Over recent years, the concept of visiting a museum has come to mean something entirely different, and you do not have to get off your couch to do this. Now, virtual tours of museums can be taken, and to add icing on the cake, most of them are entirely free. These virtual tours introduce a whole new level of convenience in exploring art, history, science, and culture from any part of the world without having to book tickets, travel, or face crowds. So, if you are one of those curious about experiencing famous museums in a whole new way, let us take a deep dive into what virtual museum tours have in store for people.
The Rise of Virtual Museum Tours
The pandemic era changed the way we accessed art and culture. During this period, owing to travel restrictions and social distancing measures, many museums and galleries in the world began offering virtual tours in order to stay in touch with visitors. What began out of necessity soon became a favored option for many well after the pandemic. These virtual experiences are not only for people who cannot physically visit the museums, but they’re also a great way to preview exhibits before planning a trip.
What Can You Expect from a Virtual Museum Tour?
Virtual museum tours can be as simple as a photo slideshow or as complex as fully interactive 3D tours where you “walk” through the halls of the museum yourself at your own pace. Some museums offer guided video tours, while others provide a Google Street View-style experience in which you can click your way through exhibits. It’s incredible variety, and it keeps getting better in quality.
And you know what? Many of such tours come in high-definition so that you can zoom into works and artifacts just as if you were actually there, right in front of them. Ever wanted to get a closer look at the brushstrokes on the “Starry Night”by Van Gogh or study the minute details of an ancient Egyptian artifact? That’s what virtual tours have enabled us to do.
Top Museums Offering Free Virtual Tours
There are loads of world-famous museums which offer free virtual tours online, whereby you may approach some of the most iconic collections on Earth. A small selection of the best is shown below.
1. The Louvre, Paris
The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world, housing some of the most famous masterpieces in the world-the “Mona Lisa” and “Venus de Milo”. Their virtual tours really run the gamut of collections, from ancient Egyptian artifacts to Renaissance art. You will be able to explore the museum’s grand galleries at will, getting lost in several centuries of history.
2. The British Museum, London
The British Museum is one of the superior virtual museum experiences that will take you through its vast collection of historical artifacts-including, of course, the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. You can tour the galleries with an interactive timeline using a mix of images and audio commentary.
3. The Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Want to be amazed by the Sistine Chapel without the crowds? The Vatican Museums give you virtual tour of some of their most iconic spaces, including Raphael’s Rooms and Michelangelo’s masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This is an opportunity to get an up-close look at some of the greatest works of art ever produced in human history.
4. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
If you are more into science and nature, there is a fully immersive virtual tour by the Smithsonian of their Natural History Museum. From dinosaur fossils to gems and minerals, every aspect can be explored from the comfort of one’s home. In fact, it is really an excellent means of bringing some museum magic right into your living room.
5. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum has been known to have a Dutch Golden Age collection within its walls; however, the virtual tour enlists works from Rembrandt to Vermeer. You will be able to virtually make your way around the stunning galleries and close up with masterpieces such as “The Night Watch”.
Why Take a Virtual Tour?
It also serves as an ideal world for all those who would want to visit art and culture at their own pace, other than the obvious advantage of not having to leave the house. That is to say because one has complete freedom to pause, rewind, or go ahead, without any inhibition. Finally, no more trying to peer over a crowd’s heads to catch a glimpse of the painting. You get to zoom into the details, read descriptions, and even at times, listen to audio guides-just as you would in a museum.
Virtual tours are also considered one of the better ways to expose kids and/or people to art and history who have never seen these iconic museums for themselves. It really opens up the world to any person who has an internet connection.
How To Get Started
Virtual tours of museums have just become all too easy to access with a simple search. Many of them have a dedicated section on their website where you can virtually access them for free. Some of them are available via platforms such as Google Arts & Culture, which partners with hundreds of museums in making their collections available to the public.
Most of these tours are made in such a way that they can work both on a desktop and on mobile, so you could view it from the comfort of your home or when you are outside. The only thing you need is a decent internet connection, and off you go on your cultural journey.
