Here is our list of the best online tours to take with groups.
Online tours are a combination of videos and still images that simulate the location through a virtual setting and allow virtual visitors to explore renowned places in groups. Examples include visits to cities, museums, art galleries, and zoos. The purpose of these activities is to provide entertainment and educate the audience from the comfort of their homes. In addition, these tours help engage groups of colleagues and friends by offering collaborative and interactive experiences.
These activities make great virtual team building exercises.
This list includes:
- free online tours
- online tours of museums
- online tours of famous places
- online art gallery tours
- online zoo tours
- online city tours
- online walking tours
Let’s get started!
Online tours of museums
Online or virtual tours are best for exploring museums from around the globe without traveling. These tours help remote tourists learn about the history and culture of different countries. Here are some museums you can visit virtually with your friends or coworkers.
1. The Broad Museum
The Broad Museum in Los Angeles is home to over 2,000 art pieces from the 1950s to now. The museum is renowned for its avant-garde designs, especially the “Veil and Vault” concept that allows visitors to explore the museum without exiting the structure. The public is also drawn to the museum’s mirrored infinity room. This incredible museum is popular among art enthusiasts because of its innovative architecture.
The museum provides several digital programs, including educational activities and online resources for virtual tours. Virtual touring allows for an entirely different experience. Usually, the museum has a time limit for visiting certain parts. Online, you can enjoy the twinkling lights and the reflection of the infinitely mirrored room for as long as you like. No 45-second rule will prevent you and your group from experiencing and discussing the art!
Visit The Broad Museum.
2. The Vatican Museums
Located in the smallest country in the world, the Vatican Museums are a series of museums that provide a unique experience to virtual visitors. These unique locations display world-renowned art pieces, including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. The museums are also famous for being home to various archeological relics and historical sculptures.
Another great thing that makes these museums group-tour-worthy places to visit is the official occupancy of the Pope. Now, the participants can sit with their friends on their couches to see the Pope’s residence alongside masterpieces of art. The museum offers guided virtual tours too!
You can visit the museum’s website to book an immersive experience of viewing collections from all over the world.
Find out more about the Vatican Museums.
3. The National Palace Museum and The Forbidden City
In the heart of Beijing is the National Palace Museum, home to centuries of art. You can find more than 700 paintings and intricate calligraphy pieces in the museum. The place also has timepieces, ceramics, and jades.
The Forbidden City is a complex of different palaces surrounding the museum’s building. The museum of The Forbidden City is a place of artwork of exquisite historical magnificence. The city initially served as a political center, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter the city for security reasons. However, the Forbidden City was later transformed into a museum in 1952, displaying rare treasures and Chinese architecture.
You can book a virtual tour for your group to visit this monument of traditional Chinese architecture. The virtual visitors can take a close-up look at the interior and stroll to the exterior courtyards of the place.
Visit the National Palace Museum and The Forbidden City.
4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the biggest museum in the U.S. and is the famous home of the Met Gala. The Met Gala’s popularity has drawn admirers worldwide to experience the museum’s rich history. This museum is the most visited attraction in New York City. As the premise for holding the Met Gala here reflects, the museum offers visitors a heritage of knowledge and inspiration.
The virtual tour allows a moment-in-time tour with an instrumental background melody to the great halls of the museum, the Met cloisters, and the arm and armor gallery.
Find out more about The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
5. Van Gogh Museum
This modern-day style museum in Amsterdam is an ode to the great tragic painter Vincent van Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum holds the most extensive collection of its namesake’s artwork. The collection of more than 500 pieces of drawings and 200 paintings makes the museum one of the 25 most famous in the world. You can have a close-up look at van Gogh’s drawings, paintings, letters, and his contemporaries’ artwork.
This museum is a great escape to aspire and connect virtually with your friends. Experiencing “The Starry Night” virtually with your group is a truly spectacular experience.
Find out more about the Van Gogh Museum.
Online tours of famous places
Online tours of famous places open the doors for groups to experience beautiful landmarks worldwide. These visits are instrumental in connecting cultures and heritage. Here are some famous landmarks for you to experience with your group virtually.
6. Stonehenge
Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK, is a prehistoric site dating back 5,000 years. The ring of standing stones was initially used for cremations around 2500 BC. Now, this site of gigantic sarsen blocks is a famous tourist spot. The Stonehenge website offers a 360-degree virtual tour of the inside of the stone circle and its excavation and conservation process.
Another great feature the website offers is the Skyscape mode. This mode lets visitors learn about the solar alignment and celestial movement above Stonehenge. An interactive virtual session with your group will let you experience this iconic stone monument in a new light.
Visit Stonehenge.
7. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza are the last ancient wonder of the world, standing for more than 4,500 years. The Pyramids of Giza sit on the edge of an Egyptian desert near modern-day Cairo.
The virtual view of these pharaohs’ grand tombs comprises an up-close walking route around the structure and sites. You can virtually tour the most ancient and significant structures, which include the Great Pyramid, the Great Sphinx, and the Pyramid of Khafre. Explore the pyramids virtually with your group and try to understand the mysterious pyramids.
Visit the Pyramids of Giza.
8. Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a mind-blowing Incan citadel with a breathtaking view. The beautiful fortress is spread over 115 square miles in the heart of Peru. The scenic view, lush jungles, and stunning landscapes inspire tourists to visit this place at least once. Even virtually, you will be captivated by the history behind its magnificent architectural structures, fortifications, and adorable alpacas.
You can take a 360-degree virtual tour to learn about its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking panoramas.
Learn more about Machu Picchu.
9. Northern Lights
When arctic air hits warm air, a magical show takes place! Experiencing the Northern Lights is an adventure worth remembering. The aurora borealis is as beautiful as its name. The blue and green night sky on the horizon captivates viewers.
Virtually touring the Northern lights is the next best thing to appreciating them in real-time. You can visit the gorgeous sky show remotely with your group to be mystified.
Learn more about virtual aurora tours.
Online art gallery tours
Online art gallery tours are a great way to explore art exhibitions. Here are some fantastic galleries worldwide to enjoy with your friends without leaving the house.
10. National Gallery
The National Gallery of London displays art pieces from its collection of 2,300 publicly owned drawings and paintings. Moreover, the gallery offers guided artwork tours from the 13th to the mid-20th centuries.
The National Gallery offers some tremendous virtual tours. This institute provides a virtual tour guide to the main room. You can explore the Sainsbury wing and central hall and click on the paintings you want to see. Witnessing portraits and monumental dramatic altarpieces during the tour is a great experience. Also, roaming from one room to another adds an element of exploration to the experience.
Visit the National Gallery.
11. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
One of Amsterdam’s best museums, the Rijksmuseum, tells the tales of Dutch art and related historical events. The gallery offers a virtual tour of the exhibitions, which display pieces dating back to the Middle Ages. You can visit the website to experience the exhibitions virtually. There are over 80 galleries full of historical art pieces for you to explore. Your group will enjoy the interactive tour showcasing the vast collection of famous paintings in the museum.
Learn more about Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
12. The Guggenheim Museum, New York
The well-known Guggenheim museum is considered a national historic landmark. The museum is famous for more than one reason. The building, which spirals downward, is enough to draw visitors in. The building is an architectural marvel, with the structure getting wider as it goes to the top. This historical gallery appears futuristic!
The museum’s walls sport a remarkable art collection, which the visitors enjoy while walking alongside the spiral wall. The virtual tour is a fantastic experience, as you can see a 360-degree view of the museum building.
You can experience this captivating mid-century treasure virtually until you can visit this must-see gallery in person.
Learn more about The Guggenheim Museum, New York.
Online zoo tours
Online zoo tours are becoming popular among animal lovers, as they allow visitors to view exotic creatures up close from the comfort and convenience of their homes. Here is a list of virtual aquariums and zoos that provides a delightful virtual connection to wildlife.
13. Alaska Zoo
The Alaska Zoo virtual tour presents a unique opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat. The zoo provides virtual interaction with animals in real-time. This site is great to visit with your group to unwind.
The zoo has scheduled paid sessions with time limits to keep animals comfortable around cameras. As a result, you can have intimate and memorable virtual visits with seals, tigers, and polar bears.
Visit the Alaska Zoo.
14. Singapore Zoo
Singapore is home to majestic and rare wildlife. The Singapore Zoo provides a variety of e-learning options.
Many of the options are focused on e-learning and virtual classrooms. The zoo is home to over 2,800 fantastic wildlife animals. Avid animal lovers and jungle lovers are always mesmerized by the beauty this zoo holds. You can find several species of mammals, birds, and reptiles in this zoo. You can see many animals in this zoo, which include sea lions, giraffes, and white tigers.
A virtual group tour with friends and coworkers will offer an intimate online experience.
Learn more about the Singapore Zoo.
15. Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Canyon is home to many deep-sea creatures. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live setup allows the virtual attendees to experience mesmerizing undersea beauty and magnificent creatures. You can virtually connect with various marine creatures, including seals, penguins, jellyfish, and sharks.
You can switch streams on your virtual tour to experience fascinating sea creatures’ behavior. Another idea is to plan your virtual weekend trip with their feeding schedule.
Learn more about the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
16. National Aquarium in Baltimore
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is the best place to explore exotic sea life. The site makes virtual navigation easy by offering responsive virtual maps. In addition, you can take virtual walks to enter different parts of the aquarium.
You can also view live webcam streams of anticipated creatures like sharks and jellyfish. The website offers an array of virtual trips so you can find the best one for your group.
Learn more about the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Online city tours
Visiting all the cities on your bucket list in person can get heavy on your pockets. Therefore, it can be better to tour different cities around the world virtually to avoid stressful trip planning or overspending. Here is a list of online city tours you can take without spending a dime.
17. London, England
You can visit one of the most famous cities in the world virtually with your group.
Starting your online tour from the top of the London Eye is an unforgettable experience. You can take a virtual stroll through the streets of London, and do not forget to visit Buckingham Palace. The free online tour allows you to go through a collection of 360-degree images of famous London attractions.
Visit London, England.
18. Paris, France
Paris is also known as “The City of Light and Love.” You can tour the rich architecture and cultural heritage of the most romantic city in France.
Paris is also home to one of the wonders of the world. The city has iconic landmarks, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre. With your group, you can explore the Champs-Élysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter on your online group tour. You can also take a night tour to experience the Paris catacombs.
Visit Paris.
19. Bangkok, Thailand
To make the group experience worth remembering, you can take your group to “The City of Angels.” Bangkok offers a contrast of vibrant markets and peaceful temples.
On your online tour, check out the Grand Palace with your group. The visit will give you great insight into the history of Bangkok. Also, remember to discover Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun. You can also tour the bustling floating shops and row down the Chao Phraya River to learn about the country’s traditional cuisine.
Visit Bangkok.
Online walking tours
Online walking tours have gained much popularity in the past few years, mainly because of the convenience offered by the comfort of homes. Online walking tours allow you to walk around and see the beautiful creations of nature in different parts of the world. Here are some great places to go for an online walk.
20. Acropolis, Greece
You can explore the Acropolis monuments from the Entrance Gate and view landmarks such as the Athena Nike Temple, the Monument to Agrippa, and the world-famous Parthenon. The stunning vantage point above the city of Athens adds to the beauty of these locations.
Learn about the Acropolis virtual tour.
21. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
You can take advantage of a sunny afternoon to run across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. In 1937, when this landmark suspension bridge was constructed, it set new world records for length and height.
You can visit this bridge as you work out to spice up your at-home treadmill workouts.
Learn more about the Golden Gate Bridge street view.
Conclusion
Online tours with your group offer you a unique experience. We live in a world where keeping up with others amidst our busy lives is challenging. Free online tours are your ticket to experience the world from the comfort of your house while connecting with friends, family, and colleagues.
Taking online group tours to museums, famous cities, and monuments is fun. Or, you can visit natural parks and zoos to get a close look at what Mother Nature offers in the form of beautiful landscapes and wildlife.
These tours also allow you to learn about and enjoy famous places without crowds!
Next, read about museums with cool membership programs.
