London .

Click here to start your virtual tour.

Step inside the official residence of the Queen of England. It can be difficult to visit the Royal Palace as it is only open to the public between July and October.

Through this virtual tour, visitors will explore Buckingham Palace’s ornate rooms, garden parties, and famous artwork — available any time of year!

Explore the unique Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns — the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. There is a local myth that a giant named Finn MacCool built the causeway to get to Scotland to battle a rival giant.

The National Trust put together a virtual sunset tour of the Giant’s Causeway, as well as the surrounding areas of Aird Snout headland and Port Noffer.

Access all of the virtual tours here . 

London is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations with millions of visitors annually! There is so much to do and see in London , from history to art to culture and food.

VisitLondon offers a virtual map of the entire city. The tour starts at the top of the London Eye. From there, you can drop down into selected landmarks, like Big Ben or Westminster Abbey, and explore the locations from a street view.

The Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex in Bath on the site of Britain’s only hot spring, which still flows with hot water. The Roman Baths are one of the finest historic sites in Northern Europe.

Enjoy a virtual tour around the steaming Great Bath where people bathed nearly 2,000 years ago. Learn more about the baths and walk through the complex.

Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones, each weighing around 25 tons.  Archaeologists believe it was constructed sometime between 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. It is one of the most famous attractions in the U.K., attracting 800,000 visitors a year.

English Heritage has put together an interactive tour around the site. Select various hotspots to find out more. The tour also offers a live view from within the stone circle.

United States of America

Alcatraz Island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a federal prison for almost 30 years.

Explore this former prison in San Francisco Bay on an interactive Google Arts & Culture tour where you can learn about notorious inmates and see escape materials and inmate artwork.

Begin your journey to “The Rock” here .

Die-hard baseball fans regularly make the pilgrimage to see the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This museum is committed to preserving the history of America’s pastime and celebrating the legendary people who have made the game great.

Examine vintage photos, signed baseballs, programs, posters, videos, and more thanks to Google Street View.

Walk around the museum virtually by clicking here . 

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for the beautiful, red, white, and orange “hoodoos” surrounding this famous desert landscape.

Take a virtual tour around Sunset Point and view the star-filled night sky from this Dark Sky-certified national park, see the park’s unique rock formations up close, and even take a horseback ride through the canyon.

Begin your virtual explorations of Bryce Canyon here . 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico and is home to over 100 caves. The caverns are well-known for their many impressive calcite formations.

On this virtual tour, you can take a walk through some of the caverns, view incredible rock formations, and even experience life as a bat thanks to Google Arts & Culture’s simulation.

Walk into the caverns beginning here .

See the majestic Grand Canyon that was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River below. It’s amazing to see this much geological history revealed before your eyes.

Walk with Google Street View to explore the Bright Angel trail. It will lead you from the South Rim, down the Black Bridge, across the Colorado River, and up to the Phantom Ranch campsite. You can zoom in and click to discover new views of the park.

Begin your virtual descent here . 

Hawai’i Volcano National Park is one of the most popular national parks, located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. This park spans from sea level to the summit of 2 of the world’s most active volcanoes — Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can access a virtual tour to explore the Nahuku Lava Tube, enjoy the stunning view from the volcanic coastal cliffs, fly over an active volcano, and see the effects of an eruption from 1959.

Begin your tour through a lava tube starting here . 

Experience the Kenai Fjords National Park virtually. The national park was established to preserve the fjord and rain forest ecosystems, Harding Icefield, abundant wildlife, and historical and archaeological remains.

Google Arts & Culture offers a guided tour through the park. Climb down a crevasse on Exit Glacier, watch a glacier melt, and kayak through a Bear Glacier lagoon. You might even encounter some wildlife along the way!

Start your virtual journey here . 

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is 1 of 10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) field centers. It currently serves as NASA’s primary launch center for human spaceflight.

Google Street View Treks allows you to experience a tour of the Kennedy Space Center virtually. Take a virtual walk through the transfer aisle of the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building, stand at the top of Launch Pad 39A, and more.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is located in New York City and is the largest art museum in the U.S.

The Met 360° Project developed videos covering 6 of the Met’s most popular attractions and spaces, including:

• The Charles Engelhard Court
• Gothic Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park
• Neo-Classical Grand Hall
• Temple of Dendur

You can experience the museum through your computer, smartphone, on Google Cardboard, or with a VR headset.

For all of the details, click here . 

If you are missing the ocean, the Monterey Aquarium is here to help! This aquarium is known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay and was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened.

Experience the stunning Monterey Bay Aquarium in real-time. It has several live cams broadcasting including a aviary cam , a  jelly cam , a  shark cam , and an  adorable penguin cam .

See all of the live stream options here . 

The National Museum of Natural History is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Science lovers can experience permanent , current , and past exhibitions online.

This includes exhibits such as:

• The Butterfly Pavilion
• The Hall of Fossils
• The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals (featuring the Hope Diamond)
• The Hall Human Origins

Access all the exhibits here . 

The Redwood National and State Parks hold some of the world’s tallest trees. In this series of short VR interpretive talks produced by the NPS, Ranger Greg takes you on your own ranger-led walk. Learn about habitats, rivers, ecosystem restoration, and historical figures, and understand some of the amazing adaptations that redwood trees have.

NPS suggests using a VR device for full immersion, however, it notes that you can also move the video/photo in any direction on your mobile device or PC.

Start your virtual hike here . 

Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the U.S. It originally ran from Chicago, through many states in the Southwestern U.S., ending in Santa Monica. Because this road wound through so many tiny towns, hundreds of odd little trading posts, motels, and attractions popped up along the way — many still available to explore.

Take a virtual drive along the historic highway and get an up-close-and-personal look at 10 different sites along the way.

Begin your journey down Route 66 here . 

The San Diego Zoo is one of the best out there. Its innovative animal habitats provide natural settings for animals, often with different species living amongst one another. The 100-acre facility features a variety of settings and wonderful exhibits.

The San Diego Zoo has several live streams on throughout the day focusing on various animals. The streams include an  ape cam , elephant cam , a  koala cam , and more.

Access all of the live cams here .

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Interestingly, it was built by Gustave Eiffel, the creator of another item on our list — the Eiffel Tower. The statue became an icon of freedom and the U.S. to immigrants arriving by sea.

The NPS has created a 360-degree tour that allows you to virtually see the views from the torch, crown, inside the copper statue, and elsewhere on Liberty Island.

Visit Lady Liberty by clicking here . 

If you’re waiting on a visit to Walt Disney World , you can still experience a little of that Disney pixie dust from home.

Virtual Disney World has put together an astounding number of videos riding some of the famous rides throughout all of the parks.

Check out the main YouTube page here , which is divided by park. 

The White House is the official residence of the president of the U.S. Located in Washington, D.C., and every U.S. president since 1800 has lived here. Tours are not easy to come by as public tour requests must be submitted through your member of Congress.

Luckily, you can take a virtual tour thanks to Google. This tour offers tons of history and interesting facts while you see the following highlights:

• The Oval Office
• The Secretary of War Suite
• Vice President’s Ceremonial Office
• The White House Library

Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is known for its many geothermal features, especially the popular Old Faithful geyser. You can also expect to see bison roaming around!

There are many video walks available thanks to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). You take a map-based our of the park and you can also tag along for virtual walks to:

• Canary Spring
• Dragon’s Mouth Spring
• Lookout Point

To start your virtual tour, click here . 

See the stunning Yosemite National Park , internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and diverse wildlife. On average, about 4 million people visit Yosemite each year — primarily within Yosemite Valley.

Virtual Yosemite allows you to see the valley and beyond! Some of the places you can explore include:

• Bridal Veil Falls
• Glacier Point
• Nevada Falls
• Summit of Half Dome
• Yosemite Falls

Start your virtual exploration here .

Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular attractions in Africa. This waterfall was created by the Zambezi River that suddenly plummets into a narrow, 100-meters deep chasm. Its roar can be heard from 40 kilometers away — locals called even call it “The Smoke Which Thunders.”

Watch a series of 2 360-degree interactive videos to see these majestic falls from above and multiple vantage points on both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides.

Start Part 1 , then continue to Part 2 . 

… And Beyond

Would you like the chance to view Earth from above and learn what it feels like to live in space? Now you can, thanks to a virtual tour of the International Space Station (ISS) created by the European Space Agency.

Get station tours from some of the crew who live there. Through various video clips, learn what it’s like to eat, work, and even bathe onboard. And don’t forget to look outside to get a glimpse of Earth from space!

Access all the tours here . 

Even the nearest planets outside of our solar system are light-years away, so actually visiting remains a distant dream.

However, on NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration website, you can explore an imagined surface of alien worlds via 360-degree interactive visualizations. Explore the blood-red sky of TRAPPIST-1d , or stand on the imagined moon of Kepler-16b .

This tour works on desktop and mobile, but is optimized for VR devices such as Oculus and Google Cardboard.

Start exploring here . 

While we’ve listed over 100 of the very best virtual tours out there, we know there are even more! Use this list as a jumping-off point to explore even more. Google Earth, Google Arts & Culture, official websites for attractions, and national park websites have a treasure trove of fabulous content.

While viewing these attractions virtually isn’t quite the same as being there in person, it’s still very possible to explore and learn about the world around us from the comfort of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do virtual tours cost.

All of the tours we’ve linked above are completely free, though they may require downloading free apps to experience. Some tours may be amplified by having a VR headset, but this isn’t necessary.

What virtual tours are available?

We’ve included over 100 of the very best tours out there, but there are countless more! Google Earth, Google Arts & Culture, national parks, and the official sites for attractions you are interested in are all great places to start looking for more options.

How do you do a virtual tour?

Depending on the tour, you may need to click on a link or download an app to experience your tour. Then, you will simply enjoy the experience! Each tour is different — so decide whether you prefer a virtual walking tour, a tour you click through, or even a VR tour so you can fly above the city or site!

Where can I watch virtual tours?

There are infinite possibilities of where you can experience a virtual tour. You can find virtual tours on Google Arts & Culture, go directly to the site’s website, or even find a great virtual tour on YouTube.

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About Christy Rodriguez

After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.

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The best virtual tours to explore the world from home

Oct 8, 2020 • 5 min read

The Sistine Chapel is just one wonder offering a virtual museum tour ©Rajesh Gathwala/500px

We live in an age of unprecedented access to digital technology – and with it, brand new ways of exploring the world around us.

While it's not quite the same as seeing, say, the Mona Lisa or Christ the Redeemer in person, some of the world’s most popular and remote destinations have created libraries of online images and video, as well as 360 degree virtual tours that let you virtually explore museums, galleries, world wonders and even national parks.

Here a just a few of the best digital tours that let you wander the world from wherever you may be social distancing.

See the seven wonders of the world

If there’s anything capable of whetting your appetite for world travel, it is the new seven wonders of the world:  the Great Wall of China , the ancient city of Petra , the Taj Mahal , the Colosseum , Machu Picchu , Christ the Redeemer , and Chichen Itza . Thankfully there are impressive virtual tours of each from The New York Times , AirPano , Google , and Panoramas .

With modern technology, you can even see the last standing wonder of the ancient world— The Pyramids of Giza . There are a few other wonders that might not make it into to the top seven but are still worth a digital peek, like the Alhambra , Seville's La Giralda , and even Easter Island.

Best virtual museum tours

In recent years, Google has partnered with over 2,5000 art museums to upload high-resolution versions of millions of pieces of art. Highlights include New York’s MoMA , DC’s National Gallery of Art , Chicago’s Art Institute , the Casa Battl ó, and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum to name a few.

In addition, The Louvre offers a virtual tour , as do The Vatican Museums , many of the Smithsonian Museums , the Russian Museum , the top-rated British Museum , the Minneapolis  Museum of Russian Art , and the Palace Museum in Beijing.

You may not be able to kiss the Blarney Stone right now, but you can tour the Blarney Castle from afar. You can also visit the Museum of Flight,  the Museum of Science, the Museum of Natural History,  the National Women's History Museum  and Boston's History of Science Museum .

While museums are often an inherently visual experience, there's a lot to be learned from archives of past lectures and tours like the ones preserved online by Nashville's Frist Museum , the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Smithsonian American Art Museum,  the Frick , and others.

You might also like:  Broadway might be closed, but here’s how to stream the best performances from your home

Explore national parks

While travel to National Parks is best avoided for the time being, you don't need to miss out on the scenery. Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. 

Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos , Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon , and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 more on Google Earth . You can also get an up-close look at almost 4,000 pieces of artwork, artifacts, and other treasures related to the history and culture of the national parks, and view online exhibits .

Digital safaris

Wildlife is a big draw for travelers, whether it's sighting some of the Big Five in Africa, glimpsing whales in North America, or introducing your children to new animals in person on a family safari . But if you're forays into the bush are grounded for now, many zoos and aquariums have created digital access to their habitats.

You can easily watch several live webcams of some of the nation’s greatest zoos and aquariums, including the  San Diego Zoo , Houston Zoo , Zoo Atlanta , the Tennessee Aquarium , and the Georgia Aquarium . Additionally you can see Canadian farm animals doing their thing , or you could watch Stella the Dog jump endlessly into huge piles of Maine leaves.

You may also like:  These nine wildlife web cams offer access to your favorite animals

Virtual hiking

Thanks to panoramic video, you can get a really good idea of what a hike looks like well before you arrive at the trailhead. For example, you can experience all of the following top-rated hikes right now from your computer or tablet:  Bryce Canyon , Grand Canyon , GR20 , Inca Trail , and the death-defying Angel's Landing . For even more great hikes, simply YouTube one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 treks or any other hike that suits your fancy. Bonus points if you follow along during a workout to enhance the realism.

Famous landmarks

You can visit many wonders of nature, including the Amazon Rainforest , Iguazu Falls , the Komodo Islands , or Table Mountain , using virtual tours. Or you can explore the Statue of Liberty , the Sahara Desert , Niagara Falls , or even a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower . For even more virtual tours, search your bucket list of adventures with  AirPano , Google Earth , or YouTube .

Travel to outer space

The moon hasn't made it to Lonely Planet's Best In Travel list (yet!), and even without self-isolation and shelter-in-place measures for COVID-19, many of us may never travel to space. But thanks to technology, now is as good of a time as any to do so virtually. Before blasting off, considering touring some of NASA’s offices first. Then relive the last lunar missions and moon walks in stunning HD. Or take a virtual tour of Mars with the help of Google. 

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This article was originally published March 2020 and was last updated October 2020.

This article was first published March 2020 and updated October 2020

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50 Free Virtual Tours of Unique and Famous Places

Mychelle is a writer and web designer who is passionate about a wide variety of topics and enjoys sharing her knowledge with readers.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

If you're stuck at home or your office desk and dream of getting away, the Internet is there for you! With modern technology you can now at least take a mental vacation and explore some beautiful places, historic locations and famous museums while staying in place.

Virtual Museum Tours

If you're an art and antiquities lover, you can visit some of the world's most exquisite and famous museums just by turning on your computer and enjoying a virtual self tour.

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One of the most famous museums in the world, the Louvre, has virtual tours of several of its exhibits. You can view some incredible pieces from ancient Egypt, the painted ceilings of the Galerie d'Apollon and remains of the moat around the Louvre from its Medieval days. Flash is required to run the virtual tours on your computer.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a beloved institution in New York City with collections that span more than 5,000 years of art and design. You can take a virtual visit to learn more about some of their current exhibits, as well as permanent collections of Baroque, Renaissance and art from around the world. Current exhibits can include not only art but couture from fashion designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

You can not only look at the modern art exhibits in this iconic New York City museum, you can also tour the unique architecture as well. The tour is made possible using Google technology to scroll and pan around the insides and outsides of the building.

The Museum of Modern Art

Known as MoMa by New Yorkers, the Museum of Modern Art has one of the greatest collections of famous works by modern artists. This includes works by Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. You can view an image of the painting or sculpture and then view the actual "street view" of the work in the museum using Google technology.

Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi

Located in Florence, Italy, the Uffizi Gallery is a favorite destination to view great works for art from the Renaissance period. There are over 150 items available on the virtual tour . You can view an image of the work with a detailed description as well as an actual view of the item on display at the museum.

The British Museum

The British Museum has an interactive exhibit online which presents a timeline starting from AD 2000 through 5000 BC along with a chart representing Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. You can click along the timeline in each continent to see works of art and antiquities and see information on each item. There's also audio you can play that describes each item in detail.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

This classic museum located in the nation's capital has a variety of exhibits covering both ancient and modern times. The virtual tours cover both permanent exhibits such as their collection of dinosaur bones and fossils as well as current rotating shows . You can also view tours of some of their popular past exhibits and a "behind the scenes" view of their research and support center.

Van Gogh Museum

Fans of the Dutch Impressionist painter will love this tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. By clicking on the screen you can move through the museum, starting from the outside walking in. The tour also includes information about the painter and his life and facts about some of his most famous works.

Rijksmuseum

This Amsterdam-based museum is the home of famous works of art from the Dutch Golden Age. Painters such as Vermeer and Rembrant are on display virtually with information on the works and the artists. You can also view the inside of the museum, which is an impressive architectural feat in and of itself.

J. Paul Getty Museum

The Getty Center in Los Angeles is the home of works from as far back as the eight century through current day. The virtual tour allows you to view over 15,000 pieces including Etruscan, Greek and Roman antiquities, illuminated manuscripts, and modern photographic works.

The National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is dedicated to the works of famous American artists since the founding of the country. The museum has video tours of current exhibitions as well as audio and video recordings available online discussing the works housed there. The museum's website also has a virtual museum app for iPad designed for children to learn more about American art, and "conversation starters and Zoom tools" to help teachers and parents create learning opportunities.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum

Famous artist Salvador Dalí's works can be found in this virtual tour. The museum is located in Catalonia, Spain and the online tour presents a view of the building "without walls" where you can click on highlighted areas throughout to view his works.

Georgia O'Keefe Museum

The website for the artist known as the "mother of American modernism" allows you to tour virtually several of the exhibits in this New Mexico museum. You can view some of her most famous works along with read detailed information on the paintings and the artist.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea

This museum includes works of art from all over the world and features many Korean artists and their work as well. It also has beautiful architecture, making the museum a piece of art on its own. You can view virtual tours of the grounds, building and exhibits on the museum's official YouTube channel .

National Museum of the United States Air Force

Located by historic Wright Field, the National Museum of the USAF has a virtual tour that allows you to visit the galleries and exhibits with guided hotspots. These hotspots provide audio, video and written resources for you to learn more about the exhibits. There's also a Cockpit 360 app available for smartphones that gives you a 360 view of the inside of many types of aircraft.

National Women's History Museum

This site has several online versions of their exhibits. Some exhibits you can become immersed in online look at the women of NASA, famous female outdoor adventurers and the Suffragette movement .

Virtual Tours of Historic Places

The world is full of iconic historical sites , whether that's ancient castles or statues or some of the seven wonders of the world. You may never get to visit them in your lifetime, but you can still see them as if you were there.

The Sistine Chapel

The famous paintings by Michelangelo that cover the Sistine Chapel are all available online with a 360 degree viewer, including his masterpiece, "The Last Judgment." It's believed to be the largest art product ever created by a single person in history.

The Eiffel Tower

La Tour Eiffel is featured in a live 24 hour webcam . View this lovely view of Paris by day or watch in the evenings to see the tower lit up against the backdrop of the city lights.

The Great Wall of China

Located near Beijing, China, the Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago and is over 3,000 miles long. Using the virtual tour , you can "walk" along the wall, as well as read fascinating facts about the construction and history of the wall on the China Guide website.

National Air and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA has a virtual tour available of their Langley Research Center in Virginia and the Glenn Research Center in Ohio. By clicking on an interactive map, you can view tours as well as videos about the important work done on the nation's space program at these facilities.

The Vatican

The Vatican's virtual tours allow you to have a 360 degree view of several famous sites in this historic and significant religious structure. You can tour Raphael's rooms, the Nicoline Chapel, and the room of the Chiaroscuri. You can also tour their Pio Clementino and Chiaramonti Museums. Vatican Media Live also offers a 24/7 live webcam of the Vatican on YouTube.

Times Square

There are few places in New York City more well-known than Times Square, the hustling center of activity in the "city that never sleeps." There are several live webcams that show street views and aerial views of Times Square 24 hours a day.

Colonial Williamsburg

Learn about the days of the American Revolution by watching live webcams of Colonial Williamsburg. There's a webcam focusing on areas of the town including the Raleigh Tavern, courthouse, capitol building and Merchants Square.

Google Street View puts you right in the middle of the mysterious formation in Wiltshire, England. You can pan the camera around to get a full 360 view of this prehistoric stone monument.

Ellis Island

Children and adults can learn more about the history of immigration in the U.S. through this virtual field trip of Ellis Island. The tour includes video and information about the historical site.

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank Museum has an online 360 degree tour of the house the Frank family hid in during the Holocaust. You can also view an online exhibit on Anne's story, available in 20 languages, and a virtual reality version of their secret annex.

International Space Station

NASA's website provides a virtual tour of the international space station. There are videos featuring guided tours led by the astronauts as they navigate their way through zero gravity.

The White House

You can virtually visit the home of the U.S. president in this 360 view of The White House. Provided by Google Street View technology, you can use the camera to pan around the rooms of the White House, including areas like the library and the kitchens.

There are several virtual tour options to learn about this dark period in world history. A panoramic photo view of the site provides clickable areas to learn more about each part of the camp. The YouVisit website has several point-of-view videos featuring a drive through Auschwitz produced by BBC News. The Discover Cracow YouTube channel also has a 360 degree walkthrough movie in 4K.

The Colosseum of Rome

Using Google Street View, this photo panoramic view of the Colosseum starts with you stand right in the middle of this ancient structure. You can move the camera around and "walk" through the colosseum and wonder what it must have been like back in Roman times.

Virtual Visits to Natural Wonders

If the great outdoors is what you really crave, use your computer, tablet or smartphone to venture forth to see some of the world's most stunning landscapes and parks.

Yosemite National Park

One of the most beautiful parks in the United States, Yosemite National Park is visited by approximately four million people each year. If you can't make it in person, you can still see over 200 areas of the park, including some of the park's most incredible features like the Half Dome and Yosemite Falls . The 360 degree panoramic views online also include nature sounds to make you feel like you're almost actually there.

Yellowstone National Park

The United States' first national park, located in Wyoming, is known for its geysers, including Old Faithful. The park's website allows you to do a virtual tour of several locations in the park that you can choose from a map. This includes Mammoth Hot Springs, the Norris Geyser Basin, and the Grand Canyon area of Yellowstone.

The Great Barrier Reef

The largest coral reef system in the world can be found with Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This photo panoramic tour lets you move the camera around the ocean reefs surrounding Wilson Island.

National Marine Sanctuaries

You can do a "virtual dive" on this site featuring videos of the Channel Islands with some playful sea lions to accompany you. A narrator provides information on the creatures found in this underwater view of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. There are also photo-based 360 degree tours of other marine sanctuaries such as Tafeu Cove in American Samoa, the Florida Keys, and Monterey Bay in California.

The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma

Take a virtual field trip through a 360 degree view of Oklahoma's landscapes. You can see the prairies, plateaus, mountains and coastal plains of this beautiful state. The tour guide provides information on the flora and fauna of the area, too.

Japan's highest peak and volcano, Mount Fuji, is just a click away with this virtual tour . Using Google Street View, you can take a 360 view of the summit of the mountain.

Explore.org offers live webcams of the natural world of Africa. You can view several live cams including Tembe Elephant Park in Emangusi, South Africa, a watering hole in Laikipia County in Kenya, and the gorilla forest corridor at GRACE Center in Kasugho, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

If you want a more "out of this world" tour, you can visit the surface of the planet Mars. This virtual tour is provided via NASA and Google and is based on video recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover.

Virtual Zoos and Aquariums

If you're more interested in viewing the flora and fauna of the natural world, there are many zoos and aquariums that provide virtual tours of their facilities.

The San Diego Zoo

One of the largest and most well-known zoos in the United States is the San Diego Zoo. The zoo has live web cams set up so you can watch some of their popular residents. You can watch elephants, koalas, orangutans, siamangs, baboons, condors, penguins, polar bears and tigers. You can also watch archives of their panda exhibit.

The National Aquarium

Baltimore's National Aquarium has an extensive online tour where you can go through each floor of the building to visit exhibits. You can view sharks, dolphins, and jellyfish, as well as habitats set up to emulate the Atlantic and Pacific coral reefs, the Amazon river and a tropical rainforest.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

This zoo has a daily live feed on Facebook at 3:00 pm EDT that showcases a "home safari." You will be able to view one of the zoo's animal inhabitants, and there are also accompanying activities designed for children that parents and teachers can incorporate into a school routine. The zoo posts archives on their website after the live feed is over.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

This aquarium located just off the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California, is famous for its exhibits of aquatic creatures found in the Pacific. You can watch several live webcams featuring a coral reef, open ocean and kelp forest environment, as well as cams specific to jellyfish, penguins, sea otters, and sharks. There's also a webcam focused on their aviary and one on the Monterey Bay.

The Georgia Aquarium

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this beautiful aquarium has several webcams featuring their aquatic residents. You can watch beluga whales, jellyfish, penguins, sea otters, piranhas, puffins, sea lions and their Ocean Voyager live cam features their largest tank with an impressive array of fish, sharks and massive whale sharks.

The National Zoo

You have the option of four live webcams of residents of the National Zoo in Washington, DC. View the lions, giant pandas, elephants or for something unusual, the naked mole-rats!

Orcas in the Wild

View these beautiful creatures live and in the wild on 24/7 webcams run by Explore.org. You can not only see them passing by the cam but also hear their whale sounds. The webcams feature several live locations on Hanson Island in British Columbia, Canada, including ones above and under the water.

Houston Zoo

In addition to daily Facebook Live events highlighting a different species of animal, the Houston view has several webcams for your viewing pleasure. You can view many of the zoo's animals including giraffes, gorillas, elephants, rhinos, chimpanzees and leafcutter ants.

Zoo Atlanta

If you love pandas, you'll spend all day staring at the live panda cam from Zoo Atlanta. This cam is available 24/7 and features the charming antics of these black and white bears.

Virtual Theme Parks

If you love amusement parks and themed destinations like Walt Disney World, there are plenty of online tour options for you!

Walt Disney World and Disneyland

While both locations do not have an "official" virtual tour on their websites, you can view detailed 360 degree views of both places using Google Street View. This includes famous locations like Epcot Center, Downtown Disney and Disney Springs. Fun Family Florida is a YouTube channel that has video tours of many Disney locations as well as "virtual" rides on some of their most popular rides like Big Thunder Mountain and the Expedition Everest Rollercoaster. iThemePark is another YouTube channel which has a wide array of point-of-view videos of the Disney properties and rides.

This series of 360 panoramic views of Legoland feature views of some of the park's more incredible installations. See Lego reproductions of the Tower Bridge of London, Buckingham Palace, and a NASA rocket, among many others.

Sea World, Orlando

This online tour of the amusement park and aquarium starts from high above the park and gives you a full 360 degree view. You can then choose which areas of the park to explore further, such as the penguin exhibit, rollercoaster and waterfront.

Take An Online Tour Any Time!

The beauty of online virtual tours is that you don't need to worry about packing your bags or hiring a pet sitter. You can visit many amazing historical and natural places throughout the world from your living room couch. All you need is a laptop and an Internet connection and you're off and running!

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• Around The World

Virtual Tours: 17 Incredible Places Around The World You Can Visit For Free

The world’s most iconic landmarks, famous museums and attractions you can visit — from your living room 😉

P.S. Travel Virtually with us on a 21-day itinerary around the world for $0 ! For 21 days, we’ll be exploring a new destination through immersive POV videos, online discussions with our travel community , and surprises along the way!

The only travelling I’ve done since 2020 started is a thorough exploration of my fridge. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous countries to go on lockdown and airlines to ground their fleets , it’s safe to say none of us will be travelling for a while.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t continue exploring the world!

Forget about flight deals for a moment, teleport yourself around the world with these 17 incredible virtual tours!

Wonders Of The World

1) machu picchu, peru.

Photo credit: You Visit

Machu Picchu is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled between the Andes and the Amazon Basin. This grand complex of around 200 structures was thought to have been built during the height of the Inca Empire, which ended in the 1500s.

For all you Indiana-Jones-wannabes, you don’t have to book a trip to Peru just to see Machu Picchu. With a virtual tour offering 360-degree views of the stunning landscape and a helpful narrator sharing the history behind it, you’ll feel like you’re touring the grounds yourself!

Explore Macchu Picchu now.

2) Walking Tour of the City, Japan

Credit: Visit Japan

Fans of Japan and all things Japanese are bound to love this tour. It’s a 3-minute 360-degree video taking you through some of the country’s most popular sights — Kyoto ‘s bamboo forest, Nara Deer Park , and even a sumo exhibition!

*Pro-tip: Order in some sushi, plug in your headphones and watch it on a desktop to truly immerse yourself in the experience!

Save these references for future trips to Japan: 10-Day Japan Itinerary — Tokyo to Osaka With The JR Pass for S$1.1k & 8-Day Japan Winter Itinerary For Less Than S$1.2k — Fox Village, Snow Monkey Park, Gassho Houses

3) Petra, Jordan

Photo credit: Google Maps

Known as the rose-red city because of the rock colour, Petra is Jordan’s beloved national treasure. Hailed by many as “a must-see before you die”, the ancient city draws in around 500,000 tourists each year.

The virtual tour follows a detailed route that begins at Bab Al Siq (Gateway to the siq in Arabic) and ends at Al Dier, one of Petra’s largest monuments. 360-degree views and little audio nuggets of knowledge sprinkled along the journey makes the tour truly immersive.

Explore Petra .

4) Great Wall of China, China

Photo credit: The China Guide

During our two-week-long trip to China last year, seeing the Great Wall in all of its grandeur was definitely one of the highlights. While visits to China are off the table for now, we can still take a virtual trip to one of the seven wonders of the world!

The best part of the tour? You don’t have to fight with crowds for unobstructed views 😏

Explore the Great Wall of China .

Read also: Ultimate First-Timer’s Guide to China: 14 Exciting Things To Do In Beijing

5) Taj Mahal, India

Photo credit: Air Pano

The crown jewel of India , the Taj Mahal is a grand mausoleum complex built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 1600s in memory of his wife. It’s one of the world’s most iconic architectural monuments and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

See the Taj Mahal for yourself from different angles via this 360-degree tour ! It includes soothing music and insane helicopter views of the complex — something you won’t get even when you visit the place for real.

If you’re tempted to see India for yourself after this virtual tour, check out our one-week India itinerary for first-timers and also 10 of the most beautiful cities to visit on your first trip !

Explore the Taj Mahal .

Read also: First-Timer’s Guide to India — Everything you need to explore India like a pro

6) Khumbu Valley, Nepal

Khumbu Valley is a sacred valley situated on the Nepalese side of Mt. Everest . It’s one of the most famous treks amongst mountaineers and is home to breathtaking views of the world’s tallest mountain.

Check out the awesome animated navigation page! Photo credit: Google Maps

This tour takes you on a journey through the Everest region and showcases snippets of local life — you can even step inside the classroom of a Himalayan primary school or the home of a traditional healer!

Explore Khumbu Valley .

7) Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Photo credit: Virtual Angkor

Angkor Wat means “temple city” in the Khmer language and its name speaks for itself — it’s said to be the largest religious monument in the world. This enriching virtual tour brings you back to Angkor Wat during the Khmer Empire, giving you a truly unique experience of the magnificent temple complex during its hayday.

Explore Angkor Wat .

Read also: 7-Day Cambodia Itinerary Under S$600 — An Epic Journey of History, Adventure and Tranquility

8) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, USA

Photo credit: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. was thrust into the Hollywood spotlight in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian . Since then, I’ve been dying to make a trip there myself.

This virtual tour not only includes 360-degree views, it covers every exhibit room-by-room. The quality is also phenomenal — you can see the creases on the T-rex bones! My favourite part of the tour? You can zoom in and read the exhibit descriptions — something not all virtual tours allow!

Explore the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History .

9) The Vatican, Italy

Photo credit: Musei Vaticani

Vatican City, the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state, is usually crawling with international visitors on a regular day. So it was highly unusual to see Pope Francis giving a solitary prayer service to an eerily empty St Peter’s Square.

Fret not, you can still enter the Vatican and be with the Pope in spirit. Make sure to check out the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and the New Wing!

Explore the Vatican .

10) National Museum of the United States Air Force, USA

Photo credit: National Museum of the United States Air Force

If you were crazy about planes growing up (and possibly still are), this is the tour for you. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the world’s largest military aviation museum and houses aircraft and other relics from the Korean War and World War Two.

It’s a self-guided tour that allows you to navigate the various galleries — you can even click on the screens on display to watch the videos!

Explore the National Museum of the United States Air Force .

11) National Gallery of Art, USA

Photo credit: National Gallery of Art

For the uninspired, this virtual tour featuring the National Gallery of Art in Washington is a visual feast for you art lovers!

This dynamic tour allows you to explore the gallery room-by-room, giving you access to the museum’s current exhibitions. View the gallery via the top-view floor plan, and zoom in to specific pieces!

Explore the National Gallery of Art .

12) The British Museum, England

Photo credit: British Museum

This virtual tour is truly one-of-a-kind! Instead of a room-by-room layout, The British Museum displays its exhibits in a timeline format. The sleek interface organises exhibits by category, region as well as year.

Select an exhibit and you’ll be able to read all about the history of the artefact!

Explore The British Museum .

Mountains and Animals

13) georgia aquarium, georgia, usa.

Photo credit: Georgia Aquarium

This aquarium in Georgia has allowed its scaly residents to continue bringing joy to its patrons despite being closed. Check out the adorable African penguins and cheeky Beluga Whales via the aquarium’s live streams!

*Update: Georgia Aquarium now offers guided virtual tours from S$12.95.

Explore the Georgia Aquarium .

14) Mt. Fuji, Japan

Ever wanted to hike up Japan’s tallest mountain but lacked the fitness to do so? Then you should check out our 8-minute full body workout !

In the mean time, get motivated by taking a virtual hike up Mt. Fuji using google maps — you can “walk” up the path by simply clicking arrows in the direction you want to go.

Explore Mt. Fuji .

Visiting Japan after COVID-19? Check out our Japan itineraries and guides for inspiration!

Read also: 7-Day Tokyo and Mount Fuji Itinerary Under S$1.3k

15) San Diego Zoo, USA

Photo credit: San Diego Zoo Kids

If you prefer land animals over creatures of the sea, check out San Diego Zoo’s live streams instead. Rather than exploring the entire park on foot, you can switch between the elephant cam, koala cam and panda cam — all in a matter of minutes. Nothing like watching a few furry critters going about their day to brighten up yours!

Explore the San Diego Zoo .

16) Houston Zoo, USA

Photo credit: Houston Zoo

Houston Zoo is another cool option for live streams of different animals! Check-in on the friendly giraffes, mighty western lowland gorillas or leaf cutter ants — it’s oddly therapeutic!

The live feed is from 7AM to 7PM CST which is 8PM to 8AM SGT. Just in time for you to tune in after work to wind down after a day of working from home .

Explore the Houston Zoo .

17) Yosemite National Park, USA

Photo credit: Virtual Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks in America , and a must-see when you visit California. It was definitely high up on our to-do list during our 11-Day USA Road Trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles (under S$1.8K!)!

Explore Yosemite National Park .

Read also: 7 Once in a lifetime road trips to take in USA

Explore the world through exciting virtual tours

This lockdown period has been a damper for everyone, especially those who enjoy regular hikes and the great outdoors. While there’s nothing like experiencing these in real life, I dare say these virtual tours are a worthy substitute for the time being.

Let’s make the most of our time at home and maybe even start planning your post-COVID-19 adventures!

Read also: Travel Virtually with us on a 21-day itinerary around the world for $0

What are your travel plans for post-COVID-19? Share with us in the comments below!

For more travel inspiration, follow us on  Instagram ,  YouTube ,  Facebook , and  Telegram !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Travel Intern (@thetravelintern) on Mar 31, 2020 at 4:20am PDT

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I am not surprised that Nepal is on the list of virtual tours. It’s good to know that Everest Skydive trip runs twice a year, in March and in October. Asian Trekking can also provide a jump cameraman at an additional charge. After all, the trip may only be a few days, but the memories of your Himalayan skydive will last a lifetime!

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10 virtual tours of spectacular buildings around the world

Mughal palaces, Egyptian tombs and modernist masterpieces can be experienced in VR tours that depart from your sofa

W hile our lives have mostly shrunk to our own four walls – besides the sneak peek of others’ homes glimpsed via Zoom – we can still step into other worlds virtually. Stately homes and fortresses, from Blenheim Palace to Bran Castle (of Dracula fame) have opened digital portals allowing anyone with a laptop the chance to snoop around, without getting off the sofa. Here are 10 of my favourite colourful buildings from the vast eclectic trove online.

Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq, Cairo

Four vaulted stone halls, or iwan s, open on to an eerily empty courtyard with an intricate domed fountain in the middle. The ceiling of the cavernous qibla iwan on the prayer-ward eastern side is carved with geometric motifs and gilded like illuminations from an ancient Qur’an. Sultan Barquq’s 14th-century complex, with its marble mosaics, monumental bronze doors and elaborately carved minarets, is a masterpiece of Cairo’s Mamluk architecture. Egypt’s tourism ministry has opened other virtual sites, including the tomb of Queen Meresankh III, encouraging digital travel with the hashtag #ExperienceEgyptFromHome . mymatterport.com

Anne of Cleves House, East Sussex

Henry VIII gave this timber-framed mansion in Lewes, and other properties, to Anne of Cleves after their divorce in 1540. The tour starts in the garden, among foxgloves and delphiniums under a spreading medlar tree. It then glides, ghost-like, into the well-worn Tudor kitchen and up the steep staircase to a high-beamed bedroom and carved four-poster bed. This classic late medieval hall house, “modernised” a century or so later, has local history galleries with antique grandfather clocks and lots of Wealden iron. Elsewhere, Sussex Archaeological Society has created several virtual tours of their attractions, including the Roman Fishbourne Palace . 3d mediasolutions.co.uk

Palace of Versailles, Paris

“Hey guys, what’s up?” says narrator Jean Philippe N’Djoli, inviting us into Versailles. A short, playful video introduces the palace’s immersive 2019 Google virtual reality app, which offers hi-tech tours of the opera house, king’s bedroom and more. Click the little yellow person and find yourself transported into the gleaming Hall of Mirrors, its baroque painted ceiling celebrating Louis XIV and 357 luxurious mirrors reflecting 73m of gilded bronze and crystal. Head through the endless corridors to zoom in on art by Veronese or Jacques Louis David, royal statues and trompe-l’oeil murals. Or whiz round the lakes and fountains in the sculpture-filled gardens, using Google maps to explore miles of maze-like groves and lakeside topiary. artsandculture.google.com

City Palace, Jaipur, India

In 2019, Jaipur’s youthful maharaja, polo player Padmanabh Singh, put a room in his palace on to Airbnb (priced about £6,000 a night, the proceeds going to charity). The suite and its private pool don’t feature in this polished palatial tour, but the virtually accessible parts of the palace are a huge showcase for Jaipur’s sunset-coloured sandstone and graceful Mughal architecture.

The City Palace was built in the 1720s and 1730s by Padmanabh’s distant predecessor Jai Singh II, who founded modern Jaipur and built observatories in several Indian cities. The many-columned Diwan-e-Khas (private audience hall) has painted walls, serrated arches, marble floors and the world’s biggest silver pots, made by one of the maharajas to take 8,000 litres of Ganges water with him on a visit to Britain in 1902. outsitevr.com

Golestan Palace, Iran

The Qajar dynasty, who ruled the Persian empire from around 1785-1925, chose Tehran as the imperial capital and commissioned some impressive architecture for the city. The walled Golestan complex is one of Tehran’s oldest palaces (the mirrored decor is largely 19th century) and the Unesco World Heritage listing describes it as an inspirational “example of an east-west synthesis” in art and architecture.

The virtual access is slightly awkward (click the white arrows to jump to another 360-degree panorama), but how many of us will visit the real thing? Start by the pond in the flowery gardens (Golestan roughly translates as “Roseland”) and zoom in on the colourful tiled facade. In the Brilliant Hall, swivel up and look at the ceiling, and in the Talar e Salam swivel down as well to admire the mosaic floor. 360cities.net

Casa Batlló, Barcelona

With slim, bone-shaped columns and skull-like masks over the balconies, locals call it the House of Bones. This fantastical mansion, designed by Antoni Gaudí in 1904, has a coral reef-coloured facade and undulating, iridescent-scaled roof. The wood-floored interior is both livable house and modernist seascape, full of organically curving walls, blue tiles and stained glass. If navigating the spiral stairs all the way up to the ripple-windowed loft or panoramic rooftop is too much like hard work, you can skip straight there by clicking on Attic or Terrace. casabatllo.es

Taliesin, Wisconsin, US

Half a century of pioneering architecture is encapsulated in this enjoyably reverential guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 242-hectare estate. No other landscape “cradles you as do these south-western Wisconsin hills”, wrote the architect in 1932. In the studio, a photo of Wright at his desk gets superimposed on the present-day space, and drawings of his famous buildings, from Fallingwater to the Guggenheim Museum , are ranged on drafting tables. The tour (blissfully unconcerned with a recent funding row that led the on-site school of architecture to relocate last summer) takes virtual visitors through living room and loggia, out into the Hillside Assembly Hall, built from rough local sandstone and oak, with supporting columns that leave the big windows free to frame the views. tourdeforce360.com

Dominion Tower, Moscow

When Zaha Hadid won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2016, less than two months before she died, fellow architect Peter Cook said she shared “a sense of vigour” with the Russian Suprematists and Constructivists she admired. She designed curvaceous, futuristic buildings all over the world, from the Guangzhou Opera House to the London Aquatics Centre used in the 2012 Olympics. You can see several of them via Google .

The relatively modest Dominion Tower opened in a mostly residential area of Moscow in 2015 and has characteristically playful geometry. Photos for the 3D modelling were taken at night, so the building’s airy use of natural light is absent, but this virtual access captures the staggered levels and looping, monochrome staircases. Outside the plateglass windows, Moscow’s ever-spreading cityscape glows in the dark. matterport.com

Castle in Love with the Wind, Ravadinovo, Bulgaria

In 1996, controversial Bulgarian businessman and wrestler Georgi Tumpalov drew a cross with his spade on a patch of ground about four miles west of the seaside town of Sozopol, on the Black Sea coast – the start of decades of work creating his fairytale, faux-medieval palace, AKA Castle in Love with the Wind. The garden tour gives us ponds and palm trees, creeper-covered turrets and plenty of Bulgarian sunshine. Hover over “What to See?” and click on each of the kitschy 360-degree interiors. There’s no zooming in on renaissance portraits here; just a twirling fantasia of stained glass, tarnished bronze and crimson velvet, to a soundtrack of birdsong and music that becomes steadily more portentous. The wine cellar – half grotto, half banquet hall – is equally baroque (with fake cobwebs on the picture frames) and the blue-vaulted reception room is a riot of gilding and taxidermied deer. windcastle.eu

The Bubble House, Karalee, Australia

Sure, you could virtually tour the Sydney Opera House with a soundtrack that includes soprano Nicole Car singing, but have you seen the Bubble House in Karalee, near Brisbane? Architect Graham Birchall designed it for his final year thesis in the 1980s, then spent 10 years building it. Eleven domes, four to eight metres in diameter, enclose 16 rooms that include a bar, fireplace, cinema and bathrooms with whirlpool baths. The waterfall air conditioner and circular shutters that open like a camera lens had to be specially designed to fit the spherical settings. Birchall put the house up for sale last summer, after living there for three decades, and had thousands of inquiries. matterport.com

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Top 10 virtual tours: see museums and the world without leaving home

Stuck at home? You can still enjoy amazing sights and experiences

Many of the world’s most iconic locations now offer virtual tours, meaning you can visit museums, world heritage sites and other attractions from the comfort of your couch. You don’t need a VR headset , either, although some attractions do support virtual reality for a more immersive experience.

So if you’re looking for things to do at home, and in need of a change of scenery, simply grab your laptop, tablet or phone, and join us on a world tour filled with history, nature and – of course – technology.

1. Machu Picchu, Andes Mountains, Peru

A simply stunning UNESCO World Heritage site, Machu Picchu is a visual wonder that just has to be seen. You no longer need to fly all the way to Peru to see it in all its glory, however, as the virtual tour is comprehensive, immersive, and filled with fascinating insights.

With 360-degree views of the ruins of Inca settlements and lush green landscapes, you can visit every popular vantage point and learn more about the history of the famous site thanks to a helpful voice narrator. OK, you can’t feel the warm breeze around you, but if you turn on the heat and have a handy desk fan set to low, it’s almost as good as the real thing. Almost.

Behold the marvel : Machu Picchu

2. The Louvre Museum, Paris

An attraction visited by millions of tourists in person every year, the Louvre Museum has also created a selection of virtual tours based on its permanent collections. Explore Egyptian antiquities, the Remains of the Louvre’s Moat, and the decorative arts of the Galerie d’Apollon. 

The tour is easy to navigate, with an expandable minimap that lets you highlight exhibits to view with just a couple of clicks. You can also find out more about each room in The Louvre, with detailed descriptions that will probably make the room you’re actually sitting in feel frightfully dull in comparison. 

Take a trip: Louvre Museum

3. The National Museum of Computing, Milton Keynes, UK

The National Museum of Computing contains the world’s largest collection of working historic computers. That means one of them probably runs Microsoft Vista and is still working...

The museum features a fantastic, intuitive, virtual 3D tour. You can zoom in on each exhibit’s details, and find out more about every aspect of computing history, such as the world’s oldest working digital computer. Impressive stuff.

Discover a digital treasure trove: The National Museum of Computing

4. Georgia Aquarium, Georgia, USA

Nothing beats the beauty of nature, so it’s good to know you can still get your daily dose of “aww” from the safety of your sofa. The Georgia Aquarium has over 50 species ranging from sea lions to underwater puffins, with many available to view via webcam. There’s also a daily and weekly livestream that’s aimed at piquing children’s interest in animals, and a great at-home educational tool if you want to entertain the little ones. 

Ever wondered what a Beluga Whale gets up to in its spare time? Just click on the link below and find out. Water-way to have a good time. 

Sea more: Georgia Aquarium

5. A 3-Minute Tour, Tokyo

What if we told you that you could ride in a Tuk Tuk, walk across the famous Shibuya crossing, win a Pikachu from a claw machine, and make friends with a robot… all in under three minutes. That might be physically impossible, but with VR it’s a breeze.

If you’ve ever wanted to take a whistle-stop tour of Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organization has created a 360-degree virtual reality video that lets you do all of the above, and lots more. 

Simply put on a VR headset to experience a surreal thrill ride, where you’ll go from feeding a deer to facing off against a sumo wrestler in a matter of seconds. The video is also viewable in 2D, and well worth a look. 

Check it out below.

6. The British Museum, London

Home to a remarkable collection that spans over two million years of human history and culture, The British Museum has nearly 50 online exhibits to view. From Bonaparte and the Battle of Waterloo to exploring the history of LGBTQ, there’s plenty of informative content to delve into.

For a more interactive experience, check out the Museum of the World tour . You can browse through a large selection of exhibits that are dated by century, continent and category – such as trade and conflict or art and design. Each exhibit offers a detailed description as well as accompanying audio, which helps provide a fascinating backstory to each piece. 

Browse the exhibits: The British Museum

7. The Vatican, Rome

Filled with spectacular architecture and historic monuments, The Vatican is within your virtual reach, with a host of museums providing online tours. Step into the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms, which are adorned with simply sensational artwork. 

The tour is compatible with WebVR, so you can pop on a VR headset to get an even closer look at some of mankind’s most memorable creations. It’s truly breathtaking, even when viewed through a screen.  

When in Rome, visit: The Vatican

 8. Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located in the center of Paris, this historic museum was installed in the former Orsay railway station. It was originally built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, and displays collections of art from the period 1848 to 1914.

Take a leisurely virtual stroll through the opulent hallways and witness works from dozens of famous French artists, including Monet, Gauguin and Van Gogh. With no other visitors to contend with, you can soak up all the culture on display to your heart’s content – and there’s a lot to soak up. 

Take the tour: Musée d’Orsay

9. Athens Acropolis, Athens

A must-visit destination for history buffs, the Athens Acropolis includes the world-famous Parthenon, and is a cultural hotspot for tourists. Choose between popular sites such as the Theatre of Dionysus and enjoy in-depth videos that provide a fascinating and educational insight into ancient Greece. 

There are plenty of photographs to view and engrossing facts to learn, so don’t be surprised if you become an armchair expert in no time. Now, where’d you put that amphora of wine? 

Get to the Greek: Athens Acropolis

10. The Royal Academy of Arts, London

If you’re amazed by architecture, the Royal Academy of Arts has a virtual tour that will make you go “ooo” and “ahh” for hours. The Sensing Spaces exhibition uses high-quality 360-degree photography to give visitors a taste of its structures and remarkable exhibitions – it really does feel as if you’re actually there. 

Each exhibition is complemented by further information for users to read through, but you’re encouraged to come to your own conclusions, and think about what each space means to you.

Visit the exhibition: Sensing Spaces

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Adam was formerly TRG's Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

11 Fantastic Virtual Visits To The World’s Most Famous Landmarks

Sharon Odegaard

• Activities and Interests
• News and Tips
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• Travel Tips
• Virtual Tours

Have you been longing to visit some of the world’s landmarks? If you can’t get there in the near future, the next best way to visit is via an awesome virtual tour.

You may find yourself turning to virtual tours to help you plan your travel bucket list . And you may enjoy an online tour of places you have been and want to see again, maybe in more detail than you were able to experience in person.

Along with the visual tours offered by the following landmarks, you can hear or read about the history of the site, which will enrich your “visit.” Read on to learn about the style of tour offered by each place. Explore these landmarks now from the comfort of your home to satisfy your wanderlust and inspire future adventures!

Eiffel Tower

1. Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower , iconic symbol of Paris, is a famous landmark worth visiting. It’s tall, unique, amazingly complicated in structure, and recently turned 130 years old. In honor of this anniversary, a special video tour is now available. This 360-degree virtual reality tour (accessible via the YouTube video) shows you the Eiffel Tower from both outside and inside. In just three minutes, you can “ride” the lift and enjoy the panoramic views of Paris. You will really feel as if you are there, with Parisian-style music playing, too.

Delve deeper into your exploration of the Eiffel Tower with two virtual tours called Explore and The Tower . The first is an experience of the tower, including a visit to its three different levels. The second offers a look at the history of the tower, with details about how it was built, how it is painted, and the illuminations each evening when the tower lights sparkle for five minutes on the hour.

These online tours are enjoyable, whether you’ve never visited the Eiffel Tower in person or have been there many times.

2. Palace Of Versailles And The Hall Of Mirrors

First a palace and then a museum open to the public, the Palace of Versailles houses more than 60,000 pieces of art that span more than five centuries of French history. The palace itself leaves visitors in awe. And the Hall of Mirrors is one of the highlights of a visit to the palace.

At the time of its creation in 1584, the Hall of Mirrors represented status and prosperity. The French lagged behind the Venetians in the manufacturing of mirrors. This room with its 357 large, luxurious mirrors showed the new might of the French economy.

Now you can tour this room virtually and then study the gallery of art one painting or sculpture at a time. Not only is this room beautiful, with light from the garden reflecting off the wall of mirrors, but it is also historic. Here, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the end of World War I. Court festivities such as weddings took place here, and foreign dignitaries were bedazzled by the sparkling hall.

The Colosseum

3. The Colosseum In Rome

A world-famous landmark in the middle of Rome , the Colosseum is visited by masses of people year-round. Now you can go on an hour-long virtual tour offered by the Colosseum’s official website.

Construction of the Colosseum started in 70 A.D. and was finished about 20 years later. Today, this grand structure is officially a ruin. Stones, bronze, and bricks were “borrowed” through the years, leaving the Colosseum without some of its top level. The roof over the gladiator dressing area is long gone. The ruined nature of the Colosseum adds to its romance and intrigue.

The virtual tour takes you with a tour group down into the lower levels where the gladiators dressed and prepared for their showdowns. It’s fascinating to look out into the Colosseum and see what they saw as they called on their bravery to enter the ring.

The same website has virtual tours of other amazing sites in Rome, including the Vatican, Capitoline Hill, and the interior of the Pantheon.

4. Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna is a top-of-the-list sight to see when you are in this city. The palace showcases the lavish lifestyle of royalty and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Visitors to this palace included young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Napoleon Bonaparte. Marie Antoinette of Versailles fame spent her childhood here.

A virtual tour of Schonbrunn Palace allows you to take your time soaking in the elegance and beauty of the different rooms. When I took the audio tour in person, I did feel a bit rushed along. The opportunity to look as long as you please online is welcome.

What began as a hunting lodge in the 1500s grew into the palatial home and extensive gardens you see today. The estate remained a summer country house until Emperor Charles VI gifted it to his daughter Maria Theresa in 1728. Under her reign, Schonbrunn transformed into the center of court life. As many as 1,000 people lived here. The familiar yellow exterior color chosen by her is known as Maria Theresa Yellow.

On the virtual tour, you see 40 rooms of the palace. Be sure to look at the lovely Great Gallery. This served as a ballroom and banquet hall. The extravagant candelabras and chandeliers and the painted ceilings are an unforgettable sight.

Westminster Abbey

5. Westminster Abbey

The history and beauty are rich and layered at Westminster Abbey. The church you see today, built in the 1200s, serves as the resting place for kings and queens, poets and statesmen. Royal weddings and funerals have been held here. And Westminster Abbey still serves as a place of worship.

The excellent virtual tour shows you a close-up and detailed look at some of the treasures of the abbey, including the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, the High Altar, and the Coronation Chair. You can also take virtual tours to delve into the history of the building of the abbey and objects related to the monarchy.

These are wonderful tours to take virtually, even if you have visited Westminster Abbey. I have toured the church twice, but photos are strictly forbidden, so I have no visual memories to remind me of my trips. The in-depth virtual tours bring to mind all that I’ve seen and may not remember.

6. Tower Of London

Experience being transported back in time with a tour of the Tower of London, a complex of different towers and a palace. The Tower of London also houses an exhibition of the official Crown Jewels. William the Conqueror built his home here after his military victory in 1066. He considered the tower’s spot on the Thames River ideal for a fortress. The tower expanded through the next five centuries, with kings and queens living in the White Tower and prisoners cast into the forbidding tower just across the walkway. The most famous of all who lost their heads in the courtyard was Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII.

The virtual tour of the Tower of London shows you a variety of 360-degree views while a detailed narration talks about what’s happened here. For example, you can see the actual spot of Anne Boleyn’s execution while listening to the story and learning what she did to protect her daughter.

National Trust

7. Giant’s Causeway

Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is a natural landmark that draws visitors from around the world. The causeway is made up of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns deposited on the coastline by volcanic eruption. Some of the columns are as high as 39 feet, though many are much shorter. A charming Irish story claims the Giant’s Causeway was built by, yes, a giant.

If you can’t get to Northern Ireland, you can still place yourself right in the middle of the columns of the Giant’s Causeway with this multi-part 360-degree virtual tour . Be sure to turn on the sound so you can hear the gentle ocean waves as you watch.

8. Acropolis

The Acropolis (the commonly shortened reference to the Acropolis of Athens in Greece) is an ancient citadel built on a short, rocky hill and made up of several buildings. The most well-known of its structures is the Parthenon, with its marble Doric columns. The Parthenon is one of the newest parts of the Acropolis and was completed in 432 B.C.

Once built, the Acropolis served as a center for intellectual teaching and theater. According to the Acropolis’s official virtual tour page, today, it is a “global symbol of the human ability to know and understand,” as well as a symbol of beauty and harmony in the world.

The virtual tour is a flowing look at the Acropolis from every angle, both overhead and inside. During the four-minute tour, you’ll see the crumbling columns, weathered sculptures, and the setting of the Acropolis over the city of Athens.

Google Arts & Culture

9. Taj Mahal

This white marble building, recognizable far and wide, is the mausoleum commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan when his wife Mumtaz Mahal died. It also is the tomb of Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal complex includes a guest house and formal gardens. Construction employed about 20,000 artisans. This stunning landmark was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, as it is “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

You can view the Taj Mahal up close with this Google Arts and Culture tour . Click on the small numbers on the right-hand side of the screen for different viewpoints, then click and drag or click the arrows on the compass to look around each area.

If you want to know more about the Taj Mahal and its history, its official website offers a wealth of information. You will be inspired reading about this “immortal poem in white marble,” also called “the finest expression of love of an emperor for his queen.”

10. Great Wall Of China

Stretching more than 3,000 miles, the Great Wall of China is a wonder of the world. You can tour parts of the wall virtually and imagine what it’s like to walk along this structure that’s more than 2,000 years old. The wall served as defense against invaders, so it features ramparts, trenches, and fortresses. It was also a way to control duties collected for goods transported on the Silk Road. Most of the well-known parts of the wall were constructed of brick from the 1300s to the 1600s, during the Ming dynasty.

A virtual tour of the portion of the wall from Jinshanling to Simatai is free. If you want to go on to tour other parts of the wall, you can pay $5 for access. The wall at Beijing is considered the main entry point, so you may want to pay this small fee to see that area.

National Park Service

11. Statue Of Liberty

The lady who welcomes people to the U.S. gateway of New York City stands tall as a landmark representing democracy and freedom. The statue of Liberty Enlightening the World came as a gift from France to the U.S., dedicated in 1886. It is now a national monument cared for by the National Park Service.

You have two worthwhile ways to tour this landmark online. The e-tour of the Statue of Liberty (requires Flash and may not cooperate on all computers or devices) presented by the National Park Service is quite impressive. An introduction and 18 sections acquaint you with the history and meaning of the colossal copper lady. And the virtual tour on the official website takes you inside the torch and her face, allowing you to look out on New York Harbor.

You will see nearby Ellis Island, where immigrants were processed into the U.S. for decades, as you look out of the Statue of Liberty. You can also take a virtual tour of Ellis Island and venture inside this historic building.

Which of the landmarks caught your attention? Did any of these tours whet your appetite to visit in person? One I’ve been wanting to visit for years is the Acropolis. Taking the tour online and delving into the history has me more determined than ever to go someday.

As the owner of the travel blog, Exploring Our World , Sharon enjoys taking her readers on a journey with her. Articles often delve into the history of a place, and by adding in a generous number of photos, she inspires others to explore for themselves. In her early travels, she was most frustrated by coming back home and learning that she had missed a fascinating sight or a hidden gem. Now she helps travelers prepare for a trip by passing along travel tips, pointing out lesser known things to see, and alerting them to enjoyable day trips from major cities.

Her travel articles have been published by Stripes Europe Newsletter and the World War 2 Writing and Research Center. Whether she's discovering more about her hometown of San Diego, California or flying to faraway places, she enjoys sharing with travel lovers around the world.

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Amazing virtual tours of landmarks around the world

Stuck at home and feeling restless? Explore some of the world’s most beautiful sights and landmarks on these virtual tours

Never has our wanderlust felt so strong. 

For now, we’ll have to travel from within the comfort of our own homes. And these days, thanks to technology, that’s actually possible. With museums and art galleries shutting their doors in the wake of the current outbreak, many institutions have set up incredible virtual tours showing off the best of their buildings and collections. And the same goes for the bodies that look after landmarks, from Petra in Jordan to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Here are seven virtual tours of sights and attractions around the world that’ll make that dinky flat of yours seem much, much bigger.

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Virtual tours of landmarks around the world

Great Wall of China

Explore some of the most photogenic sections of China’s most famous landmark on this virtual tour from The China Guide.

Virtual tour of the Great Wall of China

Machu Picchu

It’s the gap yah attraction to beat all gap yah attractions. Drop by on this virtual tour from Google Arts & Culture.

Virtual tour of Machu Picchu

Google’s Street View Treks offer immersive, behind-the-scenes tours of some of the world’s most elusive wonders. Our fave is Petra in Jordan.

Virtual tour of Petra

Get clued up on some Hellenic history on this virtual tour-cum-guidebook.

Virtual tour of the Acropolis

Giant’s Causeway

‘Game of Thrones’ fan? Take a trip to the rugged Northern Irish coast, where much of the series was filmed, and tour the striking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway.

Virtual tour of the Giant’s Causeway

The Taj Mahal is closed for the foreseeable. Check out the views from the top on this virtual tour.

Virtual tour of the Taj Mahal

Great Pyramid of Giza

Whack on some Frank Ocean on and get gawping. This bucket-list wonder is not quite, but almost, as striking online as it is in the flesh.

Virtual tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Palace of Versailles

Want to feel like a king? Take in the glitz and glamour of Louis XIV’s pad on this virtual tour from Google.

Virtual tour of the Palace of Versailles

More virtual tours by city

Take a virtual tour of New York landmarks

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The Tourist in Your Own Town series can help you discover NYC's gems, including its parks, sacred sites, colonial landmarks, historic houses, museums and skyscrapers. 

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Bored at Home? Here's a Massive List of Museums, Zoos, and Theme Parks Offering Virtual Tours

You can see Frida Kahlo at MoMA or visit the Shedd Aquarium without leaving the couch.

"Walk" through some of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions, like The Met and The American Museum of Natural History, then go for a "ride" on Disney's new Frozen rollercoaster with the kids. And regardless of your age, we think everyone will enjoy some live footage of pandas playing at the zoo!

• The Louvre: You don't have to book a ticket to Paris to check out some of the famous pieces in the world's largest art museum. The Louvre has free online tours of three famous exhibits, including Egyptian Antiquities.
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: The works of Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian , Jeff Koons, and Franz Marc are just some of the 625 artists whose work are a part of the Guggenheim's Collection Online .
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Move at your own pace through the 360-degree room-by-room tour of every exhibit in the museum .
• Van Gogh Museum: You can get up close and personal with the impressionist painter's most famous work thanks to Google Arts & Culture .
• Getty Museum: Los Angeles's premiere gallery has two virtual tours , including "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry," which is a closer look at food in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
• The Vatican Museum: The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and Raphael's Room, are just some of the sites you can see on the Vatican's virtual tour .
• T hyssen-Bornemisza Museum: Madrid's must-see art museum has the works of some of the continent's most celebrated artists like Rembrandt and Dali available online .
• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: Six virtual exhibits are available online from this museum named for the "Mother of American modernism."
• National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City: Dive into the pre-Hispanic history of Mexico with 23 exhibit rooms full of Mayan artifacts.
• British Museum, London: The Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies are just a couple of things that you're able to see on a virtual tour of the museum.
• N ASA: Both Virginia's Langley Research Center and Ohio's Glenn Research Center offer online tours for free. Also, you can try some "augmented reality experiences" via The Space Center Houston's app .
• National Women's History Museum: Have a late International Women's Day celebration with online exhibits and oral histories from the Virginia museum.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Though the Met Gala was cancelled this year, you can still have a peak at the The Costume Institute Conversation Lab, which is one of the institution's 26 online exhibits .
• High Museum of Art, Atlanta: This museum's popular online exhibits include "Civil Rights Photography " — photos that capture moments of social protest like the Freedom Rides and Rosa Park's arrest.
• Detroit Institute of Arts: Mexican art icon Frida Kahlo is the focal point of two of the four available online exhibits .
• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: The Golden Age of Dutch art is highlighted in this museum which includes the work of Vermeer and Rembrandt .
• National Museum of the United States Air Force: You can't take a ride in Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential airplane, but you can check it out, in addition to other military weapons and aircraft, online in the Air Force's official museum .
• MoMA ( The Museum of Modern Art): New York's extensive collection is available for view online .
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The 16 virtual exhibits include a special section on 21st Century Designer Fashion.

Zoos and Aquariums

• The Cincinnati Zoo: Check in around 3 p.m., because that's the time the Zoo holds a daily Home Safari on its Facebook Live Feed .
• Atlanta Zoo: The Georgia zoo keeps a " Panda Cam " livestream on its website.
• Georgia Aquarium: S ea-dwellers like African penguins and Beluga Whales are the stars of this aquarium's live cam .
• Houston Zoo: There are plenty of different animals you can check in on with this zoo's live cam , but we highly recommend watching the playful elephants.
• The Shedd Aquarium: This Chicago aquarium shares some pretty adorable behind-the-scenes footage of their residents on Facebook .
• San Diego Zoo: With what may be the most live cam options , this zoo lets you switch between koalas, polar bears, and tigers in one sitting.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: It can be Shark Week every week thanks to live online footage of Monterey Bay's Habitat exhibit .
• National Aquarium: Walk through tropical waters to the icy tundra in this floor-by-floor tour of the famous, Baltimore-based aquarium.

Theme Parks

• Walt Disney World: Set aside some time, because there's plenty to see here. Virtual tours you can take include Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot, just to name a few. There are also unofficial YouTube videos that feel just like you're on famous rides like the Frozen Ever After ride , It's a Small World , Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! , and Pirates of the Caribbean .
• LEGOLAND Florida Resort: The Great Lego Race and Miniland USA are just two of the attractions you can check out in a virtual tour of the park .

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17 Best Virtual Tours of CITIES Around the World

If you ever wanted travel inspiration, THIS is it! These incredible virtual tours of cities take you to some of the most inspiring cities of the world. From the ultra-modern futuristic supertrees of Singapore to ancient ruins of Pompeii in Italy, I guarantee you’ll be wowed!

All of these city virtual tours are interactive 360 videos or 360 photos. To make them immersive , just put on your VR headset. 

This post is part of a best-of series of virtual tours. Find more incredible virtual tours , including famous historic sites, beautiful national parks and waterfalls, wildlife encounters, and crazy adventure travel. 

• 4 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: Asia
• 8 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: Europe
• 5 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: North America

Summary and Resources

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to excellent travel-related products. This means that if you use the links below to make a purchase, we’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

17 Best Virtual Tours of CITIES Around the World!

You’ll find plenty of styles in the list below of best virtual tours of cities around the world. Some are aerials and some are street views. Some have commentary, music or just the local ambience. If you want more city virtual tours or really like a particular style, check out the links in the Summary and Resources section at the end.

Now, before you start exploring these cities of the world, I highly recommend downloading my free travel bucket list template. It’s a fillable PDF, so it’s perfect for capturing which of these cities you’ll want to visit yourself one day. And I guarantee there’ll be a few!

Note: If the YouTube video looks blurry to you, change your video settings to higher resolution.

Want to upgrade your interactive 360 video experience to immersive VR videos? Here are some great options to check out for VR headsets. You can get a cheap but totally respectable Google Cardboard VR headset to use with your smartphone YouTube app. Or, get a stand-alone VR headset ; a very respected brand out there is Oculus . 

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: ASIA

1. city virtual tour of singapore.

This 360 video virtual tour of Singapore from Sygic Travel has added this city to my travel bucket list! Singapore has SO much to offer. Of course it has stunning architecture, fantastic shopping malls and incredible city views. But it also has very cool urban parks. Fountains with light shows. Certainly among the coolest cities of the world. Enjoy this great city virtual tour with helpful commentary.

2. City Virtual Tour of The Forbidden City (China)

If you’ve ever wanted to tour China’s Forbidden City, you’ll love this Forbidden City virtual tour from YouVisit. It’s a series of 360 photos that take you through the top things to see in the Forbidden City. Enjoy the panoramas of the many Halls of Harmony, the stunning Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the Imperial Garden. Use the map to orientate yourself and get a sense of the entire complex. For more views, click on the small images in the bottom-right corner.

3. City Virtual Tour of Hong Kong (China)

AirPano’s 360 video virtual tour of Hong Kong includes street views, aerial views and insightful commentary. What an INCREDIBLE city. Enjoy the beautiful interactive videos while learning more about Hong Kong. Check it out! 

4. City Virtual Tour of Tokyo (Japan)

Get a personal tour of the historical Asakusa area of Tokyo, Japan on a rickshaw. Man, I have SO much respect for this guy, hauling us all around Japan! This series is brought to us by visitjapan. The first of three videos in Asakusa features Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. 

You might also want to check out the other videos in this series, including the fun Asahi Breweries Headquarters , Bell of Time and Zuishin gate .

Want to see Mount Fuji? Head over to 23 Best Virtual Tours of National Parks !

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: EUROPE

5. city virtual tour of moscow (russia).

Moscow is among the most enchanting cities of the world. Take an aerial 360 video virtual tour of Moscow from AirPano, who knows how to produce incredible aerial 360 videos! While I recognize some of these iconic buildings, many of these sights are brand new to me. Like so many of these incredible, massive statues. This city virtual tour is set to calm but inviting music. 

6. City Virtual Tour of Krakow (Poland)

This virtual tour of Krakow is INCREDIBLE. I had no idea that Krakow is so stunning, and this is undoubtedly the best city virtual tour I’ve found yet. 

Use the legend at the top to select from types of views, like incredible aerial views of the city, walking tours, and iconic buildings and museums.  Easily click on icons to explore specific sights, which include commentary and interior views. To change the commentary to English, look for the flag icon in the top-right corner and change it to the British flag. Some spots, like along the river, also have embedded YouTube videos (although they’re not in English). 

WOW. Give yourself some time to enjoy this fantastic city virtual tour!

7. City Virtual Tour of Naples (Italy)

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Naples , this 360 video walking tour from Prowalk Tours will thrill you! You start with a map and overview of your route, and then simply walk through. Enjoy the street ambience and wander in and out of famous buildings. If you forget where you are or want to jump ahead, just use the time stamps in the description. Very nice. 

While you’re here, I’m also going to point out this regular non-360 video tour Prowalk Tours did of the Roman Ruins . Although it isn’t interactive, it’s fully narrated and very enjoyable.

8. City Virtual Tour of Pompeii (Italy)

Although Pompeii is technically part of Naples, this virtual tour of the ancient city ruins of Pompeii is worth its own entry. WOW. Prowalk Tours takes us on a thorough 2-hour virtual tour. While this sounds crazy-long, it’s just like you’re THERE walking through one of the ancient cities of the world. Strolling down the many narrow streets of Pompeii. Ducking into some of the buildings and stepping over walls. LOVE. THIS.

You may also like Inspiring OUTDOOR DECOR Items for Travel Lovers

9. City Virtual Tour of Taormina (Sicily)

Take a wonderful walking tour through Old Town Taormina in Messina, Sicily on this beautiful city virtual tour from Daniel VR4Holiday. The views are outstanding, and you feel like you’re right there. Walking those beautiful narrow streets, gazing into cute boutique shops, and enjoying some wine overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea faaar below. 

10. City Virtual Tour of Barcelona (Spain)

Here is another wonderful virtual tour of one of the most romantic cities of the world. If you’re dreaming of visiting Barcelona , this 360 video virtual tour will help you plan that trip! Sygic Travel takes you through its gorgeous squares, streets and churches. Along the beach. To parks with colorful mosaics and incredible views. If you ever wondered why Gaudi is so popular, you’ll know after this!

11. City Virtual Tour of Paris (France)

Now, if you’re looking for the most romantic cities of the world, then we have to visit Paris ! Enjoy this wonderful 360 video city virtual tour with Captivision, including insightful commentary. Step inside Notre Dame and climb the steps up to the hunchback bells. Stroll through the Louvre’s stunning halls and glimpse the famous Mona Lisa. Then the Palace of Versailles.

If you want more time to explore the Palace of Versailles, check out in Best Virtual Tours of Famous Historic Sights .

12. City Virtual Tour of London (England)

I quite love this 360 video virtual tour of London from Sygic Travel. It takes you around to the top tourist destinations in London and its commentary gives you insight into what you might want to see for yourself. Popular landmarks, buildings and parks. Where to eat and drink. Check it out!

You may also like:

• First Day in London AFTER a Red-Eye
• Road Trip from London to Edinburgh

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: North America

13. city virtual tour of quebec city (canada).

You definitely feel the charm of Old Quebec City in this 360 video virtual tour from Quebec region.

Take in the gorgeous views of the St. Lawrence River from a pretty promenade and as you descend along a tram. Chuckle (and watch your step) at the Breakneck Staircase and pan around to the cute shops along the narrow stone streets. Did you know that Rue du Petit-Champlain is the oldest commercial street in North America?

Want to visit for real? Check out QUEBEC Getaways for Couples !

14. City Virtual Tour of New York City (United States)

New York City is certainly among the most fascinating cities of the world. And, of course, there are a few city virtual tours through NYC! Which one will be your favorite depends on a lot of things. 

Here are my favorite three for you to check out:

• New York City 360 video city virtual tour from Captivision. This virtual tour hits most of the top tourist destinations in the city, along with helpful commentary.
• Here’s a very enjoyable 360 video virtual tour of New York City’s best views from The 360 Guy, including some less-known sights. 
• If you want a more in-depth experience of New York City, take a guided tour through NYC Central Park with YouVisit.

Ready to plan your trip? Check out Where to Stay in Manhattan , Brooklyn, Staten Island , Queens and The Bronx !

15. City Virtual Tour of Austin, Texas (United States)

Here’s a fun city virtual tour of Austin, Texas from YouVisit with spectacular 360 photos. Explore parks and bridges with very pretty views. Famous buildings and city streets. Even a salt lick BBQ and brewery … complete with the barrel room tour! When you see small images in the bottom-right corner, click for more 360 views.

You may also like: ROMANTIC Getaway in Texas and Across the USA

16. City Virtual Tour of Mexico City (Mexico)

Check out the Mexico City virtual tour with vagabrothers. It includes commentary of some of Mexico City’s top tourist destinations, including Zocalo Square, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and Casa Azul – Frida Kahlo Museum. Learn more about local mural artists and Mexico City’s street art, too!

Also check out Inspiring OUTDOOR DECOR Items for Travel Lovers

17. City Virtual Tour of Havana (Cuba)

VR Gorilla has a TON of 360 video virtual tours I’m sure you’ll love. Below you’ll find a link to their YouTube channel, and I encourage you to explore! 

One of my favorite city virtual tours is the one VR Gorilla did of Havana , Cuba. It’s only 3 minutes long, but has a fun vibe of exploring Havana’s main spots and includes commentary. Visit historical squares and ocean views, and even go for a ride in a hot-pink classic car. SO. FUN. 

Of these virtual tours of cities, which is YOUR favorite? Which style of city virtual tour do you prefer: stunning aerials or immersive street views? Educational commentary or just the ambience of the area? 

Remember to capture your travel bucket list ideas in one place! My travel bucket list post includes a free fillable PDF template and a how-to guide. It’ll take you from brainstorming to prioritizing, so you make those trips happen!

BEST YouTube Channels for Virtual Tours of Cities of the World

To see all of the city virtual tours above that are on YouTube, check out my YouTube playlist . 

And if you want to see MORE virtual tours of cities of the world, check out the YouTube channels of some of the best 360 videos out there:

• VR Gorilla : Find TONS of fantastic 360 video virtual tours from around the world. If you’re looking for more great city virtual tours, check out their guided tours playlist . It includes the greats, like Vienna and Amsterdam.
• Sygic Travel : This is such a fantastic YouTube channel for planning your next trip! Their playlist tab organizes all of their videos according to city. Each playlist opens with an introductory video and then deep-dives into specific tourist destinations in that area.
• Captivision : Keep an eye on this YouTube channel! Even though it only has 12 videos at the time of writing this, they already have more than 65K subscribers. It’s because they do a great job of moving you through cool places with their quality 360 video virtual tours, with commentary. 
• Prowalk Tours : This YouTube channel features walking tours through a bunch of beautiful places in Italy. Here’s the 360 video playlist , which includes a walk through Herculaneum (1.5 hours) and a scooter ride along the Amalfi Coast. WOW. 
• AirPano : Most of AirPano’s 360 video virtual tours are aerial shots set to music, but you’ll also find a few with good commentary. Check out their playlist of cities in 360 videos .
• Andy Kay : These 360 videos take you to fascinating cities in places I know very little about, like Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Enjoy the soft music mixed with city ambience. There’s no commentary; just you and lots of time to pan and relax.

Enjoyed these city virtual tours? SHARE with your FRIENDS!

Inspired to get a VR headset?

It’s easy to turn these interactive 360 videos into immersive VR videos. You can get a low-cost Google Cardboard VR headset to use with your smartphone YouTube app. Or, get a stand-alone VR headset ; a very respected brand brand is Oculus . Enjoy!

Here are other posts you might like:

• BEST Virtual Tours of Famous Historic Sites
• CRAZY Virtual Tours of Extreme Sports and Adventure Travel
• Trip Planning Step 1: Define YOUR Perfect Experience  

And if you just want MORE virtual tours, here’s all of the posts in my best-of virtual tours series .

Featured photo credit (Singapore): Coleen Rivas from Unsplash

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21 Cool Online Tours to Take with Groups

Here is our list of the best online tours to take with groups.

Online tours are a combination of videos and still images that simulate the location through a virtual setting and allow virtual visitors to explore renowned places in groups. Examples include visits to cities, museums, art galleries, and zoos. The purpose of these activities is to provide entertainment and educate the audience from the comfort of their homes. In addition, these tours help engage groups of colleagues and friends by offering collaborative and interactive experiences.

These activities make great online events for teams , virtual team building exercises , and online field trips . Many of these experiences also double as free online team building ideas .

This list includes:

• free online tours
• online tours of museums
• online tours of famous places
• online art gallery tours
• online zoo tours
• online city tours
• online walking tours

Let’s get started!

Online tours of museums

Online or virtual tours are best for exploring museums from around the globe without traveling. These tours help remote tourists learn about the history and culture of different countries. Here are some museums you can visit virtually with your friends or coworkers.

1. The Broad Museum

The Broad Museum in Los Angeles is home to over 2,000 art pieces from the 1950s to now. The museum is renowned for its avant-garde designs, especially the “Veil and Vault” concept that allows visitors to explore the museum without exiting the structure. The public is also drawn to the museum’s mirrored infinity room.  This incredible museum is popular among art enthusiasts because of its innovative architecture.

The museum provides several digital programs, including educational activities and online resources for virtual tours. Virtual touring allows for an entirely different experience. Usually, the museum has a time limit for visiting certain parts. Online, you can enjoy the twinkling lights and the reflection of the infinitely mirrored room for as long as you like. No 45-second rule will prevent you and your group from experiencing and discussing the art!

Visit The Broad Museum .

2. The Vatican Museums

Located in the smallest country in the world, the Vatican Museums are a series of museums that provide a unique experience to virtual visitors. These unique locations display world-renowned art pieces, including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. The museums are also famous for being home to various archeological relics and historical sculptures.

Another great thing that makes these museums group-tour-worthy places to visit is the official occupancy of the Pope. Now, the participants can sit with their friends on their couches to see the Pope’s residence alongside masterpieces of art. The museum offers guided virtual tours too!

You can visit the museum’s website to book an immersive experience of viewing collections from all over the world.

Find out more about the Vatican Museums .

3. The National Palace Museum and The Forbidden City

In the heart of Beijing is the National Palace Museum, home to centuries of art. You can find more than 700 paintings and intricate calligraphy pieces in the museum. The place also has timepieces, ceramics, and jades.

The Forbidden City is a complex of different palaces surrounding the museum’s building. The museum of The Forbidden City is a place of artwork of exquisite historical magnificence. The city initially served as a political center, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter the city for security reasons. However, the Forbidden City was later transformed into a museum in 1952, displaying rare treasures and Chinese architecture.

You can book a virtual tour for your group to visit this monument of traditional Chinese architecture. The virtual visitors can take a close-up look at the interior and stroll to the exterior courtyards of the place.

Visit the National Palace Museum and The Forbidden City .

4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the biggest museum in the U.S. and is the famous home of the Met Gala. The Met Gala’s popularity has drawn admirers worldwide to experience the museum’s rich history. This museum is the most visited attraction in New York City. As the premise for holding the Met Gala here reflects, the museum offers visitors a heritage of knowledge and inspiration.

The virtual tour allows a moment-in-time tour with an instrumental background melody to the great halls of the museum, the Met cloisters, and the arm and armor gallery.

Find out more about The Metropolitan Museum of Art .

5. Van Gogh Museum

This modern-day style museum in Amsterdam is an ode to the great tragic painter Vincent van Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum holds the most extensive collection of its namesake’s artwork. The collection of more than 500 pieces of drawings and 200 paintings makes the museum one of the 25 most famous in the world. You can have a close-up look at van Gogh’s drawings, paintings, letters, and his contemporaries’ artwork.

This museum is a great escape to aspire and connect virtually with your friends. Experiencing “The Starry Night” virtually with your group is a truly spectacular experience.

Find out more about the Van Gogh Museum .

Online tours of famous places

Online tours of famous places open the doors for groups to experience beautiful landmarks worldwide. These visits are instrumental in connecting cultures and heritage. Here are some famous landmarks for you to experience with your group virtually.

6. Stonehenge

Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK, is a prehistoric site dating back 5,000 years. The ring of standing stones was initially used for cremations around 2500 BC. Now, this site of gigantic sarsen blocks is a famous tourist spot. The Stonehenge website offers a 360-degree virtual tour of the inside of the stone circle and its excavation and conservation process.

Another great feature the website offers is the Skyscape mode. This mode lets visitors learn about the solar alignment and celestial movement above Stonehenge. An interactive virtual session with your group will let you experience this iconic stone monument in a new light.

Visit Stonehenge .

7. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramids of Giza are the last ancient wonder of the world, standing for more than 4,500 years. The Pyramids of Giza sit on the edge of an Egyptian desert near modern-day Cairo.

The virtual view of these pharaohs’ grand tombs comprises an up-close walking route around the structure and sites. You can virtually tour the most ancient and significant structures, which include the Great Pyramid, the Great Sphinx, and the Pyramid of Khafre. Explore the pyramids virtually with your group and try to understand the mysterious pyramids.

Visit the Pyramids of Giza .

8. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a mind-blowing Incan citadel with a breathtaking view. The beautiful fortress is spread over 115 square miles in the heart of Peru. The scenic view, lush jungles, and stunning landscapes inspire tourists to visit this place at least once. Even virtually, you will be captivated by the history behind its magnificent architectural structures, fortifications, and adorable alpacas.

You can take a 360-degree virtual tour to learn about its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking panoramas.

Learn more about Machu Picchu .

9. Northern Lights

When arctic air hits warm air, a magical show takes place! Experiencing the Northern Lights is an adventure worth remembering. The aurora borealis is as beautiful as its name. The blue and green night sky on the horizon captivates viewers.

Virtually touring the Northern lights is the next best thing to appreciating them in real-time. You can visit the gorgeous sky show remotely with your group to be mystified.

Learn more about virtual aurora tours .

Online art gallery tours

Online art gallery tours are a great way to explore art exhibitions. Here are some fantastic galleries worldwide to enjoy with your friends without leaving the house.

10. National Gallery

The National Gallery of London displays art pieces from its collection of 2,300 publicly owned drawings and paintings. Moreover, the gallery offers guided artwork tours from the 13th to the mid-20th centuries.

​The National Gallery offers some tremendous virtual tours. This institute provides a virtual tour guide to the main room. You can explore the Sainsbury wing and central hall and click on the paintings you want to see. Witnessing portraits and monumental dramatic altarpieces during the tour is a great experience. Also, roaming from one room to another adds an element of exploration to the experience.

Visit the National Gallery .

11. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

One of Amsterdam’s best museums, the Rijksmuseum, tells the tales of Dutch art and related historical events. The gallery offers a virtual tour of the exhibitions, which display pieces dating back to the Middle Ages. You can visit the website to experience the exhibitions virtually. There are over 80 galleries full of historical art pieces for you to explore. Your group will enjoy the interactive tour showcasing the vast collection of famous paintings in the museum.

Learn more about Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam .

12. The Guggenheim Museum, New York

The well-known Guggenheim museum is considered a national historic landmark. The museum is famous for more than one reason. The building, which spirals downward, is enough to draw visitors in. The building is an architectural marvel, with the structure getting wider as it goes to the top. This historical gallery appears futuristic!

The museum’s walls sport a remarkable art collection, which the visitors enjoy while walking alongside the spiral wall. The virtual tour is a fantastic experience, as you can see a 360-degree view of the museum building.

You can experience this captivating mid-century treasure virtually until you can visit this must-see gallery in person.

Learn more about The Guggenheim Museum, New York .

Online zoo tours

Online zoo tours are becoming popular among animal lovers, as they allow visitors to view exotic creatures up close from the comfort and convenience of their homes. Here is a list of virtual aquariums and zoos that provides a delightful virtual connection to wildlife.

13. Alaska Zoo

The Alaska Zoo virtual tour presents a unique opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat. The zoo provides virtual interaction with animals in real-time. This site is great to visit with your group to unwind.

The zoo has scheduled paid sessions with time limits to keep animals comfortable around cameras. As a result, you can have intimate and memorable virtual visits with seals, tigers, and polar bears.

Visit the Alaska Zoo .

14. Singapore Zoo

Singapore is home to majestic and rare wildlife. The Singapore Zoo provides a variety of e-learning options.

Many of the options are focused on e-learning and virtual classrooms. The zoo is home to over 2,800 fantastic wildlife animals. Avid animal lovers and jungle lovers are always mesmerized by the beauty this zoo holds. You can find several species of mammals, birds, and reptiles in this zoo. You can see many animals in this zoo, which include sea lions, giraffes, and white tigers.

A virtual group tour with friends and coworkers will offer an intimate online experience.

Learn more about the Singapore Zoo .

15. Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Canyon is home to many deep-sea creatures. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live setup allows the virtual attendees to experience mesmerizing undersea beauty and magnificent creatures. You can virtually connect with various marine creatures, including seals, penguins, jellyfish, and sharks.

You can switch streams on your virtual tour to experience fascinating sea creatures’ behavior. Another idea is to plan your virtual weekend trip with their feeding schedule.

Learn more about the Monterey Bay Aquarium .

16. National Aquarium in Baltimore

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is the best place to explore exotic sea life. The site makes virtual navigation easy by offering responsive virtual maps. In addition, you can take virtual walks to enter different parts of the aquarium.

You can also view live webcam streams of anticipated creatures like sharks and jellyfish. The website offers an array of virtual trips so you can find the best one for your group.

Learn more about the National Aquarium in Baltimore .

Online city tours

Visiting all the cities on your bucket list in person can get heavy on your pockets. Therefore, it can be better to tour different cities around the world virtually to avoid stressful trip planning or overspending. Here is a list of online city tours you can take without spending a dime.

17. London, England

You can visit one of the most famous cities in the world virtually with your group.

Starting your online tour from the top of the London Eye is an unforgettable experience. You can take a virtual stroll through the streets of London, and do not forget to visit Buckingham Palace. The free online tour allows you to go through a collection of 360-degree images of famous London attractions.

Visit London, England .

18. Paris, France

Paris is also known as “The City of Light and Love.” You can tour the rich architecture and cultural heritage of the  most romantic city in France.

Paris is also home to one of the wonders of the world. The city has iconic landmarks, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre. With your group, you can explore the Champs-Élysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter on your online group tour. You can also take a night tour to experience the Paris catacombs.

Visit Paris .

19. Bangkok, Thailand

To make the group experience worth remembering, you can take your group to “The City of Angels.” Bangkok offers a contrast of vibrant markets and peaceful temples.

​On your online tour, check out the Grand Palace with your group. The visit will give you great insight into the history of Bangkok. Also, remember to discover Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun. You can also tour the bustling floating shops and row down the Chao Phraya River to learn about the country’s traditional cuisine.

Visit Bangkok .

Online walking tours

Online walking tours have gained much popularity in the past few years, mainly because of the convenience offered by the comfort of homes. Online walking tours allow you to walk around and see the beautiful creations of nature in different parts of the world. Here are some great places to go for an online walk.

20. Acropolis, Greece

You can explore the Acropolis monuments from the Entrance Gate and view landmarks such as the Athena Nike Temple, the Monument to Agrippa, and the world-famous Parthenon. The stunning vantage point above the city of Athens adds to the beauty of these locations.

Learn about the Acropolis virtual tour .

21. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

You can take advantage of a sunny afternoon to run across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. In 1937, when this landmark suspension bridge was constructed, it set new world records for length and height.

You can visit this bridge as you work out to spice up your at-home treadmill workouts.

Learn more about the Golden Gate Bridge street view .

Online tours with your group offer you a unique experience. We live in a world where keeping up with others amidst our busy lives is challenging. Free online tours are your ticket to experience the world from the comfort of your house while connecting with friends, family, and colleagues.

Taking online group tours to museums, famous cities, and monuments is fun. Or, you can visit natural parks and zoos to get a close look at what Mother Nature offers in the form of beautiful landscapes and wildlife.

These tours also allow you to learn about and enjoy famous places without crowds!

Next, read about online happy hour ideas .

FAQ: Online tours

Here are answers to questions about online tours.

What are online tours?

An online tour is a virtual visit to any site or location worldwide. You can go on online tours from the comfort of your home. Moreover, you can visit famous attractions like galleries, museums, planetariums, and national parks worldwide with a 360-degree view.

How do you take an online tour?

You can take an online tour using web software and online platforms such as Google Street View. Zoom is also one of the best apps for online group tours. Solo and online group tours have the option of live and automated tour guides. You can take free online tours or pay for a personal guide and various incentives.

What are good online group tour ideas?

Here is a list of some places you can visit in an online tour:

• Van Gogh Museum
• Machu Picchu valleys
• Hot Springs National Park
• Monterey Bay Aquarium

Visiting famous monuments, art galleries, famous cities, natural parks, and zoos are good online tour group ideas.

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Online Virtual Tours: The 69 BEST to Explore in 2024

You found our list of the best online virtual tours !

Virtual tours are online experiences that enable visitors to experience museums, zoos, national parks, landmarks, and attractions. These tours use methods such as 360 pictures, satellite imagery, virtual reality, or video conferencing to bring famous sites into living rooms or classrooms. The purpose of these tours is to inspire, entertain and educate audiences. These experiences are also called “online tours.”

These tours are popular virtual field trips and can be fun online classroom activities .

This post includes:

• virtual museum tours
• online tours of national parks
• virtual zoo tours

So, here is the list!

List of virtual museum tours

Here is a list of online museum tours that are perfect for both adults and kids. We also have a list of virtual museum scavenger hunt templates for you to use.

1. Smithsonian

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers a self-guided virtual tour of current and past museum exhibits. This experience includes narrated components, accessible via computer or smartphone. The Smithsonian also offers virtual experiences for its other institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Visit the Smithsonian .

2. British Museum

The British Museum hosts an online “Museum of the World” that enables visitors to browse exhibits by area of origin, era, and subject matter. For example, you can search the collection by themes like “power and identity” or “art and design.” Each digital exhibit includes a picture, description, audio file, and links to related artifacts.

Visit British Museum .

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3. Auschwitz

This virtual tour of Auschwitz offers a panoramic birds eye view of the camps, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau, along with clickable descriptions of each area. Online visitors can also switch to an illustrated map of the grounds to better understand the scope of the concentration camps. The online tour is available in both English and Polish.

Visit Auschwitz .

4. Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House welcomes visitors from around the world with digital experiences such as video, virtual reality, 360° photos of the Frank home, and translations of the diary in over 20 languages. Virtual visitors can also browse a pocket gallery by downloading the app.

Visit Anne Frank House .

5. 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum website has a learn and explore feature which includes live, guide-led panoramic virtual tours of the rebuilt center, interactive videos, and webinar stories. The site also recommends activities to do at home with children to simulate the museum’s activity stations.

Visit 9/11 Memorial & Museum .

6. Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums provides an online experience consisting of 360° high resolution photos of over a dozen features such as the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms. The website also grants web access to archaeological areas, various departments, and a searchable online catalogue.

Visit Vatican Museums .

7. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in Austria hosts a digital museum consisting of an online collection, artist talks and lectures, podcasts and Spotify series, and high resolution images of works and galleries. The museum also has its own app that enables online walk-throughs, including specialty tours for children.

Visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien .

8. National Museum (New Delhi)

New Delhi’s National Museum, often called the National Museum of India, displays the largest collection of art and artifacts in the country. The institution’s Museum at Home web portal consists of dozens of videos depicting sculptures, artifacts, and customs, with accompanying cultural analysis from curators. The site also links to several 360° and 3-D virtual galleries that enable online walk-throughs of the building.

Visit the National Museum (New Delhi) .

9. National Palace Museum & the Forbidden City (Beijing)

The National Palace Museum sits in the heart of Beijing and houses centuries worth of art and history. The museum building is a monument to classic Chinese architecture, as is the surrounding palace complex, the Forbidden City. Virtual visitors can tour works inside the museum and stroll through the outer courtyards by indulging in interactive and immersive virtual and VR tours. Both options give viewers the opportunity to explore the grounds up close without navigating the crowds.

Visit National Palace Museum and the Forbidden City .

10. Pergamonmuseum

Pergamonmuseum in Berlin contains a wealth of art and archaeological treasures, and curators give home viewers a glimpse into the collections through several online exhibits on Google Arts & Culture. The collection includes over 1,000 images of objects made of clay, metal, copper, and gemstone, originating in regions such as Iran, Spain, Turkey, and Germany.

Visit Pergamonmuseum .

11. National Museum of Australia

The National Museum of Australia offers free one hour digital excursions to schools that cannot visit the museum in person. The tours are available on weekdays between 9:30-10:30 am or at other times by request, and accommodate groups of 10 to 30 students. Classes meet with museum staff via Zoom and complete missions based around themes like the fight for indigenous rights. Virtual exhibition gallery tours are also available on occasion.

Visit the National Museum of Australia and check out these Indigenous Peoples Day ideas .

The Louvre virtual tour consists of 360° panoramic views of exhibit halls such as Egyptian Antiquities and the ruins of the Louvre Moat. By downloading a special app, visitors can also experience Mona Lisa in virtual reality. The museum website hosts multimedia online exhibitions of famous works such as Portrait of the Marquise de Pompadour and Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.

Visit the Louvre .

13. Guggenheim

The Guggenheim museum offers staff facilitated online tours for students ranging from kindergarten to grade 12. Educators can book interactive, real-time tours for classes that engage students and enable question and answer sessions. Tours are no cost for New York City public schools. For other districts the tours are less than $100, and discounted rates are available. Tours have a maximum of 30 participants, meaning groups are sure to receive an intimate experience.

Visit Guggenheim .

14. Musée d’Orsay

The Google Arts tour of the Musée d’Orsay includes background and history on the museum building, as well as images, descriptions, and details of some of the museum’s most famous works. For example, the collection includes Van Gogh’s Self Portrait , James McNeill Whistler’s Whistler’s Mother , and Bartholdi’s Liberty .

Visit Musée d’Orsay .

15. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a Dutch National Museum that hosts an impressive array of art and history. Rijksmuseum’s virtual tour, which includes a Rijksmuseum from home series, consists of high definition pictures, videos, and audio narration that details seminal works inside the museum. The experience also includes interactive components such as a “find the key” challenge and creative tutorials.

Visit Rijksmuseum .

16. Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City launched a virtual views series which enables website visitors to browse rotating online exhibits. As part of the series, the MoMA site also hosts virtual events with components such as live Q&A sessions with artists and curators, readings and theatrical performances, 3-D renderings, and interactive games.

Visit MoMA .

17. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met 360° Project is a collection of six wide-lens videos compatible with both virtual reality systems, or regular computer screens or smartphones. Virtual viewers take a point-of-view tour of museum areas such as the Great Hall, the Met Cloisters, and the Arms and Armor Gallery, set to a soundtrack of instrumental music. The Met website also hosts an Art at Home series that offers up close virtual access and analysis to famous works, as well as videos of conservation projects and instructions for art projects.

Visit the MET .

18. Paul J. Getty Museum

The Google Arts & Culture online tour of the Getty Museum spans dozens of exhibits with thousands of digital artifacts. Pieces span as far back as the eighth century until modern times, with notable pieces including The Virgin Mary with Saints Thomas Aquinas and Paul , Rembrandt Laughing , and Irises .

Visit the Getty Museum .

19. Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago facilitates online visits consisting of virtual video and audio tours, searchable online collections, digital publications, as well as online lesson plans and art projects. There is even an “Ask an Educator” form that enables parents or teachers to communicate with museum staff who hand-pick resources to assist with lessons planning.

Visit the Art Institute of Chicago .

20. National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.)

The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. website hosts digital perspectives, virtual exhibitions, and digital collections. The online experience also includes streamable films visitors can watch online.

Visit the National Gallery of Art .

21. The National Gallery (London)

The National Gallery of London offers immersive virtual tours accessible via smartphone, computer, or virtual reality headset. Through three different remote tours, virtual visitors can explore multiple wings of the museum, 18+ rooms, and 300+ paintings. The Gallery’s robust social media presence promotes further interaction with online art.

Visit The National Gallery .

22. Uffizi Gallery

The Google Arts & Culture Tour of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence explores four online exhibitions and hundreds of pieces of arts and artifacts, many in the Renaissance style. Notable pieces include Birth of Venus by Botecelli, Portraits of the Duke & Duchess of Urbino by Piero Della Francesca, and Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael.

Visit Uffizi Gallery .

23. Frida Kahlo Museum

The virtual tour of the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City is one of the most colorful museum tours online. Virtual visitors tour various areas of the grounds in a 360°, up close experience. The colors of the architecture and artifacts are works of art in themselves, and are sure to brighten viewers’ days. The website offers additional resources including downloadable photos, videos, quotes, and even recipes.

Visit Frida Kahlo Museum .

24. Russian Museum

The Virtual Russian Museum is a web portal consisting of several digital resources such as online lectures, virtual 3-D walk through tours of the museum complex with accompanying audio, and a multimedia center. The multimedia component of the virtual branch includes digital content and displays, broadcasts and video conferencing, and interactive web workshops.

Visit Russian Museum .

25. Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum contains artworks and antiquities dating back several centuries, and displays over 100 digital images of textiles, clay-ware, ceramics, and similar artifacts on its Google Arts & Culture tour. During this remote museum tour, virtual visitors peruse Asian art and conduct Google Earth walk-throughs of museum galleries.

Visit Tokyo National Museum .

26. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea

This online tour of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea enables web visitors to explore the country’s unique culture and heritage. The tour includes multiple online exhibits, hundreds of pieces of modern artwork, and several floors of the building, including sections of the outdoor sculpture garden.

Visit the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art .

27. MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo has an impressive online presence with over 1,000 images of paintings, photographs, and objects in its Google Arts & Culture collection. Online visitors can delve into South American art and culture by exploring online exhibits and browsing through digital collections. The Google App also enables virtual reality tours of the museum via smartphone.

Visit MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo .

28. Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston offers free interactive virtual learning experiences like an online Apollo 13 exhibit, video series, and an app that offers mobile tours plus augmented reality and virtual reality experiences. The center also occasionally hosts virtual stargazing camp-outs and suggests at home science experiments and games. Plus, the website is a wealth of online outer space resources.

Visit Space Center Houston .

29. American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History suggests several options for virtual visits. These options include virtual field trips, an “inside the museum” high resolution picture tour, guided tours on Facebook live, and an expedition app experience that includes quizzes and exhibit highlights.

Visit American Museum of Natural History .

30. Oxford University’s History of Science Museum

The Oxford History of Science Museum website displays past exhibits so virtual visitors can learn more about concepts such as antibiotics, the human brain, and the Transit of Venus. The format of each online exhibit varies, but most contain, at minimum, sample images and descriptions.

Visit Oxford University’s History of Science Museum .

31. The National Museum of the United States Air Force

The National Museum of the United States Air Force provides digital resources such as 360° photo cockpit tours, podcasts, and videos. The site also supplies lesson plans broken down by grade level, with extras like aircraft coloring pages and word searches.

Visit The National Museum of the United States Air Force .

32. The National Museum of Computing

The National Museum of Computing offers a comprehensive 3D virtual tour of the entire museum, with multiple touch-points explaining the significance of fixtures. The online walk-through enables a point-of-view, clickable dollhouse tour of the entire building, with a wealth of supplemental materials like videos, audio files, and documents. For a fee, the museum also arranges curated virtual tours that form a more personalized experience.

Visit The National Museum of Computing .

33. Boston Museum of Science

Boston’s premier science museum presents a Museum of Science at Home experience consisting of virtual exhibits, daily live streams, podcasts, town halls, and family STEM activities. The museum provides digital programs for both adults and children, with highlights including live social events, an ant colony webcam, and stimulating multimedia content.

Visit the Boston Museum of Science .

34. Glazer Children’s Museum

The Glazer Children’s Museum website hosts virtual experiences such as digital field trips and weekly facilitated live Zoom play sessions. These sessions have educational themes like music and movement or STEM. The site also publishes content designed for anytime learning, such as instructional videos and blog posts that lead visitors through at-home art projects, science experiments, and story-time.

Visit Glazer Children’s Museum .

35. Children’s Museum Houston

The Children’s Museum Houston advertises an ongoing all-time access program. This program provides regular content such as 3-D digital field trips, virtual adventure camps, daily broadcasted project tutorials, webinar workshops, and video call-in shows. The museum also has a free smartphone app for additional at-home adventures.

Visit Children’s Museum Houston .

36. Children’s Museum Indianapolis

Children’s Museum Indianapolis provides a museum at home experience including ongoing virtual events, digital museum programs, follow-along hands-on activities, and virtual birthday parties. The museum also creates holiday-themed downloadable activity bundles and resources for teachers.

Visit Children’s Museum Indianapolis .

37. The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong museum in Rochester, NY, examines the history of playtime throughout recent history. Its online exhibits follow fun themes such as “Pinball in America”, “The History of Valentines”, and the Oregon Trail computer games. The online collection hosts a staggering 77,000+ images, many of which are designs for games throughout the decades.

Visit The Strong National Museum of Play .

38. Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children’s Museum website provides learning resources including weekly activitiy emails, Mad Libs, and links to mini digital museums and interactive apps. This section of the museum’s website has many tools to keep kids occupied for hours.

Visit Boston Children’s Museum .

List of online national park tours

Here is a list of national parks to visit online.

39. Joshua Tree

A virtual tour to Joshua Tree includes video, readable web content, photos and other multimedia. To captivate younger visitors, the park posts digital scavenger hunts, a junior ranger program, and guest speaker series. Educators can schedule virtual field trips with park rangers centered around topics such as plants and animals, rocks and minerals, and weather and erosion.

Visit Joshua Tree .

40. Zion National Park

An online visit to Zion National Park includes virtual hikes and shuttle tours, along with a free app that launches a historical exploration of the region. Web visitors explore the canyons in virtual reality from multiple vantage points, exploring the terrain from the comfort of the couch.

Visit Zion National Park .

41. Yosemite

Virtual Yosemite provides an aerial view of the park with zoomable scenic spots. The remote park tour also features a panoramic index for easy navigation to various locales within the preservation, but visitors can also click through and rotate the views to explore more organically. Virtual Yosemite presents high resolution images of a variety of landscapes, highlighting the geographical diversity of the land.

Visit Yosemite .

42. Bryce Canyon

While not an immersive experience, the Bryce Canyon virtual tour provides pictures and descriptions of locations along the trail so that virtual visitors can imagine hikes and plan future trips. The points of the online tour outline the landscape variety of the canyon, describing sights like Mossy Cave, Swamp Canyon, and Natural Bridge.

Visit Bryce Canyon .

43. Death Valley

This 360° online tour of California’s Death Valley National Park allows visitors to pan around the attraction’s various landscapes, from dunes to craters to canyons. Each spot contains a short description of the geography. The high resolution images create a virtual reality experience that immerses viewers in the environment.

Visit Death Valley .

44. Grand Canyon

This virtual tour of the Grand Canyon consists of 3D satellite images via Google Earth. Virtual visitors can rotate or click through trails, view the canyon from above, and navigate to photos of notable landmarks like Yavapai Point and The Abyss. High resolution pictures enable cyber sightseers to take in the views without the fear of falling.

Visit the Grand Canyon .

45. Redwood National Forest

Redwood National Forest facilitates virtual reality experiences via smartphone or computer, where online visitors take in 360° canopy tours for a panoramic view of the forest. The site also hosts multimedia presentations that include narrated videos, documentaries, songs, and other educational materials.

Visit Redwood National Forest .

46. Hot Springs National Park

Exploring Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park from home is possible thanks to a collection of photography, suggested readings, and an aerial digital map. The latter presents a birds eye view of the bath house district with clickable panoramic views inside the buildings. These resources enable virtual visitors to learn about the region’s rich cultural past and recent scientific research.

Visit Hot Springs National Park.

47. Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis provides a series of short pre-recorded videos exploring the history of the region and the exhibitions within the park, along with livestream webcam views from the top of the arch. The park website features historical analysis and photo galleries too, along with a virtual stamp for visitor’s National Park Passport books.

Visit the Gateway Arch.

48. Niagara Falls

This panoramic tour of Niagara Falls presents rotating 360° photos of park vistas such as the Cave of the Winds, Prospect Point, and the river rapids. A short description accompanies each photograph, outlining background information about the scenic spots.

Visit Niagara Falls .

49. Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park provides a robust selection of virtual experiences. The options include a 24/7 live wildlife webcam, short documentaries and educational videos, audio narrated virtual tours, and an official digital photography collection. The park website offers a free curriculum for distance learning programs as well.

Visit the Everglades .

50. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

This online multimedia presentation guides virtual viewers through the islands and volcanoes of Hawaii. The experience includes audio, video, and panoramic photography of volcanic cliffs, caverns, and rainforests. Web visitors can also explore an active volcano by joining a digital helicopter flyover and watching an eruption from the 1950s.

Visit Hawai’i Volcanoes .

51. Table Mountain and Kruger National Park

South Africa has stunning national parks. Discover Africa enables visitors to explore the sights of South Africa via immersive video and interactive panoramic photography accompanied by narration. Virtual visitors choose from five attractions, including Cape Town’s Table Mountain and Northern South Africa’s epic Kruger nature preserve. The digital experience constitutes a virtual safari that lets viewers experience the country’s diverse landscapes.

Visit Table Mountain and Kruger National Park .

52. Mount Everest

This digital rendering allows website visitors to scale the peaks of Mount Everest from behind a screen. The website is a 3D geographic model of the mountain with clickable descriptions for key peaks. While many folks will never climb Everest in person, they can explore the range through this immersive cyber expedition.

Visit Mount Everest .

53. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Vietnam contains one of the world’s largest caves alongside lush rainforests. Digital visitors trek through caves, viewing high resolution images and listening to realistic background sounds. The result is an immersive experience that simulates the sensation of navigating the caves in person.

Visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park .

54. Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park

For much of the world, Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park in China is more recognizable by sight than by name. The park’s steep, wooded cliffs appear in movies like Avatar, and the landscape looks more like a film set than a natural occurrence. Website visitors navigate between explorable panoramic views to the sounds of instrumental music for a simultaneously captivating and calming web experience.

Visit Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park .

55. Namib Desert

This digital tour of the Namib Desert in Southern Africa gives viewers birds eye perspectives of dunes, parched plains, and rolling mist, plus vast starry skies. The high quality, panoramic images constitute virtual hikes through the vast landscape, without the scorching heat of day or the freezing chill of night.

Visit Namib Desert .

56. Banff National Park

A remote tour of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada consists of dozens of 360* videos showing scenes like snowy canyons, serene lakes at sunset, and mountainous trails. Though short, the videos enable you to pause and take in the scenery, and watching the playlist gives online visitors the benefit of viewing the park during multiple seasons.

Visit Banff National Park .

57. Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a coastal region of Italy renowned for its colorful hillside houses. In this experience, online visitors take a panoramic photo tour of the coastline at various angles and times of days, set to a backdrop of calming music. The site also includes educational descriptions and an additional photo gallery.

Visit Cinque Terre .

List of virtual zoo tours

Here is a list of virtual zoos and aquariums that enable up-close online animal encounters.

58. San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo streams live cams of animals including polar bears, tigers, penguins, baboons, and koalas, and as well as hosting highlight archive footage of past panda cams. For a fee, the zoo also offers virtual programs that enable private online encounters with animals. The website also hosts an online directory of zoo animals and plants so that virtual visitors can learn more about the zoo’s exhibits from home.

Visit the San Diego Zoo .

59. San Antonio Zoo

The San Antonio Zoo arranges online meetings between virtual visitors and animals like hippos, giraffes, and rhinos for $100. For an additional $50 fee, guests can add a question and answer session with a zookeeper. Experiences are available Tuesday through Saturday. The zoo also offers online educational workshops.

Visit the San Antonio Zoo .

60. Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo website includes a variety of live webcams with stars such as rhinos, gorillas, flamingos, and elephants. Cameras are live between 7AM and 7PM CT. The zoo also advertises live virtual experiences including web conference meet and greets with animals and virtual scavenger hunts. Notable digital offerings include an animal painting experience where guests watch a creature create art and receive a copy in the mail afterwards, and a Cameo video greeting to send to a friend.

Visit the Houston Zoo .

61. Cincinnati Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo offers a home safari consisting of videos recorded during Facebook Live streams. Website visitors can browse through over 50 animal encounters and learn facts about creatures like red pandas, parrots, zebras, and orangutans. Online modules also include activities such as homemade birdfeeders and balancing exercises so kids can participate more fully in the virtual experience.

Visit the Cincinnati Zoo .

62. Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo streams live between 10AM and 4PM ET, showing off visitor favorites such as sea lions and lemurs. The zoo also books out virtual wild encounters with creatures like cheetahs, alpacas, sloths, and warthogs, for prices ranging from $80 to $150. Each session takes place over Zoom and allows virtual visitors to get up close to animals while asking caretakers questions.

Visit the Bronx Zoo .

63. Alaska Zoo

The Alaska Zoo presents a distance learning experience through its virtual animal encounters and arctic discovery programs. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and costs $150. These experiences include interactive presentations and virtual visits with animals such as tigers, gray wolves, polar bears, or seals. A scheduled visit ensures the animals are unlikely to be camera-shy, creating a memorable and intimate online experience for students.

Visit the Alaska Zoo .

64. Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo proposes a variety of e-learning options designed to enrich virtual classrooms. The website modules sort experiences by grade level, making it easy to choose an experience appropriate for your classroom. Students can explore topics such as zoology careers, reptile habitats, and African wildlife.

Visit the Singapore Zoo .

65. Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo offers virtual encounters on platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and GoToMeeting. During these sessions, caregivers and animals such as armadillos, giraffes, elephants, sloths, and lemurs join virtual visitors for a 15 minute meet and greet. The two available daily time slots are at 10AM and 2PM PT.

Visit the Oregon Zoo .

66. Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts ten live webcams featuring critters such as penguins, jellyfish, sharks, and sea otters. The variety of exhibits means that teachers can switch between streams when a particular camera is not live. The aquarium also facilitates narrated feeding times on certain webcams during weekdays, with the feeding schedule posted on the site.

Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium .

67. National Aquarium (Baltimore)

The National Aquarium in Baltimore offers an interactive virtual map folks can navigate for an online tour. Virtual visitors can follow the arrows for a walk-through experience, or can click a menu of creatures like dolphins and sharks to instantly view anticipated animals. The aquarium website also hosts three 24/7 webcam livestreams , and offers guided virtual programs too.

Visit the National Aquarium .

68. Georgia Virtual Aquarium

The Georgia Virtual Aquarium allows visitors to book a 10 to 20 minute guided online tour. Participants select a tour, receive viewing instructions via email, then enjoy up-close views of animals with educational insight. Participants get to view oceans, rivers, or sea creatures within an immersive virtual environment.

Visit Georgia Virtual Aquarium .

You may not be able to jet around the world at a moment’s notice. However, you can still visit famous parks, zoos, or museums by taking an engaging, interactive online virtual tour.

These online experiences enable you to stare as long as you like, avoid crowds, learn more about a subject or piece instantly, and enjoy other benefits. Not to mention, at home experiences are a great way to educate and teach children, coworkers, and yourself!

Next, check out our list of virtual family reunion activities and this one with online volunteering ideas .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Virtual Tours

Here are some of the common questions we see about virtual tours of museums, zoos and parks.

What are virtual tours?

Virtual tours are online galleries of famous attractions such as zoos, national parks, and museums. These experiences often consist of online exhibitions, videos, 360 degree and satellite photography, and virtual reality elements. Some tours may also include a facilitated live experience with a guide.

What are the best virtual tours?

The best virtual tours tend to include an interactive element. For example, the tour could be a live experience led by a guide and include trivia, polls, or other forms of engagement. These online tours are the best because they focus on the visitor experience.

How much do virtual tours cost?

Virtual tours are available at a variety of costs, ranging from free to $5 per person, $50 per person and upwards. We recommend starting with some of the free tours to see what your group likes and benefits most from. Then, you can invest in one of the paid options.

How do virtual tours work?

Virtual tours take place on online platforms such as Zoom, Google Street View, or custom software. Users login solo or as a group, and follow along with either a live or automated guide to learn about the tour stops.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Virtual Travel

A Smithsonian magazine special report

Take a Free Virtual Tour of the Winchester Mystery House

The California landmark is closed, but you can explore its bizarre architectural features from afar

Brigit Katz

Correspondent

The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, is one of the nation’s most curious landmarks. Built by a millionaire widow over the course of 36 years, the sprawling mansion features more than 200 rooms , 10,000 windows, trap doors, spy holes and a host of other architectural oddities.

A popular tourist attraction, the house, along with many other cultural institutions in the United States, has closed to help curb the spread of coronavirus. But as Michele Debczak reports for Mental Floss , you can now explore the Winchester House from afar via a detailed video tour posted on the mansion’s website.

The narrated video tour spans more than 40 minutes, providing insight into the property and the mysterious woman who built it: Sarah Winchester , wealthy and reclusive heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, which manufactured an innovative rifle that became a fixture of Westward expansion.

Sarah Lockwood Pardee married into the Winchester family in 1862. Four years later, she gave birth to a daughter, Annie, who died about a month later. Her husband, William Wirt Winchester, died in 1881, leaving his widow with a vast fortune: 50 percent ownership in the Repeating Arms Company and a $20 million inheritance.

Winchester decided to leave her home in New Haven, Connecticut, and head to California, where two of her sisters lived. In San Jose, she purchased an eight-room farmhouse that she began to renovate in 1886. The construction project continued until Winchester’s death in 1922, producing an enormous, labyrinthine mansion filled with logic-defying features: staircases that end at the ceiling, indoor balconies, skylights built into floors, doors that open onto walls. The designs, wrote Pamela Haag for Zócalo Public Square in 2016, were Winchester’s; she sketched them onto napkins or pieces of brown paper, then handed them over to a team of carpenters. Sometimes, she would have features built and plastered over the next day.

Exactly why Winchester embarked on this dizzying cycle of building, undoing and rebuilding is impossible to say. Popular lore has it that she was a keen follower of the Spiritualist movement , which was rooted in the idea that dead souls can interact with the living, and consulted a medium who told her she had been cursed by victims of Winchester rifles . The medium reportedly instructed her to constantly build a house for these ghosts. If construction ever stopped, she would die.

But as Katie Dowd of SFGate points out, there is “scant proof” for this theory. Winchester could have been engaging in an eccentric brand of philanthropy, as she built her home during an economic depression, and the continuous construction project provided jobs for locals. When she died, in fact, the heiress left most of her money to charity.

“She had a social conscience and she did try to give back,” historian Janan Boehme told Robin Abcarian of the Los Angeles Times in 2017. “This house, in itself, was her biggest social work of all.”

The true nature of Winchester’s motivations is likely to remain a mystery. But as the video tour points out, the house she built was not only bizarre—it was innovative. Take, for example, the north conservatory. Winchester loved to garden, so the conservatory featured an indoor watering system and wooden floorboards that could be lifted up to water plants resting below.

Though visitors can watch the video tour for free, the Winchester Mystery House is asking visitors to consider purchasing a voucher for use at a later date.

“Like many other [Bay Area] businesses, closing our doors until April 7th will severely impact the employees who maintain the estate,” the website explains . “Come when you are ready, but please come!”

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Brigit Katz | | READ MORE

Brigit Katz is a freelance writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including NYmag.com, Flavorwire and Tina Brown Media's Women in the World.

Virtual Tours of Famous Places

Welcome back to another Momentum blog. In this one, we’re going to talk about some of the most famous places in the entire world. I thought, what better way than to show off the 12 wonders of the world and conceptualize how getting a virtual tour would make sense for each location.

Virtual tours of famous places would make each of these locations more known…but is that a good thing? All of these places can be visited, so from a marketing standpoint this would be a tremendous opportunity!

Well…enough talking. Here are the 12 wonders of the world which should have a virtual tour!

1. Petra, Jordan

virtual tours of famous places

If you’ve ever seen Indiana Jones, this should look pretty familiar! A giant ancient city, carved into existence is waiting to be explored to this date. People have pondered what could be in this ancient city of Petra. There have been alien rumors around the globe. What history tells us is that spice traders were here. The architecture matches exactly what spice traders in ancient Petra drew up. Virtual Tours of famous places such as this one make complete sense! How cool would it be to see a virtual tour of this famous place? Knowing all the secrets? There is a reason Indiana Jones was set here…there is something holy to think about here.

You can visit Petra here .

2. Bagan, Myanmar, Burma

An astonishing 2200 temples stand here, built on the plains of Bagan to create a very unique perspective to explore. As Burma becomes more popular to travelers, people are recognizing how awesome these temples are. A virtual tour of this famous place would look amazing right? We would probably only scan just one temple..not all 2200 LOL!

You can visit Bagan here .

3. Chichen Itza, Mexico

You probably remember this from history class right? At a certain point at a certain time of day the snake of the temple reveals himself. It’s an amazing illusion. A virtual tour of this famous temple would be amazing! How cool would it be to walk up the steps, one by one, and peer inside to an ancient temple that used to be worshipped by thousands of people? Pretty cool we’d say.

You can visit Chichen Itza here.

4. Machu Pichu, Peru

Lay your eyes onto this valley and you’ll see an ancient civilization that used to live here thousands of years ago. The Inca Empire blends in so naturally to the valley so they could be hidden and protected. I wonder what this looked like on its hay day.The Inca trail leads to this incredible high ridge that boasts a citadel made from cut stone and demonstrates the power of the Inca Empire. Either way, a virtual tour of this famous place would be incredible!

You can visit Machu Pichu here.

5. Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

What good list of “Virtual Tours of Famous Places” would this be if we didn’t include the Pyramids of Giza? A terrible one, that’s for sure! These ancient ruins tells a tale of history that many still have yet to explore. How awesome would it be to take a virtual tour of this pyramid..seeing the incredible interior and possibly a few mummies! There were about 30 mummies that were picked up by museums..but we’re sure they’re probably a few more in there! A virtual tour for this famous place makes perfect sense.

You can visit the Pyramids of Giza here.

6. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

One of the most recognizable buildings in human history, the Taj Mahal boasts a symbol of love and beauty. A virtual tour of this incredible place would be lovely. This only took 22 years to construct…and will be a symbol of passion and love for generations to come. The way the architecture is..it’s just perfect. This famous place makes total sense for a virtual tour!

You can visit the Taj Mahal here.

7. Great Wall of China

Like many of our locations..is it really worth reading if we don’t have the great wall of china in here? Probably not. Anyway, this beautiful walkable wall has over 13,171 mi of walking! So if you plan on walking the entire wall by your lifetime…you better start walking! In terms of a virtual tour…this would be a little tricky but hey…showing off about ¼ of a mile of this Great Wall will suffice. Our “virtual tours of famous places” needed to include this gem of spectacle!

You can visit the Great Wall of China here.

8. Colosseum, Italy

Ahhh ancient Rome…isn’t it beautiful at night? Imagine thousands of years ago, people would fight to survive in this colosseum. A virtual tour is just what this place is missing. The internet will last forever, however, a physical location will not. (most likely) The best thing to do now is to take a virtual tour of this..so it can live forever on the internet!

You can visit the Roman Colosseum here.

9. Sigiria, Sri Lanka

Sigiria, or also known as “Lion Rock”, was originally used as a buddhist monastery. This wonderful place takes a visitor on a journey in itself! A virtual tour of this historic place would be beautiful! Imagine looking out and seeing the gorgeous view! A virtual tour of this famous place should be on their marketing team’s to-do list, that’s for sure!

Visit the Sigiriya here .

10. Ephesus, Turkey

There is so much more to see at Ephesus than meets the eye. This town was just discovered by historians only 20 years ago, so there is a lot of research left to do to find out more about this beautiful city! A virtual tour of this place would mean the world to the historians that can’t see this in-person.

Visit the Ephesus here!

11. Acropolis, Athens, Greece

The structures of Acropolis tell a tale of power. Back in ancient Greece, absolute power rules absolutely. This site still has certain expeditions to complete. Historians are probably chomping at the bit to get their hands on this place and dig. A virtual tour of this famous place would be great for the people who can’t visit this!

Visit Acropolis here.

12. Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

My personal favorite, the Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the most famous places in the entire world. Spreading a message of love, this status remains the most important feature on the entire planet..in our opinion! A virtual tour of this famous place would be incredible.

Visit Chris the Redeemer here .

All of these beautiful locations deserve to be shown off in a different light…i.e a virtual tour!

If you liked this blog talking about virtual tours of famous places, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Newsletter for awesome content!

Here at Momentum 360, we want to make growing your business easier than ever. Investing in a virtual tour is without a doubt an imperative step in making that happen. Our society is prioritizing digital content now more than ever, and we likely will not see a decline in this mindset in the future years.

If you are interested in learning more about Momentum 360 Virtual Tours or would like to have one made for your business, feel free to email us or schedule a call with Sean or Mac. For more information, visit our website website! Mac Frederick and Sean Boyle , owners of Momentum, have over twenty years of experience in the digital marketing field and have a passion for helping businesses reach their fullest potential.

We post our Momentum Monday and Small Business Saturday blog every week, so feel free to subscribe and make sure you are up to date on the latest trends in the industry. If you have any questions or concerns, leave them in the comments below! From everyone at Momentum 360, thanks for the love, stay healthy, and until next time, build Momentum!

About The Author: Sean Boyle

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Check out videos on hundreds of California adventures

16 Things to do in San Jose

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and full of fun adventures. It’s by no means as popular for tourists as San Francisco, but if you’re willing to look beyond the surface, it has a lot of hidden gems waiting to be explored. This post collects many of my favorite places in the city, including a haunted house, many different tech museum, art installations and even the world’s first mountain observatory. Check it out and let me know what your favorite spot is in San Jose in the comments!

Here is a video I made of all the suggestions.

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is a peculiar mansion that was built by Sarah Winchester, who was convinced that she was cursed by the ghosts of those who had been killed by Winchester rifles and could never stop building the house. The house features confusing designs, secret passageways, doors that lead to nowhere, and multiple floors. It is a fascinating experience in San Jose and one that everyone should experience once.

Children’s Discovery Museum

The Children’s Discovery Museum is an interactive museum with over 28,000 square feet of exhibits that encourages children to learn through play. It is one of the best children’s museums I have ever seen, with full cars kids can climb in, an impressive water play area, and a half acre of outdoor space to explore. The museum states that the activities are designed to promote creativity, imagination, and exploration. My children loved it.

Municipal Rose Garden

The Municipal Rose Garden is a beautiful garden that houses over 4,000 rose bushes of varying species. It is a popular spot for weddings, picnics, and other events and a stunning area to stroll when the flowers are in bloom and even when they are not. I have never been here when the flowers bloomed, but I still love watching the sunset and just walking around the garden.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a historic basilica in downtown San Jose, the first non-mission church built in California. It is the oldest parish in San Jose and features stunning stained glass windows, a pipe organ, and ornate architecture. It is actually the fifth church in this location, as earthquakes and fires destroyed the other.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum features an extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts and exhibits. It is one of the few museums in the world dedicated solely to ancient Egypt and is one of my favorite stops in San Jose. The museum has many reconstructions of famous Egyptian works and a full tomb you can explore. Even if you don’t enjoy museums, this is not one to miss.

Santana Row

Santana Row is a trendy outdoor shopping and dining district offering various high-end shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. It is a meeting place in San Jose, and the main street that runs through the outdoor mall is closed to drivers and walkable for pedestrians. Plus, the market lights that line the streets make it a wonderful place to stroll at night.

The Tech Interactive

The Tech Interactive showcases the history of technology through many different mediums. It is excellent for the whole family, especially those with older children, as it has interactive exhibits and displays that are designed to educate and inspire visitors. I loved walking around this museum and could have easily spent half a day there.

Monopoly in the Park

Monopoly in the Park is a life-sized version of the classic board game right in the middle of downtown San Jose. The Monopoly board is 930 square feet, and it is actually playable if you want to book a time to experience it with friends online. It is fun to see for a few minutes after visiting the children’s museum, and it is a Guinness book of world records holder for the largest permanent monopoly board.

Sonic Runway

Sonic Runway is an interactive art installation outside city hall. It is a tunnel of lights and sound that responds to the music playing and is 432 feet long with 25 arches. It is a blast for the whole family to see at night one of the more unique outdoor art installations I have seen in California.

Japantown is a historic neighborhood located in San Jose and one of three remaining Japantowns in the USA. It features traditional Japanese architecture, restaurants, and shops with historical plaques that tell you about the area as you explore. Anthony Bourdain even visited here to eat at Minato for No Reservations, and the Aloha Poke place is perfect if you like that type of food.

Lick Observatory

The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the summit of Mount Hamilton, about an hour outside of downtown San Jose. It features several telescopes and is open to the public for tours and stargazing. This historic observatory was built in 1880, with all materials having to be brought up by horse and carriage. The original telescope was the largest refractor telescope in the world when it was built, and it was responsible for many scientific discoveries throughout the early 1900s. It is one of the best things I did in San Jose, but the drive up to the summit is a little scary.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a 9 and a half mile scenic trail that runs through San Jose and Los Gatos. It is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. It is a great way to be active in San Jose, and if you are looking for a good jumping off point, one of the best areas to explore the trail is at Los Gatos Creek County Park.

San Jose Flea Market

The San Jose Flea Market is one of the largest open-air markets in the country. It features over 800 vendors each week, offering a wide range of goods. The Farmers Market portion is about a quarter mile long, and there are many places to eat, small green spaces to explore, and even a few amusement park rides. The market is a maze with so much to see and experience while you are there.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a family-friendly zoo and mini amusement park that offers a variety of rides, animal exhibits, and play areas. The zoo is tiny, with only a dozen or so animals, but the play areas around the park are great, and the rides are included with the ticket price. This spot is only for those with younger children, but you will probably have a blast if you have younger children. A good stop in San Jose with small children.

History Park

History Park is located near Happy Hollow Zoo and the Japanese Gardens in Kelly Park. It features buildings and exhibits that depict life in the Santa Clara Valley during the late 1800s. Visitors can step back in time and see how people lived and worked during that period, with a few different museums and houses open on specific days. Plus, you can ride a historic trolly on the weekends as well. It is a fun and free stop in the city.

Intel Museum

The Intel Museum is located at the Intel headquarters in Santa Clara and showcases the history of the world-renowned company and how it built its semiconductor chips. The museum is open on weekdays and is free to visit. I was impressed by how interactive it was, and it is an excellent stop for 45 minutes with families or by yourself. While the museum is small, it has some fantastic exhibits, and there is a shop where you can buy souvenirs from your visit. 

What would you add to this list? Be sure to leave it in the comments!

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2024 NCAA Tournament scores, schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, tipoff times, TV channels, locations

Check out the master schedule for the ncaa tournament so you can watch all the march madness 2024 action.

The 2024 NCAA Tournament continues Thursday with four Sweet 16 games — two in the East Region in Boston, two more in the West Region in Los Angeles. And the top two seeds in both regions remain alive. So we could be headed for an amazing weekend of basketball.

Thursday's Game of the Day?

That's probably North Carolina vs. Alabama — a No. 1 vs. No. 4 game in the West Region inside crytpo.com Arena. The Tar Heels, led by All-American guard RJ Davis, made the Sweet 16 for the second time in a three-year span by beating Wagner and Michigan State by double-digits. The Crimson Tide, led by All-American guard Mark Sears, made the Sweet 16 for the third time in a four-year span by beating Charleston and Grand Canyon by double-digits.

Thursday's tip is set for 9:39 p.m. ET on CBS.

The only game on Thursday between two top-three seeds is Iowa State-Illinois. The Cyclones are the No. 2 seed in the East. The Illini are the No. 3 seed in the East. Iowa State opened a 2.5-point favorite. If the Cyclones win, they'll then be just one more victory away from advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 1944.

Want to stay up to date on all of the action?

The best way to do that is to bookmark this page and keep coming back. It will update in real time and have every Elite Eight matchup set just as soon as the games dictating them conclude.2024 NCAA Tournament scores, schedule

Second round

Sunday, March 19

Barclays Center -- Brooklyn | Gainbridge Fieldhouse -- Indianapolis | FedEx Forum -- Memphis | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena -- Spokane

Thursday, March 28 Crypto.com Arena -- Los Angeles (Game 1, Game 3) | TD Garden -- Boston (Game 2, Game 4) * Tip time may be delayed if prior game at site ends late

Friday, March 29 American Airlines Center -- Dallas (Game 1, Game 3) | Little Caesars Arena -- Detroit (Game 2, Game 4) * Tip time may be delayed if prior game at site ends late

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 30 -- 6:09 p.m. start (TBS) TD Garden -- Boston | Crypto.com Arena -- Los Angeles Sunday, March 31 -- 2:20 p.m. start (CBS) American Airlines Center -- Dallas | Little Caesars Arena -- Detroit

Saturday, April 6 -- 6:09 p.m. start (TBS) State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Arizona

National Championship

Monday, April 8 -- 9:20 p.m. (TBS) State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Arizona

Tuesday, March 19 UD Arena -- Dayton

Wednesday, March 20 UD Arena -- Dayton

First round

Thursday, March 21 Spectrum Center -- Charlotte | CHI Health Center -- Omaha | PPG Paints Arena -- Pittsburgh | Delta Center -- Salt Lake City

Friday, March 22 Barclays Center -- Brooklyn | Gainbridge Fieldhouse -- Indianapolis | FedEx Forum -- Memphis | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena -- Spokane

Saturday, March 23 Spectrum Center -- Charlotte | CHI Health Center -- Omaha | PPG Paints Arena -- Pittsburgh | Delta Center -- Salt Lake City

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