With the current CMCO in effect, travel is unfortunately on pause. But fret not, you can still virtually tour these famous world attractions from home
Thanks to technology like live streaming and 360-degree mapping, our thirst for adventure and exploration can still be quenched from home, albeit virtually, despite lockdowns and travel restrictions. Famous cities, attractions and landmarks around the world have been quick to embrace virtual travel experiences, offering pent-up travellers a chance to see the world from their homes. In the latest instalment of our Armchair Travel series, we’re traveling – in our minds – to some of the world’s most famous destinations. From exploring the breath-taking grounds of the Taj Mahal to watching the impressive wildlife that roam the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, here are seven famous landmarks you can escape to without stepping out your front door.
1. Art Science Museum, Singapore
Singapore’s ArtScience Museum has launched ArtScience at Home, its new digital line-up of guided tours, workshops, talks and performance art pieces. You can also look forward to intimate and personal living room performances from musicians and performance artists via its new flagship programme, ArtScience Late.
2. Louvre Abu Dhabi
Designed by acclaimed French architect Jean Nouvel, there’s no denying that the Louvre Abu Dhabi is incredibly striking and otherworldly in design. While you can’t marvel at its architectural beauty in person now, art lovers can still get their culture fix from afar through its new Art from Home initiative, which features regularly updated art pieces, or on the free Louvre Abu Dhabi app, which offers curator-led tours on some of its most talked-about pieces.
3. Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, which stretches for 21,000km along the country’s northern regions, is a must-see for any first-time travellers to China. As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, alongside the Taj Mahal and Colosseum, it draws over 10 million visitors yearly. While an actual visit to this ancient fortification isn’t possible right now, you can explore this renowned attraction via an online tour on The China Guide, which takes you along the stretch between Jinshanling and Simatai.
4. Taj Mahal, India
Google Arts & Culture is a fantastic resource for anyone looking for a spot of armchair escapism around the world’s most esteemed cultural attractions – like the Taj Mahal, for instance. While not a live stream per se, you can explore the landmark’s famed grounds through Google Arts & Culture’s interactive tours and 360-degree mapping. Bonus: you’ll get to see it free of the usual tourist crowds that flood the Taj Mahal every year.
5. Times Square, New York
One of New York’s busiest neighbourhoods, the typically bustling Times Square has seen a dramatically lower footfall since the pandemic. Nonetheless, if you’re missing the Big Apple (or simply curious about what Manhattan’s famous square looks like right now), you can check it out on EarthCam, which offers around-the-clock live stream of the city. Elsewhere in the city, museums like MoMA are bringing their galleries to your home with a fascinating line-up of live conservations with curators, online exhibitions and more.
6. Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is definitely on the bucket list for many. Located in the southwestern corner of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the 65,000 hectares game reserve is renowned for its diverse wildlife and its excellent big five sightings. An actual trip here costs a pretty penny however, which makes this virtual tour on Africam a wallet-friendly – and socially distanced – alternative.
7. Copacabana Beach, Brazil
The beaches of Copacabana are legendary and arguably the most coastline beach in the world. While an actual summer gambol along its strip isn’t possible for now, you can still get a taste of sun, sand and sea via this real-time live stream. Throw on your swimwear and crank up those jazzy beachside tunes for a dose of good measure.
