13 Ways to Travel the World When You Can’t Leave Your Home
Got the travel bug but can’t go anywhere due to social and travel restrictions?
Here are 13 ways in which you can travel the world and have plenty of adventures, all without leaving the safety of your home.
Visit a Virtual Museum

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If you love visiting museums, chances are that you have several on your bucket list that you are hoping to explore.
Well, many of the most famous museums in the world now offer virtual tours, giving you the chance to see their collections without having to leave your home.
Granted, this may not be quite the same as experiencing these collections in-person, but there are certain advantages that come with a virtual museum tour too; no crowds and no queues for a start!
Best Virtual Museum Tours for a Home Travel Experience
There are several museums offering virtual tours, but some of the best include:
- The Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- The British Museum in London
- The Louvre in Paris
- The Vatican Museums in Rome
- NASA facilities in Ohio and Virginia
- The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
Tour a National Park
Prefer nature to art? Or maybe you only really enjoy nature from afar, preferring not to get your hands too dirty.
Either way, a virtual tour of a national park would be perfect for you. Just like with the virtual museum tours, this means no queues and no crowds, and it will give you a healthy fix of the great outdoors.
Best Virtual National Park Tours for a Home Travel Experience
You would be surprised to discover just how many national parks are offering virtual tours, with some of the best being:
- The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam
- Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park in China
- Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia
- Banff National Park in Canada
Cook Meals from Around the World
One of the best ways to really immerse yourself in a country’s culture is by eating local foods. From Turkish kebabs to Indian curries to Caribbean spice, food is a huge part of travel for many.
If you’ve been missing out on all of those exotic fares, there’s no reason why you can’t cook some up for yourself at home.
There are thousands upon thousands of recipes online, along with step-by-step video tutorials that you can easily follow along.
Don’t have enough confidence in your cooking skills?
You could always order in instead. Or, sign yourself up for a food subscription box that provides fail-proof ways to cook an amazing meal.
If you’ve got more time on your hands, check out some of the many online cooking courses out there and teach yourself some new skills.
Create Some Exotic Cocktails
You’ll need something to drink alongside all of those meals you’ve been cooking, so try whipping up a few exotic cocktails.
Whether you are hoping to visit the Caribbean, South America, Europe, South East Asia, or anywhere else, cocktails will bring you the flavors of your destination.
Best Exotic Cocktails for a Home Travel Experience
Just a little bit of research will show you that so many destinations each have their own signature drink. You could easily whip up a cocktail a week, and have this tradition continue on for several years!
Some of the tastiest exotic cocktails to get you started include:
- The Mojito and the Cuba Libre from Cuba
- The Bellini from Italy
- The Singapore Sling from Singapore
- The Caipirinha from Brazil
- The Sidecar from Paris
- The Manhattan from New York
- Sangria from Spain
Destination-themed bar snacks will make your cocktail evening all-the-more enjoyable. Try some tapas if you’re going with Spanish cocktails, some spicy nuts for a Singaporean kick, or some Cichetti for an Italian twist.
Watch a Few Travel Movies
Some movies have the ability to really absorb you in their story, making you feel as though you are living it. Many travel movies fall into this category, whisking you away to a different place and time, and showing you the world through new eyes.
A large screen with surround-sound speakers will make this an even better experience, but, so long as you can properly focus on what you are watching, even a phone screen would do.
Best Travel Movies for When You Can’t Leave Home
There are countless travel movies out there, and everyone will have their own favorites. However, some of the best when it comes to really transporting you to another destination are:
- Eat, Pray, Love
- Into the Wild
- Under the Tuscan Sun
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
- Out of Africa
- Wild
Play Some Travel-Related Board Games
Travel is all about adventure, and while playing a board game at home may not provide this to the same extent, the excitement level will still be there.
Not only will travel-related board games teach you more about the world, but they are also a great bonding activity for your entire household.
Best Travel-Related Board Games
The games you choose will probably vary depending on the age group of your household, but some of the best travel-related board games are:
- Ticket to Ride
- 7 Wonders
- Who Knows Where
- Flags Around the World
- Mapominoes Europe
- King of Tokyo
Have a Go at Some Cultural Activities
Think about some of the places you would like to visit. Then, imagine the different activities you would be doing there. Would it be possible to recreate any of these at home?
Yes, this may require you to purchase a few unusual items, but that’s worth it for the chance to connect with a new culture.
Best Cultural Activities for Home Travel
If you were doing one of these activities in their country of origin, then chances are that you would have someone with you showing you the ropes. Fortunately, that’s still available in the form of YouTube tutorials – just search for whatever it is you want to try, and you will likely find a video explaining exactly how to do this.
Some of the best cultural activities for home travel include:
- Indonesian batik painting
- A Chinese tea ceremony
- A Mexican Day of the Dead festival
- A Japanese sushi-making session
Learn a New Language
Loving picking up bits and pieces of new languages whenever you travel?
Immersing yourself in a new language can be done at home too, especially with so many useful language apps out there. Not only will this provide a fantastic mental challenge, but it’s also great practice for when you finally do visit your dream destination.
Best Ways to Learn a New Language
There are numerous ways to pick up a new language, and some will work better than others for each individual.
Combining a few of these methods will likely give you an even faster result:
- Language apps, such as Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone
- TV shows and movies, so long as they have subtitles
- Online groups to practice conversation
Listen to Foreign Music
Some destinations are legendary for the music icons they have produced, and this is often another large part as to why people choose to travel to a certain place.
Sometimes, closing your eyes and listening to music from a far-off place can really transport you.
Best Countries Famous for Their Music
Just about every country, and often even region, will have their own music. However, some of the most popular include:
- British rock and pop
- American country
- Dutch electronic dance
- Russian punk rock
- Japanese J-pop
- Canadian soft rock
- German traditional classics
Visit a Virtual Zoo
Love watching animals?
Some of the most fascinating creatures can be found in zoos, as well as aquariums, around the world.
While you may not currently be able to jet over to China to see the pandas, or fly to Canada to watch the sharks, zoos and aquariums around the world are now live-streaming many of their animal exhibits, giving you the chance to visit them virtually.
Best Virtual Zoos and Aquariums
Some of the best zoos and aquariums to visit virtually include:
- The San Diego Zoo for its giraffes, pandas and koalas
- The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada for its sharks
- Tembe Elephant Park for its elephants, rhinos, lions and birds
- Georgia Aquarium for its piranhas, beluga whales, and jellyfish
- Ouwehans Dierenpark for its polar bears
- Paignton Zoo for its meerkats and flamingos
Explore the Streets of the World

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When visiting a new destination, it’s always a good idea to set aside some time to freely explore the streets around you, without having a map to hand. Taking your time to check out those narrow back alleys will reward you with experiences that you wouldn’t have had on the usual tourist trail.
How can you do this from home?
It’s easy, thanks to Google Maps! Simply input your destination and the software will transport you there, not only giving you a bird’s eye view, but also taking you down onto street level.
Best Destinations to Explore on Google Maps
Google Maps can take you to most places in the world, with just a few exceptions. However, some of the most fascinating to virtually explore using Google Street View are:
- The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
- Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal
- Stonehenge in the UK
- The Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France
- Wilson Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- The White House, USA
Google Maps will even take you inside many of these famous landmarks, including the White House and the Palace of Versailles, giving you such an immersive experience.
A Virtual Disney Ride
Ok, so this may be pushing it a bit, because nothing quite beats the thrill that comes from a theme park ride. However, trying these rides out virtually can still be so much fun, while also giving you a fascinating insight into how different countries interpret the same themes.
You could even make an entire day of it, setting up other fun Disney-related activities, watching a couple of Disney movies, and cooking up some Disney-related treats.
Best Virtual Disney Rides
Some of the best virtual Disney rides from around the world include:
- Space Mountain from Disney World Florida
- Splash Mountain from Disneyland California
- Journey to the Center of the Earth from Disneyland Tokyo
- Crush’s Coaster from Disneyland Paris
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runway Ride from Hong Kong Disneyland
Plan Your Next Trip
Hopefully, it will not be long before travel is once again safe, meaning that you will want to be prepared when booking your next trip.
Now is the perfect time to get planning in detail, ensuring that your next travel adventure is one that you will never forget.
Where to Find Inspiration for Your Next Trip
Inspiration is everywhere you look, and you probably already also have a few destinations in mind. However, if you’re looking for somewhere new and exciting, try doing the following:
- Watching unusual travel shows
- Reading travel blogs
- Checking out travel bloggers’ social media feeds
- Browsing different online deals
Home travel may not seem quite as exciting as actually visiting a new destination, but it’s still a great way to satisfy that travel bug in you. Whether this means museum-hopping around the world while in your pajamas, or spending the day cooking up an exotic feast, with that country’s music in the background, all it takes is a little bit of creativity to travel the world from your own home.