We miss travelling as much as you probably do, so thought what better way to satisfy your wanderlust than by bringing Paris to your home with these fascinating virtual tours. We know this doesn’t nearly measure up to going in person, but figured it would remind you of a previous visit to the City of Light or help you plan your future trip to this dream destination.
Here are the best virtual tours of Paris from around the web that you can take right now…
Musée d’Orsay
Take a virtual tour spanning three floors of the world-famous museum, Musée d’Orsay. The former railway station is home to collections from 1848-1914 including work by Monet, Van Gogh, Delacroix, Manet, Pissarro and many more. Through the Musée d'Orsay virtual tour, not only can you get an online glimpse at all these historical pieces, but you can marvel at the museum’s incredible interiors, too (and that’s all without the hoards of tourists).
Eiffel Tower
Not a lot needs to be said about this tour! Preview the most famous tourist attraction in France as well the areas surrounding the iconic Eiffel Tower. Imagine what it’s like to see that view over the Champs de Mars to Tour Montparnasse in real life, and get an insight into the tower’s history via this online tour.
Château de Vincennes
Credit: Selbymay
This famous castle to the east of Paris was built for Louis VII between 1340-1410. It hosted the French Royal family between the 14th and 17th centuries and has a rich medieval history which you can read up about during your online ‘visit’. Click through the ground floor and first floor interiors, see inside the chapel and explore the grounds.
Musée de l'Orangerie
Credit: Kenta Mabuchi via Flickr
Located next to Place de la Concorde on the bank of the Seine, Musée de l'Orangerie boasts a collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings including work from famed Artists including Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir amongst many others. Take a loop around the specially-designed oval rooms displaying one of the most famous works of art in the world, Monet’s Water Lilies.
Musée des arts et métiers
Credit: Rilba
Different to the other Museums on this list, Art et Métiers is devoted to scientific inventions and tools made throughout history. Take this online tour to see thousands of instruments from sketch to real-life product including ‘Super Computers’ from the 1980s. Within this museum you’ll find over 2,400 inventions from past decades from astrology tools to transportation.
Tour Musée des Arts et Métiers
Palais de Tokyo
Credit: Hermann via Pixabay
A lesser known but unmissable museum in Paris is the Palais de Tokyo, dedicated to modern art and often in the news for its extraordinary exhibitions. Take the tour of some of the underground tunnels, immerse yourself in the thought-provoking murals and prepare to want to visit in person when you’re next in Paris.
Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais
Credit: Daniel Hennemand via Flickr
Built ahead of the Universal Exposition of 1900, this museum is a beautiful example of French architecture and the views of Paris from the rooftop make this virtual tour worth doing in itself. They regularly host exhibitions and if you’d like to visit in person one day, you’ll find it in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
Opéra national de Paris
Credit: scarletgreen via Flickr
The National Opera for France dates back to the 17th century. Tour the incredibly grand interiors of one of the greatest Opera and Ballet houses in the world with its plush red velvet seating and shining gold balconies and pillars. Then spin around and get a glimpse behind the scenes of the stage. This tour contains more fantastic rooftop views, however arguably the most interesting aspect of this theatre is the hidden underground ‘lake’ which you can also take a look at on this tour. This is the lake that inspired the dark, eerie lair in Gaston Leroux’s world renowned stage show Phantom of the Opera.