By Camille Meyers, on May 8, 2020

Virtual Tours to Experience New York City from Home

New York City has some of the world’s best museums and most iconic landmarks, and now you can visit them from home. View Van Gogh’s The Starry Night on a virtual tour of the MoMA and go on an interactive live tour of Metropolitan Museum of Art with a local guide. Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty and take a virtual stroll through Central Park all without changing out of your pajamas. You can even stream the drama of a Broadway show right into your living room. When you can’t travel to the Big Apple, have the city come to you with these virtual tours of New York City top attractions.

Virtual Tour of the NYC Met Museum with a Local

Virtual tour of the Met Museum in New York City

Discover an entirely new way of appreciating fine art with a live virtual tour of the Met Museum. A Zoom video call connects you with an expert guide in NYC to explore the galleries of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Find all the historical inaccuracies in Washington Crossing the Delaware, see what qualifies as risqué Dutch dinnerware, and learn the fascinating and funny stories behind masterpieces and artifacts. Ask your guide questions in real time as you virtually explore the largest art museum in the United States together.

Virtual Tour of the Empire State Building

Inside the Empire State Building in New York City

A towering icon of the city skyline, the Empire State Building is one of the must-see attractions of NYC. So, of course it’s on the itinerary for your virtual tours of New York. During your virtual tour of the Empire State Building, listen to recorded audio commentary as you take in the sweeping views from the observatories on both the 86th and 102nd floors. Zoom in on other New York City landmarks, like Central Park, Wall Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History in New York

The American Museum of Natural History in New York offers one of the best virtual tours for kids and families with plenty of online educational resources. Explore dinosaur fossils and detailed dioramas as you click through the halls. You can also watch fascinating videos about asteroids and play games that test your knowledge about the natural world.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Virtual Tour

Statue of Liberty in New York

Imagine the sound of seagulls calling and wind blowing through your hair on a boat ride across New York Harbor. You’re on your way to Liberty Island for a comprehensive virtual tour of the Statue of Liberty. Learn about the history of Lady Liberty by exploring the museum inside the pedestal and watch a video on how she was built. You can even admire the view from inside her crown without having to climb all 354 steps to get there.

Then, zip over to nearby Ellis Island for a virtual tour of parts not normally seen by visitors. Wander the rusted and crumbling hallways and operating rooms of the historic hospital complex on the south side of the island. You can also learn about the historic role Ellis Island played in US immigration with an interactive, kid-friendly virtual tour.

The Guggenheim

Virtual tour of New York City's Guggenheim Museum

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s website offers plenty of ways to digitally explore its art collection. You can find activities for parents and kids, resources for educators, and audio descriptions of artwork for people who are blind or have low vision. Beyond the Picassos and Reniors, the building itself is a work of art. Learn about this UNESCO World Heritage site designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright by listening to the audio tour online.

Central Park Virtual Tour

Central Park in New York City

From the “Imagine” mosaic of the John Lennon Memorial to the Belvedere Castle atop Vista Rock, you could spend a whole day enjoying the sights of Central Park. Let a Central Park Conservancy discovery guide take you on a recorded virtual tour of New York City’s green oasis. The insightful audio commentary points out important sights and historic trees on your 360-degree tour of Central Park. For some more greenery, check out the New York Botanical Garden and other virtual garden tours around the world.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Intrepid Air and Space Museum in New York City

Learn about history, science, and service through the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s online resources. Built around the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, this museum takes you aboard this historic ship through video archives and oral histories. You can take a virtual tour around the museum to explore the Intrepid, as well as the submarine USS Growler, the space shuttle orbiter Enterprise, and the Concorde supersonic airliner. Check the schedule for interactive virtual tours via Zoom with astronauts and veterans.

MoMA Virtual Tour

Paintings inside the MoMA on a virtual tour in New York

Delve into the world of modern art from the comfort of your couch with a virtual tour of the Museum of Modern Art. From Claude Monet’s Water Lilies to Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night to Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s abstract sculpture, the MoMA is filled with masterpieces that challenged the art world. Each week, the MoMA hosts new video stories and curator Q&As on their website in a series called Virtual Views.

Virtual Tours of New York City Architecture

Grand Central Terminal Virtual Tour in New York

The bustling metropolis of New York City is filled with amazing architecture that many people pass by without even noticing. Take a recorded walking tour of Grand Central Terminal, one of the Big Apple’s major transportation hubs and just as grand as its name implies. Discover the stories behind its star-speckled ceiling and the secret of the whispering gallery. Next, explore the architectural beauty of the New York Public Library with a virtual tour. You may find that the library holds more than just books.

Watch Broadway Shows at Home

The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

Even if you can’t go to New York City right now, you can bring the drama, dance, and spectacle of a Broadway show right into your living room with Broadway HD. Stream beloved Broadway musicals like Le Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Hugh Jackman belts it out in Oklahoma, Patrick Stewart bloodies his hands in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Russia’s acclaimed Bolshoi Ballet is on point in Swan Lake. You can watch must-see Broadway shows with a 7-day free trial or sign up for a monthly subscription.

For more virtual tours of New York City and beyond, check out Expedia’s collection of virtual tours and activities around the world.