Virtual museum tours: world-class art from the comfort of your home

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Experiencing the world’s greatest works of art used to mean months of planning, long-haul flights, walking for hours, and lengthy hotel stays.

But now, thanks to virtual museum tours, we can appreciate masterpieces from the likes of Monet, van Gogh, and Michelangelo in the comfort of our own homes.

Not only is it possible to tour the Louvre this morning, hit the British Museum right after, and still make it back to your kitchen table for afternoon tea … with virtual museum tours, it’s pretty easy.

These online tours combine high-resolution images, 360-degree panoramas, and interactive elements to create immersive digital experiences.

In fact, virtual museum tours can provide an even better experience than in-person visits by offering audio guides, information panels, and zoom features that let you see small details like brush marks and textures.

If marveling at great art is right up your alley, here are a few virtual museum experiences that will appeal to your inner connoisseur.

Best museums to visit virtually

The Louvre — Paris, France

Explore the Louvre's online tours of their museum rooms and galleries. Here, you can also find recorded events, podcasts, and a Mona Lisa VR experience.

Most famous works:

Mona Lisa — Leonardo da Vinci
Venus de Milo — Alexandros of Antioch
The Winged Victory of Samothrace — Pythokritos
The Raft of the Medusa — Theodore Gericault
Slaves — Michelangelo

The British Museum — London, England

Browse over 60 galleries at your leisure or explore themed collections like "Oceania" or "Prints and drawings."

Most famous works:

The Rosetta Stone
The Younger Memnon
Parthenon Sculptures
Hoa Hakananai’a
Crouching Venus — Doidalsas

The Metropolitan Museum of Art — New York City, New York

Experience The Met through six short videos that explore the museum in a 360-degree view. Or walk the halls through their collaboration with Google Arts & Culture.

Most famous works:

The Temple of Dendur
Washington Crossing the Delaware — Emanuel Leutze
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat — Vincent van Gogh
Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies — Claude Monet
Aristotle with a Bust of Homer — Rembrandt van Rijn

Vatican Museums — Vatican City

Get a front row seat to 14 different exhibitions in the Vatican Museum. Make sure to look up and down in the virtual viewfinder to explore the intricate ceilings and floors.

Tip: Their "Zoom" feature is incredible for looking at every square inch of each room.

Most famous works: