Here’s a comprehensive list of virtual tours you can take with from the comfort of your own home. A fantastic resource and a wealth of travel, geographical and historical knowledge to incorporate into your days and teaching.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.
British Museum, London
This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour.
Guggenheim Museum, New York
Google’s Street View feature lets visitors tour the Guggenheim’s famous spiral staircase without ever leaving home. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.
Guggenheim Museum, Spain
With the steel structure of the building created by Frank Gehry, this is one of the world’s most iconic art spaces. Take the Museum Virtual Tour online to enjoy its collection of European and American postwar artworks, such as paintings and sculptures.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.
Louvre, Paris
As one of the most iconic art museums in the world and a historic monument in the heart of Paris, the Louvre definitely deserves a place on this list. The Museum Virtual Tour grants access to some of the most popular exhibits such as the Egyptian Antiquities and Michelangelo works. Feel free to click on the artefacts during your visit to learn more about them.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.
National Gallery, London, UK
Set in London’s Trafalgar Square, the National Art Museum holds 2300 European art pieces from the 13th to the mid-20th century. In its Museum Virtual Tour, you can visit the seven exhibition spaces of Renaissance Art, portraits, sculptures and altarpieces to discover!
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
One of Korea’s popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Google’s virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
As one of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer – even if you can’t physically be there. This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you’re actually wandering its halls.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close) by virtually visiting this museum – the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum. Take a Street View tour to discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de’Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de’Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world.
Vatican Museum, Rome
One of the most affected countries by the current situation is Italy, home to some of the most amazing museums in the world. You can still enjoy and learn about the amazing history of this country through the Museum Virtual Tour provided by the Vatican Museums, which contain seven different spaces available in 360-degree images, including the Sistine Chapel!
MASP, São Paulo
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit and Brazil’s first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear perspex frames make it seem like the artwork is hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 23 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Mayan civilization.
Sadly, not all popular art museums and galleries could be included on Google Arts & Culture’s collection, but some museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website.
To see more of Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website. There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites.
Additional Resources:
ABC Australia: Multiple Education Resources
Ancient Rome Virtual Tour with Lessons
Berlin Philharmonic: Digital Concert Hall
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (home of Winter the dolphin)
Duke Farms Eagle Cam: New Jersey
Liberty Science Center: New Jersey
Marine Traffic Around the World
National Air & Space Museum – Smithsonian
National Aquarium Live Cams: Baltimore
Natural History Museum London Virtual Tours
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
National Park Service Virtual Tours (multiple options)