We bring you a selection of virtual tours so you can travel from home and discover amazing places around the world
In the past, if we wanted to visit a place that was impossible for us to transport to, what happened? Well, nothing, we had to put up with it. Fortunately, this is no longer the case today. Thanks to the virtual tours that many sites offer us, we can at least see what they are like.
It’s not the same as a real visit? obviously, but as the saying goes “better than nothing”.
We are going to show you places we have already been to, in order to complement the virtual tour experience, with our real visit.
Virtual tours in Mexico
Many of the archaeological sites and museums in Mexico are managed by the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History), so it should come as no surprise that for most visits we will end up at their site.
Museums
Frida Kahlo Museum
Better known as the blue house, this is where Frida started and ended her life. In it you can see some of the furniture in the house, how the painter lived and several rooms were arranged as a gallery to appreciate her works.
- Virtual visit to the blue house of Frida Kahlo
You can go around the house with the map that appears in the interface, the screen is somewhat small, but better than nothing.
This museum was one of the first that I visited when I started making trips in Mexico. A very nice house, with that blue that does not go unnoticed. I remember being very frustrated that taking pictures inside was prohibited. So the possibility of doing the virtual visit and remembering when we visited is great.
Cuauhnáhuac Museum
The Cuauhnáhuac Museum is located in the city of Cuernavaca, Morelos. In it you can see various objects of the original peoples of the state of Morelos and of the various ethnic groups of the state today. But what makes it a place not to be missed is the fact that a mural by Diego Rivera can be seen on its upper floor. This can be seen with the virtual tour too 🙂
- Virtual visit to the Cuauhnáhuac Museum
The visit has a menu at the bottom to move between the rooms or to go directly to where we want.
- Check our visit to the Cuauhnáhuac Museum
I would have liked to virtually visit it before, the mural is so huge and absorbs you, it is difficult to know where to see the first time.
Archaeological sites
Monte Alban
Monte Alban is an archaeological site located in Oaxaca. It is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Zapotec culture. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1987. Virtual tours of both the site museum and the archaeological zone are offered.
- Visit to the Monte Alban Site Museum
- Visit to the archaeological zone of Monte Alban
You can navigate between the different buildings on the site, exploring with the name that appears in the menu at the top right.
- Check here our visit to the site of Monte Alban
In our visit to the archaeological site, as it almost always happens, we did not get to see everything. This virtual tour is ideal to see what we missed. And to understand even better what we have already seen, because I do not know about you, but even having visited the place there are times when we do not fully understand what we are seeing, or the emotion of being there beats us.
Of course, in Monte Alban what you can not experience virtually is the pain of climbing the stairs 🙂 you have to experience it in person.
Teotihuacan
A highly visited site by both national and foreign tourism, Teotihuacan has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1987. Visitors climb the pyramids to recharge with energy and at certain times such as the equinox day they come in large numbers. But if you can’t go in person, don’t worry, INAH offers virtual tours of both the site museum and the archaeological zone.
- Visit to the Teotihuacan Culture Museum that is located within the site
- Virtual visit to the archaeological zone
Navigate from the Pyramid of the Moon to the Pyramid of the Sun using the top right menu.
- Chech here our visit to Teotihuacan
This was the first archaeological site I visited by myself, and climbing the pyramids is quite a challenge. The next day the leg pain is huge 😀 but it’s worth it. Make the virtual visit with confidence, it will not take away from you the desire to visit the site in person, but in fact it will help you so that when you visit it you know what you are seeing with more certainty.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza means the city on the edge of the Itza’s well, it is one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilization and also one of the most visited in Mexico. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and is one of the new seven wonders of the world. And thanks to virtual tours we can visit this wonder without leaving home.
- Virtual visit to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza
If you have already been to Chichen Itza or seen pictures, you can see how vendor stalls are everywhere on the site. In the virtual visit they do not appear, something that is really appreciated.
- Check our visit to Chichen Itza
In the pictures of our visit in person, you will see that at the beginning we managed to take some photos without vendors. In the article we tell you the details of how we did it.
Something that inevitably happens when visiting Chichén Itzá, is that one will sweat non-stop. The humidity is omnipresent, something that you will not have in the virtual visit 🙂 again do not worry, it will not take away the desire to visit it in person, but making the virtual visit helps to prepare you to what you’re going to see. They will also realize that the site is huge and has many more things, in addition to the Kukulcan Pyramid.
Uxmal
We will continue with the Mayan civilization and we invite you to visit Uxmal, a very well-preserved archaeological site with far fewer tourists than Chichen Itza. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
- Virtual visit to the Uxmal site
The site is very large and has two routes, one large and one shorter, which is the one that is taken if you are short on time. With the virtual tour you can either discover the site, or see what you missed because fo the lack of time.
- Check here our visit to the site of Uxmal (short route)
As always, the virtual visit is a good complement to wait for when we can go to the site and to be more prepared for the visit in person. One of the things that you cannot experience on the virtual tour is, in addition to the leg pain from climbing the pyramids that you’re allowed to, is clapping in front of the fortune teller’s pyramid and listening to the sound it emits.
Kabah
It is located southeast of Uxmal and is part of the Puuc Route, this is a Mayan site whose name means “heavy hand”.
- Virtual tour of the Kabah archaeological site
If you have already visited the site, but you think you could not see everything, which was our case, with this virtual visit you can discover those buildings that you missed.
Virtual tours around the world
Japan – Ghibli Museum
On a trip to Japan, if you plan to visit the Ghibli Museum, you have to do everything well in advance. Tickets must be purchased from an agency approved by the Japan Tourism Office and space is limited per day. To put it in a nutshell, it is not easy to visit it. Moreover, you can not take pictures inside. Of course, if you are a fan of the studio and of Miyazaki’s movies, it is highly recommended to go 🙂
So, having the possibility of making a virtual visit is great, whether you want to know what you will see when you visit it, or like me, that you want to relive the visit you already made.
- Visit the Ghibli Museum through the videos they have published on YouTube
I have not yet made an article about this visit, as soon as I have it I will put it here 🙂
Netherlands – Van Gogh Museum
A painter who needs no introduction, who had a rather difficult life and who, unfortunately, did not enjoy the monetary wealth of his works. His museum is one of the most visited in the city of Amsterdam. But if you cannot go in person, you can take a walk thanks to the virtual tour that the museum has made available to everyone 😉
- Here you can visit the four floors of the Van Gogh museum (with Google Maps-style navigation)
When entering the page, you have to go to the bottom, until you see the circles on each floor and so you begin the tour by floor.
- Check out our visit to the Van Gogh Museum, included in the 1-day in Amsterdam story.
When we visited the museum, I was a little frustrated by the fact that you couldn’t take pictures. Even if I have already visited it, I highly value this virtual visit since I can relive the contemplation of the works. Besides being able to see the museum empty. It has a different mood.
Italy – La Pinacoteca di Brera
Perhaps the name of Pinacoteca di Brera does not evoke much, but most likely many have seen the image of Hayez’s painting “The Kiss”. Well, that painting is there! and now we can visit it virtually.
- Take a virtual tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera (just follow the arrows)
Even if the contemplation of the works is not the same as in person, and some cannot be seen from the front, depending on the angle of the photo, it is very nice to be able to make this virtual visit
- Check here our visit of the Pinacoteca di Brera
Technology brings us closer
Whether to revive them, discover them or study them, these virtual tours that are within our reach are a very useful tool. Don’t miss it 🙂
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