Museums you can tour virtually
Museums do not erase differences but create conditions in which differences can be understood and handled with respect,” says the International Council of Museums (ICOM), which chose the 2026 theme for International Museum Day on May 18: “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” Because for them, museums don’t simply house art or historical artifacts—they have the potential to “bridge across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides.”
Nothing beats getting up close and personal, but still, it’s cool how these museums are just a click away. Now that’s uniting a divided world.
The National Museums
Ideally, the National Museums of Fine Arts, Anthropology, and Natural History are quite easy to get to, and can make up a whole day’s worth of sightseeing. But as it is with rising transportation costs, maybe for now, a taste of what our national museums have to offer through their virtual tours can suffice—from Botong Francisco’s iconic “Filipino Struggles Through History” inside the Old Senate Hall to the “Tree of Life” that supports the entire National Museum of Natural History.
Not to mention, even if the National Planetarium is closed indefinitely, there is still a virtual tour available for it.
Virtual tours for the aforementioned can all be accessed via nationalmuseum.gov.ph
Museo de Intramuros
Museo de Intramuros consists of two main structures: the San Ignacio Church and the Mission House of the Society of Jesus. It was opened to the public in 2019 and houses the Intramuros Administration’s ecclesiastical collection.
Their virtual tour is not necessarily as interactive as others, as it consists of several YouTube videos that feel more akin to a syllabus than a museum visit. But if you’re into understanding the evangelical history of the Philippines, this tour is as in-depth as it gets.
The Museo de Intramuros virtual tour is accessible via intramuros.gov.ph/2020/10/01/museo-de-intramuros/
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum contains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, including military planes, missiles, rocketships, and even a replica of the lunar module used in the Apollo mission.
Through this museum, these scientific and engineering marvels aren’t only reserved for the screen but also tangible items we can see up close. Now that’s one way to inspire the next pilot or astronaut.
A virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum can be accessed via artsandculture.google.com/partner/smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum
Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum, on top of being an attraction, is also a science research center aimed at answering today’s biggest questions by looking at the past. Through their virtual tour, visitors can also peek into our planet’s billion-year history, from prehistoric marine reptiles to the giants that dominated the very land we’ve domesticated and industrialized.
Currently, the Natural History Museum also has an ongoing “Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature” exhibition, which features the different animals and creatures Newt Scamander encountered in his journey.
The virtual tour can be accessed via artsandculture.google.com/partner/natural-history-museum
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
If you’re familiar with Vincent Van Gogh’s life or saw that iconic “Dr Who” episode, you’d know that he was unappreciated and was largely seen as a failure during his time. How we wish he had gotten to see how we view him now.
Luckily, at least for us, even without going all the way to Amsterdam, we can give him his flowers in the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of his artworks. The permanent collection includes over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and more than 750 letters, all by Van Gogh.
Visit artsandculture.google.com/partner/van-gogh-museum for a virtual tour of the museum
Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences is housed within the Old Pathological Institute in Caine Lane, which was the country’s first purpose-built public health and medical laboratory. Today, it stands as the only medical museum in Hong Kong and aims to promote education and interest in health and the medical sciences.
The museum houses several exhibitions—covering significant events and key institutions related to the medical history of Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong 1894 plague epidemic and the SARS outbreak of 2003.
Visit the website for more details on the virtual tour
National Museum of Ancient Art, Portugal
The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (MNAA) contains over 40,000 items and has the honor of having the largest number of works classified by Portugal as “national treasures.” Paintings to be seen on display include “The Adoration of the Magi” by Domingos Sequeira and a depiction of hell by an unknown Portuguese painter.
The museum was also created in 1884 and housed in the Palácio Alvor, a former residence of the 1st Marquis of Pombal—the de facto ruler of Portugal from 1750 to 1777.
Virtually tour Portugal’s National Museum of Ancient Art through artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-museum-of-ancient-art
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