Although the heightened COVID-19 measures may not allow us to go out and explore, there are still plenty of things you can do from the comfort of your own home.
While physical museums are closed due to the pandemic, most museums have taken to hosting virtual tours online. We toured a few virtual museums and here are our top picks.
The Louvre, Paris, France
Fancy a trip to the famed Parisian museum? You can now tour the Louvre from the comfort of your bed.
Wander the marble halls and admire the various galleries at your own leisure. Their official website has made accessing the 360 degree tour completely free, and you can get up close and personal with your favourite artworks too.
Check out current exhibitions, and learn a little more about art history with the virtual tour’s built in guides, which display facts and trivia about the various galleries in the museum.
The benefits to a virtual tour? Having the chance to view previous exhibitions that you might have missed. Figure D’Artiste, a special exhibition that concluded in 2020, is now preserved in all its sculptural excellence.
There’s plenty to see in the Louvre, housing a vast collection of art. As closing times don’t matter online, and you can go on your virtual tour however early or late you wish.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, America
Featured in the Hollywood classic Night at The Museum, The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is a sight to behold. Although their lifelike dioramas do not come to life, they sure look like the real thing! Explore the museum’s collections on their website, from mammals to ancient civilizations.
If you’re a fan of dinosaur exhibits, the Smithsonian doesn’t disappoint. Documenting the rise and fall of the prehistoric era, you’ll be entranced by the stunning recreations of fossilised creatures, in sharp detail. The fact boards scattered throughout the virtual tour make the entire experience more immersive.
Taiwan National Palace Museum, Taiwan
Known for being one of the largest museums with a sprawling complex and over 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts and artworks, the Taiwan National Palace Museum is a must-visit if you’re in the area. The museum offers its very own online tour spanning its entire premises.
On display are ceramics dating back to ancient Chinese dynastic periods, calligraphy and artwork throughout the years and rare books of historical significance. With the absence of crowds, you can get as close to the glass as you want.
The museum’s bookstore also has plenty of beautiful calligraphy and scroll paintings you can view, and other than the building itself, you can explore the gardens and the pavilions that make up the museum. It’s an eye-opening journey through history, and a definite virtual stop for any museum buffs.
The State Russian Museum, Mikhailovsky Palace, Russia
One of the most impressive buildings in St Petersburg, The State Russian Museum is home to the world's largest collection of Russian fine art. It is also another of the largest museums in the world, with over 30 hectares of floor space.
Repurposed from the former Mikhailovsky Palace into a museum, it retains its imperial architecture. The museum’s website offers a virtual tour where you can view the museum complex and past exhibitions.
Despite viewing the museum on a screen, it is no less spectacular as stained glass windows and chiseled ceilings make you feel as if you’ve entered Imperial Russia. On display are rare Russian artifacts, and paintings dating back to the country’s beginnings.
Take in the building’s spectacular architecture, which has been artfully preserved. The museum uses natural light, with skylights and windows providing an authentic experience. It’s always day in this virtual tour, no matter what time you’re viewing it — you won't be able to experience this in person.
Vasa Museum, Stockholm
Our last stop on our globe-trotting virtual museum adventure was the Vasa Museum, which houses the almost fully-intact 17th century ship which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The Vasa is the only ship from that century to be salvaged, making the museum the only one of its kind in the world. The museum’s virtual tour is the closest you’ll get to the shipwreck, and it doesn’t disappoint.
The interior of the ship recreates life on the Vasa, with statues posed as if they would have set sail itself. The cannons scattered throughout the ship add a touch of realism to the display, taking you back to the 17th century.
Time stopped on the Vasa at five o’clock in the afternoon on August 28th, 1628. When the ship was salvaged 333 years later, the crew’s seachests were still packed with provisions, clothing and personal mementoes. A comprehensive tour of the ship itself, we were impressed by the painstaking amount of detail that went into preserving the Vasa.
We spent hours exploring the various museum virtual tours, and were fully immersed in the experience. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or two learning something new and getting to see a slice of the world from the couch. Making these museums fully accessible to the public gives us a chance to look into new cultures and art, and there’s always more to discover.
