Are you inspired by art and fascinated by museums that are rich with culture? If so, then having to stay indoors for an extended period of time may seem to present a bit of a challenge when it comes to exploring what’s out there. Fortunately, there are countless free virtual museum tours across the web. This means that it’s never been easier to immerse yourself in some of the most famous museums in the world, right from the comfort of your home. Let’s look at five that are particularly worth getting lost in.
The Getty
High atop a hill in Los Angeles is one of the most important museums in North America, the J. Paul Getty Museum (often known as “The Getty”). From clay figurines dating back over 8,000 years to masterpieces of contemporary art, the variety of culture on display here is stunning. Even the museum itself is a sight to behold, a gorgeous work of architecture with views of the city below. Free virtual tours are available on Xplorit and Google Arts & Culture.
Guggenheim Bilbao
Remember when we recommended Bilbao, Spain as an on-trend travel destination? It may not be the best time to travel at the moment, but you can still visit Bilbao’s famous Guggenheim location through a free virtual tour. This museum features the unmistakable architecture of Frank Gehry and a diverse collection specializing in large contemporary installations. Like the Getty, this one is available from Google Arts & Culture.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
If the majesty of nature is what gets you inspired, then you’re in for a treat. Located in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History boasts the largest natural history collection in the world, with everything from plant and animal specimens to human cultural artifacts. Its free virtual museum tour offers a remarkably extensive exploration of the museum. You can even look at past exhibits that are no longer on display.
The Vatican Museums
Anyone who has been to the Vatican and its museums will tell you that their beauty is difficult to express in words. Similarly, technology may not be able to fully convey the feeling of being there, but you can’t deny just how captivating the Vatican’s free virtual museum tours are. From the Greek and Roman sculptures of the Pio-Clementino Museum to the world-famous Sistine Chapel, thousands of years of incredible art and architecture are ready to be viewed from home.
Rijksmuseum
Over two hundred years old and with at least 8,000 items on display, Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands. If you’re fond of the Dutch masters like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, you’ll be pleased to know that the Rijksmuseum houses many of their greatest works. Google’s Arts & Culture platform delivers once again with a free virtual tour and high-definition archive covering a vast portion of the collection.
Which free virtual museum tours are you most inspired by? Let us know in the comments, and explore more in Google Arts & Culture’s own top ten list!
