30+ Virtual Travel Experiences You Can Have From Home

Sitting, under quarantine during #covid-19, your wanderlust spirit is probably suffering. If there is any silver lining to this strange situation, it is that we live in a digital age where technology can keep us somewhat connected.

While you are hunkering down at home, visit each continent on the globe with these amazing virtual reality travel experiences...until you can get back out in the real world again, of course.

North America

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City, NY

You can visit practically anywhere with the incredible Google Street View, including the Guggenheim Museum. But, you can also order a Google Cardboard Viewer to kick it up a notch and make the experience truly immersive.

The Grand Canyon VR Experience

Get up close and personal with the Grand Canyon through this incredible digital experience from Immersive Entertainment. The experience is a paid product, but when you are holed up at home, it is $2.99 well spent.

The Beaches of Maui

Sip something frozen and fruity in front of the live cam at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott in Maui…and pretend.

Yosemite National Park

Though not one set virtual tour, The National Park Service have multiple live webcams around Yosemite for your viewing pleasure. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Much like Yosemite, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has some pretty incredible live webcams on the bay and its numerous animal exhibits. 

NASA Langley Research Center

Scientists and Space enthusiasts will appreciate the virtual tour offered by the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Dry Tortugas, Statue of Liberty and More

Google Arts and Culture has incredible street view ‘tours’ of over 100 National Parks and museum collections. Our favorites include the Statue of Liberty, Dry Tortugas and Bryce Canyon.

Click here to see them all.

Enjoy the Fine Arts via the Kennedy Center

Theater, music and dance enthusiasts will enjoy the virtual library featuring clips and full performances from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Iqaluit, Nunavut – The Canadian Arctic

This incredible site, part of Google Maps streetview, takes you to one of the most remote areas of Canada to explore Iqaluit in the territory of Nunavut.

From the warmth of your own home, enjoy a dog sled ride, walk a snowy trail and try to visualize what life would be like in this beautiful, remote town. 

Mexico City

Take a cool, virtual tour of Mexico City with YouVisit. 

South America

Chile

Download the free, Chile 360 app to travel around the country’s incredible landscape and virtually visit stunning places like Torres del Paine, the Atacama Desert, and Easter Island.

Machu Picchu

Visit the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru, courtesy of YouVisit. The UNESCO World Heritage site sits high in the Andes Mountains and the 360° virtual tour is thorough enough to tide you over until you can see the real thing.

Angel Falls

(Virtually) fly over Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall in this stunning video from Planet Earth.

Christ the Redeemer Stature- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Check out this cool 360° view of the famous Christ the Redeemer Statue, as well as a virtual tour of the city of Rio itself, courtesy of AirPano.com.

Perito Moreno glacier-Argentina

Experience Argentinian Patagonia, namely the Perito Moreno glacier, in this immersive video tour, courtesy of the Guardian.

Europe

The Palace of Versailles

Have the royal home of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette all to yourself in this stunning virtual tour on Google Arts and Culture. 

If you ever do finally get to enjoy the palace for real, we highly recommend the Blue Bike Tour of Versailles from Blue Fox Travel.

The Sistine Chapel

View Michelangelo’s famous ceiling…and the rest of the Vatican…while avoiding the crowds in this stunning virtual tour on the Vatican Museum’s website.

The Louvre

The Louvre is the world’s largest and most vast art collection, not to mention that it actually was once a palace…making the Louvre building a work of art itself. 

To fully tour the Louvre in person would require days. But, with the wide selection of virtual tours of their exhibits, you can now enjoy the highlights right from your home. 

YouVisit also features a cool VR experience of the Louvre, as well. 

The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

The Van Gogh Museum has a 4k YouTube video tour of the museum that celebrates the famous artists life and work. However, the site also features a fantastic selection of videos, lesson plans and activities for all ages to teach not just about Van Gogh, but also the different types of paintings and works he created.

Perfect if you need some art related activities for distance learning.

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Ireland has stunning landscapes and so much to do outside of Dublin.

The Cliffs of Moher is one of the Emerald Isle’s most stunning natural landmarks and the website dedicated to them features 360° views to help you imagine yourself standing right there.

Stonehenge

After hanging out (virtually) in Ireland, head over to the United Kingdom to visit Stonehenge and take an interactive tour of the mysterious, ancient monument. 

Mont Saint-Michel

Head back to France to take a virtual tour of the medieval island and Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, just off the coast of Normandy, courtesy of HistoryView. 

Africa

Take a Virtual Safari

Take a virtual safari from your couch courtesy of Asilia Africa. Explore various destinations from Kenya to the Serengeti. You can even amp up your wilderness expedition with the help of a VR headset, which can be easily purchased and delivered to your door via Amazon. 

Cape Town, South Africa

Visit Cape Town, South Africa with the help of Air Pano. Did you know Cape Town has penguins off the coast? 

Pyramids of Giza

Google Maps has a nifty virtual tour of Giza. For an extra educational experience, though, check out this virtual field trip from Trip Savvy.

Asia

Mount Everest, Nepal

In a unique viewing experience, you can follow the journey of en entire Everest climb right from your smartphone with the Capturing Everest VR App. Though a cardboard VR headset allows users to have the optimal experience, there is a smartphone option you can enjoy, as well. 

The Great Wall of China

Digitally traverse the Great Wall of China via this interactive virtual tour, courtesy of The China Guide.

The Taj Mahal- India

Both Google Maps and Air Pano have interesting views of the famous tomb in India. Click here to tour the grounds via Google street view. For an aerial view, click here for the tour from Air Pano.

Japan

Visit the “Land of the Rising Sun” virtually through this 360° VR movie, produced by the Japanese National Tourism Organization, featuring insight into the traditions and landscape that make the country what it is. 

Maeklong Railway Market, Thailand

For a unique viewing experience, hop aboard this train ( via a live webcam) that runs through the famous Maeklong Railway Market ( locally known as Rom Hoop Market) in central Thailand.

Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

Join British broadcaster and natural historian, Sir David Attenborough on an incredible interactive tour of the Great Barrier Reef at attenboroughsreef.com.

The Sydney Opera House

Visit the Sydney Opera House and enjoy over fifty online exhibits via Google Arts and Culture. 

The Twelve Apostles, Australia

Head to the coast and visit the natural treasure of Twelve Apostles, Australia on AirPano.

Antarctica

Of course, you can visit the most remote place on earth through several sites. Shackleton100.com has an easy to navigate ‘virtual field trip.” National Geographic also has a 45 minute virtual reality exploration video available for free on their website. 

What is your favorite ” virtual” travel destination so far. Let me know in the comments, and be sure to share this post so other wanderlusters stuck at home can enjoy, as well!