6 World-Renowned Museums You Can Tour Virtually

If you are stuck working from home like many Americans, you’re probably beginning to feel a little stressed or bored. Whether it is entertaining kids who are home from school, taking care of sick or vulnerable neighbors and friends, or if it’s a pesky roommate, cabin fever can get the best of us. And if you are like us, already binging TV, finding worthy outlets of stimulation can be the key to weathering the storm and coming out of social isolation a more cultured person.

While our summer vacation plans have been put on hold, you can still see some of your favorite art through a virtual museum tour. A number of institutions have opened their doors for people to view far and wide. Although it cannot compare to seeing a piece of art in real life, it’s still a fun and informative way to spend a couple hours on the couch. Below are some of our favorite museums offering virtual tours during the time of social isolation.

The Getty, Los Angeles – The Getty institute as well as its sister campus, The Getty Villa have compiled a starter kit of the museum’s vast archive. Resources include online exhibits, downloadable art books, and even printable watercolor sheets to put a spin on your favorite piece from their collections.

The Guggenheim Museum, New York – Google Streetview features allows you tour the iconic spiral staircase, where you can browse the Impressionist era all the way to Modern.

Musee d’Orsay, Paris – If you are a fan of turn of the century Paris, the hugely popular gallery offers virtual walkthroughs featuring favorites such as Gauguin and Monet.

National Gallery of Art, Washington – The classic American Art museum currently has two online exhibits hosted by google. See American fashion 1740-1895 as well an exhibit featuring the works of Dutch master Johannes Vermeer.

Benaki Museum, Athens – Lovers of antiquity and the classical canon can rejoice in this immersive 360-degree tour of ancient Greek artefacts.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence – The digital archives for the Uffizi gallery feature more than 300,000 works of Renaissance art. Tours are nicely curated and this may be the only chance to see these works in peace and quiet knowing that the gallery itself is almost always at capacity for the chance to see the masters such as Titian and Botticelli.