The Best Virtual Tours for the Holidays

In 2020 and 2021, as international travel became more challenging, many of the guides on ToursByLocals stayed busy finding fun ways for you to continue to learn, connect and explore...virtually!

From home, you can now meet even more local guides from all over the world on your own Live Virtual Tour. During your tour, you’ll spend an hour or two talking to your new friend and learning about their city’s culture, landscape, food, art and history. Via your laptop or tablet, you can do everything from learning to cook gnocchi from a kitchen in Ravenna, Italy to exploring a monkey sanctuary in Ubud, Bali.

And after taking a virtual tour, you'll receive the entire value back as credit to book an in-person tour with the same guide. Perfect for all that 2022 travel we'll be doing!

Lately we’ve seen more and more friends and family joining together to go on these virtual journeys. To do this, just book any tour and send the link to the friends or family you'd like along for the ride. It’s a great way to reminisce about a place you once visited together, or explore a place you’re dreaming of going soon.

We now have over 200 Live Virtual Tours ready for you to try in almost 40 different countries, and more are coming online every week! We've compiled ten here that would be great fun for the holiday season. They’re all child and family friendly; many take place in cities that will be festively decorated for the holidays, and some are simply magical experiences perfect for this time of year.

Ten Virtual Adventures For The Holidays

1. See the Christmas lights along Vienna’s famous RingstrasseOn Vienna’s magnificent Ringstrasse, you’ll see some of the most iconic and inspiring buildings in Austria, like the Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts, Town Hall and Imperial Theater. The Austrian capital comes alive during the festive season, with Christmas lights shining everywhere. Your guide Susanne is excited to take you on a virtual walk and share the spectacle with your family.

2. Tour the Louvre with your kids!As our Parisian guide Sara explains: “This is a unique opportunity to discover the most famous Louvre's masterpieces and hidden gems directly from your home.” Designed especially for families to take part together, this is a great chance to share a fun cultural and learning experience with your kids over the holidays!

3. See New York City’s Holiday LightsNew York City was made for Christmas! Make a round of hot chocolate and take a virtual drive through the magical streets of Manhattan with local guide Ibrahima. He’ll show you the city’s renowned holiday displays, like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the ice skaters at Bryant Park, or the Christmas windows at Macy’s.

4. Learn to make Portuguese Tarts!Learn to make Portugal's signature pastry treat, "pasteis de nata", with local guide Marta! Marta has 3 small boys and knows how to make baking fun for the whole family. You’ll come away from this experience with a whole new holiday treat to make and enjoy together.

5. Soak in the Colourful Streets of La Boca in Buenos AiresExperience one of the most colourful neighbourhoods in the world, along La Caminito, the famous pedestrian street of La Boca. This waterfront neighbourhood in Buenos Aires isn't only incredible to look at, but is also the birthplace of the tango, and comes with a rich Italian immigrant history. Your guide Fabian is eager to share it with you!

6. Make a Holiday Wish at a Shrine in Tokyo, JapanTake your family to Japan for an hour, with local guide Gulay! She’ll teach you about Japanese culture and worship practices, on the way to Asakusa shrine. Send her your wishes, and she will write and hang them on wooden plaques to be blessed and received by Shinto spirits.

7. Enjoy an introduction to StockholmTake a wintery evening stroll with Swedish guide Per through Old Town Stockholm with its medieval alleys, “gingerbread” houses, festive lights, and Royal palace. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped inside a Christmas card!

8. Explore the steamy corridors of one of Bangkok’s legendary food marketsIs your family the type that loves to go somewhere warm at Christmas time? What about the streets of Bangkok? Let your guide brave the humidex, while you drink in the sights and sounds of a typical Thai food market. Tip: grab some Thai take-out to enjoy while you watch the tour!

9. Tour the delights of Dingle, IrelandGiggle at the name if you will, but few places are as enchanting as Dingle, in Ireland’s County Kerry. Deirdre is waiting to give you a warm Irish welcome. You’ll be bewitched by the stories and landscapes she shares, then be prepared to make plans to fly over and join her for a picnic this summer.

10. Learn to make a classic Italian dessert for your holiday dinnerSilvia in Ravenna, Italy promises you absolutely the best result when she teaches you to make her local version of the Italian classic, tiramisu. Enjoy a cooking class with family members near and far, taught by an Italian cooking out of her own kitchen half a world away.

Want to see more of our Live Virtual Tours? Check out the full list here: Live Virtual Tours!