You may not be able to hop on a plane at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still wander through the British Museum, experience the Trevi Fountain, or explore Machu Picchu!
There are hundreds of virtual tours available online that will immerse you in some of the most incredible tourist spots in the world!
Now, I know what you’re thinking — using a computer screen to navigate a museum or a heritage site will never compare to the real thing. Well, you aren’t wrong — it won’t. But what it WILL do, is give you a chance to pre-explore a part of the world that you are hoping to travel to.
And, if you are worried about it ruining the experience of seeing it yourself in-person for the first time, don’t. Falling in love with a place through a video or image will only make it that much more amazing when you get there in-person, and you discover that the place that you love is even more beautiful, interesting, or breathtaking then you could have ever imagined.
I still remember falling in love with Botticelli’s Primavera, located in the Uffizi Gallery, in my art history class. My professor showed us slides (yes, I am that old) and photos of it hanging in the gallery, and I was enthralled. Seeing it in person, however, was breathtaking, and the fact that it was so much better than the pictures ever could have shown me is what made the experience that much more special.
Long story short — sure, you might not be able to get to that must-visit destination right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new, experience a different culture, or feel connected to a piece of art on the other side of the world!
Here are just a few of the hundreds of places that you can explore from the comfort of your home.
Tembe Elephant Park Live Webcam
If you are craving the sounds of nature, turn this feed on immediately.
This is a live feed of a waterhole in the Tembe Elephant Park located in a remote area of northern Tongaland between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique in Africa. The park is renowned for having the largest elephants in Africa and is also home to lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, buffalo, antelope, and over 340 bird species.
The feed offers both sound and videos of the animals, which makes for delightful viewing.
A screenshot of the virtual tour of Stonehenge in the UK
Stonehenge
Located in Avebury, United Kingdom, it is rare to be allowed to get near the stones of Stonehenge, let alone be able to stand in the middle of them.
The average tourist is kept well away from the monument, only being able to view it from afar. This virtual tour places you right in the middle of the stones allowing you to spin around and take in the view from all directions.
Eim ya kyaung Temple 3D Tour
Located just east of Old Bagan (an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar), this temple is reminiscent of the Angkor temples in Cambodia.
According to the tour description, “Of the thousands of monuments in Pagan, Eim ya kyaung nga-myet hna is one of only sixteen that have been identified with a pentagonal plan. The temple and associated monastery (Monument 1832) are located within a walled enclosure.”
The building has been scanned, and you can look at it from all angles, even from underneath!
The British Museum Virtual Tour
I could spend hours on this virtual tour, even though I have been to this gigantic museum twice! The British Museum in London is home to some of the world’s most precious historical treasures, and it would take hundreds of visits to really see and appreciate them all.
The virtual tour lets you get up close to many of these artifacts with no other people around to block your view. It’s immersive and so much fun to explore!
Check out the virtual tour of the interior of the museum here.
If you would like to take a tour of the grounds or explore other online exhibits, click here.
A screenshot of the birds-eye-view virtual tour of the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Get a bird’s eye view of the incredibly ornate Taj Mahal in India with this virtual tour.
I was actually surprised by the view, as I have only ever seen this historic site through the typical photo of the front of it.
Check out the virtual tour here.
Palace of Versailles
Have you always wanted to walk down the Hall of Mirrors, see where Marie Antoinette slept, or explore the hundreds of rooms at this gigantic palace located just outside of Paris?
This virtual tour is amazing. You could spend hours examining the artistic details of every corner you can zoom in on. Get ready to feel like royalty.
Check out the virtual tour here.
Kaua’i Live Cam
Craving the beach? Me too.
This webcam is trained on the beaches and waves of the island of Kaua’i, Hawaii. You will see the ocean, palm trees, sand, and sunshine (aka heaven).
A screenshot of Botticelli’s Primavera during the virtual tour of the Uffizi Gallery.
The Uffizi Gallery
If you would like to see Botticelli’s Primavera yourself, YOU CAN.
The Uffizi Gallery is located in Florence, Italy, and boasts an incredible collection of Renaissance Art. This is another museum that is usually packed with people, so being able to wander through the gallery spaces completely alone is such a luxury!
Machu Picchu
Located in Peru, this cultural destination has become a must-see in recent years and, as a result, is overrun with tourists.
Explore the ruins and amazing views of this important heritage site without causing damage or adding to the crowd count.
Check out the virtual tour here.
Trevi Fountain Live Cam
The Trevi Fountain in Rome is a dream location to visit for many of us. It’s an iconic sight that thousands of tourists visit every year.
Enjoy the live view of the ornate fountain here.
More to explore
There are SO many virtual tours and online exhibits to explore. Check out the following links for more museums, art galleries, heritage sites, and amazing views:
Goggle Arts & Culture: Street View — Tour famous sites and landmarks
Google Arts & Culture: Open Heritage — Explore iconic locations in 3D
Museum and Art Gallery exhibits and virtual tours from around the world
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
