With borders currently on lockdown, international travel may not be an option for the next little while. Lucky for us, there's a way we can fix a little bit of that travel bug. Since citizens were told to stay home and all essential businesses were asked to close down, tourist attractions around the world have stepped up and found ways to allow access to their sites virtually. We've compiled a list of these places which you can now visit from the comfort of your own home.
The Musée du Louvre - Paris, France
The world's largest art museum, the Musée du Louvre, is offering virtual tours of some of their most popular exhibits including The Advent of the Artist which features works from the likes of Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and Marie-Guillemine Benoist. Additionally through their #MuseumFromHome campaign, the Louvre is offering several features on their website which include a unique VR experience of the Mona Lisa, and a selection of filmed concerts at their Auditorium.
Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Van Gogh Museum may be closed but they have found ways to bring the museum to you. Through the power of Google streetview, you can now visit the museum virtually and check out the paintings without leaving your couch. The museum has also curated a list of unique things to do, which include a weekly YouTube series on fun facts about Van Gogh to the Unravel Van Gogh which unravel the numerous stories hidden in and underneath the paint of some of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings.
The Metropolitan Opera - New York, New York
While their doors are closed, the Metropolitan Opera in New York has come up with creative ways to keep people entertained by hosting a nightly opera stream which includes some of their biggest hits of recent seasons like Puccini’s Madama Butterfly from 2009.
The Cliffs of Moher - Country Clare, Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland is now offering virtual tours which allows you to visit one of the world's most spectacular sites without leaving your home. As the perfect accompaniment to your virtual tour, you can also download an audio guide and map app, packed with features that takes you through the Cliffs of Moher in 12 chapters. The key areas of interest include the main viewing areas, O’Brien’s Tower, the Visitor Centre, and JP Holland.
Aurora Borealis - Manitoba, Canada
Gather the family and set up a fort in the living room because you can now enjoy one of the world's most magnificent sights from your home. Every evening, Explore.org is streaming the night sky from the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Manitoba. Their LIVE cam is located directly underneath the aurora oval, which is one of the best places on earth to watch the aurora borealis.