Museums and galleries to explore online

Words - Taj Hayer 

Animation - John Meiring 

Art galleries and museums have (quite rightly) closed their doors until further notice. Luckily for us, you can still travel down those marbled walls, but from the comfort of your own home. Here’s our pick of some of the best art and design to explore online …

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

One of the largest museum spaces in the world the MET has all of its Egyptian art, Henri Matisse, women’s history month content online which amounts to over 400,000 works. The wonderful Met 360 project allows you to take a virtual tour of the Great Hall and more.

The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Trust the Dutch to be pioneers. The Amsterdam museum was one of the first to do digital visits. The online collection now boasts Rembrandt, Vermeer and of course, Van Gogh.

The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh

Seven floors of Campbells Soup, Elizabeth Taylor and the man that literally invented Pop Art.

The Louvre, Paris

It’s said that it would take 5 days to do a full walk around the Louvre. What better time to start, without actually having to walk? You can see the Apollo gallery, medieval collection and Egyptian antiques online.

Museo Del Prado, Madrid

If you like Goya (and we mean really like), explore the galleries 936 pieces online, with extensive commentary and videos.

Natural History Museum, London

Surely worth a click, just for Dippy the dinosaur, who makes an appearance, despite the fact that he is no longer housed in the museum.

Moma, New York

An institute of New York, and home to some of the world’s most impressive modern art, including but not limited to Duchamp, Lichtenstein & Cattelan.

Fondation Claude Monet

Just an hour from Paris, the home of Monet in Giverny would be the perfect place for a spring getaway. Don’t go - stay home and see the guided, virtual tour of the incredible space.

The Guggenheim, New York, Bilbao & Venice

Staying with New York, and more, The Guggenheim houses some of the best art in the world, often in incredible and modern architecture. Sadly you won’t be able to take a selfie against those curved gold walls in Bilbao, but you can still see some of the art and design.

Dalí Museum, Florida

Who would have thought that Florida held the largest collection of Dalí works outside of Spain? Well it does and you can take a virtual tour to see them all.

The Palace of Versailles, Versailles

Surely one of the most incredible spaces in the world, maybe just for the Hall of Mirrors, we are lucky enough to be able to explore over 22,000 works of art which includes the Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Trianon created for Marie Antoinette as well as the superb gardens and foundations.

Google Arts & Culture

The always remarkable Google has partnered with a host of galleries including the British Museum in London, Musée d’Orsay in Paris and Chicago’s Art Institute to offer virtual tours via street view.

Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be driving down those wide streets, top down with the LA sunshine beaming down on your neck. Well you can’t do that. You can, see the online exhibitions of Michelangelo and the development of the Bauhaus.

Vatican Museums, Vatican City

Michelangelo’s Pieta is a piece that we could view again and again and never get bored. Same applies for the vaulted ceilings which you can take a 360 degree tour of including the Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square.

National Gallery, London

An absolute must visit if and when you are able to travel around London again, the online galleries showcases some of the world’s greatest Renaissance art.