360° Panoramic Creations:

360 degree view tourism

We create high-quality stabilized video having 8k and 4k resolution, 48 or 24 frames per second together with high-quality post-processing. Videos are supported by the most advanced technologies, such as virtual reality headsets (including Samsung Gear VR), different electronic devices and YouTube channels.

We use different types of moving and fixed objects (tripods, monopods, cars, helicopters, building cranes, etc.) to record videos. For aerial shooting we usually use drones with fully gyro-stabilized unique suspension. Panoramic video covers up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

360° videos are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the videos are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate with the resolution up to 8k.

360° PHOTOGRAPHY

Our team creates high-quality 360° photo-panoramas with 35000x17500 pixels resolution (in the equidistant projection) and carries out professional post-processing and corrections of any complexity. We develop virtual tours which are suitable for all browsers, support both Flash and HTML5 technologies and are compatible with different mobile devices and virtual reality headsets (including Samsung Gear VR).

We use different types of moving and fixed objects (tripods, monopods, cars, helicopters, building cranes, etc.) to record videos. For aerial shooting we usually use drones with the fully gyro-stabilized unique suspension. Panoramic video covers up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

Ready 360° photo-panoramas cover up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

Info-points (description buttons that can be placed in the panorama), embedded pictures, video and audio can be added to the virtual tour.

360 degree view tourism

360° GIGAPANORAMA

Our team creates high-quality 360° photo-panoramas with resolution from 1 to 3 gigapixel and carries out professional post-processing and corrections of any complexity. We develop virtual tours which are suitable for all browsers, support both Flash and HTML5 technologies and are compatible with different mobile devices and virtual reality glasses (including Samsung Gear VR).

Info-points (description buttons that can be placed in the panorama), embedded pictures, video and audio can be added to the ready virtual tour.

360° TIMELAPSE

We can make panoramic timelapses with the given viewing angle and resolution up to 12k with professional post-processing and without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle. 360° timelapses are supported by the most advanced technologies, such as virtual reality glasses (including Samsung Gear VR), different electronic devices and YouTube channels.

360° timelapses are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the timelapses are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate with the resolution up to 12K.

Content sales:

360 degree view tourism

VIRTUAL TOURS

On the basis of 360° panoramas we create virtual tours of any complexity, branded with logos and design elements of the company’s website together with embedding interactive elements, such as photos, slideshows, videos, descriptions, switch-points to other panoramas, audio descriptions, 3D sounds.

Our clients receive a fully functional virtual tour developed in HTML5 and supported by any computer or mobile device (iOS, Android, Windows Phone).

360° Photo    Price List

STOCK PHOTOS

For almost 10 years of travelling around the world our team has gathered an extensive stock of pictures, taken from both flying devices and the ground.

Any picture presented at our stock can be licensed for any kind of possible use. We can also offer the photos of ultra-high quality (the longer side up to 103,000 pixels).

You can also take a look at the spherical panoramas published on the website www.airpano.ru . Any of the 360° panoramas represented on the website can be converted into a printed image of very high quality.

Photogallery    Price List

360 degree view tourism

STOCK 360° VIDEOS

By filming 360° video since 2011, our team has gathered an extensive stock of clips, taken from both flying devices and the ground.

Any video presented on our website can be licensed for any kind of possible use.

360° videos are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the videos are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate.

360° Video    Price List

APPLICATIONS

We are one of the software developers of applications based on 360° photos and videos. Currently, there are 7 applications in our portfolio. One of them was top-rated in 84 countries and listed among the best applications of the year 2014 according to App Store.

These applications can also be used for demonstration of panoramic content with the help of virtual reality devices, such as Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard and analogues.

Exhibition installations:

360 degree view tourism

EXHIBITION INSTALLATIONS

AirPano team has the experience of creating panoramic cinemas and video-walls, making it possible to demonstrate our panoramic content at different kinds of events, exhibitions and in museums. The size is only defined by the premises, the quality of projector and the dimensions of plasma screens. Such solutions usually make a deep impression on visitors.

The control is carried out by a tablet or Kinect devices.

360 degree view tourism

TOUCH SCREENS

We are ready to create applications with panoramic content working on touch screens of any size. Both AirPano panoramas and the client’s material can be the basis for this kind of software.

We create virtual tours of any complexity, branded with logos and design elements of the company’s website together with embedding interactive elements, such as photos, slideshows, videos, descriptions, switch-points to other panoramas, audio descriptions, 3D sounds.

360 degree view tourism

VR HEADSETS

Our virtual tours and 360° videos are supported by all the types of virtual reality headsets (VR): Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Sony Morpheus and others.

We can also develop special software for operating on Samsung Gear VR, if required.

AirPano in cooperation with Polden Studio carries out the installation of the binocular usage of the client’s or our own content. With the help of binoculars, the client can present the panoramic content at different kinds of events, exhibitions and in museums. This kind of devices usually attract a lot of visitors and leave a deep impression on them.

360 degree view tourism

Fullscreen 360 features 360-degree panoramas of iconic destinations around the Universe. A full screen, 360-degree image lets you virtually travel to some of the most beautiful sites in the world, and the ability to look in any direction gives you the feeling of standing at on Mars, in Machu Picchu, on top Mt. St. Helens, or any of the other destinations we feature. The beautifully detailed, full screen panoramic photos give travelers a perspective unlike any other form of photograph. Destination360 and its team is the inspiration behind Fullscreen 360.

The best virtual tours to explore the world from home

Oct 8, 2020 • 5 min read

Ceiling of Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. Check permissions for this image

The Sistine Chapel is just one wonder offering a virtual museum tour ©Rajesh Gathwala/500px

We live in an age of unprecedented access to digital technology – and with it, brand new ways of exploring the world around us.

While it's not quite the same as seeing, say, the Mona Lisa or Christ the Redeemer in person, some of the world’s most popular and remote destinations have created libraries of online images and video, as well as 360 degree virtual tours that let you virtually explore museums, galleries, world wonders and even national parks.

Here a just a few of the best digital tours that let you wander the world from wherever you may be social distancing.

A woma nin a pink technical fabric top and matching pants and a black cap with a brim walks past the orange buildings and clay roofs of the Choijin Lama Museum in Ulan Bator with a green camera sphere from Google Street View strapped to her back

See the seven wonders of the world

If there’s anything capable of whetting your appetite for world travel, it is the new seven wonders of the world:  the Great Wall of China , the ancient city of Petra , the Taj Mahal , the Colosseum , Machu Picchu , Christ the Redeemer , and Chichen Itza . Thankfully there are impressive virtual tours of each from The New York Times , AirPano , Google , and Panoramas .

With modern technology, you can even see the last standing wonder of the ancient world— The Pyramids of Giza . There are a few other wonders that might not make it into to the top seven but are still worth a digital peek, like the Alhambra , Seville's La Giralda , and even Easter Island.

The Egyptian Antiquities room in the Lovure Museum is empty except for several statues of various sizes from Tanis, Karnak, and Thebes

Best virtual museum tours

In recent years, Google has partnered with over 2,5000 art museums to upload high-resolution versions of millions of pieces of art. Highlights include New York’s MoMA , DC’s National Gallery of Art , Chicago’s Art Institute , the Casa Battl ó, and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum to name a few.

In addition, The Louvre offers a virtual tour , as do The Vatican Museums , many of the Smithsonian Museums , the Russian Museum , the top-rated British Museum , the Minneapolis  Museum of Russian Art , and the Palace Museum in Beijing.

You may not be able to kiss the Blarney Stone right now, but you can tour the Blarney Castle from afar. You can also visit the Museum of Flight,  the Museum of Science, the Museum of Natural History,  the National Women's History Museum  and Boston's History of Science Museum .

While museums are often an inherently visual experience, there's a lot to be learned from archives of past lectures and tours like the ones preserved online by Nashville's Frist Museum , the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Smithsonian American Art Museum,  the Frick , and others.

You might also like:  Broadway might be closed, but here’s how to stream the best performances from your home

Turquoise Pool in Yellowstone National Park surrounded by a contrasting blanket of fresh white snow

Explore national parks

While travel to National Parks is best avoided for the time being, you don't need to miss out on the scenery. Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. 

Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos , Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon , and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 more on Google Earth . You can also get an up-close look at almost 4,000 pieces of artwork, artifacts, and other treasures related to the history and culture of the national parks, and view online exhibits .

A penguin looks at the viewer through the glass walls of a habitat at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Digital safaris

Wildlife is a big draw for travelers, whether it's sighting some of the Big Five in Africa, glimpsing whales in North America, or introducing your children to new animals in person on a family safari . But if you're forays into the bush are grounded for now, many zoos and aquariums have created digital access to their habitats.

You can easily watch several live webcams of some of the nation’s greatest zoos and aquariums, including the  San Diego Zoo , Houston Zoo , Zoo Atlanta , the Tennessee Aquarium , and the Georgia Aquarium . Additionally you can see Canadian farm animals doing their thing , or you could watch Stella the Dog jump endlessly into huge piles of Maine leaves.

You may also like:  These nine wildlife web cams offer access to your favorite animals

A view overlooking the Wotans Throne feature at the Grand Canyon

Virtual hiking

Thanks to panoramic video, you can get a really good idea of what a hike looks like well before you arrive at the trailhead. For example, you can experience all of the following top-rated hikes right now from your computer or tablet:  Bryce Canyon , Grand Canyon , GR20 , Inca Trail , and the death-defying Angel's Landing . For even more great hikes, simply YouTube one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 treks or any other hike that suits your fancy. Bonus points if you follow along during a workout to enhance the realism.

Famous landmarks

You can visit many wonders of nature, including the Amazon Rainforest , Iguazu Falls , the Komodo Islands , or Table Mountain , using virtual tours. Or you can explore the Statue of Liberty , the Sahara Desert , Niagara Falls , or even a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower . For even more virtual tours, search your bucket list of adventures with  AirPano , Google Earth , or YouTube .

Astronatur Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. looks at the Lunar Module Pilot during the 1969 moon landing

Travel to outer space

The moon hasn't made it to Lonely Planet's Best In Travel list (yet!), and even without self-isolation and shelter-in-place measures for COVID-19, many of us may never travel to space. But thanks to technology, now is as good of a time as any to do so virtually. Before blasting off, considering touring some of NASA’s offices first. Then relive the last lunar missions and moon walks in stunning HD. Or take a virtual tour of Mars with the help of Google. 

You might also like:

Listen to the sounds of forests around the world Cook your way around the world with these travel-inspired kitchen essentials Rome watchlist: films to see before your trip

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is now a global pandemic. Find out what this  means for travelers . 

This article was originally published March 2020 and was last updated October 2020.

This article was first published March 2020 and updated October 2020

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100+ Virtual Tours of Popular Tourist Attractions Around the World [2024]

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100+ Virtual Tours of Popular Tourist Attractions Around the World [2024]

Los Glaciares National Park

Great barrier reef, hamilton island, sydney opera house tour, uluru-kata tjuta national park, schönbrunn palace, vienna, amazon rainforest, iguazu falls, sanctuary of christ the redeemer, rio de janeiro, angkor wat, siem reap, niagara falls, old quebec, quebec city, polar bears, churchill, the bund, shanghai, forbidden city, beijing, guilin mountains, guangxi, zhangjiajie glass bridge, hunan, prague castle, prague walking tour, pyramids of giza, giza, sphinx, giza, tomb of queen meresanhk iii, giza, catacombs of paris, paris, château de versailles, versailles, eiffel tower, paris, louvre, paris, musee d’orsay, paris, acropolis, athens, ice cave and aurora borealis tour, red fort, delhi, taj mahal, agra, borobodur temple, java, prambanan temple, yogyakarta, cliffs of moher, county clare, tel aviv museum of art, colosseum, rome, uffizi gallery, florence, valley of the temples, sicily, hanami around the world, onsen all over japan, samburu national reserve, museo frida kahlo, mexico city, teotihuacan, climb mount everest, anne frank house, amsterdam, keukenhof tulip fields, lisse, van gogh museum, amsterdam, hobbiton, hinuera, waitomo glowworm caves, otorohanga, machu picchu, trinity lavra of st. sergius, sergiyev posad, gardens by the bay cloud forest, marina bay sands, domica cave, kečovo, kruger national park, robben island museum, cape town, alhambra, granada, casa batlló, barcelona, dali museum, figueres, sagrada familia, barcelona, aurora borealis, abisko, malmö street art walk, nature of sweden, gombe stream national park, burj khalifa, dubai, the british museum, london, england, buckingham palace, london, england, giants causeway, bushmills, northern ireland, london walking tour, london, england, the roman baths, bath, england, stonehenge, wiltshire, england, alcatraz island, san francisco, california, baseball hall of fame, cooperstown, new york, bryce canyon national park, bryce, utah, carlsbad caverns national park, carlsbad, new mexico, grand canyon national park, arizona, hawai’i volcanoes national park, kenai fjords national park, seward, alaska, kennedy space center, cape canaveral, florida, the metropolitan museum of art, new york city, new york, monterey bay aquarium, monterey, california, national museum of natural history, washington, d.c., redwood national and state parks, crescent city,  california, san diego zoo, san diego, california, statue of liberty, new york, walt disney world rides, orlando, florida, the white house, washington, d.c., yellowstone national park, wyoming, yosemite national park, yosemite, california, victoria falls, international space station, outer space, final thoughts.

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Satisfy your wanderlust by exploring famous sights — all from the comfort of your couch!

We’ve put together a list of over 100 virtual tours from more than 35 countries worldwide so that you can explore without having to catch a flight or spend a dime! We’ve organized this gigantic list by country so you can easily navigate to your country of choice or simply work your way down the list and digitally travel all over the globe.

Grab a snack and get ready to explore!

Hot Tip: We’ve also created extensive guides to virtual tours across U.S. National Parks , in addition to museums  and walking tours !

Petito Moreno Glacier Argentina

Google Earth has a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, which is located in southwestern Argentina. This park contains the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is one of the only advancing glaciers in the world. It is nearly 20 miles long and is a popular tourist attraction and ice-hiking site.

You can also discover other parts of Argentina through Google Earth including:

  • Cerro Uritorco, the highest hill in the Sierras Chicas mountain range
  • Palacio San Jose, the residence of the first constitutional president of Argentina
  • Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, the oldest and largest national park, located in the Patagonia region

To view the virtual tour page, click here . 

Great Barrier Reef

David Attenborough leads you on an interactive underwater tour to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Through interactive time-lapses, videos, and weather maps, the tour shows you the Earth’s most bio-diverse ecosystem.

All the while, a tracker notes miles traveled, total sailing time, and the effects of climate change during your “exhibition,” making this a great educational tour for adults and kids alike!

To start your virtual tour, click here .

Whitehaven Beach Whitsundays

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. This island features beautiful beaches and is close to the Great Barrier Reef. All you need is a tropical drink to be transported!

You’ll find these videos on YouTube, but the site recommends downloading the YouTube app for the best experience. Swim with sea turtles at the Great Barrier Reef, play golf at Hamilton Island’s championship golf course, take a helicopter tour over the iconic heart reef, or sail to the famous Whitehaven Beach on a yacht!

To start your virtual tour, click to explore . 

Bondi Beach Swimming Pool

YouVisit has an interactive tour of Sydney available. You start your journey by taking a ferry to Sydney, walking around Circular Quay, viewing the Harbour Bridge, seeing the Royal Botanical Gardens, and finishing by exploring both Luna and Hype Parks.

The 360-degree views really make you feel like you’re a part of the action!

Sydney Opera House Australia

Views of the iconic Sydney Opera House are synonymous with Sydney itself. Now you can explore this landmark virtually!

The Sydney Opera House and the Google Cultural Institute joined together to provide an interactive tour that takes you around the famous exterior, allows you to tour sets and the orchestra pit, and even features a performance by Nicole Car and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Uluru Ayers Rock Australia

One of Australia’s most scenic spots is the Uluru rock formation, also known as Ayers Rock. Uluru is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area and the surrounding area features an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings.

Qantas Airlines has a virtual reality app that allows you to experience an epic flyover via helicopter. You can experience it on your phone, or even a virtual reality (VR) device like Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive.

To view the virtual tour page and instructions on how to download the app, click here . 

Schonbrunn Palace Virtual Tour

Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and is the most-visited tourist attraction in Vienna. The palace consists of over 1,400 rooms and is considered one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in Austria.

Once you leave the palace, be sure to venture out to the gardens to explore an impressive maze, orangery, and a botanical garden — all containing impressive fountains and sculptures.

To start your virtual tour, click to explore the palace or start by strolling through the park .

Amazon Rainforest

“Under The Canopy” is a VR experience produced by Conservation International and its partners. This unique view into the Amazon Rainforest and River Basin allows you to see how indigenous tribes live, follows along with a sloth’s journey, and goes deep into the rainforest.

The goal of this educational tour is to teach viewers how to protect the rainforest against the worst impacts of climate change. To get the full experience, you need to download the YouTube app, but you can also view the tour directly on the website.

Start here for more details.

Iguazu Falls

While the exact number of waterfalls varies by season, the majestic Iguazu Falls are considered to be the world’s largest waterfall system and are also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

AirPano offers interactive photos and videos to explore these stunning vistas from both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of the falls. Whether you choose the viewing platforms, trails, or videos via helicopter, you are sure to be amazed!

Christ the Redeemer in Rio

The Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro and was voted one of the “New7Wonders of the World.” This statue is a symbol of Christianity across the world and also a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. 

Google Arts & Culture allows you to visit the statue virtually through its app. See unique details, such as the mosaic coating made of small, triangular-shaped pieces of soapstone that cover the entire surface of the statue!

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then begin your virtual tour here .

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Google Street View lets you experience the mysterious temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. There are many other temples to explore, including:

  • The “lost temple” of Beng Mealea
  • Angkor Thom
  • Ta Prohm (made famous by Tomb Raider!)
  • Pink temple of Banteay Srei

Each walk includes the history and detailed descriptions of important pieces of artwork found along the way. And the best thing is — no crowds!

Start your virtual tour here . 

Niagara Falls

Journey Behind the Falls is a popular tourist attraction on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. It offers a unique view below and behind the falls that you are now able to experience in virtual reality!

Niagara Falls Tourism has brought this experience to life with an interactive video detailing your trip. Experience the power of the falls from multiple vantage points — without the need for a rain poncho!

Visit Niagara Falls virtually here .

Old Quebec

Known for its classical architecture and a distinctive European feel, Quebec City is a popular tourist destination. Old Quebec is the historic area of the city, rich in historic landmarks and museums. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Start with a sunrise walk on the Dufferin Terrace, where you can see the St. Lawrence River and a breathtaking view of the Château Frontenac. Take a funicular to get to the Petit-Champlain District and admire the charming boutiques and terraces. The 360-degree views will certainly impress!

Start your virtual stroll here .

Polar Bears in Churchill Canada

Churchill, Canada is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World! Using Google Street View, search for polar bears as you trek along the frozen tundra — without needing your warmest winter coat!

This joint effort by Polar Bears International, Earth Outreach, and Google Maps allows you to learn more about the bears and their habitat, the impacts of climate change, and the work being done to advance the cause of polar bear conservation.

Begin your virtual trek here .

View From The Bund Shanghai

The Bund is the waterfront located on the western bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China. It is famous for its grand buildings and the epic view of the city skyline.

On this interactive walking tour, you can see the city during the day and night, explore the Bund Bull and Monument to the People’s Heroes, and learn about the history of Shanghai through the architecture of its buildings.

Visit the Bund by clicking here . 

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing, China. It was the former Chinese imperial palace and state residence of the emperor of China from the Ming dynasty until 1924. It is also China’s best-preserved imperial palace.

This tour allows you to see the main areas of the complex, including:

  • Hall of Supreme Harmony
  • Imperial Gardens
  • Meridian Gate
  • Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs

Begin your virtual tour by clicking here . 

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China. With over 10 million visitors each year, it is one of the world’s most-visited tourist attractions.

This virtual tour lets you walk along the Jinshanling to the Simatai section of the wall, experiencing multiple seasons along the way. This 6.5-mile stretch provides guests with some of the best views of the wall since this region is well-known for having some of the most well-preserved sections with original features still intact.

Walk along the Great Wall by starting here .

Guilin Mountain China

“Avatar” fans will be interested to know that the movie’s floating mountains were based on the karst formations in the Guilin mountain range. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its natural scenery and wild and untouched landscape.

AirPano takes you on a flight over the area, exploring famous sites such as Seven Stars Park, Reed Flute Cave, Folded Brocade Hill, and Green Lotus Peak.

Start your interactive flight here . 

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is a skywalk bridge that is made from glass — making it completely transparent. It spans 1,410 feet across China’s Grand Canyon. When it opened, it was the longest and tallest glass-bottomed bridge in the world!

The safety of this bridge has been called into question after incidents at similar bridges resulted in injuries. This makes for an even better reason to virtually experience this bridge safely and enjoy the heart-stopping views from the comfort of your own home!

Start your video tour here . 

Czech Republic

Prague Castle

Prague Castle sits overlooking the beautiful city of Prague. It serves as the official office for the president of the Czech Republic. Prague Castle is among the most-visited tourist attractions in Prague — attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.

The Czech government has put together a virtual look at the courtyard, gardens, the castle’s picture gallery, and even the inside the Cathedral of St. Vitus.

St. Charles Bridge Prague

Step into this fairy tale town with a 4K virtual walk around Prague, also known as the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Start your tour at Charles Bridge, wander down the twisting cobblestone streets, and end your day by visiting one of Prague’s pubs.

You will really feel like you stepped into Prague with the city sounds and tourist chatter in this real-time stroll to Powder Tower — passing many historic buildings along the way.

Start your walking tour here .

Pyramids of Giza

Among the most famous tombs in the world, the Pyramids of Giza were built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The pyramids originally held the royal mummies and their worldly effects to be used in the afterlife.

Stand beside these 4,500-year-old pyramids that overlook the modern city of Cairo. The behind-the-scenes portion of the Google Street View trek gives you details about the construction process and purpose of this Ancient Wonder of the World.

Start your walk to the pyramids here .

Sphinx Egypt

The Great Sphinx was believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom (around 2500 B.C.). This limestone statue has the body of a lion and the head of a human and faces from west to east, directly in the shadow of the famous pyramids of Giza.

Google Earth allows you to virtually see the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau.

Start your explorations here .

Meresankh III Tomb

Close to the Great Pyramid lies the tomb of Queen Meresankh III, the wife of Khafra and granddaughter of Khufu. The Giza Project, presented by Harvard University, allows us to virtually explore her tomb.

You will find many well-preserved wall reliefs as well as 10 large statues of women that are carved out of the northern wall. It is believed that the women represent Meresankh herself, her mother, and her daughters.

Venture underground by starting here . 

Paris Catacombs

Not for the squeamish, the Catacombs of Paris hold the human skulls and bones of more than 6 million people in a network of subterranean tunnels underneath the streets of Paris . Explore these catacombs, some of which date back over 1,200 years!

There are 5 areas you can navigate through:

  • The Alcôve de L’Ossuaire
  • The Atelier
  • The Cloche de Fontis
  • The Galerie de Port-Mahon
  • The Lampe Sépulcrale de L’Ossuaire

Begin your virtual tour here . 

Chateau de Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682 until 1789. What began as a simple hunting lodge transformed into a palace with over 2,300 rooms! Explore many of these rooms on your virtual tour.

Google Arts & Culture provides the unique experience of seeing Versailles free of tourists. Zoom in on artifacts, step into 3D renderings of rooms and wander around the expansive gardens. This is definitely a unique experience!

The best experience can be found by downloading the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ), but you can also start your journey here .

Sunset under the Eiffel Tower Paris France

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was visited by almost 7 million people last year, but you can avoid the crowds and take a virtual tour instead!

TV5 Monde created a 360-degree virtual reality tour that reveals every aspect of the Eiffel Tower in 3 minutes, featuring a sunrise from the Champ-de-Mars and a panoramic ascent to the top, both inside and out. Learn about 130 years of history and enjoy the stunning views.

Begin your virtual ascent here .

Louvre Museum Paris

The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and contains some of the world’s most amazing artwork and treasures. If you spent 60 seconds looking at each of the objects for 8 hours a day, it would take you 75 days to see them all.

Here is just a sampling of some of what you can view virtually:

  • Roman Antiquities Hall
  • “Winged Victory”
  • Napoleon’s Apartment
  • Tuileries Garden

Begin your journey through the Louvre here .

Hot Tip: We’ve also created a guide to the 50 best museums that you can tour and visit virtually !

Musee D'Orsay

The building of the Musee D’Orsay is just as beautiful as the artwork it contains. The Beaux Arts-style building was formerly a train station and later a hotel.

Inside, the museum contains a wide range of magnificent French art from the period 1848 to 1914, including furniture, paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Paintings by greats such as Renoir, Monet, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh are on virtual display throughout the museum.

As is usual for Google, you can explore via Street View or download its app for a more interactive adventure.

Acropolis Athens

The Acropolis stands watch over the city of Athens. These ruins serve as a reminder of the rich history of Greece. Today, it is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site and home to several temples that you can visit courtesy of the Acropolis Restoration Service.

On this virtual tour, explore the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, and the Temple of Athena Nike while learning about the historical significance of the Acropolis and restoration efforts that are taking place.

Start your virtual tour here or you can follow directions on how to download the app.

Tikal Guatemala

Tikal was once the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. The site is part of Guatemala’s Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

There are thousands of ancient structures and temple complexes at Tikal, but only a fraction of these sites have been excavated. On this virtual tour, explore some of the most prominent surviving pyramids — Temples I to VI — some of which are over 200 feet high!

Start exploring virtually by clicking here .

Lava Cave Iceland

Ice caves are an extraordinary and mesmerizing wonder of nature. They’re a common tourist attraction in Iceland. The best time to visit is from November to March when the weather has been consistently cold enough for the ice caves to become stable enough to visit and explore properly.

Hike along with this YouTube adventurer to explore the freezing ice caves in Vatnajokull and the aurora borealis from the comfort of your warm home!

Start your virtual hike here .

Red Fort Dehli

The Red Fort is a historic fort in the city of Delhi and served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. It was constructed by the same architect that built the Taj Mahal.

Google Maps Street View allows you to get an up-close look at this fort. Explore the 1.5 miles of defensive walls, walk through the main gate, and explore the beautiful domed ceilings.

Start your Google Maps walk here . 

Taj Mahal India

The Taj Mahal is a marble mausoleum in Agra, India. This UNESCO World Heritage site was commissioned in 1632 by the emperor to house the tomb of his favorite wife. The Taj Mahal receives close to 8 million visitors a year and in 2007 it was declared one of the “New7Wonders of the World.”

Google Maps allows you to walk around this beautiful site from the comfort of your computer, tablet, or phone. It advertises that you can “enjoy postcard views or discover rarely-seen perspectives” as well as “get up close to the hand-carved details and explore expansive landscapes.”

Start your virtual walk here .

Borobudur Temple Indonesia

Borobudur Temple is a famous Buddhist temple dating from the 8th and 9th centuries located in central Java. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s.

Google Earth allows you to explore the beauty of the temples in Borobudur. Tour the various tiers and wall reliefs, including numerous stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. Also, enjoy the gorgeous views overlooking the island.

Begin your virtual tour here .

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan attracts many visitors from around the world. Built during the 10th century, it is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. While it went through a period of decline, the British rediscovered Prambanan, along with Borobudur above, in the early 19th century.

While a major earthquake in the 16th century caused serious damage, there are still many beautiful temples to explore. By using Google Earth, you can walk among many stunning structures with stone spires and sculptures.

Start your wandering here . 

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located in County Clare that run for about 9 miles. The stunning cliffs rank among the most-visited tourist sites in Ireland with around 1.5 million visits a year!

Start your walk at multiple sweeping viewpoints along the cliffs, move to the view from the top of O’Brien’s Tower, and explore the visitor’s center on your interactive tour.

Enjoy the views of the sea by starting here .

Jerusalem Western Wall

Jerusalem is one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations since it is considered holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. 360 Virtual Tour has put together a digital tour of Jerusalem so you can experience what it’s like to explore the Holy Land.

See many of the most-visited sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, and more.

Tel Aviv Art

Explore the art collection in Tel Aviv’s Art Museum. You can visit select exhibitions, including the SOLAR GUERILLA, at the Tel Aviv’s Museum of Art.

This exhibition showcases how cities can be used as tools for change. It presents case studies from Chicago, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, London, New York, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv and highlights ideas such as sponge cities and solar trees.

Start exploring the exhibition here .

Colosseum Rome

The Colosseum is located in the center of the city of Rome . It is the largest amphitheater ever built —holding between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests and other events, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, and reenactments of famous battles.

Take a virtual tour around the corridors of the arena’s unknown underground, learn historical details, and more.

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then start your tour here .

Birth of Venus Uffizi Florence

The Uffizi is an art museum located in Florence. It is one of the largest and best-known museums in the world, holding an immense collection of priceless works from the Italian Renaissance.

Google Arts & Culture allows you to tour inside the museum without any crowds virtually through its app. Walk down the hallways and explore the collection.

A sampling of the artwork inside includes:

  • “Annunciation” by  Leonardo da Vinci
  • “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
  • “La Primavera” (Spring) by  Botticelli Filipepi
  • “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino Mazzola

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then begin your tour here .

Valley of Temples Sicily

The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological site in Sicily. Once part of the Ancient Greek empire, it is one of the most outstanding examples of Greek art and architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the main attractions of Sicily.

Your tour will allow you to take a virtual walk around the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Zeus, and the early Christian acropolis.

Venice Gondolas

Venice is a magical city situated on a group of 118 small islands — linked by over 400 bridges. Travel the canals, walk the streets, ride boats, and cross bridges to reveal one of the world’s most unique cities.

This virtual tour is a fantastic introduction to Venice, especially for those who have mobility issues that make crossing bridges difficult, but also useful in times when you can’t travel.

Explore the city virtually by clicking here . 

Cherry Blossoms in Osaka Japan

While the pandemic spoiled many people’s plans to visit the cherry blossoms in Japan, Google Earth has got you covered. Enjoy the amazing experience of Hanami in Japan!

This tour starts in Japan but also jumps to 9 other popular sakura spots around the world, including Paris and Washington, D.C. It can also help you plan prime-viewing locations for when you are able to take your trips!

Start experiencing the cherry blossom festival here . 

Mt. Fuji Japan

Mt. Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain, known for its perfect conical shape. Fujisan, as it is reverently referred, is used as a cultural icon of Japan and is frequently visited by sightseers and climbers.

Now, you can see the beautiful Mt. Fuji from home. Google Street View lets you see what it would take to hike to the top and be rewarded with stunning views from the summit.

To begin your virtual tour, click here .

Onsen in Japan

An onsen is a Japanese hot spring — and since Japan is a volcanically active country, it has thousands of onsens scattered throughout its major islands.  Locals and tourists alike flock to the traditional inns and bathing facilities that these hot springs feed into.

Take a tour through the hot springs of Japan. Google Earth allows you to explore 13 of these magical hot springs situated all over the country.

Start your explorations here . 

Treasury Petra Jordan

Petra is an ancient city located in Jordan. The Nabataeans might have settled in what would become the capital city of their kingdom as early as the fourth century B.C. It is famous for its pink sandstone walls and stunning carvings.

Trek through the Siq and explore sights such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, Little Petra, and Monastery. Learn about the people who inhabited Petra while staying out of the sun!

Start your walk around Petra here .

Samburu National Reserve

The Samburu National Reserve is a game reserve on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro in Kenya. This river provides water, without which the game could not survive. The elephants of this region have been studied by Save the Elephants  for over 20 years.

Get to know the landscape, people, and wildlife of Samburu through this virtual trek. Learn about conservation efforts and see elephants up close!

Start your virtual safari here .

Museo Frida Kahlo

The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House, is a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Use Google Street View to see inside of the Mexico City museum and zoom in on some of her most-famous artwork including:

  • “Frida and the Caesarian Operation” (1931)
  • “Long Live Life” (1954)
  • “Portrait of My Father Wilhelm Kahlo” (1952)

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located near modern-day Mexico City. It is known for its Mesoamerican pyramids and also for being the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas at its peak.

You can now see the pyramids at Teotihuacan from home. On this tour, walk along the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, and more — and experience each viewpoint in 360 degrees!

Begin your virtual journey here . 

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is Earth’s highest mountain above sea level at 29,029 feet. Everest attracts many climbers, but it also presents dangers, such as altitude sickness, weather, and avalanches. More than 300 people have died trying to reach the summit.

But you don’t have to risk death to experience what it takes to summit Mt. Everest. You will need a VR device to be fully immersed in this experience, but if you don’t have one, you can always watch a video of the final ascent here .

Start your VR experience here . 

The Netherlands

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House, now a museum, is located in central Amsterdam and hid the young Jewish diarist, her family, and 4 other people from Nazis during World War II.

The Anne Frank Museum offers a virtual tour so that you can experience a video diary, see the Secret Annex where she lived and what it looked like when she was there, and more.

Begin your tour of her life here . 

Keukenhof Tulip Fields

Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens and is widely known for its beautiful tulip fields. Keukenhof opens for 8 weeks from mid-March to mid-May, with peak viewing for tulips arriving near mid-April, where it can receive 26,000 visitors per day.

The exhibition’s blooms are available virtually — free of crowds!

Begin your virtual walk around the gardens here . 

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is a must for anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter. The Google Arts & Culture app allows you to see his works up close by virtually visiting this museum.

This collection contains the largest number of his artwork, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 of his personal letters.

Some of the most famous items include:

  • “Almond Blossom”
  • “The Potato Eaters”
  • “Sunflowers”

To begin, first download the Google Arts & Culture app ( iOS , Android ) and then start your virtual tour here . 

New Zealand

Hobbiton New Zealand

Any Lord of the Rings fans will recognize Hobbiton — it was created as the movie set for the Shire. It is situated on the North Island of New Zealand and the set is around 12 acres large!

On this virtual tour, you will be able to explore many parts of the set, including the Green Dragon Inn, Frodo and Bilbo’s much-loved Bag-End, and more.

Begin your virtual journey here. 

Waitomo Cave New Zealand

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are located on the North Island of New Zealand. They are known for their population of glowworms found only in New Zealand.

On this virtual tour by National Geographic, you can experience what it is like to take a boat ride under the glowworms.

Float in the caves by clicking here . 

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu takes your breath away. It stands high above the tropical mountain forest and is among the greatest artistic and architectural achievements made by the Inca civilization.

See Machu Picchu without the trek! Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site by seeing the views from multiple outlooks, wandering around the residences and burial grounds, and seeing the current residents — the alpacas!

Explore virtually by starting here . 

St. Sergius Lavra Russia

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is also home to over 300 monks and serves as an educational center for young priests.

Use Google Earth to explore the entire complex, including many stunning churches, the famous Holy Trinity icon, as well as many important burial sites.

Explore the ornate buildings starting here . 

Cloud Forest Dome Gardens By The Bay

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay is an indoor greenhouse with diverse vegetation and rare plants from all over the globe. The goal of the attraction is to expose visitors to these disappearing plants and discuss conservation efforts underway.

Be amazed as you encounter the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, descend through the surreal mist-filled Cloud Walk, and finish with the Treetop Walk.

Begin walking around the dome here . 

Marina Bay Sands

Visit Singapore’s most iconic hotel virtually! The Marina Bay Sands hotel has put together a virtual tour so that you can visit from home.

See views from various rooms throughout the hotel, a museum, and get a glimpse into some of the shopping the hotel offers. The main attraction is the Sky Park, which contains the infinity pool overlooking the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay.

Start your virtual tour here .

Domica Cave

The Domica Cave is made from light limestone and the passages were shaped by the waters of the underground river Styx. The cave is the largest of over 700 in the area.

Venture underground in Slovenia to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site, courtesy of Google Earth.

Walk around the caves starting here . 

South Africa

WildEarth Safari

One of the largest game reserves in Africa, an amazing array of wildlife calls Kruger National Park home, including the “Big Five” of lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, and Cape buffaloes, as well as zebras, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hyenas.

The WildEarth team broadcasts 3-hour-long live safaris daily at sunrise (starting at 11:30 p.m. EST) and sunset (starting at 9 a.m. EST).

Begin your virtual safari here .

Robben Island Museum

Robben Island Museum is an island off the coast of Cape Town. It was fortified and used as a prison from the late 17th century to 1996, after the end of apartheid. Many of its prisoners were political — including Nelson Mandela.

Google Arts & Culture brings you to the former island prison and educates you on the 18 years Nelson Mandela spent there.

Alhambra Granada

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Andalusia. It is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting Islamic architecture together with 16th century and later Christian buildings and gardens due to its many different occupants.

Take a virtual tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit the following:

  • Charles V Palace
  • Justice Tower
  • Square of Cisterns

Tour the palace and gardens here .

Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is considered one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces. Many things inside (and on top of!) the house were designed by him, including some of the furniture, windows, and even the staircase railings.

There are few straight lines inside, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles. The roof is arched and the structures have been compared to the back of a dragon. It’s truly a unique house!

Begin your virtual tour inside the house starting here .

Dali Museum

The Dali Museum is dedicated to the artist Salvador Dali in his hometown of Figueres. There are an incredible 96 oil paintings and other artworks displayed in this space.

The virtual tour of this museum is pretty incredible — you can click through the rooms, zoom in on important pieces of art, and learn more about the life of Salvador Dali.

Some of the most outstanding works on display are:

  • “Port Alguer” (1924)
  • “Portrait of Gala with Two Lamb Chops Balanced on Her Shoulder” (1933)
  • “Self-Portrait with l’Humanité” (1923)
  • “The Spectre of Sex-Appeal” (1932)

Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is considered to be the best example of Modernist architecture. The design developed by Antoni Gaudi was so complex and detailed that it remains unfinished to this day!

On the virtual tour of Gaudi’s famous cathedral, you can walk inside the basilica, see the different façades, and even see the tomb of Gaudi.

Tour inside the church by clicking here .  

Aurora Borealis

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, come alive as streaks of pink, green, and purple dancing across the night sky. The best time to visit is during the coldest and darkest months. Still, visitors flock to see the show during the long winter nights.

See the spectacle from home thanks to Lights Over Lapland. The site also has a dog-sledding adventure to experience!

Experience the northern lights here . 

Malmo Street Art

Malmö is Sweden’s third-largest city and home to a variety of street art thanks to the 2014 Artscape Festival, Sweden’s first large-scale street art festival. There are large sculptures and murals hidden around every corner!

Google Street View makes it easy to explore street art in Malmö.

Take a walk through the city to explore some of these gems!

Nature in Sweden

Maybe a quiet escape to the outdoors in beautiful Sweden is more your speed? Visit Sweden has put together a virtual reality tour that you can experience either through your computer or VR device.

There are multiple adventures you can choose from: go for an evening swim, camp in the mountains, or meet the King of the Forest.

Escape to nature here . 

Gombe Chimpanzee

The Gombe served as a home for Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research. It is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, and only accessible by boat. Besides chimpanzees, primates inhabiting Gombe include beachcomber olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and more.

Learn about Goodall’s life, her work with the chimpanzees, and see the beautiful place they call home. You can also experience a “day in the life” of a chimpanzee family.

Start your Street View Trek here . 

United Arab Emirates

Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. The floors are arranged in a unique spiral formation to provide stability from the strong desert winds.

Google Street View allows you to go to different rooms and floors within the building, and the behind-the-scenes section shows you the views from a window washer’s viewpoint on the 80th floor. Learn more interesting facts and figures about this amazing building on this trek.

Start your Street View Trek here .

United Kingdom

British Museum

The British Museum, located in London, has a permanent collection of 8 million works — making it the largest and most comprehensive collection in existence. Many of its treasures were widely sourced during the era of the British Empire.

Google Street View begins the walk outside, but you can click through to experience some of the vast collection. Just a sampling of the objects include:

  • The Book of the Dead
  • Egyptian mummies
  • Parthenon sculptures
  • The Rosetta Stone

Read more about the British Museum in our guide to the best museums in London .

Click here to start your virtual tour.

Buckingham Palace

Step inside the official residence of the Queen of England. It can be difficult to visit the Royal Palace as it is only open to the public between July and October.

Through this virtual tour, visitors will explore Buckingham Palace’s ornate rooms, garden parties, and famous artwork — available any time of year!

Giants Causeway

Explore the unique Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns — the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. There is a local myth that a giant named Finn MacCool built the causeway to get to Scotland to battle a rival giant.

The National Trust put together a virtual sunset tour of the Giant’s Causeway, as well as the surrounding areas of Aird Snout headland and Port Noffer.

Access all of the virtual tours here . 

London

London is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations with millions of visitors annually! There is so much to do and see in London , from history to art to culture and food.

VisitLondon offers a virtual map of the entire city. The tour starts at the top of the London Eye. From there, you can drop down into selected landmarks, like Big Ben or Westminster Abbey, and explore the locations from a street view.

Roman Baths England

The Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex in Bath on the site of Britain’s only hot spring, which still flows with hot water. The Roman Baths are one of the finest historic sites in Northern Europe.

Enjoy a virtual tour around the steaming Great Bath where people bathed nearly 2,000 years ago. Learn more about the baths and walk through the complex.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones, each weighing around 25 tons.  Archaeologists believe it was constructed sometime between 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. It is one of the most famous attractions in the U.K., attracting 800,000 visitors a year.

English Heritage has put together an interactive tour around the site. Select various hotspots to find out more. The tour also offers a live view from within the stone circle.

United States of America

Alcatraz Island NPS

Alcatraz Island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a federal prison for almost 30 years.

Explore this former prison in San Francisco Bay on an interactive Google Arts & Culture tour where you can learn about notorious inmates and see escape materials and inmate artwork.

Begin your journey to “The Rock” here .

Baseball Hall of Fame

Die-hard baseball fans regularly make the pilgrimage to see the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This museum is committed to preserving the history of America’s pastime and celebrating the legendary people who have made the game great.

Examine vintage photos, signed baseballs, programs, posters, videos, and more thanks to Google Street View.

Walk around the museum virtually by clicking here . 

Thors Hammer Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for the beautiful, red, white, and orange “hoodoos” surrounding this famous desert landscape.

Take a virtual tour around Sunset Point and view the star-filled night sky from this Dark Sky-certified national park, see the park’s unique rock formations up close, and even take a horseback ride through the canyon.

Begin your virtual explorations of Bryce Canyon here . 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico and is home to over 100 caves. The caverns are well-known for their many impressive calcite formations.

On this virtual tour, you can take a walk through some of the caverns, view incredible rock formations, and even experience life as a bat thanks to Google Arts & Culture’s simulation.

Walk into the caverns beginning here .

Grand Canyon

See the majestic Grand Canyon that was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River below. It’s amazing to see this much geological history revealed before your eyes.

Walk with Google Street View to explore the Bright Angel trail. It will lead you from the South Rim, down the Black Bridge, across the Colorado River, and up to the Phantom Ranch campsite. You can zoom in and click to discover new views of the park.

Begin your virtual descent here . 

Hawaii Volcano National Park

Hawai’i Volcano National Park is one of the most popular national parks, located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. This park spans from sea level to the summit of 2 of the world’s most active volcanoes — Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can access a virtual tour to explore the Nahuku Lava Tube, enjoy the stunning view from the volcanic coastal cliffs, fly over an active volcano, and see the effects of an eruption from 1959.

Begin your tour through a lava tube starting here . 

Kenai Fjords

Experience the Kenai Fjords National Park virtually. The national park was established to preserve the fjord and rain forest ecosystems, Harding Icefield, abundant wildlife, and historical and archaeological remains.

Google Arts & Culture offers a guided tour through the park. Climb down a crevasse on Exit Glacier, watch a glacier melt, and kayak through a Bear Glacier lagoon. You might even encounter some wildlife along the way!

Start your virtual journey here . 

Kennedy Space Center

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is 1 of 10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) field centers. It currently serves as NASA’s primary launch center for human spaceflight.

Google Street View Treks allows you to experience a tour of the Kennedy Space Center virtually. Take a virtual walk through the transfer aisle of the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building, stand at the top of Launch Pad 39A, and more.

Metropolitan Museum of Art New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is located in New York City and is the largest art museum in the U.S.

The Met 360° Project developed videos covering 6 of the Met’s most popular attractions and spaces, including:

  • The Charles Engelhard Court
  • Gothic Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park
  • Neo-Classical Grand Hall
  • Temple of Dendur

You can experience the museum through your computer, smartphone, on Google Cardboard, or with a VR headset.

For all of the details, click here . 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you are missing the ocean, the Monterey Aquarium is here to help! This aquarium is known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay and was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened.

Experience the stunning Monterey Bay Aquarium in real-time. It has several live cams broadcasting including a aviary cam , a  jelly cam , a  shark cam , and an  adorable penguin cam .

See all of the live stream options here . 

Smithsonian Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Science lovers can experience permanent , current , and past exhibitions online.

This includes exhibits such as:

  • The Butterfly Pavilion
  • The Hall of Fossils
  • The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals (featuring the Hope Diamond)
  • The Hall Human Origins

Access all the exhibits here . 

Redwood National and State Parks

The Redwood National and State Parks hold some of the world’s tallest trees. In this series of short VR interpretive talks produced by the NPS, Ranger Greg takes you on your own ranger-led walk. Learn about habitats, rivers, ecosystem restoration, and historical figures, and understand some of the amazing adaptations that redwood trees have.

NPS suggests using a VR device for full immersion, however, it notes that you can also move the video/photo in any direction on your mobile device or PC.

Start your virtual hike here . 

Driving Route 66

Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the U.S. It originally ran from Chicago, through many states in the Southwestern U.S., ending in Santa Monica. Because this road wound through so many tiny towns, hundreds of odd little trading posts, motels, and attractions popped up along the way — many still available to explore.

Take a virtual drive along the historic highway and get an up-close-and-personal look at 10 different sites along the way.

Begin your journey down Route 66 here . 

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is one of the best out there. Its innovative animal habitats provide natural settings for animals, often with different species living amongst one another. The 100-acre facility features a variety of settings and wonderful exhibits.

The San Diego Zoo has several live streams on throughout the day focusing on various animals. The streams include an  ape cam , elephant cam , a  koala cam , and more.

Access all of the live cams here .

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Interestingly, it was built by Gustave Eiffel, the creator of another item on our list — the Eiffel Tower. The statue became an icon of freedom and the U.S. to immigrants arriving by sea.

The NPS has created a 360-degree tour that allows you to virtually see the views from the torch, crown, inside the copper statue, and elsewhere on Liberty Island.

Visit Lady Liberty by clicking here . 

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance Disney

If you’re waiting on a visit to Walt Disney World , you can still experience a little of that Disney pixie dust from home.

Virtual Disney World has put together an astounding number of videos riding some of the famous rides throughout all of the parks.

Check out the main YouTube page here , which is divided by park. 

White House

The White House is the official residence of the president of the U.S. Located in Washington, D.C., and every U.S. president since 1800 has lived here. Tours are not easy to come by as public tour requests must be submitted through your member of Congress.

Luckily, you can take a virtual tour thanks to Google. This tour offers tons of history and interesting facts while you see the following highlights:

  • The Oval Office
  • The Secretary of War Suite
  • Vice President’s Ceremonial Office
  • The White House Library

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is known for its many geothermal features, especially the popular Old Faithful geyser. You can also expect to see bison roaming around!

There are many video walks available thanks to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). You take a map-based our of the park and you can also tag along for virtual walks to:

  • Canary Spring
  • Dragon’s Mouth Spring
  • Lookout Point

To start your virtual tour, click here . 

Yosemite National Park

See the stunning Yosemite National Park , internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and diverse wildlife. On average, about 4 million people visit Yosemite each year — primarily within Yosemite Valley.

Virtual Yosemite allows you to see the valley and beyond! Some of the places you can explore include:

  • Bridal Veil Falls
  • Glacier Point
  • Nevada Falls
  • Summit of Half Dome
  • Yosemite Falls

Start your virtual exploration here .

Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular attractions in Africa. This waterfall was created by the Zambezi River that suddenly plummets into a narrow, 100-meters deep chasm. Its roar can be heard from 40 kilometers away — locals called even call it “The Smoke Which Thunders.”

Watch a series of 2 360-degree interactive videos to see these majestic falls from above and multiple vantage points on both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides.

Start Part 1 , then continue to Part 2 . 

… And Beyond

International Space Station

Would you like the chance to view Earth from above and learn what it feels like to live in space? Now you can, thanks to a virtual tour of the International Space Station (ISS) created by the European Space Agency.

Get station tours from some of the crew who live there. Through various video clips, learn what it’s like to eat, work, and even bathe onboard. And don’t forget to look outside to get a glimpse of Earth from space!

Access all the tours here . 

Outer Space

Even the nearest planets outside of our solar system are light-years away, so actually visiting remains a distant dream.

However, on NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration website, you can explore an imagined surface of alien worlds via 360-degree interactive visualizations. Explore the blood-red sky of TRAPPIST-1d , or stand on the imagined moon of Kepler-16b .

This tour works on desktop and mobile, but is optimized for VR devices such as Oculus and Google Cardboard.

Start exploring here . 

While we’ve listed over 100 of the very best virtual tours out there, we know there are even more! Use this list as a jumping-off point to explore even more. Google Earth, Google Arts & Culture, official websites for attractions, and national park websites have a treasure trove of fabulous content.

While viewing these attractions virtually isn’t quite the same as being there in person, it’s still very possible to explore and learn about the world around us from the comfort of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do virtual tours cost.

All of the tours we’ve linked above are completely free, though they may require downloading free apps to experience. Some tours may be amplified by having a VR headset, but this isn’t necessary.

What virtual tours are available?

We’ve included over 100 of the very best tours out there, but there are countless more! Google Earth, Google Arts & Culture, national parks, and the official sites for attractions you are interested in are all great places to start looking for more options.

How do you do a virtual tour?

Depending on the tour, you may need to click on a link or download an app to experience your tour. Then, you will simply enjoy the experience! Each tour is different — so decide whether you prefer a virtual walking tour, a tour you click through, or even a VR tour so you can fly above the city or site!

Where can I watch virtual tours?

There are infinite possibilities of where you can experience a virtual tour. You can find virtual tours on Google Arts & Culture, go directly to the site’s website, or even find a great virtual tour on YouTube.

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About Christy Rodriguez

After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.

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Top 10 virtual tours: see museums and the world without leaving home

Stuck at home? You can still enjoy amazing sights and experiences

Machu Picchu virtual tour

Many of the world’s most iconic locations now offer virtual tours, meaning you can visit museums, world heritage sites and other attractions from the comfort of your couch. You don’t need a VR headset , either, although some attractions do support virtual reality for a more immersive experience.

So if you’re looking for things to do at home, and in need of a change of scenery, simply grab your laptop, tablet or phone, and join us on a world tour filled with history, nature and – of course – technology.

1. Machu Picchu, Andes Mountains, Peru

A simply stunning UNESCO World Heritage site, Machu Picchu is a visual wonder that just has to be seen. You no longer need to fly all the way to Peru to see it in all its glory, however, as the virtual tour is comprehensive, immersive, and filled with fascinating insights.

With 360-degree views of the ruins of Inca settlements and lush green landscapes, you can visit every popular vantage point and learn more about the history of the famous site thanks to a helpful voice narrator. OK, you can’t feel the warm breeze around you, but if you turn on the heat and have a handy desk fan set to low, it’s almost as good as the real thing. Almost.

Behold the marvel : Machu Picchu

2. The Louvre Museum, Paris

An attraction visited by millions of tourists in person every year, the Louvre Museum has also created a selection of virtual tours based on its permanent collections. Explore Egyptian antiquities, the Remains of the Louvre’s Moat, and the decorative arts of the Galerie d’Apollon. 

The tour is easy to navigate, with an expandable minimap that lets you highlight exhibits to view with just a couple of clicks. You can also find out more about each room in The Louvre, with detailed descriptions that will probably make the room you’re actually sitting in feel frightfully dull in comparison. 

Take a trip: Louvre Museum

3. The National Museum of Computing, Milton Keynes, UK

The National Museum of Computing contains the world’s largest collection of working historic computers. That means one of them probably runs Microsoft Vista and is still working...

The museum features a fantastic, intuitive, virtual 3D tour. You can zoom in on each exhibit’s details, and find out more about every aspect of computing history, such as the world’s oldest working digital computer. Impressive stuff.

Discover a digital treasure trove: The National Museum of Computing

4. Georgia Aquarium, Georgia, USA

Nothing beats the beauty of nature, so it’s good to know you can still get your daily dose of “aww” from the safety of your sofa. The Georgia Aquarium has over 50 species ranging from sea lions to underwater puffins, with many available to view via webcam. There’s also a daily and weekly livestream that’s aimed at piquing children’s interest in animals, and a great at-home educational tool if you want to entertain the little ones. 

Ever wondered what a Beluga Whale gets up to in its spare time? Just click on the link below and find out. Water-way to have a good time. 

Sea more: Georgia Aquarium

5. A 3-Minute Tour, Tokyo

What if we told you that you could ride in a Tuk Tuk, walk across the famous Shibuya crossing, win a Pikachu from a claw machine, and make friends with a robot… all in under three minutes. That might be physically impossible, but with VR it’s a breeze.

If you’ve ever wanted to take a whistle-stop tour of Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organization has created a 360-degree virtual reality video that lets you do all of the above, and lots more. 

Simply put on a VR headset to experience a surreal thrill ride, where you’ll go from feeding a deer to facing off against a sumo wrestler in a matter of seconds. The video is also viewable in 2D, and well worth a look. 

Check it out below.

6. The British Museum, London

Home to a remarkable collection that spans over two million years of human history and culture, The British Museum has nearly 50 online exhibits to view. From Bonaparte and the Battle of Waterloo to exploring the history of LGBTQ, there’s plenty of informative content to delve into.

For a more interactive experience, check out the Museum of the World tour . You can browse through a large selection of exhibits that are dated by century, continent and category – such as trade and conflict or art and design. Each exhibit offers a detailed description as well as accompanying audio, which helps provide a fascinating backstory to each piece. 

Browse the exhibits: The British Museum

7. The Vatican, Rome

Filled with spectacular architecture and historic monuments, The Vatican is within your virtual reach, with a host of museums providing online tours. Step into the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms, which are adorned with simply sensational artwork. 

The tour is compatible with WebVR, so you can pop on a VR headset to get an even closer look at some of mankind’s most memorable creations. It’s truly breathtaking, even when viewed through a screen.  

When in Rome, visit: The Vatican

 8. Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located in the center of Paris, this historic museum was installed in the former Orsay railway station. It was originally built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, and displays collections of art from the period 1848 to 1914.

Take a leisurely virtual stroll through the opulent hallways and witness works from dozens of famous French artists, including Monet, Gauguin and Van Gogh. With no other visitors to contend with, you can soak up all the culture on display to your heart’s content – and there’s a lot to soak up. 

Take the tour: Musée d’Orsay

9. Athens Acropolis, Athens

A must-visit destination for history buffs, the Athens Acropolis includes the world-famous Parthenon, and is a cultural hotspot for tourists. Choose between popular sites such as the Theatre of Dionysus and enjoy in-depth videos that provide a fascinating and educational insight into ancient Greece. 

There are plenty of photographs to view and engrossing facts to learn, so don’t be surprised if you become an armchair expert in no time. Now, where’d you put that amphora of wine? 

Get to the Greek: Athens Acropolis

10. The Royal Academy of Arts, London

If you’re amazed by architecture, the Royal Academy of Arts has a virtual tour that will make you go “ooo” and “ahh” for hours. The Sensing Spaces exhibition uses high-quality 360-degree photography to give visitors a taste of its structures and remarkable exhibitions – it really does feel as if you’re actually there. 

Each exhibition is complemented by further information for users to read through, but you’re encouraged to come to your own conclusions, and think about what each space means to you.

Visit the exhibition: Sensing Spaces

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Adam was formerly TRG's Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.

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Samirs Virtual World

Samir's Virtual World

The Future of Travel and Tourism with 360 Cameras and Video

A technology that’s set to redefine the way we travel is 360 videos with a 360 camera. This powerful tool can capture a full 360-degree view of its surroundings, creating immersive experiences that are revolutionizing the tourism industry.

The travel and tourism industry is one of the most vibrant and dynamic sectors worldwide. It’s always evolving, always innovating. Let’s take a look! 🌎

Here is one of my examples of a 360 video tour when I went to Tokyo, Japan. The best ways to watch these are on a VR headset, but its easy to watch on your phone or computer as well.

360 Videos : The New Travel Brochures

Remember flipping through glossy travel brochures, imagining what it would be like to visit those picturesque destinations? Well, 360 cameras are taking that concept to a whole new level. Travel agencies and tourism boards can use these cameras to create 360 degree virtual tours of destinations, allowing potential tourists to explore cities, landmarks, and natural wonders from the comfort of their homes.

These virtual tours aren’t just panoramic photos; they’re fully immersive experiences. You can “walk” down the streets of a foreign city, “climb” a mountain trail, or “dive” into crystal-clear waters, all through your screen. It’s not just about seeing a destination; it’s about experiencing it.

This is what I do when I shoot with my Insta360 X3 while travelling, so you can see before you go!

Take a look at my article on using Insta360 X3 camera while travelling.

Insta360 X3 360 camera, best travel camera or for shooting 360 tours

360 Hotel Tours: Know Before You Go

Choosing the right accommodation can make or break a vacation. With 360 cameras, hotels and resorts can offer virtual tours of their rooms, facilities, and surroundings. This gives travelers a realistic view of where they’ll be staying, helping them make informed decisions. No more relying on carefully angled photos or vague descriptions; you can see exactly what you’re getting before you book.

I’ll be shooting 360 photos and videos of where I stay when I travel so you can see if you want to book the same location when you travel there.

My article on tips on best ways to watch 360 videos.

360 Experiences: Try Before You Buy

From theme parks to museums, attractions are a big part of travel. But how do you know if an attraction is worth your time and money? Enter 360 cameras. Attractions can use these cameras to create virtual experiences, giving potential visitors a taste of what they can expect. This could include a 360-degree video of a roller coaster ride, a virtual walkthrough of a museum exhibit, or a immersive view of a live performance.

I also have videos of tours and theme parks I have visited while travelling the world so you can check them out before you book.

Here is an example of a 360 tour using 360 photos when I went to Budapest, Hungary.

The Future is Here

360 cameras are not just changing the way we choose our travel destinations; they’re changing the way we experience travel itself. In the future, we might see even more immersive travel experiences, like VR vacations or augmented reality tours.

But even as technology advances, the essence of travel remains the same. It’s about exploration, discovery, and connection. And while a 360-degree video can’t replace the thrill of stepping off a plane into a new city, it can enhance our travel experiences, making them more informed, more immersive, and more exciting.

So next time you’re planning a trip, why not take a virtual tour first? You might be surprised at how close you can get to your dream destination, without even leaving your home.

My Youtube 360 Travel site of videos around the world.

More info on 360 videos and cameras

If you are interested in 360 cameras and videos here are a few of my articles below.

Travelling with 360 camera vs a regular camera

Insta360 X3 vs X2

GoPro Max vs Insta360 X3

VR vs 360 video: What’s the difference?

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I travel the world and film with my 360 camera and write about my experiences and provide suggestions for readers.

My Virtual World includes 360 VR travel and well as the gear needed to shoot and watch them, including 360 cameras and VR headsets.

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Grand Canyon

10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders

If you’re bored of lockdown strolls in the local park, try these online hikes to Everest and Patagonia and a jaw-dropping ascent of El Capitan

10 virtual tours of the world’s most famous landmarks

The Grand Canyon, USA

At 277 miles in length, 18 miles across at its widest, and a maximum 1,857 metres deep, this vast Arizona landmark is grand in nature as well as name. Around 40 sedimentary layers are visible in its steep cliffs, with the oldest basement rocks formed around two billion years ago. Hike the canyon’s Bright Angel Trail via a Google Street View Trek . One of the most popular long-distance routes in the national park (9.3 miles), it zigzags up from the Colorado River to the south rim. Like with other entries in the list, wider exploration is on offer with Google Earth view , which lets users zoom in and out and click into points of interest – the peaks of Wontons Throne or Angels Window, for example – for further information. Another VR project, AirPano , has high-definition 360-degree images for a bird’s eye view of the Red Rocks.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Screen shot from Air Pano

Known in Nepali as Sagarmatha and Tibetan as Chomolungma , the world’s highest peak sits on the border between Nepal and China. Explore Everest’s south base camp in Nepal, at an altitude of 5,380 metres, with interactive 360-degree views of snowy peaks and colourful prayer flags. Via an interactive map , and a 3D rotating viewer, you can gaze at the 8,848-metre summit, plus other Himalayan peaks stretching west into Pakistan and east to Bhutan. Clicking the human-shaped icon on this page highlights all the points around the mountain range that can be explored further at ground level. Views from other peaks, including over the Imja River and mountain villages, are visible in these 360 degree images . There’s also shot of a busier south base camp – it sees about 35,000 visitors a year, after all.

The northern lights

Northern lights at Lake Torassieppi, Finland

The aurora borealis is a dazzling natural phenomenon caused by Earth’s magnetic field interacting with electrically charged particles from the sun. The lights are visible from countries at high northern latitudes, such as those of Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. The Norwegian Lights over Lapland project takes travellers on a five-minute journey through a series of 360-degree videos. The virtual trip starts in the Icehotel in Abisko national park, northern Sweden, heads into the wilderness on a reindeer sleigh, passing Lake Torneträsk and an Arctic birch forest on the way to a cosy wooden Sami hut at the base of Mount Noulja. A series of time-lapse videos then show the lights dancing overhead in vibrant streaks and arcs of rippling green. There are 360-degree images with a view from elsewhere in the world, including Iceland , over the Goðafoss waterfall; in Yamal and on the shore of the Barents Sea in Russia; and in several locations around Norway . You could even be lucky enough to witness the lights live via webcam in Manitoba, Canada.

Hang Sơn Đoòng , Vietnam

Sơn Đoòng, Vietnam

The world’s largest cave, Hang Sơn Đoòng in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, was explored by scientists for the first time in 2009, after a local man, Ho Khanh, discovered it in 1991, but did not locate it again until many years later. Sơn Đoòng 360 is a project by National Geographic aiming to preserve the cave in digital form before it becomes subject to extensive tourism development. A trek – created from 360-degree images and atmospheric sound effects – heads through light-filled caverns, passing a 70 metre-tall stalagmite called Hand of Dog, and huge sinkhole jungles. Keep an eye out for members of the expedition crew, and take advantage of the high- definition images to zoom into details of the cave’s geology, flora – and fauna, too, if you look hard enough.

Yosemite national park, USA

El Capitan Yosemite

Yosemite, in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, is a diverse and spectacular natural landscape. It’s home to more than 400 species of animals, including around 500 American black bears, rare snowshoe hares and endangered mastiff bats. Granite monoliths tower over meadows, rivers and forests, including one the park’s most notable sights, El Capitan, standing over 900 metres tall with a near vertical cliff face. US climber Lynn Hill was the first person to free climb (without aid equipment) the challenging Nose route in 1993. Scale the mountain with Hill and her team, learning more about skills, techniques and equipment as you ascend to dizzying heights. The climbers jam their hands into “flakes” of rock and swing across the face to reach vertical cracks, stopping on a ledge, El Cap Tower, for the night. Explore the national park further with these 360-degree images , complete with sound effects, including sound Ahwahnee Meadow and Nevada Fall.

Zhāngjiājiè national forest park, China

Screenshot from AirPano

The quartz-sandstone pillars of Zhāngjiājiè – pronounced jaang-jyaa-jie – were the inspiration for the floating peaks of the Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar film. Their unique shape is caused by physical erosion from water, ice and the roots of trees and foliage. Take flight around these towering natural columns – some stretching up over 1,000 metres – in an interactive video tour exploring the site, and zoom into high definition 360 degree shots from the sky. The park is also home to an ancient temple from 870AD, the cliffside Bailong glass elevator, and the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, strung between mountains 300 metres up, and a busy tourist spot – though seen in these 360-degree images with fewer crowds.

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway.

This fantastical section of County Antrim’s Atlantic coastline is made up of more than 40,000 interlocking, geometric (mostly hexagonal) basalt columns. Legend has it that the unusual rock formations are the remains of a stepping-stone causeway path to Scotland, built by giants. Scientists believe they were in fact formed by lava flowing into the sea, as molten basalt erupted through chalk beds 50 to 60 million years ago. The National Trust has created a series of virtual tours, with views from Aird Snout headland and by the water’s edge in the bay of Port Noffer at different times of day. There are also sweeping views from above to explore elsewhere, including the Carrick A Rede trail and rope bridge.

Perito Moreno glacier, Argentinian Patagonia

Despite the climate crisis causing many of the Earth’s glaciers to shrink, the defiant Perito Moreno remains largely undiminished; if anything, scientists say it’s growing. Covering 97 square miles of Los Glaciares national park, it is fed by the melting waters of the south Patagonian ice fields in the Andes. A set of interactive images on 360cities, give an impression of the scale (use the white arrows to click between views), as well as the variations of blue – the less oxygen in the ice, the bluer it gets. An immersive video tour of the wilderness beyond the glacier, created by the Guardian in 2018 (above), takes viewers around the varied landscape of the protected Parque Patagonia, passing turquoise rapids, a rainbow and a pack of guanacos roaming the plains.

Ambrym volcano, Vanuatu

Film still from Spitting Distance

This virtual tour ventures down into one of the world’s most active volcanoes, just a few metres from a churning 1,200C lava lake. It follows adventurers Ulla Lohmann and Sebastian Hoffmann, a couple who make documentary films, along with volcanologist Thomas Boyer, who descend together to the third terrace of Benbow, one of the main vents of the Ambrym volcano, on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.. The short interactive film joins the team as they prepare for the expedition, travel to base camp, up to the rim beyond the jungle, into the ash plain, and abseil down into the crevice, sitting just 60m away from the lava. The longer hair-raising 25-minute documentary , Spitting Distance – The Descent Into a Raging Volcano, is also available online.

Namib desert dunes, Namibia

Namib Desert dunes.

The swirling sculptural patterns the Namib desert’s sand dunes stretch for 31,000 square miles across the Namib-Naukluft national park in southern Africa. Some of the largest can be found in the Sossusvlei area, home to mountainous swathes of pink-orange sand, including the 388m-high Dune 7, which sits opposite Big Daddy at 325m, and Big Mamma, 198m. There are several interactive 360-degree images offering views from the giant dune ridges. The tour also includes the iconic Deadvlei, a salty clay pan backdrop to blackened, dead acacia trees; mist approaching from the sea of the Skeleton Coast; and a starlit scene showing the Milky Way.

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What is virtual reality in travel?

Virtual reality refers to interactive images or videos which enable the viewer to explore the entire 360 degrees of a scene. Unlike a regular image of video, which is shot from a fixed view point, VR production captures every part of a location.

In the travel industry, virtual reality can be used to capture tourism destinations in a unique and immersive way.

This is achieved using specialist cameras, rigs, and software. The finished content can then be viewed on either a VR headset or a regular computer or mobile device.

Many people assume that VR content can only be viewed on a specialist VR headset but this is not the case. Although VR is more immersive when viewed in this way, it can also be viewed on any device, including mobiles.

Take a look at the tourism VR content below, produced by us at Immersion VR. You can click or swipe across the video in order to view an entire 360 degrees.

VR in tourism marketing

The most common way in which VR is utilised in the tourism industry is for marketing. Being able to capture tourism destinations in such a memorable and immersive way is a powerful marketing tool.

One of the greatest strengths of VR is allowing the user to experience the feeling of “being there”. Whilst regular images and videos can work well for showing what a destination has to offer, they don’t often elicit an emotional response.

VR in tourism has the ability to place the user at the heart of the scene and makes it easier for them to imagine themselves at the location.

360 VR tourism

When many people think of VR they think of it as CGI (computer generated imagery), which is how it is used in the gaming industry. However, there is a different form of virtual reality known as 360 VR, or 360VR video.

360 VR focuses on the real world rather than computer generated imagery. This makes it perfect for the tourism industry where it is important to show users a real location rather than a mockup or a simulation.

360VR content in tourism is captured in a similar way to regular image and video content. A 360 VR company, like us at Immersion VR, arrives at the location with specialist equipment in order to shoot the scene. The footage is then taken back to the studio where it is produced into VR content using specialist software.

This form of VR is the most widely used form of VR in tourism and it something that we specialise in here at Immersion VR. 360 VR is also commonly used in education, the real estate industry, and for online marketing in general.

VR technology in tourism

VR can be used in many different ways in the tourism industry. The technology is evolving at a rapid rate and the uses of VR within tourism is expanding along with the technology.

The main VR technologies that are used in the travel industry are VR video and VR photography.

VR tourism videos

A VR tourism video works much like a normal video. They can be viewed on social media or websites, but unlike a regular video, the user is able to explore the entire scene whilst the video is playing.

VR tourism videos are captured using specialist cameras known as omnidirectional cameras. These cameras film every angle of the destination at once. After filming, the footage is taken back to the studio where it is stitched together in order to produce a VR tourism video.

There are 2 types of VR tourism videos:

  • – Monoscopic VR tourism video
  • – Stereoscopic VR tourism video

Monoscopic VR videos for tourism can be viewed on regular devices including mobiles and computers. The viewer can click or drag across the screen in order to rotate the field of view, similar to turning your head to explore a scene.

Take a look at the VR tourism video below for an example of monoscopic footage. The video can be viewed on any device, inclusing mobile and desktop. Scroll or swipe across the video to explore the entire surroundings.

Stereoscopic VR videos for tourism are produced for VR headsets and they cannot be viewed on a regular device. Although they take more time to produce and are typically more expensive, they provide a more immersive travel experience. These videos feature head tracking so the user can move their head to explore the surroundings in a realistic way.

For more information about monoscopic and stereoscopic VR content, take a look at our in-depth article here .

VR tourism photography

VR tourism photography involves the production of 360 images of travel destinations. These images are generally designed to be viewed on regular devices such as mobiles and desktops.

Virtual tourism photography works much like a VR tourism video but with still images. The view is free to scroll or swipe across the image in order to view the entire scene.

Take a look at a sample of some of the 360 tourism images taken below.

The images are taken with state-of-the-art DSLR cameras on specialist rigs which allow for the capture of 360 degrees. Because DSLR cameras are used, it allows for higher resolution images when compared to VR tourism videos.

The 360 images can then be uploaded to social media and websites for user to view just as easily as regular images. Although these images are typically not as immersive as VR videos, they are quicker to produce and generally more cost effective.

Using 360 photography, it is also possible to produce hotel tours which enable the user to explore a hotel and its surroundings in an immersive and interactive way.

Applications of virtual reality in tourism

Applications of VR in tourism include:

  • – Virtual reality travel experiences
  • – VR tourism content for social media/websites
  • – Virtual hotel tours

Virtual reality travel experiences

Virtual reality travel experiences typically refer to VR tourism videos made for VR headsets. These virtual travel experiences aim to create a feeling that is as much like being in the real destination as is possible.

At the cutting edge of 360 VR, virtual reality travel experiences provide something truly unique and memorable to the user. The number of travel agencies and travel companies embracing this technology is continually growing and they promise a bright future within the industry.

VR headsets in the travel industry

VR headsets typically provide the most realistic virtual reality travel experience for the user. A VR headset uses specialist software which tracks the movement of the users head. This allows the user to explore the travel destination as they would in real life.

Currently, the number of people that own a VR headset is rising at a fast rate. This growth in headsets can largely be attributed to the gaming market, where the technology is being pushed hard.

Also, all the major online platforms including Google, Facebook, and Amazon are all investing heavily in VR headsets and VR content, promising a bright future for this space.

VR for travel with VR headset

VR created for headsets is more expensive to produce as it requires the production of Stereoscopic content and spatial audio. However, for those travel companies looking to be at the forefront of the technology, the cost can be worth it to allow them to stand out from the crowd and provide an unrivalled experience to their clients.

VR for travel agencies

One of the most common uses of VR headsets in tourism is by the travel agencies themselves. They can offer prospective clients in-store virtual travel experiences that completely transform what it means to visit a travel agency.

Instead of showing visitors brochures and computer screens, travel agents can provide their clients with a virtual experience. This approach can also be used to great effect at trade shows and events, quickly gaining interest from the general public.

Utilising VR allows travel brands to stand out from the crowd and it provides the user with an experience they won’t forget. Many travel companies have embraced VR technology and have used it to improve sales, as well as to gain brand exposure.

Virtual tours of hotels

Virtual hotel tours allow users to explore a hotel and its grounds in a much more immersive way than ever before. Just how virtual tours are transforming the real estate industry, they are also having a huge impact on the hotel industry.

Hotel interiors and exteriors can be captured in extreme detail using high resolution cameras and specialist equipment. The images are then merged together ( stitched ) to form a complete 360 degree interactive tour in which the user can choose which room to explore.

VR hotel tours are usually monoscopic, which means they can be viewed on any device including mobile and desktop. The tours can then be uploaded to websites and social media for prospective clients to view at any time.

They can also be stereoscopic if the situation and budget allows. This can result in a more realistic and immersive experience.

Unlike regular images of hotels, these tours allow users to imagine themselves in the space. This kind of immersion helps to create unique brand engagement and a lasting impression with the user.

To find out more about virtual tours please take a look at our in-depth article here .

VR travel tours

As well as hotels, VR travel tours can also be created for a wide range of travel destinations and landmarks. VR tours of popular tourism destinations can be produced to give the user a taste of what it’s like to be there.

Benefits of virtual reality in tourism

The benefits of virtual reality in tourism include:

  • – Allowing the user to imagine themselves at a travel destination
  • – Being able to showcase 360 degrees of a destination in high resolution
  • – Enabling the user to explore a scene at their own will
  • – Creating memorable and unique experiences for the user
  • – Creating unique brand engagement
  • – Allowing travel companies to stand out from the crowd
  • – Providing travel experiences to those that cannot travel
  • – Reducing impact of tourism on vulnerable destinations

VR tourism statistics

According to research carried out in Germany by Statista (see below), almost 50% of people would use VR as a tool for choosing their holiday destination (providing it was free). 13% of those surveyed were actually willing to pay for the VR.

VR travel stats

Furthermore, research carried out by Tourism Australia found that almost 20% of consumers had used VR to select a holiday destination. Around 25% of consumers said they planned to use VR in the future to help them decide on a holiday destination.

Overall, the research by Tourism Australia found that VR had the ability to bring a destination to life and make consumers consider travelling to places they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. In particular, consumers were most interested in the VR content that related to nature, wildlife, aquatic, and coastal offerings. – http://www.tourism.australia.com/content/dam/assets/document/1/6/y/7/t/2003897.pdf

The future of VR travel

At Immersion VR, we can’t see tourism VR going anywhere. On the contrary, we have seen an increase in the use of VR for travel. We cannot predict how this space will develop or what new VR travel technologies will be developed. However, we can spot emerging trends within the industry.

VR travel trends

Common VR travel trends include the following:

  • – VR travel experiences by travel companies
  • – Virtual hotel tours by travel companies and hotels
  • – Technologies to make VR travel more realistic
  • – VR travel experiences for the elderly
  • – VR flight experiences
  • – Virtual experiences of landmark destinations
  • – Virtual booking interface

We are sure that this list will be growing in the near future so watch this space!

Virtual experiences of landmark destinations

Popular landmark destinations often suffer from the environmental problems associated with too many tourist visitors. By making VR experiences of these landmarks, the number of users can be controlled, reducing the environmental impact.

Take a look below at a VR travel experience of the Grand Canyon. Don’t forget to drag or scroll across the video to explore the scene.

With the number of VR headsets on the increase, these type of experiences are sure to become a common feature in many households across the world.

VR flight experiences

Passengers embark upon a replica of an aeroplane cabin while they are given the pre-flight safety demonstration and then served gourmet food. The goal is to provide them with a realistic experience of flying to a destination.

VR flight experiences are a relatively new addition to the VR travel space. A Tokyo based company called First Airlines has created the world’s first virtual reality airline.

Virtual travel experience provided by First Airlines

Upon “arrival” the passengers are then given a virtual tour of the destination with VR headsets. Whilst still in its early stages, this kind of experience has the potential to provide people with travel experiences that they would otherwise be unable to afford.

Virtual booking interface

A virtual booking interface is another very recent development within tourism VR. Users can book their holiday whilst wearing a VR headset. All of the booking process takes place within virtual reality.

Everything from choosing the hotel to paying for the holiday happens whilst the user is experiencing the VR. Whilst this has limited applications, we can see travel agencies and companies taking this approach to increase the number of conversions.

It seems to be the logical next step up from one-off travel experiences to taking care of the entire booking process. Whilst still in its infancy, we can see virtual booking interfaces becoming more common within the tourism industry.

Virtual reality travel for seniors

One of the areas in which virtual reality can replace travel is for those that cannot travel, in particular seniors. When people think of VR, they don’t tend to think of the elderly. But being able to provide them with travel experiences that would otherwise not be possible can be extremely rewarding.

In a blog post written by The Big Issue, they explain how a company called Viarama have been working on a VR tool to help people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. They worked on providing senior citizens who are receiving end-of-life care with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Billy Agnew, chief executive of Viarama, said:

“In a hospice situation, we are going in there and letting people ‘travel’ the world. We are letting people travel to where they got married, or where they did their national service, and to places that they never thought they would be able to see.” – https://www.bigissue.com/latest/technology/how-virtual-reality-is-giving-the-elderly-remarkable-end-of-life-adventures/

Viarama achieves this by using HTC Vive headsets, Google Earth VR software, and powerful computers. But whilst the experience is virtual, the emotions it elicits are definitely real.

Billy Agnew went on to say:

“It’s quite often hugely moving. The first time we worked in a hospice we had two doctors who were in to evaluate what we were doing, and both of the doctors broke down because it was so emotional.” – https://www.bigissue.com/latest/technology/how-virtual-reality-is-giving-the-elderly-remarkable-end-of-life-adventures/

Will virtual reality replace travel?

VR is great for creating moments of immersion but it cannot yet replace the complete immersion of being in a real space 24/7.

In fact, in a recent study carried out by European touring company Italy4Real, 81% of adults said that VR can’t replace travel. 92% said that visiting a destination in VR did not equate to visiting it in real life. Furthermore, 77% cited sampling the local food as being important to them. – https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/302947/virtual-reality-not-seen-as-substitute-for-travel.html

Other downsides of VR include smells and the overall atmosphere created by people and animals. Whilst VR technology is progressing at a fast rate, it’s pretty safe to say that virtual reality won’t be replacing travel anytime soon.

77% of people cited local food as being important - a problem for VR in travel

VR in tourism is currently best used for marketing travel destinations and hotels. With the growth of VR, we think that virtual travel experiences will become a huge part of the tourism industry in the near future.

VR travel experts

At Immersion VR we have a wealth of experience in VR for travel with clients across the UK and overseas. We have shot on location in countries such as Oman, Scotland, Spain, Indonesia, and Mexico.

We can cater for any kind of tourism VR that you need, from virtual reality travel experiences to VR hotel tours.

We take great pride in the quality of our work and we are unlike any VR travel company. With skills in so many areas of VR, we can advise and inform our clients every step of the way.

Our highly trained crew and attention to detail is what puts us amongst the best VR travel experts out there.

For more information on VR for travel and the services we offer please get in touch today.

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The Complete Guide to Virtual Tourism

woman using vr headset for virtual tourism

With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting where people have been able to go over the past couple of years, hotels, destinations, and travelers alike have felt the effects.

However, creative marketing and new virtual offerings can make a big difference in the years to come. Virtual tourism and travel are taking off, and hotels and destinations that know how to capitalize on the trend will set themselves up for success as the world returns to normal and more and more travelers once again pack their bags.

Take a look at our expert advice below to learn all about virtual tourism and the benefits it can offer. Plus, explore examples from some of the top virtual tourism campaigns across the world.

What is virtual tourism?

Virtual tourism presents viewers with an immersive experience of an activity, location, or destination through the use of technology. There are tons of different types of virtual tourism offerings, but there's usually a combination of virtual reality, still images, video, audio, narration, interactivity, and other multimedia formats to provide an experience of a destination that a user cannot get through images or websites alone.

Viewers can access virtual tourism content using a virtual reality headset for the most immersive experience, but they can also usually view the content on a normal computer or even a mobile device.

virtual hotel CTA

What are the benefits of virtual tourism?

Because viewers can experience activities, locations, and destinations from the comfort of their own homes, there are many clear benefits to virtual tourism. The most obvious of these benefits is that viewers can see and experience a destination without traveling to it, which means they aren’t limited by available flights, travel logistics, safety concerns, and whether destinations are open. They don’t even have to think about time zones or weather conditions.

The other huge benefit for viewers is cost. Virtual tourism makes destinations accessible to millions of people who may otherwise not be able to afford to travel to them. Viewers are embracing the rise in virtual tourism destinations and the increasing quality and availability of virtual reality technology to see and experience things they never thought possible.

For hotels and destinations, the clear benefit is the ability to stay top-of-mind with potential customers and to highlight a location, amenities , and offerings. Viewers who have experienced a hotel or location through virtual tourism are more likely to book a future stay, and will eagerly anticipate experiencing the activity in the “real world.”

There are also great marketing opportunities offered by virtual tourism technology. Potential guests can see a 360-degree view of a property and its amenities, rather than the flat images on a brochure or website. Experiencing a property this way increases the chances that viewers will want to visit in the future, and means that they can easily share the virtual offerings with their friends and family.

And that’s not all. Virtual tourism has a handful of other benefits:

  • The immersive experience allows the viewer to imagine themselves at a travel destination.
  • The viewer can control what they see of a destination, experiencing 360 degrees of a location.
  • All aspects of a destination can be showcased in high resolution.
  • Hotels, Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) , and travel agencies can stand out from the crowd.
  • The impact of tourism on vulnerable destinations is reduced.

How is virtual tourism used?

There are lots of great ways for hotels and destinations to take advantage of this technology and the demand for virtual tourism, and it goes well beyond COVID-19.

CVBs have been using virtual tourism for years to highlight the unique aspects of a location, including everything from history and culture to exciting activities, local attractions, and fun trivia.

Hotels, CVBs, and local governments use 360-degree VR video to capture everything about a destination in an immersive way. This lets viewers experience a remote mountaintop, an idyllic beach, a network of hiking trails, or a buzzing city with the press of a button.

VR photography, on the other hand, captures still images and pieces them together using specialized software, creating an immersive image where a user can look in any direction. This technology is great for showing hotel interiors, artwork, museum exhibits, and anything that can be fully experienced without motion or sound.

Finally, fully immersive VR experiences let users get in on the action, interacting with the environment and discovering more through their actions. This is often a curated experience focusing on one aspect of the location, like the food scene, music, history, or art. Virtual reality yoga classes, nature walks, stargazing, and bird watching have all become popular ways for a location to show off everything it has to offer.

virtual tour CTA

What are some examples of virtual tourism?

Below are a handful of our favorite virtual tourism campaigns from across the world. While each campaign offers something different, the common theme is that each one was created to give users easy, safe, and interactive access to a location.

The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands created a virtual tourism campaign once COVID-19 began to give people an alternative option to traveling to the location.

"Early on in this global crisis, we sat and wondered how we could recreate a Faroe Islands’ experience for those who had to cancel or postpone their trip to the Faroe Islands – and for everyone else stuck in insolation around the world," reads the virtual tourism segment on Faroe Islands' website . "We had an idea. What if we could allow people anywhere in the world to explore the islands as virtual tourists through the eyes of a local? Or even better; what if the virtual tourists could control the movements of the local in real time?"

Bristol From Home

Similar to the Faroe Islands, Visit Bristol (England) created an immersive experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bristol From Home features a collection of travelers' favorite ideas, inspirations, and resources "so that you can continue to enjoy Bristol, during social distancing measures, from the comfort of your own home." 

The website features a myriad of virtual options, including tours of a luxury Victorian ship, hot-air balloon rides, gin tastings, and much more, all in one place. 

Tour the awe-inspiring architecture of Dubai with Dubai 360 — an immersive virtual tourism experience that allows users to travel the city through a bird's-eye view and learn all about the locations scattered throughout. 

"Our services help increase online presence, which is crucial to marketing anything in the present," reads Dubai360's website. "We aim to raise you above your competition by presenting a professional and high quality look, and improving your customers' first impressions. This service is equally useful for Hotels, Restaurants, Malls, Real Estate, or anything that can be presented visually."

Great Barrier Reef

Yes, even the Great Barrier Reef has virtual tourism offerings. The interactive journey is headlined by legendary broadcaster and historian, David Attenborough, who takes viewers throughout the world's largest coral reef system. This is much more than simply a replacement for Great Barrier Reef tours — it's an experience in and of itself, and it showcases just how versatile virtual tourism can be. 

What does virtual tourism mean for the hospitality industry?

Virtual tourism is one of the many keys to the travel industry’s resilience and ability to bounce back from an unprecedented time. Showcasing everything that a property or destination has to offer is a great way to build excitement for “normal” travel and keep the destination top of mind once travelers are able to vacation again. 

Virtual tourism has been lauded as a way for hotels and destinations to highlight the intangibles of their location, capturing the special feel of the place and drawing interest from travelers who might not otherwise consider it.

"A true gift of virtual travel is that we can safely and efficiently access experiences we've always wanted to access," Dennis Watkins, owner of The Magic Parlour in Chicago, said in an article for marthastewart.com. "People separated by oceans can look each other in the eyes and share stories, cultures, and ideas. When I do a show for a single family who logs in from London, Leeds, Norway, or Chicago, I start to see the power of the virtual space ... and I think we're just now starting to understand and leverage that power."

How can hotels capitalize on the virtual tourism trend?

To strategize how best to use virtual tourism, hotels should go back to the basics of their  hotel marketing plan . What audience are you trying to reach? What amenities, offerings, or features make your hotel and its location unique and interesting? What aspects of your property or destination do you want to highlight? The answers to these questions will form the foundation of your virtual tourism offerings.

If you have a few experiences that guests return for time and time again, these are a great place to start with your virtual tourism experience. Give viewers a tour of your on-site vineyard, sandy beach, art deco decor, or spectacular views. 

Because you can create many different virtual reality experiences, you can craft custom offerings for all of the different types of guests who stay at your property. A street art tour may be a perfect fit for young adult travelers, while an immersive symphony orchestra performance may be perfect for older guests. Try creating three or four experiences targeting guests who you would like to see at your hotel in the future, and follow through on the virtual experiences with custom packages, content marketing , and targeted informational emails.

As you craft your unique virtual tourism offerings, keep in mind that this medium isn’t limited to the traditional perspective with which your guests normally see your destination. With virtual tourism, guests could fly over your property in a hot air balloon, swim in your lake without getting wet, ski down to sit by a roaring fire in your lobby, or zip-line through the trees. By adding experiences that guests may not be able to get in person, you’ll move beyond the idea of replacing "real" travel.

Additionally, hotels can use the virtual tourism boom to appeal to planners and their event attendees as well. Not all offerings have to be limited to guests. Do you have a breathtaking ballroom with a state-of-the-art A/V system? What about extensive meeting space in your beachside bungalows? Utilize innovative 3D technology to create a virtual experience highlighting what sets you apart and creating demand.

In other words, the sky really is the limit when it comes to virtual tourism offerings. If you can think of an experience in the real world, you can likely recreate it in some fashion through virtual reality.

Now you know all about virtual tourism!

Bookmark our blog to stay up to date on all the trends and happenings from throughout the hospitality industry, as well as high-level overviews, industry-leading tips and advice, and much more. 

Learn more about virtual tourism, travel, and events

Laura Fredericks author headshot

Laura Fredericks

Laura brings a decade of insight to improving marketing, as she has worked in technology since 2010. She has experience starting and scaling a business, driving customer marketing, and speaking at live events, including WeDC Fest 2018. She founded Describli and Paradigm Labs, and currently works with companies to improve their customer relationship management and content strategy.

LinkedIn | Website

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Harvard International Review

The Rise of Virtual Reality Tourism/Digitization of Culture in the Time of COVID-19

Flights canceled, famous attractions closed to the public, once crowded streets now vacant— emptied of tourists snapping photos. In the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional tourism has ground to a screeching halt in most places. Tourism has had to evolve to match the unprecedented and prolonged global travel restrictions, a situation that has made a profound impact on nations and industries around the globe. It has been indicated that the global tourism sector should expect to suffer a drop of about US$8.1 trillion in revenue due to the pandemic and will likely not recover until 2024. With many of their most popular landmarks, cities, and heritage sites closing or implementing restrictions, countries have had to radically rethink their tourism industries and cultural institutions have had to adapt to a time of reduced visitors and in-person engagement. The intersection of innovation with the need to digitize experiences and content in order to reduce human interaction have converged uniquely in 2020, marking a critical moment in the rise of virtual reality tourism and the digitization of culture.

Virtual reality tourism technologies have been evolving for the past few years, used primarily as an educational tool, allowing users to engage with the history, geography, and cultural aspects of location and serving as a substitute for physical visitation. It incorporates cutting edge technologies, such as high resolution 360- degree imaging and simulated movement capabilities to enable users to view, tour, and engage with landmarks and tourist destinations without leaving their homes. Museums, cultural sites, and locations of worldwide-renown can be explored on personal computers and tablets. One such site, the Seokguram Grotto hermitage and monastery complex in South Korea, utilized VR technology to construct a 3D stereopsis of the site and provide a digitized experience for visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an additional opportunity for virtual tourism to provide travel-related content accessible around the world and explore the additional benefits of VR technology.

Many governments have been crafting virtual tours in hopes of attracting viewers who wish to visit cities around the world without the current risks of travel: exposure to the virus, or the logistical complications of widespread, pandemic-related bans and restrictions. Cities such as Paris, which attracted 38 million tourists in 2019 alone, have adopted virtual technology to continue to showcase iconic landmarks, by using the interactive features of Google Arts and Culture: users can select sites of interest and navigate the landscapes by clicking their way from one vantage point to another. The Paris Tourist Board website, for example, also allows users to view landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palais Garnier. Because of the 2020 Olympics’ postponement, the Japan National Tourism Organization created a 360-degree virtual tour that can be viewed via smartphone or with VR goggles, Japan: Where Tradition Meets the Future , which virtually transports users to well-known landmarks including the Tokyo Tower and the Sagano Bamboo Forest, blending culture and technology in an innovative and engaging way. Smaller towns that are less tourist-dependent are also hoping to retain exposure and relevance by creating virtual representations of their architecture. This way people can continue to experience the landscapes and perhaps become inspired to travel to the destination post-pandemic. Germany’s Herrenberg is one such town; they created a “virtual twin” utilizing computerized technologies usually used for high-level aerospace tasks to replicate the town’s architecture on a digital platform, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the sites of the town center via VR glasses.

Digitization of Culture

Outdoor landmarks and city streets are not the only places that can now be enjoyed virtually as people hunker down in their homes. Cultural institutions, particularly museums, which face  a severe reduction in the number of visitors strolling through galleries and perusing collections due to pandemic-related restrictions, have also started to adapt and modernize to continue to attract attention and virtual visitors. An empirical study of 100 of the largest state museums in Italy revealed that, throughout the most restrictive period of national lockdown, there was a sharp increase in online cultural initiatives conducted by museums via social media in order to continue stimulating viewer engagement through digital material. In this way, social media platforms—such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—have been an invaluable tool in promoting cultural engagement during the COVID-19 crisis.

Besides simply engaging people in museum content, social media and digital platforms have also connected people during this time of limited social interaction. The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, for example, organized unique, virtual community events including the ArtYouReady virtual flash mob, an initiative that encouraged online users to post pictures of their favorite Italian cultural sites. Such virtual opportunities and initiatives have continued throughout the pandemic, likely remaining a staple for cultural organizations’ public engagement strategies.

The evolution of digital engagement at museums in Europe was highlighted in a post written by Chiarra Zuanni, assistant professor in digital humanities at the Centre for Information Modelling at the University of Graz, for Europeana, a European organization that works to support and empower the digitization of cultural heritage. Zuanni compiled a map to visually depict the evolving digital activities of museums throughout Europe. The map identified various categories of digital offerings, such as contemporary collecting projects, social media initiatives (local hashtags, targeted projects, etc.), streaming content, virtual tours, online exhibitions, games, and educational content. The map enables users to select locations or activities of interest and access direct links to the respective museum’s interactive sites. The map shows a widespread rise in online activity from museums across the continent, providing a look into just a small fraction of museums that are adopting modernized and digitized tactics to maintain and foster relationships with a global audience in a time when in-person interactions and the usual flow of tourists have been severely curbed.

COVID-19 has caused museums’, galleries’, and historic residences’ usage of digital technology to transition from being a mere supplementary tool used to offer additional and secondary services and content to being the primary source of continued engagement with the arts. The pandemic has created the unique opportunity for museums to radically redefine their marketing and content strategies, forcing traditionally archaic institutions to adapt to the modern world at a rapid speed.

New Opportunities to Explore

Is this the future? Are the days strolling through cobblestone streets, snapping photos at iconic landmarks and wandering through bustling art galleries simply experiences of the past? Not necessarily. When the pandemic subsides and the world reawakens from lockdowns, restrictions, and travel bans, travel will likely resume. While it may take years for the industry to fully recover, tourism will eventually reemerge as a prominent economic sector. Cultural institutions will reopen, welcoming visitors from around the world to engage with history and art once more.

Yet, although the COVID-19 pandemic devastated numerous economic sectors and rendered several aspects of daily life and travel unrecognizable, it has also unlocked the enhanced opportunity for countries and organizations to harness the full potential of virtual reality tourism. Museum attendance across several countries, particularly attendance at art museums,  has been in decline in recent years. Virtual offerings however, seem to be driving significant user interest due to the increase in virtual engagement with cultural and artistic content on cultural websites. The increased adoption of technology could help prevent museums from buckling under the weight of low visitor rates if they can identify ways to accrue revenue through digital means.

In the same vein, the COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent lockdown have prompted countries to rethink their tourism strategies, opening the door for an already burgeoning virtual tourism industry to take root. Easily accessible for users around the world, providing access to landmarks and locations that are currently restricted, and free or low in cost for users, virtual tours allow for global experiences to be enjoyed by large, international audiences. While not a replacement for the thrill of physical travel, the virtual tourism sector offers intriguing opportunities for accessible global experiences.

The intersection of modern, cutting-edge innovation with a global pandemic has created a pivotal moment in how we access, view, and support tourism and cultural markets, both of which are critical to developing and sustaining national economies. The use of digital technologies in light of the COVID-19 epidemic highlights the benefits of rising technological innovations, offering viable and fascinating avenues for nations to adapt to a largely unprecedented world in the years ahead.

Abby LaBreck

Abby LaBreck

Abby LaBreck is an Executive Content Editor & Staff Writer for the HIR. She is interested in European affairs and transatlantic relations. She has previously written about French culture/politics.

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2e étage tour Eiffel

A virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower 

Tuesday 14 April 2020

Modified the 22/02/24

With a first-person perspective, panoramas, and an interactive historical journey, we have brought together the very best virtual tours of the Iron Lady to offer our readers an extraordinary immersive experience.

A full, virtual reality tour of the Eiffel Tower 

On the occasion of the Eiffel Tower’s 130th anniversary, TV5 Monde created a 360° virtual reality tour that reveals every aspect of the Tower in 3 minutes, featuring sunrise from the Champ-de-Mars and a panoramic ascent to the top, both inside and out. See the Eiffel Tower as if you were there, and much more! TV5 Monde takes you beyond the summit and behind the scenes to discover an unrivaled view of the French capital.   

Panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower on the mobile tour guide 

Our new mobile tour guide has the best panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower, both day and night. So even if you’re not at the Eiffel Tower, don’t wait to discover it! The guide let’s you admire Paris as if you were on the 2nd floor, or at the Tower’s summit. 

Use the arrows on the edges of your screen to navigate from the esplanade to the summit in the Tower’s mobile guide. You can choose "panorama" mode for views from the 2nd floor and the summit. Scan the horizon to the right or left, activate night mode, and zoom in to see Notre-Dame cathedral, Place de la Concorde, the Hôtel des Invalides, and many other Parisian monuments.

Don’t miss this comprehensive, high-definition experience that is sure to amaze you!

Tip: click on the icon at the bottom of your screen and easily identify the points of interest visible from the different floors of the Eiffel Tower. They are accompanied by a brief description to learn more about what surrounds you!

Vue sur le Champ-de-Mars depuis le sommet

The Eiffel Tower explained by Google Arts and Culture 

Google Arts and Culture is a free service that allows you to visit museums and monuments online, making art and culture more accessible than ever! In partnership with Google Arts and Culture, the Eiffel Tower offers interactive historical journeys to discover the hidden secrets of this world-renowned monument steeped in history. 

The different exhibits on various themes will transport you to the heart of Paris in the 1900s, with breathtaking images that showcase the know-how of the time.  

The Eiffel Tower during the Universal Exhibition

Explore the monument

After enjoying the panoramic views from the Tower and the historical exhibits, complete your virtual tour directly on our website, under the Discover and Monument tabs, that allow you to explore all there is to know about the Tower. -    The “ E xplore ” section presents the particularities of the gardens and each floor of the Tower. -    The “ T he Tower ” section tells the complete history of the Eiffel Tower, in all its aspects, from its birth to its elevators, lighting, scientific research, and much more.  

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The Future of Tourism with 360° Virtual Tours and Immersive Experiences

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360 degree view tourism

  • [email protected]
  • March 22, 2023

360 degree view tourism

As the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is looking for innovative ways to engage and attract visitors. The pandemic has caused a significant shift in the way people travel, with many travellers now preferring virtual experiences to traditional ones. 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences have emerged as a key technology in this regard, with the potential to revolutionize the way people travel and experience new destinations. View 360° is at the forefront of this technology, providing cutting-edge virtual tours and immersive experiences for the tourism industry. In this blog post, we will explore the future of tourism with 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences.

360° Virtual Tours - An Exciting New Way to Travel

360° virtual tours are an exciting new way to explore destinations and travel the world. With 360° virtual tours, you can explore a location from every angle, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the destination. Whether you want to explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, stroll through the streets of Paris, or relax on the beaches of the Caribbean, 360° virtual tours can take you there without leaving your home.

360 degree view tourism

These virtual tours are not only convenient, but they also provide a unique and authentic experience that can be customized to your preferences. With 360° virtual tours, you can choose where to go, what to see, and how long to stay, giving you complete control over your travel experience. This is particularly beneficial for those who are unable to travel due to health or financial reasons.

Immersive Experiences - Bringing Destinations to Life

Immersive experiences take virtual tours to the next level, providing a fully immersive experience that brings destinations to life. Immersive experiences can include everything from virtual reality tours to augmented reality experiences, allowing you to explore destinations in a way that was previously impossible. For example, with virtual reality tours, you can explore destinations in 3D, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the location. Augmented reality experiences, on the other hand, can overlay information and images onto the real world, allowing you to learn more about a destination and its history.

360 degree view tourism

The Future of Tourism - A More Personalized and Immersive Experience

The future of tourism lies in providing a more personalised and immersive experience for travellers. 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences are the keys to achieving this, as they provide a more authentic and personalized experience for travelers. With 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences, travelers can create their own itineraries, explore destinations in their own time, and fully immerse themselves in the location.

360 degree view tourism

As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the world of tourism. For example, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning can provide personalized recommendations and suggestions for travelers, based on their interests and preferences. The integration of virtual assistants and chatbots can also provide travellers with instant assistance and support, making travel more convenient and stress-free.

The future of tourism is exciting and full of possibilities, with 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences playing a key role in shaping the industry. As travellers seek more personalized and immersive experiences, it is important for the tourism industry to embrace new technologies and provide innovative solutions. View 360° is leading the way in this regard, providing cutting-edge virtual tours and immersive experiences that are changing the way people travel and experience new destinations. With View 360°, the world is truly at your fingertips.

360 degree view tourism

In conclusion, the integration of 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences is the way forward for the tourism industry. It has provided a more convenient way for people to travel and an immersive and personalized experience. These experiences provide travelers with the ability to explore destinations in their own time, create their own itineraries and fully immerse. 

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The use of 360-degree virtual tours to promote mountain walking tourism: stimulus–organism–response model

  • Original Research
  • Published: 02 December 2021
  • Volume 24 , pages 85–107, ( 2022 )

Cite this article

  • Xiaohong Wu 1 &
  • Ivan Ka Wai Lai   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4865-1860 1  

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Based on the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) theory, this study attempts to investigate how the use of 360-degree virtual mountain walking tours can motivate audiences’ intention to take a real walking in the mountains. The survey results from 320 samples after watching a 360-degree virtual video reveal the positive influence of vividness (stimulus) on presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment (organism), leading to the intention to take mountain walking tourism (response). This study also examines the interrelationship between four organism variables to explain the underlying mechanism of 360-degree virtual travel experience in stimulating audiences’ visit intention. It shows how technology helps the development of nature-based tourism. It also offers implications for developers to develop influential 360-degree virtual tourism and destination marketers to promote mountain walking tourism.

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1 Introduction

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, outdoor walking, such as walking in the mountains, has become a big attraction for people to keep away from the crowds and enjoy nature (Clark 2020 ). Walking is an outdoor recreation activity in diverse tourism settings (Nordh et al. 2017 ). With slowness, walking enables more conscious engagement with the local environment, culture, and people (Kato and Progano 2017 ). For tourists, walking tourism meets the need of most tourists regardless of age, gender, and so on for physical and health activities as well as to provide emotional benefits (Zurawik 2020 ), such as relaxation, stress reduction, control, excitement, and freedom (Anable and Gatersleben 2005 ). For tourist destinations, walking tourism is a kind of sustainable tourism with relatively low investment. Regarding the benefits of walking tourism to both tourists and destinations, UNWTO has made great efforts to promote its development (UNWTO 2019 ). Subsequently, some researchers started to take research on walking tourism. For example, Vural Arslan et al. ( 2018 ) studied the factors impacting the walkability of the shopping street in the historic city centre of Bursa, Turkey. They identified that accessibility, comfort and use, traffic safety, crime security, and connectivity are the most influential factors of walking tourism in urban cities. The low-altitude mountain is suitable for developing walking tourism. Compared with walking in an urban environment, walking in natural environments offers more physical and mental benefits (Zurawik 2020 ). Mountainous scenery creates a pleasant walking environment for walkers, where they can closely watch the trees, flowers, birds, and insects. Mountain walking tourism in this study is defined as walking in the low-altitudes mountainous areas, which is a simple, low-cost, informal leisure outdoor activity for all ages. The COVID-19 pandemic has created high tourist demand for health and relaxation (Li et al. 2021 ). Mountain destinations provide good quality air (Arcaro et al. 2018 ), which is increasingly rare in the urbanised world. Mountains are also, at least temporarily, places to escape from uncomfortable climates (McCool 2002 ). Mountain walking is an ideal recreational outdoor activity for people during COVID-19 because it benefits walkers physically and mentally. It thus has excellent potential for development during this time. On the other hand, because 24% of the land surface is mountains, thus, there is a need to have a way to promote it (Río-Rama et al. 2019 ).

For promoting tourism, destination marketers have started to apply virtual reality (VR) as a marketing tool to show the environment of the destinations (Lo and Cheng 2020 ; Willems et al. 2019 ). VR provides users with visualising experience to explore the virtual world by responding to the visual, motion, and audio prompts. A 360-degree virtual video is a spherical video that makes people feel like participating in activities at the destination (Griffin et al. 2017 ). Therefore, researchers claimed that 360-degree virtual videos could be used to strengthen people’s awareness of a destination (Yung and Khoo-Lattimore 2017 ) and consequently motivate a real visitation (Jung et al. 2017 ). Furthermore, a 360-degree video is particularly useful for large-scale scenes and distant objects (Slater and Sanchez-Vives 2016 ). Therefore, it is possible that the experiences mediated by a 360-degree virtual mountain walking tour may enhance audiences’ intention to conduct walking in a mountain area in the real world. However, the question of how the use of 360-degree virtual tours can motivate audiences’ travel intentions is still under investigation.

VR is thought to convey a sense of presence in terms of vividness (i.e. the representational richness of a mediated environment) and interactivity (i.e. the extent to which users can participate in modifying the form and content of a mediated environment in real-time (Steuer 1992 ; Yeh et al. 2017 ). However, there are two types of VR. Since a 360-degree virtual tour provides limited interactivity, only vividness is considered for influencing a sense of presence in this study. Sightseeing in a virtual tour leads to a sense of presence which refers to a sense of ‘being there’ in the virtual environment (Steuer 1992 ). Emotional involvement is a type of experience that influences users' feelings of reality (Holsapple and Wu 2007 ). Some researchers stated that a flow state is also a type of experience that predicts users’ behaviours in a virtual tour (Willems et al. 2019 ). Furthermore, Huang et al. ( 2016 ) pointed out that enjoyment is a type of experience that drives people to visit the destination depicted in a 3D tourism environment. Although several studies have been taken to study how VR motivates potential audiences to visit a destination, no studies have considered how the presence of 360-degree virtual tours could affect audiences’ intention to take a real visit through emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment.

The stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) theory is a useful framework for understanding the relationships between environmental input (stimulus), emotional status (organism), and post-consumption behaviour (response) (Surovaya et al. 2020 ). It has been widely used to study the connections among inputs, processes, and outputs in various settings (Wu et al. 2020 ) and in the context of VR tourism marketing (e.g. Kim et al. 2020 ). Recently, Kim et al. ( 2020 ) extended the S–O–R model to test a theoretical framework that investigates users’ emotional and behavioural responses toward VR tourism. Their research demonstrated the relationship among authentic experience (stimulus), cognitive and affective responses (including enjoyment, emotional involvement, and flow state) (organism), and attachment and visit intention (response). However, they did not consider the significant role of presence, a powerful stimulus in affecting VR experience and shaping audiences’ behaviour. In addition, they ignored the possible links among emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment. They also did not test the direct effect of these three response factors on audiences’ behaviour.

To fill the research gap, this study aims to investigate, after audiences undergo a 360-degree virtual mountain walking tour, how the vividness of a 360-degree virtual tour influences the audiences’ sense of presence; how the sense of presence influences emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment; and then how these four responses influence audiences’ intention to take a real walking in the mountains. This study is embedded within the S–O–R framework that vividness is a stimulus; presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment are organisms; and audiences’ intention to take mountain walking tourism is a response. This study contributes to VR tourism marketing research in clarifying the underlying mechanism of 360-degree virtual tour experiences in shaping audiences’ psychological, emotional, and behavioural responses. Furthermore, this study explores people’s emotional and psychological states in (virtual) mountain walking. It also shows how innovative technology helps the development of nature-based tourism. The results also provide insights for destination marketers to invest in edge-cutting technology to promote nature-based tourism and for virtual tour developers to improve their design in more influencing content.

2 Literature review

2.1 mountain walking tourism.

Walking is not just a physical movement but also is a form of exercise, a social activity, and a family memory (Karupiah and Bada 2018 ). It is a passive, pleasurable, and therefore a popular form of outdoor recreation (Kay and Moxham 1996 ). Given the growing interest in walking tourism, there is significant literature on urban walking tourism (Ram and Hall 2018 ) and natural walking tourism (Davies 2018 ) in Western countries.

Besides, the studies in urban walking tourism, researchers also studied mountain walking in terms of climbing, hiking, and Nordic walking in Western countries (Kling et al. 2020 ). Researchers usually discussed the benefits of taking mountain walking such as well-being (e.g. Zurawik 2020 ), sustainability issues such as senses of responsibility (e.g. Rickly and Vidon 2017 ) and sustainability perceptions (Bonadonna et al. 2019 ), and soft adventure motivation (e.g. Bichler and Peters 2021 ). Comparatively, the studies focused on marketing and promotion of mountain walking tourism were few, especially in Asian countries.

Mountain walking tourism is related to wellness tourism (Seraphin and Dosquet 2020 ). Low-altitude mountains are ideal for walking. Mountain walking tourism is suitable and accessible by almost all the sections of the tourism market. Mountain walking tourism is recognised as relaxing, leisure and sociable, low cost, capable of spontaneous participation individually or by groups of mixed-ability (e.g. kids and elder people). Therefore, it is meaningful research to investigate how to promote walking in the mountains.

2.2 360-Degree virtual tour

A virtual tour represents a real scenic spot and destination virtually; it aims to serve as a prelude to visiting or the extension of consumers’ previous experience (Kim and Hall 2019 ). It allows potential visitors to experience and feel a destination presented in the virtual environment (Huang et al. 2016 ). A 360-degree virtual video is a type of virtual tour. It is filmed in a real place that allows users to turn around at any angle and navigate the video by choosing any direction they wish to view. The visual images are supplemented with real audio so that audiences can receive rich sensory information to understand better the spatial, factual, and experiential aspects of a destination (Disztinger et al. 2017 ). By using a VR headset, users can experience the mediated environment. Such experience arouses audiences’ interest and impacts their behavioural intention (Flavián et al. 2020 ).

Currently, some researchers studied virtual tours as an effective destination promotion tool because it provides tourists with a pre-purchase ‘trial’ experience (Kim et al. 2020 ). On the other hand, some researchers studied virtual tours as a substitute for the actual site visit for someone (El-Said and Aziz 2021 ). This study supports the former, so it focuses on the study of virtual tours acting as a marketing tool to arouse users’ interest in mountain walking.

Empirical research has demonstrated that the interactive 3D tourism experience shapes users’ behaviour in a simulated virtual environment (Marchiori et al. 2018 ; Tussyadiah et al. 2018 ). However, few tourism studies have investigated users’ experience of a 360-degree virtual tour using a head-mounted display (HMD) to display the real tourist attraction (An et al. 2021 ). Since filmed 360-degree real images with synchronised audio represent the better environment of mountains. Furthermore, the photographer's moving pace can make the audiences have the feeling like walking on the mountain. Therefore, the mechanism of a 360-degree virtual video that generates audiences’ emotional and phycological states may vary from interactive 3D tourism. 360-degree video is the photographer’s dominant travel speed, and interactive 3D tourism is the user’s dominant. So, there is a need to investigate how 360-degree virtual videos could stimulate audiences’ intention to take walking on the real mountain.

2.3 Stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) theory

The S–O–R theory states that environmental aspects (stimulus) evoke individuals’ psychological states (organism), which, in turn, undergoes an internal process to shape their behavioural responses (respond) (Mehrabian and Russell 1974 ). According to the S–O–R model, the behavioural intention of a consumer is formed by the stimuli from the external environment as well as their internal psychology and physiology (Mehrabian and Russell 1974 ). Since environmental psychology is often used to explain the interaction between humans and the environment, the S–O–R theory is widely adopted in different contexts, such as marketing and tourism (Wu et al. 2020 ).

Recently, researchers used the S–O–R theory to explain the psychological process of a virtual tourism experience (e.g. An et al. 2021 ; Kim et al. 2020 ). For example, An et al. ( 2021 ) examined the influence of sense and quality of information on evoking flow and producing satisfaction and visit intention. Their findings confirmed that the psychological process through which the sense and quality of the information in virtual tours induce flow, which further leads to satisfaction and intention to visit. Thus, the S–O–R theory provides an appropriate framework for studying the relationship among virtual stimuli, participants’ emotional and behavioural responses in a virtual tour context. As a result, this study employs the S–O–R model to investigate how the technical aspect of 360-degree virtual tours stimulates audiences’ intention to conduct mountain walking tourism through psychological processes.

2.4 A sense of presence and vividness

Presence, also known as telepresence, refers to a subjective experience of being there in the technology-mediated environment (Slater 1999 ). Presence can be aroused by a medium in a virtual environment, such as the feeling of being in a mediated space, the interpersonal relationship perceived through mediated communication, and the psychological connections with others (Nowak and Biocca 2003 ). The sense of ‘being there’ is the most significant experiential dimension of the experience of viewing virtual tours (Steuer 1992 ).

Vividness is a driver of presence (Steuer 1992 ). Researchers found that vividness is the primary determinant of presence, as it is three times more influential than interactivity (Cheng et al. 2014 ). Vividness, similar to media richness, refers to the number (i.e. sensory breadth) and quantity and quality (i.e. sensory depth) of the message (Klein 2003 ). In VR research, Van Kerrebroeck et al. ( 2017 ) found that a high level of vividness leads to richer sensory representations, which results in a high sense of presence. In VR theme park research, Wei et al. ( 2019 ) found that vividness is one of the key drivers of a sense of presence in experiencing a VR rollercoaster. Therefore, vividness is considered as a ‘stimulus’, and a sense of presence is an ‘organism’. When the images provided by the 360-degree virtual walking tour are visually vivid, audiences may feel more engaged and ‘being there’ in the virtual environment. Thus, it is proposed that:

H1. The vividness of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audience’s sense of presence.

2.5 Emotional involvement and flow state

The virtual environments can attract feedback from tourists and produce a sense of involvement (Stamboulis and Skayannis 2003 ). Emotional involvement refers to ‘the degree to which an individual is emotionally engaged in a behaviour’ (Holsapple and Wu 2007 , p. 87). Since presence often involves sensory outputs such as visual, aural, or olfactory (Choi et al. 2016 ), such perceived appeal leads to the emotional involvement of users. Individuals who have a higher sense of presence when watching a 360-degree virtual mountain walking video may be emotionally involved in the virtual environment.

H2a. The sense of presence of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ emotional involvement of the 360-degree mountain walking.

Kim et al. ( 2017 ) defined the flow state in digital tourism technology as fascinated, immersed, deeply involved, and focused on the use of technology. When people experience flow in a virtual tour, they experience time distortion and feel that time passes faster than normal (Sherry 2004 ). Flow is considered as the phase of the organism in the context of the computer-mediated environment (Ali 2016 ) and the study of VR travel (An et al. 2021 ). Willems et al. ( 2019 ) confirmed that the sense of ‘being there’ perceived in VR positively impacts to flow and enjoyment in studying millennials. When watching a 360-degree virtual mountain walking video, individuals who have a higher sense of presence may experience a deeper flow in the virtual environment.

H2b. The sense of presence of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ flow state of the 360-degree mountain walking.

On the other hand, Kim and Ko’s ( 2019 ) study in VR spectatorship pointed out that sports fans’ involvement with sport positively impacts flow experience due to their enhancing engagement. Specifically, the audiences’ emotional involvement with the 360-degree mountain walking tour positively influences their concentration, leading to a flow experience.

H3a. The emotional involvement of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ flow state of the 360-degree mountain walking.

2.6 Enjoyment

Enjoyment is often seen as an important intrinsic motivation (Hew et al. 2018 ). Enjoyment in the computer-mediated environment refers to ‘the extent to which the activity of using a specific system is perceived to be enjoyed in its own right aside from any performance consequence resulting from system use’ (Venkatesh 2000 , p. 351). Tussyadiah et al. ( 2018 ) found that a sense of presence during VR experience positively impacts the enjoyment of VR experience in studying Hong Kong and U.K. tourists. Koufaris ( 2002 ) studied online consumer behaviour and stated that consumers’ emotional involvement with a product has a positive influence on enjoyment and concentration. Weibel and Wissmath’s ( 2011 ) study on computer games found that flow has a positive effect on enjoyment. When watching a 360-degree virtual mountain walking video, audiences may enjoy the virtual tour more if they experience a higher sense of presence, are more emotionally involved in the virtual tour, and are in a deeper flow state.

H2c. The sense of presence of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ enjoyment of the 360-degree mountain walking. H3b. The emotional involvement of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ enjoyment of the 360-degree mountain walking. H4a. The flow state of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ enjoyment of the 360-degree mountain walking.

2.7 Intention to take mountain walking

Skadberg and Kimmel ( 2004 ) suggested that flow experience positively affects customers’ understanding of a place displayed in a virtual environment when viewing a website, thus, in turn, affecting their intentions to visit. For emotional involvement, Kim et al. ( 2020 ) found that emotional involvement positively influences audiences’ intention to visit the destination shown in VR tourism. Marasco et al. ( 2018 ) empirically confirmed that emotional involvement enabled by HMD positively impacts tourists’ behavioural intentions to visit sites and attractions. For enjoyment, Tussyadiah et al. ( 2018 ) suggested that enjoyment plays an important role in VR tourism, resulting in the intention to real visit attractions displayed in VR. In this study, flow state, emotional involvement, and enjoyment are treated as the ‘organism’ factors of the audiences in the S–O–R framework, while the intention to take mountain walking is a ‘response’. Therefore, these three organism factors may influence audiences’ intention to take mountain walking.

H3c. The emotional involvement of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ intention to take mountain walking. H4b. The flow state of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ intention to take mountain walking. H5. The enjoyment of a 360-degree mountain walking tour has a positive impact on the audiences’ intention to take mountain walking.

Based on the hypotheses, an S–O–R research model is proposed in Fig.  1 . The vividness is the stimulus. Presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment are organisms. The intention to take mountain walking is the response.

figure 1

Proposed research model

3.1 The stimuli—the 360-degree virtual videos

Due to the strict restriction on tourism activity after the outbreak of COVID-19 (Chen et al. 2020 ) and perceived risks in cross-provincial travel (Abdullah et al. 2020 ), people in China prefer to travel within the province. Dinghu Mountain (Chinese: 鼎湖山) is located in Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, Greater Bay Area of China and is composed of more than ten low-altitude mountains. It is one of the four famous mountains in Guangdong province and a famous tourist attraction. Dinghu Mountain, known as ‘Emerald on the Tropic of Cancer’, is famous for its ancient trees, waterfalls, fresh air, various animals, and abundant plants species. The Dinghu Mountain National Nature Reserve, founded in 1956, is the first nature reserve in China. Dinghu Mountain is also regarded as the ‘gene repository’ and ‘living natural museum’ of South China biological species. In 1979, it became one of the first designated scientific research stations of UNESCO’s Man and Natural Biosphere Program. Dinghu Mountain is a popular tourist destination for people in the Greater Bay Area of China. Given its easy access, diverse tourism attractions, and comfortable environment, Dinghu Mountain is suitable for mountain walking. Therefore, Dinghu Mountain was chosen as the place for the study.

Unlike other VR tourism marketing studies, this study filmed 360-degree virtual videos rather than using existing VR videos downloaded from online video platforms. In order to provide respondents with a full virtual experience of mountain walking, the research team visited Dinghu Mountain in October 2020. It used an Insta360 One X camera to shoot five 360-degree virtual tour videos. In order to capture the real experience of mountain walking, the film crew tested three different paces and finally decided to use the slowest one. It is because the walking process should be casual and slow, so that audiences have enough time to experience the scenery next to them.

An et al. ( 2021 ) pointed out that the research based on a single VR tourism content limited the generalisation of the research results and called for the research based on various VR tourism contents, which provides different levels of types of technical and informational attributes of destination. Therefore, this study used five 360-degree virtual tour videos. These five 360-degree virtual tour videos displayed the walking of different landscapes of Dinghu Mountain in different lengths of time (ranging from 1 to 5 min). Participants were randomly assigned to watch one video. Through the use of various virtual contents, participants could have different virtual experiences. If there is only one source, respondents have similar experiences and may potentially place similar rates on the same question. Therefore, this setting reduces the bias from a single source of the 360-degree virtual video. The contents of the five 360-degree virtual videos are shown in Appendix .

3.2 Measurement items

The measurement items were derived from literature and modified for the study setting. Given the study context, three items of vividness were adopted from Kim and Ko ( 2019 ). Seven items of presence were adopted from Bogicevic et al. ( 2019 ). Moreover, three items of emotional involvement, four items of flow state, four items of enjoyment, and four items of the intention to take mounting walking were derived from Kim et al. ( 2020 ). Unlike Kim et al.’s ( 2020 ) study that measured audiences’ intention to visit the place shown in the tourism-related VR activity, this study measures the intention to take mountain walking where is not limited to Dinghu Mountain. So, items were revised as an example: I intend to take a walk in a mountain in the near future. Furthermore, Kim et al. ( 2020 ) measured the responses from using the tourism-related VR activity, and this study measures the experience from the 360-degree virtual tour. So, items were revised, as an example, from ‘Using the tourism-related VR activity is enjoyable for me’ to ‘Experiencing the 360-degree mountain walking virtual tour was enjoyable for me’. The list of measurement items was presented in Table 1 .

The questionnaire was comprised of three sections. In the first section, one screening question (Have you been to any mountain during the past three months?) was used to qualify the respondents. Only the respondents who answered ‘no’ to the screening question were qualified for the next section. The second section was to score 22 measurement items of the six constructs in the model through a seven-point-Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The last section was the demographic background of the respondents. These measurable questions were originally written in English and were translated into Chinese by one translator who was proficient in both Chinese and English, then translated back into English by another professional translator to verify consistency. To ensure content validity, a pilot test with 30 samples was conducted in Macao in December 2020. Some amendments were made according to the results of the pilot test.

3.3 Sample collection

This study used a time-based systematic sampling method to collect data at fixed periodic intervals (every 15 min). As a type of probability sampling method, time-based systematic sampling is widely used in tourism studies (e.g. Bruwer et al. 2018 ; Lai 2020 ). In the absence of a list of all subjects (i.e. the sampling frame is not available), time-based systematic sampling can be effectively applied to obtain the desired sample size from a large population (Sayed and Ibrahim 2018 ). In addition, it reduces the potential bias of convenience samplings, such as interviewer-selection bias, unrepresentative samples, under-coverage bias, and non-response bias (Etikan et al. 2016 ).

A survey was taken in three cities of the Greater Bay Area of China, including Macao, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan from December 20, 2020, to January 10, 2021. Since shopping malls provided a comfortable environment for respondents to view the 360-degree virtual tour videos (Yang et al. 2021 ), four research assistants intercepted people in the shopping malls every 15 min. At the beginning of the survey, research assistants asked the respondents the screening question. They explained the necessary information of the research to participants who passed the screening question. Most of the invited people were very interested in the 360-degree virtual tour videos. However, some people refused because they did not have free time. The rejection rate was about 50%. Once the participants confirmed their understanding and willingness to participate, they were provided with a Xiaomi all-in-one VR headset and invited to view one 360-degree virtual tour video. Participants can move their heads and see any direction by wearing HMD during the previewing process. After viewing the video, participants were invited to fill out the questionnaire. Most participants showed great interest in watching the 360-degree virtual videos. They generally spent around 3–5 min watching the videos. Then, they took around 10 min to complete the questionnaire.

A total of 350 samples were collected. Due to incomplete or identical question scoring, thirty questionnaires were deleted. The remaining 320 valid data were used for data analysis. Table 2 contained the demographic background of the samples.

4.1 Sample profile

As presented in Table 2 , there were 54.4% female respondents and 45.6% males. The age of the respondents was between 18–30 (34.4%), 31–40 (30.9%), 41–50 (28.4%), 51–60 (3.8%), and above 60 (2.5%). Most of the respondents completed a university degree (35.9%) and held a diploma (32.2%). Regarding prior experiences, 54.7% of the respondents reported occasional VR experience, 37.5% had no VR experience, and 7.8% used VR frequently. More than half of the participants (56.6%) walked in the mountain occasionally, 34.1% walked in the mountain frequently, and 9.4% of respondents had no mountain walking experience.

4.2 Reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity

Table 1 presented the mean, standard deviation, and PLS factor loading of all the measurable items. Table 3 showed the values of reliability, validity, and correlation of the constructs. All the factor loadings were greater than 0.70 (range from 0.761 to 0.891), indicating all items were considered to have sufficient loading from the constructs (Hair et al. 2010 ). The values of Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR) were above 0.70 (range from 0.812 to 0.921 and from 0.879 to 0.937, respectively) (Table 3 ), indicating the measurable scales were reliable (Hair et al. 2010 ). The values of average variance extracted (AVE) were greater than 0.50 (range from 0.645 to 0.774). Hence convergent validity was achieved (Hair et al. 2010 ). Table 3 also showed the result of the Fornell–Larcker criterion and Heterotrait–Monotrait Ratio (HTMT). The value of the square root of each AVE was greater than its construct correlations and the values of HTMT were lower than 0.85 (Hair et al. 2017 ), confirming the discriminant validity of the scales.

4.3 Hypothesis testing

Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to test the research model because PLS can deal with a small sample and has less restrictive assumptions on the normality of data (Hair et al. 2017 ). SmartPLS v.3.2.6 package (Ringle et al. 2015 ) was used and bootstrapping with 5000 samples was performed to assess the path coefficients.

Figure  2 presented the result of hypothesis testing. Hypothesis 1 stated the positive influence of vividness on presence. H1 was supported (β vividness→presence  = 0.690, p < 0.001). Hypotheses 2a–c stated the positive influence of presence on emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment. The results indicated that presence has a significant influence on emotional involvement (β presence→emotional involvement  = 0.488, p < 0.001), flow state (β presence→flow state  = 0.470, p < 0.001), and enjoyment (β presence→enjoyment  = 0.545, p < 0.001). Thus, H2a–c were supported. Hypotheses 3a–c stated emotional involvement has a positive influence on flow state, enjoyment, and intention, respectively. Hypotheses 3a–c were supported (β emotional involvement→flow sate  = 0.164, p = 0.013; β emotional involvement→enjoyment  = 0.130, p = 0.007; β emotional involvement→intention  = 0.429, p < 0.001 respectively). In addition, flow state positively influences enjoyment (β flow sate→enjoyment  = 0.158, p = 0.007) and intention (β flow state→intention  = 0.267, p < 0.001), which supported H4a–b. Similarly, enjoyment has a significant influence on intention (β enjoyment→intention  = 0.227, p < 0.001), supporting H5. Therefore, all hypotheses were supported. The variance explained (R-square) by presence, emotional involvement, flow state, enjoyment, and intention to take mountain walking were 0.477, 0.238, 0.323, 0.518, and 0.548, respectively.

figure 2

Result of PLS-SEM

Insert Fig.  2

5 Conclusions and implications

5.1 conclusions.

This research focuses on using 360-degree virtual tours to promote audiences’ intention to conduct mountain walking tourism through developing and testing a theoretical framework for elaborating the relationships among vividness (stimulus), presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment (organism), and intention to conduct mountain walking tourism (response) based on an extension of S–O–R theory. The results show that the vividness of a 360-degree virtual tour has a positive influence on audiences’ sense of presence, which is consistent with the literature that supports vividness as a key determinant of sense of presence (e.g. Wei et al. 2019 ). In addition, a virtual feeling of being walking in the mountain leads to emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment. It is in line with the literature supporting the critical role of presence in understanding VR experience (e.g. Choi et al. 2016 ; Tussyadiah et al. 2018 ; Willems et al. 2019 ) and explains the findings of previous research in how VR influences users’ behaviour intention (e.g. Kim et al. 2020 ; Tussyadiah et al. 2018 ). Furthermore, this study identifies that emotional involvement leads to a flow state and enjoyment. Furthermore, a flow state is also a vehicle for creating user’s enjoyment. Finally, emotional involvement shows the greatest impact on audiences’ intention to walk in a real mountain, followed by flow state and enjoyment.

5.2 Theoretical contributions

The result contributes to the literature of VR research in tourism marketing. Kim et al. ( 2020 ) considered emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment as the organism variables but did not include a sense of presence. However, researchers in VR research in tourism commonly agreed that presence is a key factor in influencing audiences’ experience in a VR environment (Tussyadiah et al. 2018 ). In Kim et al.’s ( 2020 ) study, they treated these three organism variables independently and did not test the relationship among them. However, in Weibel and Wissmath’s ( 2011 ) study, they found that flow state is an antecedent of enjoyment. In addition, Kim and Ko’s ( 2019 ) study in VR spectatorship also confirmed that involvement significantly impacts flow state due to enhancing engagement. Furthermore, many previous studies have confirmed that a sense of presence induced by VR has a positive effect on emotional involvement, enjoyment, and flow state (Huang et al. 2013 ; Willems et al. 2019 ). In order to explain how 360-degree virtual tours promote mountain walking tourism, this study reconstructs the S–O–R research model. This study considers vividness as the stimulus to investigate its consequences; a sense of presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment as the organism variables to the 360-degree virtual video; and visit intention as the response to the 360-degree virtual video. The results of this study indicate the relational flow from VR presence to user behavioural intention via emotional state (emotional involvement and flow state), psychological state (enjoyment), and behavioural state (visit intention). Some researchers have used the S–O–R theory to explain the processes that influence tourists’ behaviours in the virtual environment. However, they only considered the organismic emotional state (e.g. positive emotions and positive surprise) in their research models (e.g. Surovaya et al. 2020 ). This study extends the applicability of the S–O–R theory by embedding both emotional state and psychological state as internal organismic states. In this study, the emotional state is placed on the ascending position of the psychological state. This structure helps to explain the internal organismic processes. By enhancing a sense of presence through a vivid 360-degree virtual tour, audiences are more likely to involve and experience a flow state, which further evokes enjoyment and ultimately leads to their intention to walk in a real mountain. This study greatly extends the findings of Kim et al. ( 2020 ), who only treated flow state, enjoyment, and emotional involvement as first-order factors of affective response. The results show that the S–O–R theory is an effective framework that can explain the linkages between the mediated environment, viewers’ emotional and psychological processes, and behavioural intentions in the 360-degree virtual tour context. This study supports the generalisability of using the S–O–R theory in studying VR research in tourism.

In addition, Kim et al. ( 2020 ) did not test the direct effect of emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment on the visit intention. They instead constructed a higher-order research model where these three organism factors (as the first-order factors) reflectively form the affective response (as the second-order factor). The factor loadings of emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment are 0.862, 0.807, and 0.904, respective. Therefore, Kim et al. ( 2020 ) told us that enjoyment has the greatest indirect effect on visit intention. However, this study indicates that emotional involvement has the greatest direct effect on the intention to take mountain walking. Kim et al. ( 2020 ) tested the visit intention (a place that audiences saw), and this study tests the intention to take mountain walking (a type of tourism). The respondents for Kim et al. ( 2020 ) study were audiences who had any experience with tourism-related VR activities in the past 12 months. This study examines the audiences who have a fresh experience after using a Xiaomi all-in-one VR headset to have a 360-degree virtual tour. Since HMD provides visual isolation from the surrounding, it may enhance audiences’ responses, especially the involvement. Thus, the effects of three organism factors in different research settings may vary. It raises questions for researchers further investigate (1) whether these three organism factors should formatively or reflectively form the affective response, (2) their effects under different tourism research settings, and (3) their effects under different types of VR equipment. This study points out the research gaps for future VR research in tourism.

The study also provides a new insight to bridge the innovative technology with the promotion of nature-based tourism. Existing literature focused on using VR to promote a specific destination (e.g. Kim et al. 2020 ). However, with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the widespread of the variant virus, long-distance travelling was ceased due to travel restrictions and border closures. By providing benefits to tourists, mountain walking tourism, as a type of walking tourism, deserves more research attention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (De Vos 2020 ). This study shows how the use of 360-degree virtual videos can promote mountain walking tourism. Thus, this study investigates tourists’ intention to go walking in the mountains instead of visiting only Dinghu Mountain. The results of the study support the possibilities of using 360-degree virtual tours to promote any kind of nature-based tourism. For developing mountain walking tourism, evaluating what visitors perceive during the trip is important. By using 360-degree virtual videos to simulate mountain walking, audiences can obtain an experience similar to real mountain walking when viewing the videos. This study simulates and explores visitors’ emotional and psychological states during mountain walking. After filling out the questionnaire, the interviewers have asked respondents’ experience with virtual mountain walking. They mentioned that the environment of the mountain landscape leads them to be completely involved in the walking pace. They felt that they slowly walked on the mountain path, enjoying the breeze, listening to the birds singing, and the sound of the running water made them intoxicated. People like to experience nature and wilderness. Thus, mountain walking provides opportunities for people to touch nature, so the respondents were happy with the virtual tour. However, fewer respondents provided a special argument that they would not go to Dinghu Mountain in case they have watched all the virtual videos, but they would visit other mountains. It is because they do not need to have a ‘second’ visit to Dinghu Mountain. So, some researchers argued that VR is a double-edged sword (Li and Chen 2019 ). However, this study empirically proves that 360-degree virtual tours can help to promote mountain walking tourism. Although audiences obtained the experience from virtual videos, they may go through similar emotional and psychological states during a real mountain walking. Therefore, the use of 360-degree virtual tours can not only promote mountain walking but also allow researchers and marketers to predict visitors’ emotional and psychological responses in experiencing real mountain walking. The study provides evidence to show how innovative technology helps the development of nature-based tourism.

5.3 Practical contributions

This study also provides meaningful practical implications for destination marketers, virtual tour developers, and managers of mountain parks. A well-designed virtual tour is a good way to present mountain walking products, including location, walkways, attributes, culture, and people. In addition, virtual tours provide the opportunity for potential tourists to ‘walk in a mountain’ by visiting virtually before the real visit. Therefore, for enhancing the sense of presence, destination marketers are suggested investing in the newest high-performance HMDs, such as VR-3 headset delivering 2880 × 2720 resolution per eye, to foster users to a vivid ‘feel’ of the mountain walking in a virtual tour.

For virtual tour developers, developing immersive 360-degree virtual tour content which induces presence is important. More appealing sensory devices, such as high-quality visual elements (e.g. green trees, bloom flowers, clean water, sun-rise, and mountain shrouded in mist), audio elements (e.g. sounds of birds, fish, water, rain, and tourists in the mountains), and/or different sensory stimulation (e.g. blowing wind), should be integrated into the mountain walking virtual tour. In addition, when shooting 360-degree virtual videos, the directors should design involving, entertaining, and enjoyable content.

In order to promote mountain walking, the general manager of the mountain parks should create a walking-friendly environment to enhance walkability. It is important to maintain walking tracks, rambling trails, toilets, and gazebos in good condition. In addition, referring to the feedback of audiences on the 360-degree virtual tourism experience, mountain park managers can manipulate various natural landscapes, smells, and sounds, which allow visitors to experience the natural environment. Planting lush trees and colourful flowers create an ecological circle favourable to the life of birds and insects. With the singing of birds and the calls of insects, tourists can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature to evoke their physical, emotional, and psychological pleasure. It matches audiences’ experiences in 360-degree virtual tours.

5.4 Limitations

Some limitations of this study should be addressed. First, all 360-degree virtual videos were filmed in a single tourist destination (Dinghu Mountain). Thus, the generalisation of the results may be limited. The future study may examine the influence of virtual tours captured from diverse tourism sites. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the samples were limited to the Greater Bay Area of China. Future studies may test the model in different regions and countries to generalise the results. Second, this study only considers presence, emotional involvement, flow state, and enjoyment as the organism to the 360-degree virtual video. Future studies can include more emotional and psychological measures. Also, researchers can include more antecedents of VR presence to construct a more comprehensive research model. Since audiences’ experience in virtual mountain walking should be different from the experience in real mountain walking, it is recommended to conduct further research to understand the emotional and psychological states of visitors in real mountain walking. Finally, this study only evaluated the use of 360-degree virtual tours in HMD. However, 360-degree virtual videos can be viewed on a computer screen. Further study is recommended to verify any difference between using these two types of devices.

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Wu, X., Lai, I.K.W. The use of 360-degree virtual tours to promote mountain walking tourism: stimulus–organism–response model. Inf Technol Tourism 24 , 85–107 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-021-00218-1

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Tempe’s Iconic Places

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Use your finger or mouse to hover over each photo and from it from side to side and up and down. These Tempe photos allow you to shift your perspective to explore each spot even further.  Picture yourself here. We hope to see you soon.

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The first building in Tempe that was wired for electric lighting continues to be the building that represents the traditions at Arizona State University. Old Main was dedicated in 1898 and can be easily be seen from the north part of campus, on the south side of University Dr., between College Ave. and Rural Rd. It is the oldest surviving building on campus so it has certainly seen a lot of history. When you’re looking at it, take note of the steps leading to the front entrance. Imagine what it would have been like to see Theodore Roosevelt give a speech from those steps when he visited Arizona to dedicate the Roosevelt Dam in 1911.

Hayden Library

Hayden Library was built in 1966. Anyone who has attended ASU has certainly spent a lot of time here, either studying, looking for sources for an essay, or finding a quiet place on the bustling campus. Above Its unique underground entrance is the green space known as Hayden Lawn. The lawn is a central gathering spot in the middle of campus: a place to meet up with friends, attend an event, or just enjoy the Arizona sunshine.

ASU Gammage

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RECREATIONAL PARKS

“A” Mountain

Watching the sunrise or sunset, or hiking a mountain just because we can are popular pastimes in Arizona. “A” Mountain in Downtown Tempe is one of the most beloved hiking spots in the metro area. A quick ascent provides 360-degree views of downtown, Tempe Town Lake and the ASU Tempe Campus. The official name is Hayden Butte Preserve but locals refer to it as “A” Mountain because of the large gold A on top that stands for Arizona State University.

Elmore Pedestrian Bridge

There’s something instantly refreshing about walking or riding a bike over the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge . This beautiful bridge is named after James Elmore, ASU’s founding Dean of Architecture.  Elmore and his students had the vision that inspired our community to turn a dry riverbed into what is now Tempe Town Lake. This bridge can be accessed from the Tempe Center for the Arts on the south side of the lake or from the pathways on the north side. If you visit at dusk or after dark, you’ll see it illuminated by blue lights that reflect in the water below.

Tempe Town Lake

A slice of nature in the middle of the city, Tempe Town Lake is a natural gathering spot for runners, bikers, families and everyone in between. This two-mile recreational lake is located between the 202 freeway and Downtown Tempe. It’s biking distance from Papago Park. And, it’s the place to catch one of Arizona’s famous sunsets.

Kiwanis Park

This 125-acre Kiwanis Park has pathways, sports fields, the Kiwanis Recreation Center, batting cages, tennis courts and a lake where you can fish or rent kayaks or pedal boats. It’s a relaxing respite in south Tempe. You can also rent a Grid Bike in the park to explore other parts of the city.

ATTRACTIONS

Tempe Center for the Arts

The beautiful Tempe Center for the Arts opened in 2007 and has hosting events from live music to art exhibitions. There are artistic touches around the outside of the building, such as the “Mare Undarum – Sea of Waves” by Ned Kahn. This series of aluminum mirrors reflect the water of the negative edge pool. Or, see “Aurora” by Brower Hatcher, a large blue canopy in the outdoor sculpture garden with five leaf-like forms that are reminiscent of desert seed pods.

Tempe Diablo Stadium

If you’re a baseball fan, especially an Angels fan, then seeing Tempe Diablo Stadium has to be on your list. This is the spring training home of the Angels with great views of the Tempe Butte on the north side. It was renovated in 2005 which gave it a classic baseball stadium look, complete with the grand staircase at the main entrance.

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360 degree view tourism

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mbl.is

360 degree panoramic photos show the proximity to the infrastructure

Hörður kveðst vera farinn að þekkja öll örnefnin í nágrenninu. mbl.is/Hörður Kristleifsson

Now the new landscape at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row, Svartsengi, and Grindavík can be observed in 360-degree panoramic photographs compiled by photographer Hörður Kristleifsson .

The two pictures show the new lava field and how the lava flowed along the defense walls and was located close to Suðurstrandarvegur road.

“They’re a combination of 25 drone-type images in one ball,” Kristleifsson explains to a reporter when called and asked about the making of the overview-type images.

You can view the photographs below.

Knows the place names by heart

You can also find the various place names, which many might have been wondering about the location of when reading news articles in the past weeks and months.

“I’ve been making these kinds of pictures for so long, I know these  place names by heart.”

The second overview image was taken yesterday at sunrise, not far from Hagafell.

The other overview was taken on March 17 over the fissure. It shows how the lava flowed over Grindavíkurvegur road towards the power plant and the Blue Lagoon in Svartsengi.

Photo taken March 20, 2024:

Photo taken march 17, 2024:.

360 degree view tourism

Lava is flowing into Melhólsnáma

A shot from a drone over the eruption that started on March 16, 2024.

"Very troubling to lose the mine"

The Easter blizzard is in full force in Ísafjörður as can be seen in this picture.

"The most snow we’ve seen this winter"

Hörður kveðst vera farinn að þekkja öll örnefnin í nágrenninu.

“There’s quite a bit of life in this”

The eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row is still active although the longest lava tongues are getting dark and are barely moving.

Ground swelling continues at Svartsengi

The seventh eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula in less than three years started last Saturday and it is still ongoing.

Lava coming from seven to eight craters

Non-orthogonal Multiple Access Enhanced Scalable 360-degree Video Multicast

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IMAGES

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  5. World city panoramas transformed into 360-degree globes

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  6. 360-degree landscapes by Brendon Gee

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VIDEO

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  6. 🔴The View at The Palm

COMMENTS

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    AirPano is a VR project created by a team of Russian photographers focused on taking high-resolution aerial 360° photographs and 360° video. Today AirPano is the largest virtual travel resource in the world -- by geographical coverage, number of aerial photographs, and artistic and technical quality of the images — featuring 360° panoramas and 360° videos of the highest quality shot from ...

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    Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 ...

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    The 360-degree views will certainly impress! Start your virtual stroll here. Polar Bears, Churchill. Image Credit: Dan Bolton via Unsplash. Churchill, Canada is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World! Using Google Street View, search for polar bears as you trek along the frozen tundra — without needing your warmest winter coat!

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    The Statue of Liberty - New York, New York, USA. This virtual tour will give you unprecedented access to one of the world's best-known, beloved, and inspiring symbols; The statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World.". Learn about the Statue of Liberty through 360-degree tours, videos, and photographs.

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    With 360-degree views of the ruins of Inca settlements and lush green landscapes, you can visit every popular vantage point and learn more about the history of the famous site thanks to a helpful ...

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    A technology that's set to redefine the way we travel is 360 videos with a 360 camera. This powerful tool can capture a full 360-degree view of its surroundings, creating immersive experiences that are revolutionizing the tourism industry. The travel and tourism industry is one of the most vibrant and dynamic sectors worldwide.

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    Sơn Đoòng 360 is a project by National Geographic aiming to preserve the cave in digital form before it becomes subject to extensive tourism development. A trek - created from 360-degree ...

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    Virtual reality refers to interactive images or videos which enable the viewer to explore the entire 360 degrees of a scene. Unlike a regular image of video, which is shot from a fixed view point, VR production captures every part of a location. In the travel industry, virtual reality can be used to capture tourism destinations in a unique and ...

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    Virtual tourism is a trend that may be here to stay. Learn all about the benefits of virtual tourism and explore examples of some of the top campaigns. ... Potential guests can see a 360-degree view of a property and its amenities, rather than the flat images on a brochure or website. Experiencing a property this way increases the chances that ...

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    It incorporates cutting edge technologies, such as high resolution 360- degree imaging and simulated movement capabilities to enable users to view, tour, and engage with landmarks and tourist destinations without leaving their homes. Museums, cultural sites, and locations of worldwide-renown can be explored on personal computers and tablets.

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    Enjoy a 360° virtual reality tour of the Eiffel Tower The tour begins with a view of the Eiffel Tower from the Champ de Mars, first by night and then by day. Then a view from the upper second floor. Followed by a view from an elevator on the way to the top. The tour continues at the upper top floor, with a detour via Gustave Eiffel's office.

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    With View 360°, the world is truly at your fingertips. In conclusion, the integration of 360° virtual tours and immersive experiences is the way forward for the tourism industry. It has provided a more convenient way for people to travel and an immersive and personalized experience. These experiences provide travelers with the ability to ...

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    Restaurants & Food Courts: Let diners explore your establishment virtually, enticing them with 360-degree views of your ambiance and delectable dishes. Vacation Resorts: Allow vacationers to experience the serenity of your resort and the luxury of your amenities through their screens. Tourism. Elevate Your Travel Experience with 360 Images

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  20. Emerging realm of 360-degree technology to promote tourism destination

    This study aimed to examine the impact of 360-degree videos on the participants' attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a tourism destination. Hence, it was crucial to select the proper 360-degree video relevant to the objectives of the study. For this purpose, a short360-degree video that was narrated in English and presents a variety of ...

  21. 360 degree video tour of Tempe AZ

    This is the spring training home of the Angels with great views of the Tempe Butte on the north side. It was renovated in 2005 which gave it a classic baseball stadium look, complete with the grand staircase at the main entrance. Experience our favorite spots in Tempe, showcased in 360 degree video tours.

  22. 360-degree video for virtual place-based research: A review and

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  23. 360 degree panoramic photos show the proximity to the infrastructure

    Now the new landscape at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row, Svartsengi, and Grindavík can be observed in 360-degree panoramic photographs compiled by photographer Hörður Kristleifsson.

  24. Non-orthogonal Multiple Access Enhanced Scalable 360-degree Video

    By providing an immersive experience with panoramic views, 360-degree video streaming has gained increasing popularity recently. In many cases, videos are transmitted to mobile users over cellular networks. However, due to the high bandwidth requirement of 360-degree videos and the growing number of users, it is challenging to provide high-quality live streaming services to all users with ...