Exciting & Amazing Ways to Travel The World, Without Actually Doing So!

Looking for ways to quench your wanderlust without stepping outdoors? The best free virtual tours are what you need.

Some of the most amazing and popular travel destinations provide free virtual tours for travellers. All you need to go on this tour is a good internet connection. 

23 Best FREE Virtual Tours to Take From Home!

While extensively searching for online tours, I came across a lot of virtual tours. I was surprised at how wonderful some of these were. 

Here are some of the best free virtual tours I would suggest for those who are dreaming of being outdoors while they are stuck indoors:

Take a Free Virtual Tour of these Splendid Art Galleries, Museums, etc.

If you are a lover of arts & culture and museums excite you, you can take free virtual tours of your favourite museums online. Recently Google’s arts and culture collaborated with over 2500 art galleries and museums to make them available online. Some of my favourite online best free virtual tours are:

1. Le Musee du Louvre, Paris

Visit one of the World’s largest and most famous museum virtually. You can view many galleries, paintings and sculptures in the virtual tour. Trust me, its worth the time for all those who appreciate work of art. Take a tour of the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries, and contemplate the façades of the Louvre. You can take these amazing tours on the museum’s official website.

2. British Museum, London

While this wonderful museum remains off-limits to travellers, you can take a virtual tour of this museum. With a permanent collection of around eight million works, it is known to have the largest and most comprehensive collection of human history, art & culture. This iconic museum allows visitors to take a virtual tour and discover its amazing and extensive collection. Take the virtual tour on the Museum’s official website.

3. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

If you are a fan of the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, You should definitely visit the museum dedicated to the artist in Amsterdam. Since going physically is not possible as of now, a virtual tour is the best idea. With Google’s initiative, you can now visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam on your laptop. the museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries in Amsterdam. Take a look at the collection here.

4. National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

This again is a wonderful tour for Art lovers. The museum is the largest one in North America and houses a number of artworks including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas. The Museum preserves, collects, exhibits, and fosters an understanding of works of art. Take a free virtual tour of the gallery here.

5. The Vatican Museum, Rome

Yes, you can take a virtual tour of the Vatican as well. The Vatican is home to the Pope and a treasure trove of iconic art and architecture. The Vatican Museums display works collected by the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy throughout the centuries. With around 20,000 displayed works, you can see quite a few in the virtual tour. Take a virtual tour of the Vatican here.

6. Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA

The New York based Metropolitan Opera is known to host some of the most amazing opera shows. although it is still closed as of now you can still stream a performance starting at 7:30 p.m. EST every night they’re closed. You can visit their official website for any changes to the show schedules and the timing of the live performance.

Best Free Virtual Tours for Animal Lovers 

If you have kids at home, these virtual tours are the best. US-based aquariums and zoos are streaming live videos and tours to travellers while these attractions remain closed. Some of the best free virtual tours of the aquariums and zoos are:

7. Georgia Aquarium, Georgia, USA

This public aquarium in Atlanta is home to hundreds of marine and animal species. The Georgia Aquarium was the largest aquarium in the world until 2012. Since 2012 it has when it has become the third-largest aquarium after Singapore and China. There are seven galleries in the aquarium including Pirhana, Sea Otter, Puffin, etc. you can watch live videos from the aquarium here.

8. New England Aquarium, Massachusetts, USA

With more than 20,000 members, the New England Aquarium in Boston is one of the most visited Aquariums in the country. Your kids are definitely going to love a tour of this place. New England Aquarium is giving live presentations, new videos, and activities that can be watched from home. They are also streaming daily presentations on Facebook every day at 11 am. You can visit it virtually here.

9. Atlanta Zoo, Georgia, USA

Zoo Atlanta is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoological park in Atlanta, Georgia. They participate in many international conservation initiatives. They stream live webcam feeds on their website. I spent more than an hour looking at the adorable pandas at their conservation homes. These pandas will surely give you some happiness in these stressful times. Watch the Pandas live on the Panda cam here.

10. Monterey Bay Aquarium, California,  USA

This nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey in  California is known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, The organization has also been lauded for its research, educational and conservation efforts. The aquarium is giving visitors a virtual tour of its beautiful sea creatures via free live camera streaming. I specifically loved the penguin Cam and  Coral Reef cam. You can see these amazing creatures live on their Official Website

Take the Best Free Virtual Tours of these Historical Places & Monuments

Love to explore historical places and monuments? Till the time you are stuck at home, you can visit these places virtually. Although you will find a lot of virtual tours online, not all of them are worth the time. Some of the best free virtual tours for history buffs are:

11. Machu Picchu, Andes Mountains, Peru

Machu Pichu is high up on my travel bucket list. While it is not possible to visit Peru as of now, I took a virtual tour of the amazing ruins of Machu Pichu. You can also this splendid UNESCO World Heritage site in Peru from the comfort of your home. Located in the Andes Mountain, Machu Picchu will leave you spellbound. Take the virtual tour of Machu Pichu here.

12. Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece

Acropolis old a very important place in the history of Greece. It acted as the home to kings, a citadel, a religious centre and a and is now a prominent tourist attraction. Visit one of the most famous historical spots in Greece, the Acropolis of Athens. Located above the city of Athens, the Acropolis contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance. You can visit the Acropolis virtually here.

13. Eiffel Tower, France

Eiffel tower is one of the most beloved and most visited monuments in the world. Nothing else symbolises Paris more than the Eiffel tower. Watch the live views of the iconic Eifel tower through Webcam footage. It is best visited in the evenings when the tower is all lighted up. You can see the Eiffel tower live here.

14. National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, USA

Also commonly known as the Smithsonian Museum, is the World’s most visited Natural History Museum. The museum boasts of the largest natural history collection in the world. Its huge collection includes specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artefacts. Currently, you can tour five of the exhibits on virtual tours. This was certainly one of my favourite virtual tours.

15. Catacombs, Paris, France

The Catacombs of Paris are a labyrinth of tunnels in Paris. They hold the dead bodies of more than six million people. If that thought gives you an eerie feeling or you are uncomfortable in closed and small places, a virtual tour will come to the rescue. Take the virtual tour of the Catacombs on the official website.

Best Free Virtual Tours of Theme Parks 

Some of the theme parks have come forward and are providing free virtual tours of their theme parks. Some virtual tours I took and like are:

16. SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, USA

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park, in Orlando, Florida. The park has many live shows and attractions including rides and animal exhibits. You can take a virtual tour of SeaWorld Orlando.

17. Legoland 

If you and your kids like Legos, or were planning a trip to one of their family theme parks, here is how you still can visit them. Take a virtual tour of the Legoland.  The official website of Legoland is providing a virtual tour of Hotel Legoland. You can take a look at the restaurants and accommodation and the area in general.

18. Walt Disney World, Florida, USA

While Disney may be closed, it is still possible to get some virtual experience of the Disney virtual World. You can visit the Walt Disney World and Disney World,  an entertainment complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Take a virtual tour of Walt Disney World Resort

Best Free Virtual Tours for Nature Lovers

If you are a nature lover and love the outdoors, you might be having a hard time staying home. To help you out, here are some of the best free virtual tours for those who love the outdoors:

19. Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Grand Canyon is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Till the time you can’t visit the Grand Canyon, you will have to make your peace with an online tour. Take a virtual tour of archaeological excavations along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. You can take this tour here.

20. Central Park, New York, USA

Central Park is the most visited urban park in the World and spreads over an area of 3 sq. km. Take a walk along the famous Central Park in New York with this Virtual Tour. You can go on a tour of the park here.

21. Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, Ireland

If you are a Gae of thrones fan, you would definitely have Ireland on your wishlist. Cliffs of Moher are featured in a number of shows and movies including Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. You can take a virtual tour of the Cliffs of Moher on the official website.

22. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA

Spread over an extensive area, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the World’s most unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes. Google has made it possible for you to visit the park and four others in the United States. Take the virtual tour of the park along with its volcanoes here.

23. Yellowstone National Park, USA

Last but definitely not least is Yellowstone National Park. Covering areas in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, the park features canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, geysers and hot springs. The National Park Service is offering virtual tours to Yellowstone National Park. You can take a virtual tour of this amazing park here. While you are still at home, take some or all of these virtual tours. They won’t take much of your time and will soothe your travel bug till the time you can’t venture to your next destination.