The Best Virtual Museum Tours in the World
Travel plans are canceled, stores are closing, and we're meant to keep our distance from one another. When cabin fever sets in, you can still get away from it all with these fantastic virtual tours of the world's most renowned museums. You'll follow the very same pathways you would if you were in London, New York or Paris, taking in priceless works that have been studied for generations.
This time, however, no one will be blocking your view, taking selfies or herding you through. Take your time and get to know the works by world-famous artists on these virtual museum tours that we've dubbed the best — for now.
The Louvre: Paris
The largest museum on Earth — and one of the busiest — is home to many world-famous pieces. Walk the storied halls of the palace-turned-museum from the comfort of your sofa.
A number of virtual tours are available, including one of the Petite Gallery. The gallery is currently hosting an exhibition, "The Advent of the Artist," devoted to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Albrecht Altdorfer.
What You'll See
This virtual tour allows you to stroll through the museum, but there isn't any way to visit the entire museum. It's much too large!
What you will see in addition to "The Advent of the Artist" exhibit are the likes of popular works such as Francois-Joseph Heim's "Charles X" from 1824-1830.
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The Vatican Museum: Vatican City
Italy's borders are closed, but the art, valuables and religious relics at Vatican City are still available to enjoy.
There are virtual tours of the Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and more.
What You'll See
There are seven different rooms with 360-degree views on this virtual tour, including the glorious painted ceilings and frescoes.
Don't miss Raphael's "The Deliverance of Saint Peter," painted in 1514.
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British Museum: London
Arguably London's best museum is not only filled with so much history, it is history! After all, the British Museum is older than the United States!
You'll find history, art and design from every continent.
What You'll See
See something you like? Click on various pieces or rooms, and let Google move you directly to them, offering insight on this fabulous tour.
Make sure to check out the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs inscribed on the Rosetta Stone, which has been on display at the museum since 1802.
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Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation: New York
The gorgeously design Guggenheim museum, situated across the street from Central Park, features a virtual tour that will allow you to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed spiral and light-filled museum and its collection of modern works.
What You'll See
Although the museum has partnered with Google to give you the tour, it seems a bit stiff and not as fluid as the actual museum, but you're still in the Gugg.
Modern art you can view includes Pawel Althamer's "Cristina and Marcin" sculpture — a skeletal piece of art that shows the human form "fleshed out."
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Van Gogh Museum: Amsterdam
Amsterdam is home to the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work, which makes sense since the legendary artist was Dutch.
There are more than 600 pieces and 700 of his letters held within the museum.
What You'll See
Along the guided tour, you'll actually see still pictures with stories behind some of van Gogh's most famous works on this museum tour.
One such painting you can enjoy? "Irises," which he painted in Saint-Rémy.
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National Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.
The world's largest museum and research complex provides free access to all visitors, even when it's closed.
The Smithsonian's museum dedicated to natural history offers room-by-room tours of its past exhibits, current exhibits, permanent exhibits and its research stations.
What You'll See
Follow the blue arrow through various rooms and exhibits in a virtual tour as good as you would expect from the Smithsonian.
You can even watch the museum's live butterflies in its "Partners in Evolution" exhibit.
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Tate Britain: London
London's art museum, the Tate, features Britain's best artists from 1545 to modern day.
Rooms are grouped in chronological order, and you'll see works by Francis Bacon, Thomas Gainsborough and more.
What You'll See
Not only will Google guide you through the museum, it will give you a chance to click on the artwork's description to learn more.
Don't miss "Portrait of a Lady, Called Elizabeth, Lady Tanfield." The painting dates back to 1615, and the painter is unknown. What makes it special is the subject, who was the first woman known to have written and published a play in English — talk about inspiring!
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Museum of Modern Art: New York
Better known as MoMA, this New York museum features modern and contemporary works dating back to the 1880s.
You won't see the entire museum virtually, but what is available is quite thought-provoking.
What You'll See
Using Google's Art & Culture platform, you can get a glimpse of some of the collection through pictures and stories, but you won't find yourself moving through the museum.
Our favorite? Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" is definitely worth a look.
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Barnes Foundation: Philadelphia
The Barnes Foundation is renowned as being one of the great private collections-turned-museum in the country.
Albert Coombs Barnes donated his collection of unique art with impressionist, post-impressionist and modern paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse and Picasso.
What You'll See
Although the institution offers some insights into its artwork on its website, the Docent Guide presented by WHYY offers the best tour.
You'll hear stories behind the Picassos and even a tale of Matisse having a heart attack while hanging his work at Barnes' home. Don't worry: Dr. Barnes gave him a shot of whiskey and Matisse lived another 20 years!
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The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force: Dayton, Ohio
You may not be able to fly, but you can check out the cockpits and historic planes flown during the history of the United States Air Force on the museum tour of the collection right on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
What You'll See
You'll follow America's history from the early years on as you virtually walk through the base museum.
When you see something of interest, click on it for a little history. Don't miss the Bleriot Monoplane, which flew across the English Channel in 1909.
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J. Paul Getty Museum: Los Angeles
The Getty family helped create one of Los Angeles' most beautiful museums, with an interior filled with priceless works of arts.
There are two campuses: the Getty Center and the Getty Villa, with beautiful gardens between them.
What You'll See
You may not get the sweeping Los Angeles views from the grounds of the Getty museum, but you can walk through its interior wings filled with a variety of masterpieces from around the world, including Claude Monet's "Haystacks, End of Summer."
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Uffizi Gallery: Florence, Italy
Florence is home to tons of art from the Renaissance, but the Uffizi Gallery offers one of the best collections.
Virtually walk the marble floors to take in these ancient masterpieces.
What You'll See
This Google-led tour can get you as close to the artwork as if you were there.
Not all of the pieces provide descriptions, but some of the majors do, including Leonardo da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi."
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Musée d'Orsay: Paris
The former train station was transformed into one of the most impressive collections of Impressionist art at a time when artists such as Monet, Manet and Renoir couldn't get their new style of work to be displayed in Paris' more famous museums and galleries of Paris.
Jokes on them, though, as these works are now beloved and valuable.
What You'll See
Not only can you see the fantastic Impressionist pieces, but you can also witness the museum's collection of sculptures bathed in natural light pouring through the windows and skylights on a Google-led self-guided tour.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Degas' ballet series of paintings and sculptures.
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Rijksmuseum: Amsterdam
There is more to Dutch art than van Gogh, and its masterpieces are found at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum.
With 80 galleries and 8,000 objects, visitors are amazed at the Dutch Golden Age paintings, including those by Rembrandt.
What You'll See
Eight museum views are available for virtual tours from the main museum to its multiple floors, including stairway tours.
On the ground floor, you'll find Rembrandt's "The Night Watch."
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The National Gallery: London
The National Gallery is a free museum of Britain's biggest collection of artwork.
Online exhibits include "Monet's London" and "Life, death, and our place in the universe: The Ambassadors."
What You'll See
You'll be able to walk into various rooms throughout the museum.
You can click on an icon that gives you a full description of many of the pieces, including "Bacchus and Ariadne" by Titian, painted in the 1500s.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
From Modern Art to Impressionism, The Art Institute of Chicago offers thousands of pieces for art enthusiasts to enjoy.
Located in Chicago's Grant Park, it's one of the oldest art museums in the country — and one of the largest!
What You'll See
You could take a virtual tour by simply watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," but if you take the museum's virtual tour, you can see nearly 600 pieces up close, including the Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
While you can visit different rooms housing various pieces, you'll only get the descriptions of the pieces they want to show you.
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Palace of Versailles: Versailles, France
The royal palace to the French kings until the Revolution shows the grandeur of the Sun King, with gilded hallways, expansive gardens and hundreds of rooms.
You could spend a full day at the palace (or in your living room) and not see it all!
What You'll See
The massive palace and grounds feature three virtual tours. First, review stories from the palace, then explore the artwork and interior of the grounds, then stroll through the palace on your computer — all without a tour group blocking your way.
We happen to fancy a stroll through the Hall of Mirrors!
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Boston
Like the Barnes Foundation, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston began as one woman's private collection. Her collection was so valuable that one of the biggest art heists of all time took place in the 1990s and has yet to be solved.
Still, her gardens and an impressive array of pieces are quite a draw to millions.
What You'll See
As a Bostonian, Stewart Gardner collected many local artworks, including John Singer Sargent's "Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast."
The virtual tour includes masterpieces and her peaceful gardens, tucked away from Boston's skyscrapers.
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Belvedere: Vienna
Another baroque palace that can be explored is Vienna's Belvedere.
Converted into a museum, the former summer palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy houses many works by Gustav Klimt, including his famous "The Kiss."
What You'll See
There are four different virtual tours you can enjoy at the Belvedere.
Explore the ornate galleries of the Lower Belvedere and Upper Belvedere filled with chandeliers, frescoes and statues — the virtual door is always open and ready for your visit!
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Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.
The National Portrait Gallery holds the official portraits of America's presidents, first ladies and notable people that have made history in the United States.
Always free, it can be crowded when it is open, but a virtual visit gives you quiet time to review the intricate detail found in each portrait.
What You'll See
The Smithsonian provides eight different areas to explore virtually through Google's program.
Visit the U.S. Presidents, including the portraits of Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
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