Many of us may have probably already experienced Fernweh (the longing for far-off places), but sometimes it's not that easily feasible to get rid of it. Maybe you're just unable to go on traveling - may it be due to financial reasons, an illness that binds you to your bed, or just the everyday commitments that won't allow you to leave so easily.
So, the question remains: how can you travel without physically traveling?
We know that may sound a little philosophical, but it can help you locate the right spot to scratch the travel itch. If you know why you want to leave and where exactly you want to go, you'll find a proper way to handle the whole staying-at-home-dealing-with-Fernweh situation. What do you like most about the trip? Is it the feeling of freedom from your daily routine, pressures, and stress? Or do you simply love the adventure of seeing new places, meeting new people, and immersing yourself in another culture? Or all of it combined? There might be a solution to all of it, so let's get to the point, shall we?
If not now, we don't know which time is best to appreciate the internet! Interactive Virtual Tours enable you to get your fill of the great outdoors, cultural places, and tourist attractions - even if you must stay inside. And to take away your trouble looking them up all by yourself, we made an effort and created a list of Virtual Tours you shouldn't miss! (We promise you won't need a pair of V.R. glasses!)
(Just click on the title and the individual virtual tour will automatically pop up in a new window in the background.)
Machu Picchu is an Inka citadel built in the 15th century (and later abandoned) located high up the Peruvian Andes above the valley of the Rio Urubamba. It is famous for its polished dry-stone walls, fascinating temples, and panoramic view. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Hang Sơn Đoòng is the world's largest cave located in central Vietnam. The cave of Sơn Đoòng alone is 38.5 million cubic meters in size. The cave is 8.9 kilometers long, and the lowest point is 490 meters underground. The highest cavity with a roof is 200 meters high. During an expedition through this cave world, three British divers recently discovered a new underwater tunnel connecting Sơn Đoòng to another giant cave, Hang Thung, adding another 1.6 million cubic meters of volume.
Mount Everest has a height of 8848 m (29,029 ft) and is Earth's highest mountain above sea level. While located in the Himalayas, he is one of the 14 "Eight-Thousanders" and the "Seven Summits." Mount Everest is named after the British surveyor George Everest. Even under "normal circumstances," approaching the summit presents dangers such as altitude sickness, weather, and wind, as well as significant hazards from avalanches and the Khumbu Icefall. (With that said, exploring Mount Everest via a Virtual Tour is definitely safer ;) )
Love beyond death - A message that fascinates the whole world in architectural beauty: The Taj Mahal is the symbol of India. The snow-white building with its round domes, imposing decorations, and extensive gardens attract millions of tourists yearly. Its beauty and uniqueness made it one of the New Seven Wonders of the World today.
If you want to tour the other New Seven Wonders of the World, here's the complete list! (Incl. Rome's Colosseum, Petra in Jordan, the "Christ the Redeemer" Statue in Rio de Janeiro, and more)
Stonehenge is arguably the most famous stone circle in the world. It is located near the town of Amesbury and about 13 kilometers north of the city of Salisbury in England. The Neolithic formation attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Stonehenge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
Angkor Wat is an enormous temple complex located in northern Cambodia. It was initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu but became a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century. It is said to be one of the most beautiful monuments in the world due to its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, reliefs, and sculpture.
The region of Patagonia covers a total extension of approximately 800,000 square kilometers (310,000 sq mi) at the southern end of South America. It is a well-known paradise for active travelers and nature lovers but still one of the least populated areas of the world. Patagonia features several geographical characteristics, including dry steppes, grasslands, deserts, glacier fjords, and rain forests.
The famous Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia are popular tourist destinations. Thousands of cubic meters of water regularly fall down a total of 110 meters per second. That's both quite an impressive and breathtaking sight!
As the Earth's southernmost continent, about 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice. It is, on average, the coldest, driest, and windiest continent and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. And one thing is sure: no other place on Earth compares to this vast white wilderness of elemental forces.
Feel like making an underwater trip? This Virtual Tour through the Buck Island Reef in the Caribbean Ocean gives you a breathtaking view of one of only three underwater trails in the United States. The Monument area attracts around 50,000 visitors a year.
Always wanted to explore and enjoy the beauty of the oldest national park worldwide? Here's your chance to see attractions like Fort Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Mammoth Hot Springs, and many more!
If you're interested in traveling through more national parks in the U.S. virtually, here's an extended list:
Want to see and explore more landmarks around the world? "Airpano" and Google Earth offer a huuuuge amount of more virtual tours.
Besides taking a Virtual Tour through some of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the world, you also have the opportunity to take a Virtual Tour through various famous museums and art galleries in the comfort of your home. Again, we've already created a list for you of the "crème de la crème" of the cultural scene. You're welcome ;)
The "Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum," as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is probably one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century. It's famous for its astonishing collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art but also features special exhibitions throughout the year.
The iconic museum in the heart of London opened its doors in 1759. Since then, it has exhibited a wide variety of collections dedicated to human history, art, and culture.
It was in 1793 when the Louvre we know today became the famous, public, and biggest art museum in the world. Before that time, the historic monument was part of the Royal Palace. And with around 9 million visitors every year, it is undoubtedly the most visited art museum in the world.
The MMCA is a museum complex in South Korea that opened the doors of its main museum in Gwacheon in 1969 and has since expanded to Deoksugung, Seoul, and Cheongju. The collection of all museum sites includes artworks of Korean and international established artists and a few newcomers.
This British museum, with its majestic central hall, is a popular tourist attraction and also one of the leading scientific research centers. The whole complex is divided into five main sections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology.
If you're eager to enjoy more museums and art galleries, check out this list here.
Due to the latest events of the last two years, people spend more time at home than usual. But those situations also affected our favorite musicians and artists. So many artists got quite creative when it came to entertaining their fans from their sofa. From Pop Singers to Rock Bands (and everything in between and beyond!), and from composers to opera singers - all of them found their own ways to stay connected. (What a great time to be alive during the internet era!)
Live stream concerts are booming nowadays, and you don't have to look far to find a stream of your beloved artist. The first places to go are the social media channels. Instagram and Tiktok are known for their opportunity to share live videos and are pretty popular among their users. Also, on YouTube and even Facebook, you find plenty of live streams you'll be able to enjoy.
Here are some Livestreams & Virtual Concerts for you to watch. Feel free to check them out
By the way, if you're more into classical or orchestra music and ballet, you'll be pleased to hear that some opera houses and concert houses for classical music also offer online live concerts. For example, the "Digital Concert Hall" of the Berlin Philharmonic gave free access to all shows and films. Make sure also to check out the streams of the "Wiener Staatsoper," "Met Opera," and "Opera Vision." Here you can find even more online performances and streams.
So, let's head over to another reason you might miss traveling. Food.
People love traveling for food. When exploring the world around us, we create memories through our senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and, of course, taste. But if you cannot travel for food, bring that food into your kitchen! So what is it that you're missing? Is it a Thai curry? Italian pasta? French croissants? Or something else?
Again, we're lucky to enjoy all the benefits of the World Wide Web because there are PLENTY of websites and YouTube tutorials that show you how to cook the original "Pad Thai," "Tajarin al Tartufo," bake some sweet "Macarons," or even how to mix the best "Piña Colada."
So that's it! Those are our tips on how to best deal with the nasty travel itch. Maybe we inspired you to find other online or virtual traveling ways - that's fine too! :)
And don't worry, the time will come when you'll lay on a sandy beach again thinking back on how you bravely mastered your "holidays at home."
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