Free Virtual Museum Tours Across The World

Sunetra GhoseNov 14, 2020

Yes, we get it. The COVID-19 pandemic has single-handedly thrown our travel plans out of the window. However, that does not necessarily mean that it can close the lid on our experiences. If you love history and art, here’s some good news. Several museums have opened their doors for free virtual tours, all just a few clicks away.

1. National Museum, New Delhi

Learn about the Indus Valley Civilization or the various dynasties that once ruled over India— there is ample for you history lovers to explore. You can also take a closer look dynamism of cultures around the world.

2. Indian Museum, Kolkata

Highly-acclaimed, the Indian Museum in Kolkata is the oldest and largest multipurpose museum in the Asia-Pacific region. A quick virtual tour will show you interesting artefacts, collected from different parts of the country, such as Buddha’s ashes, a copy of the Lion Capital from an Ashoka pillar, a collection of meteorites, among other things, which are displayed at the museum.

3. Louvre, Paris

Perhaps one of the most iconic spots at Paris, you can now have a closer look at Mona Lisa right from the comfort of your home. They are offering free online tours of some of their popular exhibits like the works of Michelangelo, Egyptian artefacts, and more. You get to take a 360-degree look at the museum, and study your pieces of interest in your own time.

4. Musee d’Orsay, Paris

Admiring Monet from close quarters is still a dream for many, but the virtual walk tours organised by the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, makes this possible. They house the works of famous French artists who lived and worked between 1848 and 1914. You can also dive into creations of Gauguin, Cezanne, and works from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism era.

5. Vatican Museum, Vatican City

Characterised by high ceilings and intricate drawings, the Vatican Museum is a popular destination, even in the current scenario. Admire the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica. What’s more, you could even walk around the city, albeit virtually.

6. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

If you are a Van Gogh fan, this is the tour for you. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of artworks by Vincent Van Gogh – over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and over 750 personal letters. The idea of this virtual tour is to not only enable you to take a look at his masterpieces, but also help you understand his psyche.

7. British Museum, London

Situated in the heart of London, this iconic museum allows tours to the Great Court and mummies in the Egyptian exhibit.

8. Guggenheim Museum, New York

Walk down the all-time popular staircase at Guggenheim without ever leaving your home. This museum houses a plethora of works from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.

9. Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York

There is more to the museum than the annual Met Gala celebrations. They have an ongoing Met 360 degree project going on, where you could virtually visit the museum through six award-winning short videos.

10. NASA

Space enthusiasts, unite! NASA is offering virtual tours of the Langley Research Center in Virginia, and Ohio’s Glenn Research Center. In Houston, the Space Center is providing augmented reality experiences, and will touch upon various topics related to space exploration through an app.