Do you wish you could travel more, explore the world’s iconic landmarks without worrying about the hefty price tag or the hassle with packing? We have some good news for you, it’s all possible when you go on a virtual tour around the world from the comfort of your own home.
With this unique concept, you could step into the ancient ruins of Rome, marvel at the majestic pyramids of Egypt, or simply stroll through the vibrant streets of Tokyo, without leaving your comfortable sofa.
As passionate travellers, what we love about virtual tours, is that we can travel as often as we like, without worrying about our budget or taking holiday from our full-time jobs. With just a few clicks, we are embarking on a new journey, or returning to our favourite spot.
And we are excited to share our favourite virtual tours, so you can discover new destinations for free.
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Why free virtual tours are perfect for busy, budget-conscious travellers
As a busy couple who work full time and travel around our jobs, it means we can’t travel as much as we would like. We’re sure most of you are in the same situation, with family and full-time job commitments.
But this is the perfect solution to fill the gap between actual travel and travelling virtually.
We no longer need to book time off work, which eats into our holiday allowance, instead on our days off, we just get comfortable and take a virtual tour to anywhere in the world, whether that’s an ancient ruin, bustling cities or serene landscapes.
We also save so much time on planning an itinerary and save money, as we no longer need to pay for expensive flights, accommodation or attraction prices.
In our experience, these are definite benefits of free travel, as we can discover new destinations, learn about different cultures and gain travel inspiration for future trips.
Virtual tours are immersive and ideal for all ages.
Virtual tours from around the world
These are our recommendations of the must do virtual tours from around the world:
Museums and art gallery virtual tours
Immerse yourself into the world’s greatest masterpieces, by exploring these iconic museums:
The Louvre, Paris
We have actually walked around this grand, centuries old palace that holds around 38,000 pieces of art and artifacts including some of the world’s most iconic work, this is before we discovered virtual tours.
Within the beautiful walls of The Louvre, you can visit some famous works such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, to the not so famous ancient Egyptian artifacts, Renaissance paintings and modern art.
There is something for every art lover.
The experience of a virtual tour around The Louvre is somewhat similar to a physical tour, but the one thing we didn’t miss on our virtual tour, was the crowds.
As we navigated our way from room to room, we were able to take our time with unobstructed views of each individual piece on display, without another tourist getting in our view or us getting in their way.
You can take a closer look at the works of art or find out more information on each piece, by selecting the information or magnifying icon.
This 360-degree virtual tour, also provided great quality imagery of each individual display.
To visit The Louvre physically, it costs around €17.00 per adult; the virtual tour of The Louvre is free. And we could wander around at our own leisure and without the crowds. Not a single person in sight getting in the way.
We don’t like to find any negatives, but there was just one. The information on the website was all in French. There was no option to change the language to English.
Needless to say, this is a great free virtual tour, if you want to travel the world on a budget.
Take a free virtual tour of the Louvre Museum in Paris
British Museum London
We loved experiencing the pleasure of strolling through the vast halls of the British Museum, where history comes alive with at least 8 million artefacts, with their virtual tour.
The British Museum’s Virtual tour allows you to visit different sections, such as exhibits from ancient civilisation, including ancient Egyptian, Asian and African antiques.
You could easily spend hours just wandering from one exhibition to the next.
All it requires is a simple click of the mouse and you can navigate with ease. Zoom in on any of the artefacts, explore with 360-degree views and in most places, you can find more information about the artefacts using the box in the left-hand corner that highlights.
The imagery is to a good standard and you can still see the intricate details, as if we were stood in The British Museum physically.
For us, the negatives, was the limitations. Rather than being able to navigate from room-to-room, the virtual tour was via Google’s Arts and Culture. Which is using Google Maps and we found glitches with it.
For example, we would navigate around the entrance and the next click would send us to a different room when we were not ready.
But the free entrance, crowd less and unobstructed views far outweighed the experience.
Take the British Museum Virtual Tour here.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC
The awe-inspiring Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is where exhibits tell a story of our planet’s past and present. From dinosaurs, ancient fossils, to the wonders of the deep sea and secrets of human evolution, this virtual tour is suitable for all ages.
It is seamless to navigate, as you move from one exhibit to the next. Each exhibit comes with options to learn more by clicking on the information icon.
The detail is incredible, letting you get up close to the bones of animals or dinosaurs. It’s like we’re standing in the museum physically.
The only downside of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tour was the lack of interactive content and information in some places. But honestly, the quality of the virtual tour was outstanding and love coming back to this one again and again.
Take the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tour.
Vatican Museum, Vatican City
The Vatican Museum is home to some of the world’s most stunning collection of art and history.
The virtual tour of the Vatican Museum includes the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, with the painted walls and ceilings. The Raphael’s rooms, Sistine Halls and many more rooms to explore at your own leisure.
The 360-degree feature gives a feeling of being there, from floor to ceiling views.
There is no need for a plane ticket here, with this excellent virtual tour.
Take the Vatican Museum virtual tour here.
Tomb of Queen Meresankh III, Giza, Egypt
One of the hidden gems of ancient Egyptian history is available for a virtual tour.
Step into the deep 5,000-year-old tomb of Meresankh III, granddaughter of Pharaoh Khufu. Explore the intricate carvings and detailed paintings that line the tomb’s walls, which tells a story of ancient rituals, daily life and the queen’s royal lineage.
The virtual tour is so detailed and with every carving you can see the vivid hieroglyphics. Move from chamber to chamber, learn more about the queen’s life through detailed descriptions. We feel like we have stepped back in time, standing inside an ancient burial site.
If you are interested in ancient Egypt, this virtual tour of Queen Meresankh III’s tomb is a brilliant way to experience the magic of the past.
Immerse yourself at the Tomb of Queen Meresankh III here.
Shakespeare’s Globe, London
Some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays have been performed here, in the open-air theatre. And you can still catch a Shakespeare’s play.
What sets this apart from many of the other virtual tours, is how interactive it is. You can watch short clips of a play such as Julius Caesar, listen to live recordings and learn more about Elizabethan theatres.
The tour’s 360-degree views let you immerse yourself fully and without getting wet from the unpredictable weather in the UK.
For anyone who loves theatre, this is a wonderful way to step back in time and experience the Globe’s magic, no matter where you are in the world.
Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
This is one place we have always wanted to visit for many years now and we still haven’t made it physically.
So, this virtual tour, allows us to learn more about history while, yet still explore this powerful site and learn more about Anne’s story.
This is such a popular tourist attraction in Amsterdam, with queues often around the block, so can you just imagine how cramped it would be inside this small annex? With a virtual tour, you get uninterrupted exploration at your own pace.
Just as the physical tour, you’ll be taken through the Secret Annex where Anne and her family hid during World War II.
It’s a quiet, reflective experience that offers a detailed look at the rooms where Anne wrote her famous diary. From the cramped living quarters to the small desk where she poured her heart out.
This is probably one of the most emotional virtual tours we have taken, as the tour gives a deep sense of the harsh reality they faced.
You can click on various spots to learn more about the items in the rooms or watch videos about the Frank family’s life in hiding. Giving you a much deeper understanding of the struggles faced during this terrible period in history.
For anyone who wants to learn more about the impacts the Holocaust or learn more about Anne’s story in a personal way, then this is a meaningful journey to take.
Anne Frank’s House Virtual Tour
Historic and cultural virtual tours
Always wanted to visit historical or cultural sites from around the world, then check out these awesome virtual tours:
Machu Picchu
This is one of our favourite virtual tours, as we watch in awe of the ancient Machu Picchu, while taking in the breathtaking views and learn about its rich history, even without stepping foot on Peru soil.
You’ll be transported to the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage site, with 360-degree views. The ancient stone structures are nestled against the backdrop of the misty mountains, we can understand why Machu Picchu is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world.
From the moment you land at Machu Picchu, you’ll be engrossed in the audio and visual guide it takes you on. The audio is packed with so much information and with videos and pictures along the way, it really engages you to continue on the tour.
If you have been dreaming of visiting Machu Picchu, then this virtual tour is a brilliant way to explore it at your own pace. You get all the beauty, history, and magic of Machu Picchu, minus the hiking boots!
Take the free virtual tour of Machu Picchu here.
Unique virtual tours
Immerse yourself into this unique experience:
Mars
While we may not have the chance to visit Mars, well not yet anyway. The Mars virtual tour is definitely a unique experience to add to this list.
However, this tour offers you an incredible opportunity to explore the red planet from Earth.
You’ll start your journey not on a space ship, but with an immersive story about landing on Mars, before taking the Curiosity Rover out onto the Martian lands to examine the terrain. Explore Martian craters, plains, and rock formations that have been millions of years in the making
You’ll get a front row seat to exploration of our neighbouring planet.
The virtual tour has been cleverly created with actual images captured by NASA’s Rover.
Along the way you can learn about the expedition to Mars, what Curiosity Rover is made up of, what NASA established from their mission and the landscape and surface.
This was one of the most realistic of virtual tours and a once in a lifetime opportunity. You no longer need to be a scientist or an astronaut to learn about the mysteries of Mars.
You can tell your friends and family that you have visited Mars, virtually of course.
Take an expedition to Mars with NASA virtual tour.
How to make the most of a virtual tour
Virtual tours are a unique way to travel around the world for free and an excellent way to enhance your experience from watching it on your computer screen to a fully immersive and unforgettable experience.
Here are some tips to go from a simple virtual tour, to an engaging and enjoyable experience:
VR headsets
Virtual headsets, can transform your experience into a fully immersive 360-degree journey. It’ll feel like you are actually walking through the Louvre Museum or standing at the edge of Machu Picchu.
Pro Tip: Virtual headsets don’t come cheap, but a standard smartphone can still enhance the experience.
Create a themed night
You can take your virtual tour experience to the next level, by turning it into a themed night. Pair the virtual tour with authentic food, drink and music that matches the destination.
As an example, if you’re planning a tour of the Louvre, pair this with Parisian food and music, or an Egyptian night with Egyptian food and music.
This will add an additional level of sensory immersion, which will help bring the destination to life.
Help with planning for future trips
Taking a virtual tour, will also provide you with a sneak peek into what to expect, help you navigate large cities or museums.
As you wander around different exhibitions, make notes of where you might want to visit and the layout of the location. This will help you, to utilise your time more effectively.
When we visited the Louvre Museum in Paris, it felt like we were just wandering around not knowing where to go and where each piece of art work that we wanted to see was. This wasted so much time, which could have been used elsewhere on our short trip to Paris.
A virtual tour will also give you ideas of what excites you. That might be walking the different rooms of the British Museum, standing on the Inca trails of Machu Picchu, etc.
This is a perfect time to test-drive a destination, so you can get the best out of your trip.
Virtual Tour platforms
There are a number of different platforms available that provide excellent virtual tours. Some of these we have already included links above.
If you are looking for more virtual tours, such as going inside a space shuttle, enter the Hubble Control Centre, come face to face with a Jurassic giant and so much more, then Google Arts & Culture offer short 360-degree videos to engage you.
YouTube is another great visualisation of travel. Many museums, travel channels and tourism board may upload tours around the city or major landmark.
As experienced travellers like us, want to share our knowledge with you on a specific destination, and video form is a great way to get visual inspiration for your next destination.
You can watch our travel videos, by visiting our YouTube channel and subscribing.
From our experience, most of these platforms are user-friendly and offer unique way of travel, that transports you to destinations around the world.
Conclusion
Virtual tours are the perfect solution for those who want to travel and explore the world but find it challenging with limited time and budget.
It is a simple click of the button and off you go. No hassles with booking flights, accommodation or entrance fees to the attractions. And you’ll be immersed within the experience and action.
We regularly go on a virtual tour, especially if travel isn’t possible due to lack of holiday’s, time and funds.
Plus, they can help you plan future trips by giving you a sneak peek into the destination and what you’ll expect.
We would encourage you to try out these virtual tours for yourself! Whether you’re watching on your computer screen, going for full immersion on a VR headset, or inviting friends and family around for a themed night, virtual tours offer flexible, accessible and exciting way to see the world.
Let us know about your experiences of taking a virtual tour? Which was your favourite destination? Do you have any tips you’ve discovered along the way? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.
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