What’s better than Paris in the springtime, Germany at Christmastime, or the Vatican at 2 in the morning when there are no lines?  Seeing these marvels while in your jammies and for free.

 

As travel seems out of reach for many of us due to family and work constraints and (of course) the cost of both domestic and international travel, visiting the world’s most exquisite museums and historical sites seems impossible. But many of these spots now offer virtual tours, allowing you to explore at your leisure from your table or computer. As long as you have a solid WiFi connection, you can wander through ancient artifacts, zoom in on priceless works of art, and even get your questions answered without having to wait in a single line!

 

Travel + Leisure provides links to more than a dozen of the famous destinations to visit. Some of the must-sees include:

 

The British Museum (London)

The real thing could take you days to explore, but a virtual tour through these famed galleries gives you stop-and-start access to some of history’s finest treasures from around the world. From the Aztecs to the Greeks to the actual Rosetta Stone, this museum is a history buff’s dream.

 

The Vatican Museums (Vatican City)

No ticket to Rome required. Virtual tours let you explore some of the Vatican Museums’ magnificent spaces, including Raphael’s Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Best of all, you can lie on your own carpet, tablet held aloft, staring at Michelangelo’s famous ceiling as long as you like!

 

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Washington, D.C.)

Prefer airplanes to paintings? Explore the Smithsonian’s remarkable collection online, including the Wright Flyer and Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit. You can even take virtual tours inside the cockpits of several historic aircraft.

 

The Frida Kahlo Museum (Mexico City)

Step inside Casa Azul, the colorful home where artist Frida Kahlo was born, lived, and worked. Online visitors can explore the house, garden, kitchen, and studio, where her wheelchair still sits beside her easel.

 

These virtual tours are the perfect getaway for a rainy afternoon—or even to prepare for an actual visit. The only one that would leave you wanting? The Guggenheim. Sure, the virtual tour is great, but roller skating through your dining room can never compete with rolling through the real thing!

 

Go on. Get out there. Your brain and your wallet will thank you.