Plans don’t always turn out as you might want them, things happen, or finances slip between our fingers. But that doesn’t mean we cannot travel. In today’s age, there are plenty of virtual tours out there that will take you to those places you’ve always been waiting to get to.
Have you always dreamt of seeing Rome, Paris, the Pyramids in Egypt, or the Taj Mahal? I know a virtual tour is not exactly like being there, but it is better than nothing. And some of the ideas on this list will even provide a guide that will help you learn about the history of the place, and much more.
I’ve gathered here lots of options for tours you can take from your couch. Some are free, and some have a really small fee because are provided by a guide or local expert. I think that by paying a small fee for a great experience, we can help out those in the travel industry, largely affected at this point in time.
So, without further due, here is my list of some great virtual tours out there.
Virtual tours to experience from your couch
The Great Wall of China
One of the reasons we moved to Hong Kong was to travel around Asia. Of course, we had so many plans for 2020, and every month we were going to see something new.
As I’ve said, plans don’t always turn out as you want, and for now, we have to take an online tour of the Great Wall of China.
The page provides tons of information, a map, and a view of the Great Wall. For the 5 USD fee, you will get access to all their other tours including Beijing, Guilin, Yangshuo, Suzhou, and more.
The Taj Mahal
One of the most stunning buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal should be on any traveler’s bucket list. The immense mausoleum was built between 1631 and 1648 and is considered to be the greatest architectural gem in the Indo-Islamic architecture.
By taking this virtual tour, you will skip the lines, and you won’t have to wake up in the early morning to miss the crowds.
London National Gallery
Every time I’ve visited London, I’ve always stopped at the London National Gallery. I just love this place, and I don’t think you can ever see it to the fullest or learned everything about all the art on display here.
The great news is that you can visit the gallery here, and view many exhibitions, learn about each painting from Monet to Caravaggio or Van Dyck. Each painting is explained together with its historic background.
The Northern Lights
Live streaming of the Northern Lights from in Churchill, Manitoba in Canada. The site dates from 2012, but I bet its traffic exploded a few months ago.
You might want to know that late winter and early spring are some of the best seasons for seeing the Northern Lights. However, this is a phenomenon that takes place year-round.
Watch the Northern Lights here!
Disneyworld
A great YouTube channel where you can virtually experience activities, attractions, shows, trains, boats, and much more.
Invest in some VR googles and the experience will be even better. You’ll feel like on a trip to Disneyworld.
Universal Studios
No matter if you use this when you plan your trip to one of the Universal Studios, or simply explore it from your couch when you cannot go, this is a fun way to spend your time.
Choose from the various virtual tour options here and learn more about the venues.
World Heritage sites
Google Earth brings some of the World Heritage sites you’ve been always wanting to see, right at your fingertips. By accessing this link you can get transported directly to 30 of the most famous historic landmarks around the world.
See the Pyramids in Egipt, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Dolomites in Italy, Alhambra in Spain, and many more in just one day, from the comfort of your house.
GetYourGuide free virtual tours
9 absolutely free videos provided by GetYourGuide on their YouTube Channel.
Learn about Greek mythology with a guide, or take a pizza cooking class with your kids and an Italian cook, go on a virtual tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chappel or choose from the other options available.
Airbnb online experiences
The Airbnb online experiences are great ways of spending your time at home, and still, feel like you’re traveling.
Offer one of the experiences as a gift, or plan an evening where you can learn something new. The experiences you could book on location are now available online, and you don’t have to be sad you cannot join them.
Prices are per hour per person and start from as little as 3 EUR.
Here are a few of my favorite picks:
- Luca & Lorenzo – family pasta recipe from Florence
- Taste Wines with a Certified Sommelier
- Bring the Flavors of India to Life at Home
- All About Coffee With a Colombian Pro Taster & Barista
Virtual tour of Acropolis
If you were planning to go to Athens this year and you cannot make it, don’t worry, you can always go on a virtual Acropolis tour.
Put on your headphones and get transported to ancient times, learn about the Theatre of Dionysus, the Propylaea, and the Erechtheion among others. You will know better once you take that trip you’ve been planning for since forever.
Travel to France
Sure, you won’t see any of these pretty small French villages, or the magnificent Colmar, but you will get to see some popular French attractions on some virtual tours.
Start with a trip to Paris, where you will see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dames. Learn about their history, ask plenty of questions, and marvel at their beauty during this webinar. Don’t miss out on the Louvre either, and listen to an art historian explain the history behind the Mona Lisa and much more.
Continue with a visit to Versailles with a French history expert. I loved this palace and its gardens, and I also took an audio guide, but I think this webinar is as useful and will set the stage for when you will be able to take that trip.
Italy Virtual tours
I know you’re just like me and you’ve been waiting for that trip to Italy ever since forever. Hey, I go there every year and I’m always looking forward to the next trip.
Read my complete guide of the Italy virtual tours you will want to plan for!
Even though it might take some time until we will all get back on the streets of Rome, Genoa, pretty villages in Puglia, the Cinque Terre, or the Amalfi Coast, or even on the beaches of Sardinia, we can still book a virtual tour.
There are plenty of options out there when it comes to virtual tours in Italy, and here are some you will love:
- Pompeii virtual tour
- Ancient Rome virtual tour
- Visit Villa Borghese in Rome
- Venice Virtual tour
- Florence Virtual tour
- Vatican Virtual tour
- Live Virtual Cooking Class with an Italian Chef
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