Oh, travel. How we all miss her so. All around the world, people are doing their best to fill the travel-void in their hearts. There are some great ways to pass the time: video chatting with friends and learning new languages are great ways to stay connected to people and cultures. But another great option is taking a virtual tour of a location you’ve always wanted to see. Free virtual tours are becoming a popular option for an affordable way to see the world while staying safe. Here are five great virtual spots that will keep the travel bug in your system.
REINA SOFIA MUSEUM - MADRID, SPAIN
The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid is one of the most incredible museums in Spain. This huge national museum is full of absolutely jaw-dropping 20th-century masterpieces. If you’re an art lover like me, you’ll have to check out the museum’s virtual tours while they last. The museum collections are home to over 23,000 pieces from the 1900s. Currently, the website’s virtual tour includes 11,000 pieces to view virtually, spanning across different rooms and floors. (Virtual tour snapshot pictured above)
GAME OF THRONES TOUR - KIRKJUFELL, ICELAND
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll definitely want to check out this virtual tour. You can get up-close and personal to some of the real locations filmed in the hit TV series. The tour is honestly breathtaking. You get a bird's-eye view of incredible mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers. And the best part about the tour is that while it starts in Kirkjufell but explores through other incredible parts of Iceland. Other locations on the tour include Kirkjufellsfoss, Thorufoss, Thingvellir National Park, Dyradalur, Mt. Hengill, Stöng í Þjórsárdal, Svínafellsjökull, and Reynisfjara. The website also shows little clips from Game of Thrones alongside the locations, so you can identify exactly which locations were in each scene. The entire tour is most immersive in a VR headset, but is still very detailed if you’re viewing it on a computer, too.
PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY - MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Presidential Museum and Library in Manila is the oldest building of Malacañang Palace. This is a great spot to learn all about Filipino history and culture. This tour really stands out because of how interactive it is. You can click through all the presidential hallways and rooms, and even zoom into all paintings on the walls. This free tour is your best bet in learning about the rich political heritage in the Philippines. Something that makes this virtual tour so memorable is all the great memorabilia you’ll see! Seeing all sorts of clothes, documents, books, gifts, artwork, and furniture from decades past is a perfect way to learn about another culture’s history.
JAMESON DISTILLERY - DUBLIN, IRELAND
Yes, that’s right. You can take a tour through one of the most iconic whiskey distilleries in the world, and you don’t even have to be 21! This virtual tour is so eye-catching, you won’t know where to look first. The Jameson Distillery was first established by John Jameson in 1780. Every year, the historic distillery welcomes over a quarter-million visitors. This virtual tour is amazing because it makes this iconic site so accessible to people all around the world. Ireland is an incredible country that should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. For those looking to get the best virtual Irish experience, CEA has some great remote opportunities. From the comfort of your own home, you can get hands-on work experience with a genuine Irish company through a virtual internship. For those looking to add a study abroad to their resume, CEA also has tons of great programs when travel is allowed again, as well as virtual course options that are taught by global experts, and which complement your semester.
THE ACROPOLIS - ATHENS, GREECE
It’s unbelievable how gorgeous this virtual tour is. The Acropolis in Athens is without a doubt one of the most famous archaeological sites on the planet. This tour provides an immersive, in-depth look at prominent historical monuments: the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. The tour is in stunning HD and is completely clickable as you “walk” through. The Acropolis makes a great tour -- the ancient Greek citadel has been wowing people for thousands of years. Another added bonus of the virtual tour? You have the option to view a description of each landmark, all while watching a beautiful Greek sunset.
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Of course, there are many more cities all over the world that are offering in-depth virtual tours. As the worldwide quarantine continues in most of the world, it’s very important to ensure we keep growing and learning. Virtual tours offer a great chance to keep global perspectives in mind -- it’s never too late to start learning about a new country or culture!
And, don’t forget: CEA has virtual internships in Spain, Argentina, France, Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. These internships are with real businesses abroad -- so it’s the perfect way to gain unique skills that will make your resume stand out to any employer, all from the safety and comfort of your own home.
Browse CEA's Virtual Programs and apply today!