Can’t Travel to NYC? Here is your ticket to experiencing NYC directly from your couch. The best New York City Virtual Tours curated for you by a Native New Yorker!
As a world travel nomad, I have traveled through more than half the globe, but my heart still lies in my birthplace, the city where dreams are made. Yes, you got it right if you guessed that I am talking about New York City, the capital of the world!
Now, most of you might be thinking that my attachment to this city is purely sentimental. This is true to a certain extent but, really, what is there not to love?! Starting from architectural beauties like Grand Central Terminal, to historic museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or off the beaten path places in New York City such as the Staten Island Greenbelt – The Big Apple is a combination of thousands of distinctive recreational locations, with never ending things to do, and its being the city that never sleeps provides you with unlimited opportunities to see it all!
Being a Native New Yorker, I often miss my city while traveling around the world. Thankfully, I get to return quite a lot but, currently, that’s not possible. I know that, under the current circumstances, nobody can visit New York and I see, on many social media channels, how people are so discouraged that their dream trip to New York City was canceled due to the current worldwide situation.
We all know that this epidemic won’t last forever, but I do understand how sad it is to cancel your special milestone birthday, wedding anniversary, solo adventure or simply your bucket list trip planned for a while, maybe even dreamed of since watching a movie that inspired you to travel to New York – but there’s a way that you can preview and experience my beautiful hometown.
You can still experience New York City virtually, from your couch, exploring it at your own pace. There are numerous virtual tours of New York City available on the Internet that allow you to walk through some of my favorite locations, from anywhere around the world.
Today, while virtually exploring Central Park, I thought, “Why not share it with my beloved readers” so, in this post, that’s just what I’m going to do. I have compiled a list of my go-to sources of the best NYC virtual tours. Excited yet?! Let’s get started!
Experience NYC Virtual Tours | Your Ticket to the Big Apple from Home
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
I can safely say that the Met, for sure, is the type of museum that results in your falling in love with art. Whether you enjoy exploring the deeper meaning of their masterpieces, you love antique furniture, or simply want to explore the history of Egypt, NYC’s Met has it all. It encompasses 5,000 years of art history in 200,770 art displays. Currently, it is even celebrating 150 years of its legacy in art, community, and ideas.
After reading this, if the art enthusiast within you is craving to visit a NYC museum right now, then you don’t need to travel. You can enjoy its full glory through the Met 360ᵒ project, which is run by the museum itself. It includes a tour of the Great Hall, the Temple of Dendur, and the Met Cloisters Garden. All the videos are interactive and allow you to change the direction of the camera! Get comfortable because there’s a lot to see and you can take your time to enjoy it from the privacy of your own home!
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Are you a modern art enthusiast? If yes, then you surely would have heard of the Museum of Modern Art, the epitome of modernity in art, also known as the MoMA. This Manhattan attraction opened in 1929 and, since then, has showcased over 129 modern masterpieces, including the likes of The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, the Still Life with Apples by Paul Cezanne, and The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau.
For all of us who are away from NYC, but intend to indulge in this heavenly art, we have the MoMA’s virtual tour through the Google Arts & Culture platform. Through this tour, you not only enjoy the existing masterpieces present in the museum, but you can also attend online exhibits such as the recent one of the Dada’s pioneer Sophie Taeuber-Arp.
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Grand Central Terminal
Do you know how many people cross the iconic Grand Central Terminal on a daily basis? Well, data suggests 600,000 people, which is equivalent to the population of San Francisco. It is one of those locations, which, as a native New Yorker, I have visited thousands of times, but can’t get enough of it. It showcases the true hustle-bustle of the big apple, along with iconic architectural beauty.
Whether you’ve already traveled through this train station on your way in or out of my beloved NYC, or you just want to visit out of curiosity, the “you visit’s” Grand Central Terminal’s virtual tour will make you feel as if you are a part of the crowd. Like others, this tour doesn’t comprise of plain and boring videos but provides you with an interactive experience. Don’t forget to look up at the famous constellations on the ceiling!
Watch & Listen by Lincoln Center
When it comes to performing arts, Lincoln Center, for sure, tops the list of the best of locations. It is home to some of the world’s major performing arts organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet. Let’s not forget their newest addition, the Juilliard School of Music.
In order to facilitate performing arts enthusiasts who are away from the city of dreams, but don’t intend to miss their favorite shows, the Chamber Music Society of the Lincoln Center has started streaming concerts live! In addition to this, they also share previously held concerts, lectures, and masterclasses.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The art adventure of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum starts with its architecture, which is the epitome of 20th-century designs, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It contains one of the finest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art located in one building.
You can descend down the ramps of this heaven of arts and take in its artistic glory through the Google Arts & Culture’s virtual tour, where you can peruse the collections of the likes of Roman Opalka and Helen Frankenthaler.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Any American art enthusiasts out there? If yes, then you, for sure, would have heard about and are excited to visit the Whitney Museum of American Art. With masterpieces from legends such as Edward Hopper, Marsden Hartley, and Joseph Stella, this location is a magnet for people interested in the 20th century’s creativity.
Thankfully, you don’t need to travel to NYC to praise the beauty showcased at the Whitney. You can enjoy every art piece from the comfort of your lounge through the Google Arts & Culture’s virtual tour, which ensures that the viewers have the actual at-museum kind of experience.
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The Frick Collection
This collection, which was assembled by Pittsburgh industrialist, Henry Clay Frick, is actually displayed in one of the vintage mansions in NYC. This compilation features the likes of Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya, and Whistler.
You can praise the creativity from your home through the Google Arts & Culture, which not only showcases all of the 201 items, but it also provides a street view of the mansion for architecture enthusiasts.
The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
The medieval times, no doubt, were the golden age of architecture. There are various locations where you can witness its grandeur, but one of the best amongst them is the Cloisters Museum and Gardens, which has a touch of five medieval monasteries of France.
The Google Arts & Culture offers the same experience through its virtual tour of the Cloisters’ splendid architecture as if you were there exploring it in person. Careful, you might end up wishing for a time machine to send you back to the middle ages!
American Museum of Natural History
Imagine walking under a blue whale. Oops, a ton of you are probably thinking, “How is that even possible?!” Well, the American Museum of Natural History has made it possible to do just that. As the name indicates, this museum is packed with items showcasing how we, on this earth (and above), evolved into the 21st century.
You don’t need to be in the city to enjoy the 34 million specimens of various life and landforms, because the Google Arts & Culture has provided it for your viewing pleasure through their in-depth virtual tour. It will walk you through each of the 45 permanent exhibition halls, and the planetarium, within a few clicks.
Museum of the City of New York
As a New Yorker, I always used to wonder what my city was like in olden times. How did this city grow and develop into its current form? The place with the answers and complete insight in this regard is the Museum of the City of New York.
If you are curious, just like me, but can’t visit it in person, then the Google Arts & Culture’s virtual tour is there to satisfy your curiosity. The museum of the City of New York regularly showcases its collection through this platform, so you won’t miss out on anything!
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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex
The best location to learn all that you want to know about the world of our US armed forces and their history is the Intrepid, Sea & Space Museum Complex. It’s comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the cruise missile submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST, a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane, and the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
Although it doesn’t provide a complete virtual tour like the other locations discussed in this post, their video collection is one of a kind. A few of them provide tour guides alongside all of the behind-the-scenes fun!
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The September 11, 2001 incident is never forgotten. Thousands of lives were lost and the world completely transformed from that day forward. In order to honor the fallen, there’s the 9/11 Memorial & Museum located on site of the original towers.
If you intend to expand your knowledge about this unfortunate event, then you can do so by virtually touring the memorial, which is available on Loving New York’s website; however, it will cost you a few bucks. If you plan on saving a little money, then you can always listen to their audio tour through their IOS and Android app.
Stars in the House
One of the biggest NYC attractions is Broadway. Fortunately, you don’t need to be there in order to enjoy them because the Actors Fund has brought them to your screens through their YouTube channel. It provides complete insight into how certain musicals are staged, along with background on the actors’ lives and careers. Did I mention they offer live performances as well?!
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Central Park
Do you know which is the most visited park in the USA? Well, it is the Central Park, which is located in Manhattan and it is the fifth largest park of NYC covering a mammoth area of 843 acres. In addition, whether you know it or not, you would have surely seen parts of it in a ton of movies and television shows because it is one of the most filmed locations in the world.
Now you can take a walk in this park through the self-guided virtual tour offered by the management itself. It starts from West 72nd Street and, within 30 minutes, shows you the heart of this nature’s wonderland.
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Staten Island Greenbelt
As you would have guessed from its name, the Staten Island Greenbelt is located in the heart of Staten Island. It is a compilation of hundreds of passive and active recreational activities spanning over 3000 acres of land.
Did you plan on exploring this vast natural heaven? Well, now you can, from the comfort of home, through a virtual tour offered by the NYC Parks that will walk you past the High Rock Environmental Center and Greenbelt Headquarters, Greenbelt Natural Centre, Greenbelt Native Plant Centre and the Victory Plant Centre, William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, La Tourette Park, Willow Brook Park, and the Greenbelt Natural Areas.
Tourist in Your Own Town
I have covered quite a lot of the major attractions of the Big Apple. However, there are certain locations that have a distinct cultural and historical significance but are usually shadowed by the likes of MoMA and Met. The New York Landmarks Conservancy stepped forth and came up with a video compilation called “Tourist in Your Own Town” which honors these locations and showcases them in depth.
The New York Landmark Conservancy is focused on the preservation of the city’s historical landmarks and highlights their stories. In “Tourist of Your Own Town,” they have compiled all of the major attractions of the city of lights, covering both, the hidden gems and the iconic landmarks, such as Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace and the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.
Seneca Village Unearthed
Any archeology fans out there? If yes, then the Seneca Village Unearthed will definitely spark your interest. This is a collection of 300 artifacts from the mid-19th century’s Seneca Village. It was the largest community of free African Americans, which dates back to the 1820s, between the modern day 82nd and 89th Streets spanning 7th and 8th Avenues.
This online exhibition is one of its kind and provides you an in-depth insight into how people lived their lives, discussing cultural diversity and rituals followed. According to the findings, approximately 220 people resided in the village in 1856; some even descending from Irish and German families.
Urban Archive
If you’ve ever wondered what NYC was like in the past decades and centuries ago, and would like to discover its history, then there isn’t a better source than the Urban Archive. They describe themselves as a platform for cities, museums, libraries, and urban explorers.
The Urban Archive has collaborated with 40 museums, government agencies, and cultural institutions throughout NYC to bring the best digital content to your screens. In addition to the website, they have an iOS app as well. A few of their major features include digital storytelling, an audio guide available in multiple languages, and case studies.
Rockefeller Center
If you are a fan of movies filmed in NYC, or you’ve simply dreamed of seeing the famous NYC Christmas tree, then you’ve definitely heard about The Rockefeller Center. But did you know that it is considered to be one of the major commercial hubs of the Big Apple, as it’s comprised of 19 commercial plazas spread over an area of 22 acres?
If you are curious to explore it on your own, apart from the movies or your dreams, then you can do so from the comfort of your couch through a virtual tour offered by the photojpl. Their 360° interactive panorama will show you the best of the Center.
Empire State Building
Whenever someone mentions NYC, one of the major locations that pops up in everyone’s mind is The Empire State Building, which was named after the city of the dreams own home State of New York. The most mesmerizing part of this beautiful building is the view from its top, of the city’s amazing skyline.
Are you craving a visit? Well, no worries, because we’ve got exactly what you need! The esbnyc’s virtual tour is here to show you all of it, and you can enjoy it from home. It will take you to the 102nd floor of the building from where you can enjoy the iconic skyline even while wearing your pajamas! How cool is that?!
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Epidemic, New York in 1918
The majority of the world is stuck at home due to the Corona Virus epidemic, but this isn’t the first time that something of such an extent has happened. As most of you know, the world went through something similar in the past such as the Spanish Flu and the Influenza Epidemic, which created a similar environment in New York.
The influenza epidemic was the first occasion that introduced social distancing to New Yorkers. At that time, streets were empty, cafes and restaurants were shut down, and people were enclosed within their homes. The Urban Archive made a digital tour of how the city fought that epidemic and won. As we all wait for COVID to pass, let’s take a peek into this history and reassure ourselves that ‘this too shall pass!’
Hospitals through History
Hospitals and health care workers have always been at the forefront in all emergency circumstances, whether it is war, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or an epidemic. In these hard times, the Urban Archive pays tribute to these warriors via a digital tour of all the NYC hospitals and their history.
These digital tours cover all of the hospitals that fought various medical emergencies throughout the previous century. It showcases how the health care workers put their personal lives on the line and dedicated themselves completely to saving, not just the New Yorkers, but the lives of patients from around the world. Equal attention and detail is provided for all of the 69 hospitals covered.
Now it’s your turn to explore NYC
These are just a few New York City virtual tours and other sources that you can access during this time of social distancing or, if you’re like me, and you are just missing your dear city. Its time to get your favorite snack and drink and walk through the Big Apple while lounging comfortably on your couch!
Let me know how many of these have you tried and share your thoughts. Furthermore, please share other sources that you’ve come to utilize in order to overcome nostalgia or FOMO (fear of missing out). Remember, this cannot replace the real magical experience of NYC in person, but you’ll definitely become better prepared to enjoy the city once we’re given the green light to travel once again!
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