Last Updated on May 28, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
With social distancing mandates still in place around the world due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many people are looking for new ways to experience culture and education from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Virtual museum tours accessible through mobile apps provide an engaging alternative to visiting museums in person. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best Android apps for taking interactive virtual tours of some of the world’s most famous museums and galleries without ever having to leave your couch.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is arguably the most comprehensive virtual museum app available, with high-quality online exhibitions from over 2,000 museums and galleries around the world. From iconic institutions like the Louvre, the Guggenheim, and the British Museum to lesser known local collections, there is a stunning array of artworks, artifacts, historical photographs and more that can be enjoyed through interactive 360-degree views and curated virtual tours. You can explore collections themed around subjects like fashion, architecture, Black history and more. The app also offersAugmented Reality features that bring some artworks to life right in your own space. It’s an excellent free resource for casual browsing or deep dives into specific collections and artists.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Operated by the renowned Smithsonian network of museums, the Smithsonian American Art Museum app focuses specifically on American visual arts from the colonial era to the present day. It features virtual tours of the museum’s galleries guided by audio commentary from curators, as well as 360-degree views of individual artworks. You can browse the collection thematically or by time period and learn about American artistic movements and iconic artists. Augmented reality filters also allow you to “Try It On” and see what it’s like to wear historical American fashion from the museum’s collection. While the core functionality is free, an optional $3.99 per year subscription unlocks additional premium content.
Musée d’Orsay
Home to one of the finest collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterworks in the world, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris has launched an impressive companion app. It offers detailed virtual tours of the museum galleries guided with descriptive text and images. You can explore focused exhibits on individual artists like Van Gogh, Manet, Degas, Monet and Renoir. The “Zoom” feature even allows you to peer closely at brushstrokes and intricate details on high-resolution digital images of famous paintings. Augmented reality brings selected sculptures to your space for 360-degree viewing. Overall it’s an engaging way to experience one of Europe’s top art museums from afar.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
As one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums globally, The Met has understandably launched an extensive virtual visit experience through their mobile app. Explore guided tours of the museum’s famous collection grouped by department, with over 450,000 works of art from around the world represented. You can delve into specific works and save favorites to personal collections. Augmented reality “Gallery View” mode even overlays artworks onto your surroundings. The app also includes audio interviews with curators, themed artist profiles and a calendar of virtual programs and events. It’s an amazing free digital complement to experiencing this iconic New York City landmark.
The Louvre
Home to the iconic Mona Lisa and other priceless artistic treasures, the Louvre in Paris understandably devotes significant resources into their virtual visitor experience. Through the Louvre App you can take 360-degree guided tours of selected galleries on your mobile device. A digital map pinpoints highlights as you “move” between rooms. Specific artworks can be viewed with close-up detail and informative descriptions in multiple languages. Augmented reality allows overlaying sculptures and portraits in your environment. Temporary exhibits are also covered. While some features require an in-app purchase, the Louvre App overall does an impressive job of bringing this monumental museum indoors.
British Museum
Spanning world cultures from ancient Egyptian artifacts to iconic British art and history, the collection of London’s renowned British Museum is expertly represented through their mobile app. You can take virtual room-by-room tours guided with descriptive audio, panoramic images and hotspots that zoom in on highlights. Individual objects have close-up examination and expert analysis. Augmented reality even places large stone sculptures and antiquities into your own space. A calendar details upcoming virtual talks and programs too. It’s an engaging digital emulation of encountering this epic treasure trove of human cultural heritage.
National Gallery of Art
With a peerless collection spanning Medieval to Modern artwork, the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC has a highly impressive companion mobile experience. Virtual tours bring you through recognizable galleries and highlight masterworks from all eras. Dive into individual collection pieces with zooming closeups, artist bios, and curatorial commentary. Augmented reality drops selected paintings onto real-world surfaces for an up-close analysis too. Rotating temporary exhibits are also covered in depth. There is even a kids’ section exploring art through family-friendly activities. Overall it’s an outstanding showcase for one of America’s premier art institutions.
Rijksmuseum
Home to famous Dutch Masters like Rembrandt along with pieces spanning centuries of Dutch/Flemish art and history, Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum has launched the “Rijksmuseum at Home” mobile experience. Virtual gallery walks guide you through their collections with room overviews, panoramic snapshots, and zooming info on individual artworks. The app also drops selected pieces into augmented reality for examination against real surroundings. Audio descriptions accompany some art in multiple languages too. It’s an impressive digital emulation of the iconic museum that nicely preserves their collections during travel restrictions.
Van Gogh Museum
Housed in a spectacular building dedicated entirely to his legacy, Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum holds the world’s largest collection of the pioneering artist’s works. Their app lets you virtually tour the galleries and study Van Gogh’s most iconic self-portraits, landscapes and sunflowers up close with high-res zooming. Curated digital exhibits dive deep into the life and techniques of the troubled Post-Impressionist genius. Augmented reality brings some paintings directly into your environment for analysis too. It’s an engaging virtual pilgrimage for fans of the tortured artist.
Uffizi Gallery
Home to Renaissance masterworks by Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo and more, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery has adapted impressively to the digital space. Through their app you can take virtual tours of the iconic Uffizi collection, panoramically exploring the sequence of rooms housing treasures. Major works have zooming closeups and biographical context. Augmented reality even places select masterpieces into your surroundings. Additionally, themed digital exhibits look at the Uffizi’s history and individual artistic periods in depth. It’s a superb insider’s look at one of Europe’s most prized possession of Renaissance and Baroque artistic heritage.
Whether you want to explore specific artists or just casually browse museum collections from across the globe, these top Android apps offer engaging, informative virtual tours for preserving access to culture during restrictions. They let you study iconic works, take guided exhibits and even experience augmented reality features all from your mobile device. Downloading a few will keep you intellectually stimulated and help satisfy any art or history cravings while we await the safe return to in-person museum visits again sometime soon.