With the world on hold for the foreseeable, it’s going to be a long time before we get back on the road. Even as we begin to look to the summer, it’s likely that many destinations will keep their doors shut to international travelers until the fall.
But that doesn’t mean we have to put our wanderlust on hold.
With the world at our virtual fingertips, there are plenty of ways to feed your inner traveler from the comfort of your bed.
Many destinations and museums now let you “visit them” virtually. And there are also plenty of amazing books you can read, interesting films you can watch.
In short, you can still see the world from home. Here’s a list of ways you can travel virtually and keep your wanderlust spirit alive:
Books
Reading is one of the best and most budget-friendly ways to “travel” when you’re stuck indoors. You can transport yourself to far-flung destinations and get inspired by the power of words — all from the comfort (and safety) of home.
Here are a plethora of articles with more books:
- 12 Books to Take You Around the World
- 13 Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
- 13 Non-Travel Books That Changed My Life
Movies
There are many amazing films to choose online right now. I mean between Hulu, HBO, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+, you can get anything you want.
- Wild – Based on the novel of the same name, this movie follows Cheryl Strayed as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to restart her life, end her drug addiction, and cope with her mother’s death.
- Midnight in Paris – I pretty much love every movie about Paris, but this is one of my all-time favorites. The movie follows Gil, a writer on vacation with his fiancée and her family. At night, he wanders the streets of Paris before stumbling into a time warp that sends him back to the 1920s.
- The Beach – Staring a young Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie is about young backpackers who set out to find paradise while in Thailand.
- Lost in Translation – This film takes you into the heart of chaotic Tokyo. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson play two characters adrift in the the city together.
- Into the Wild – Based on a true story, this movie follows Christopher McCandless as he sheds his material life in search of something more.
- A Map for Saturday – This documentary is the best film about long-term travel.
Virtual Tours (Museums, Galleries, Historical Sites, etc)
It seems every destination or museum is now offering some virtual tour. I’m all for it. While it’s not the same as being there in person, it’s still an enjoyable way to pass the time, get inspired, and learn about the world. Here are some of my favorites:
- Anne Frank Museum (Amsterdam)
- Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
- Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)
- Picasso Museum (Barcelona)
- Guggenheim (Bilbao)
- Faroe Islands Virtual Tour (Denmark)
- Salvatore Dali Museum (Figueres)
- Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
- The Giants Causeway (Ireland)
- British Museum (London)
- Buckingham Palace (London)
- National Gallery (London)
- Natural History Museum (London)
- Tate Britain (London)
- Metropolitan Museum (New York)
- Coliseum (Rome)
- Catacombs (Paris)
- Louvre (Paris)
- Musée d’Orsay (Paris)
- Machu Picchu (Peru)
- Ruins of Pompeii (Pompeii)
- Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg)
- Sweden Virtual Tour (Sweden)
- National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC)
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington, DC)
Learn something new. Or meet some new friends in a virtual meetup. Or just chill out and eat snacks and watch some movies.
We’ll be back on the road again.
But, until we can, at least we can travel the world through our computer.