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The Most Interesting Virtual Tours in Vancouver

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The Most Interesting Virtual Tours in Vancouver

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Stuck at home and want to get some travelling done nonetheless? Well, you might just be in luck because here we've got a list of the best virtual tours in Vancouver. 

While these tours may happen online, some still require some fees, so we've gone ahead and compiled their costs. And should you need more information on the topic, we've also answered some FAQs on virtual tours in the area! 

Places with the Best Virtual Tours in Vancouver 

We made sure we only have the best of the best, so you won’t have to worry about wasting time on unworthy virtual tours. These were our criteria for choosing:

How much do virtual tours cost in Vancouver? 

On average, virtual tours can cost from $0 to $15. Usually, paid virtual tours are those that are also guided and/or interactive.

Quality of images, to give you the visuals that are as close as you can get to the actual displays and sights
Storytelling and descriptions, which will give you the necessary insights so you can fully grasp the meaning of what you’re seeing in the tour
Interactiveness, which will allow you to fully experience the tour as if you were onsite
Scheduling, which will limit your choices to those available only during your free times
Costs, where your budget will limit the number of virtual tours you can attend at a time
TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://my.matterport.com/show/?m=hcFVLqyDxsf
WEBSITEhttps://museumofvancouver.ca/virtual-exhibitions
ADDRESS1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 736-4431
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

If you want to start your virtual tourist experience with a productive cultural immersion, the Museum of Vancouver’s permanent history exhibits can be the perfect option. 

The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) has four permanent exhibits intertwined in one history gallery. These four are Gateway to the Pacific, The 50’s Gallery, You Say You Want a Revolution, and Boom, Bust, War.

These galleries are home to a variety of topics, including racial and ethnic individualities, culture, urban development. These topics range from the late 1880s to the 1970s.

All of these exhibits have introduction videos to give you context. But the virtual tour itself is a free movement walkthrough tour that’s in 3D, meaning you can navigate it all by yourself as if you were in there.

All you need to do is to click on the spots where you’d hope to stand. Then, you can move forward as fast as you want to or linger on displays and artifacts for as long as you wish.

And to make sure that spectators like you can read the description of the exhibits, MOV has even added digitized information. You can simply click on the green circles and digitized exhibit descriptions will pop up for your convenience.

Unfortunately, some exhibits still don’t have these digitized descriptions, so you might have to squint at some of the exhibits.

Pros

  • Free virtual tour
  • Self-paced 3D walkthrough
  • Completely digitized exhibit descriptions
  • Introduction videos for each exhibit are available

Cons

  • No video tours
  • Some displays don’t have digitized descriptions

2. Vancouver Maritime Museum

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://vanmaritime.com/st-roch-virtual-tours/
WEBSITEhttps://vanmaritime.com/virtualvmm/
ADDRESS1905 Ogden Ave. Vancouver, BC V6J 1A3
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 257-8300 | [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSTuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Statutory Holidays (excluding Christmas): 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Up for an adventurous and historic exploration? If so, then Vancouver Maritime Museum may have the best virtual tour in Vancouver for you.

You can take a closer look at all the displays and exhibits by browsing Vancouver Maritime Museum’s online catalogue. The museum’s online catalogue is grouped into three, namely artifacts, archives, and vessels. 

It even has a detailed and creative video showcasing the french ship, the Venguer du Peuple. What’s more, Vancouver Maritime Museum also offers a virtual tour of the famous and historic St. Roch vessel. 

And you should know, this 45-minute tour includes a viewing of the vessel’s interiors, such as the engine room, which are often closed for the public. 

And without the space limitations due to the vessel’s interiors, Vancouver Maritime Museum’s St. Roch can cater to more visitors at a time. 

Just know that you’d need to sign up for this tour before the Sunday 11 AM and 2 PM schedules. You should also pay the $5 beforehand.

The bright side to these additional requirements is that the virtual tour can be as personalized and interactive as possible. The tour is conducted via Zoom and the tour guides even allot some time for questions. 

Pros

  • Personalized and interactive virtual tours
  • Complete digitized catalogue of artifacts, archives, and vessels 
  • Special peaks inside special rooms

Cons

  • Requires pre-registration and payment
  • Limited to Sunday scheduling 

3. Museum of Anthropology

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://my.matterport.com/show/?m=h6dGbTSJ9mP
WEBSITEhttps://moa.ubc.ca/educational-websites/
ADDRESSMuseum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia 6393 NW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 827-5932 | [email protected]

The Museum of Anthropology has various visiting options. So, it won’t matter if you’re sitting at your home or walking in its halls: MOA has the tour to help you out. 

For in-person visitors, it has scheduled tours, complete with a guide to tell you everything. But if you prefer to discover the place at your own pace, you can also opt for the self-guided tour, which is made available online and in MOA’s very own app. 

The mobile app also provides access to the different insights of artifact curators, Indigenous peoples, archaeological experts, and other concerned professionals. 

And if you want the full experience, you can always access MOA’s virtual tour that’s a 3D walk-through of the museum’s great hall. The experience is super-accessible as it’s all for free! 

The Museum of Anthropology put a lot of detail and effort into its 3D walkthrough virtual tour. In fact, every time you move closer to an exhibit, you’ll see green buttons that’ll tell you significant information about each display. 

Pros

  • Mobile app with museum collections 
  • Free and self-paced 3D virtual tour
  • Voices and insights from Indigenous peoples, museum curators, and experts
  • Option for self-guided or guided tours
  • Completely digitized exhibit descriptions

Cons

  • Virtual tour only covers the Great Hall
  • No video tours
TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKEmail to schedule virtual visit
WEBSITEhttps://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
ADDRESSVancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 662-4700 | [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday, Wedesnday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday, Friday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Vancouver Art Gallery has the best virtual tour in the city for those who want to look at inspirational, complex, and works of art.

We especially like that Vancouver Art Gallery offers virtual gallery tours that are led by art educators and experts. As such, these virtual tours of the art gallery are both informational and very interactive.

To maximize its visitors’ experiences, Vancouver Art Gallery conducts these virtual tours via Zoom. The guided tours last around 60 minutes, giving visitors enough time to indulge in and learn about art displays.

However, given the amount of effort and care put into each virtual tour, Vancouver Art Gallery also expects something in return. We say this because these virtual tours require a two-weeks of advanced booking and a fee of $180 fee for groups or $150 for gallery members.

Luckily, these fees can be divided among 30 people. Should you have a larger group, you can still enjoy Vancouver Art Gallery’s virtual tour as it allows up to 20 more people, given that each added visitor pays $5.

We also find it worth mentioning that Vancouver Art Gallery has described tours, where visual descriptions of each artwork are provided. So, even visitors with visual impairment issues can enjoy art in the gallery.

Pros

  • Interactive virtual tours
  • Accepts large groups of visitors at a time
  • Complete with art education from experts
  • Described tours for visually impaired individuals

Cons

  • No free virtual tours
  • Requires login 2 weeks before the desired schedule

5. Vancouver Aquarium

TestInfo
WEBSITEhttps://www.vanaqua.org/
ADDRESS 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 659-3474
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Vancouver Aquarium brings the wonders of the deep sea right at the comfort of your home. We say this because this tourist attraction offers virtual live cams where you can observe penguins, jellyfish, and otters alike.

Now, this may not technically be a virtual tour, but it certainly allows you to sightsee virtually. That said, these live cams are not exactly interactive and are usually available only during the aquarium’s opening hours.

However, Vancouver Aquarium’s marine experts post and narrate valuable information to keep you up to speed about these marine animals. 

And don’t you worry about having any guilt for visiting animals in captivity because Vancouver Aquarium only rescues and keeps animals for rehabilitation. After making sure these marine animals are in top shape, they then release them back into the wild.

Vancouver Aquarium also has Polar Express 4D Experience, a 4D show where you can experience the sound, smell, and feel of shaking, vibrations, weather effects, and lights of arctic environments.

Should you want to visit Vancouver Aquarium after watching the live cams, you can simply buy tickets online from its website.

Pros

  • Free access to live cams
  • Complete with marine life education 
  • Animal rehabilitation practices
  • 4D polar express show

Cons

  • Not as interactive
  • Limited scheduling

6. University of British Columbia

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://you.ubc.ca/virtual-tour/#
WEBSITEhttps://www.ubc.ca/
ADDRESSThe University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 822-2211

Now, if you’re a student who’s planning the next stages of an academic pursuit, the University of British Columbia may have the best virtual tour in Vancouver for you. The university’s virtual tour is available in three languages: English, French, and Chinese.

Through its virtual tour, you can see the school in its totality, from conducive lecture halls and study spots to recreational spaces.

UBC’s virtual tour is a combination of a virtual video tour and a free movement 3D walkthrough as it has 360 pictures of relevant spaces on campus.

UBC’s map also has clickable landmarks, so visitors can choose which buildings or spaces they want to go to next.

Best of all, UBC’s virtual tour features a talking guide so visitors and aspiring students can get as much information about the school as possible.

And even if you aren’t looking to study at the UBC, its virtual tours can still be relevant. We say this because the university is home to calming yet breathtaking views of gardens, forests, and the ocean.

Pros

  • Free virtual tour
  • Combination of 3D walkthrough and 360 pictures
  • Guided tour for additional information
  • Diverse structures and natural landscapes
  • Multilingual description options

Cons

  • More focused on academic settings than tourist spots
  • Audio can’t be paused

7. Beaty Biodiversity Museum

TestInfo
WEBSITEhttps://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/
ADDRESSVancouver Campus 2212 Main Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 827-4955 | [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Now, this one is technically still a part of the UBC, but we thought we’d make a separate entry as it covers a specific niche in its displays. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum is home to many of Vancouver’s local fauna and flora.

It has six collections, namely Tetrapods, Marine Invertebrates, Herbarium, Entomology, Fish, and Fossils. With Beaty Biodiversity Museum’s 3D walkthrough tour, you can visit all these collections virtually, as if you yourself were walking its halls.

However, we’ve noticed that the jumps from one location to the next are a bit too big. Luckily, Beaty Biodiversity Museum has added clear pictures of the displays and descriptions that’ll give you more information.

Additionally, it has an audio recording that can make your virtual tour as guided as possible. Each collection has a separate audio recording, so you can choose which collections to discover first.

And luckily, all these virtual walkthroughs and audio recordings are accessible anytime on Beaty Biodiversity Museum’s website. 

Pros

  • Free virtual tour
  • Showcase of local biodiversity
  • Clear photos of displays and descriptions
  • Free and immersive walkthrough
  • Audio recordings of each collection

Cons

  • Relatively short tour
  • Big jumps from one location to another

8. Roedde House Museum

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://thevrvoyage.com/product/roedde-house-museum/?wpam_id=5
WEBSITEhttps://www.roeddehouse.org/
ADDRESS1415 Barclay Street Vancouver, BC V6G 1J6
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 684-7040 | [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSThursday, Friday, Sunday: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Roedde House Museum is for those who want to reminisce, but not in a larger-than-life way. We say this because while this entry is a museum, it mainly features everyday objects such as furniture and clothing from the family of Vancouver’s first bookbinder, Gustav Roedde.

What’s special about these everyday things showcased in the Roedde House Museum is that they’re all from the Victorian era. This Queen Anne-revival style house is home to everything elegant and intricate from old times.

In-person tours are limited to 10 people only but with Roedde House’s virtual tours, any size of a group is welcome. The virtual tour is a guided 2D walkthrough tour that lasts for about 50 minutes.

Just be sure you’re willing to pay a fee as this virtual tour costs $15.

Now, if you want a more cost-effective option, you can opt for the online self-guided tour. 

Do know that these online self-guided tours only feature 2D pictures of the displays. But what it lacks in visuals, it makes up for in information as all the display descriptions are available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese.

Pros

  • Preserved Victorian home, accessories, and furniture 
  • Guided tour for additional information
  • Cost-effective self-guided tour
  • Multilingual description options

Cons

  • The self-guided tour is limited to 2D photos
  • Relatively costly fee

9. Pacific Museum of Earth

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://my.matterport.com/show/?m=mQT4V585hag
WEBSITEhttps://pme.ubc.ca/
ADDRESSVancouver Campus 6339 Stores Rd. Earth & Ocean Sciences Main Building Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 822-6992 | [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

With its 3D walkthrough virtual tour, The Pacific Museum of Earth may just have the best virtual tour in Vancouver for visitors who want a blast from the past.

The Pacific Museum of Earth is also under the University of British Columbia. It focuses on minerals and fossils spanning over hundred of years and it even has among the rarest collections in the world.

This museum has over 10,200 specimens of minerals and over 20,000 fossil species, around 20% of these are from Vancouver itself.

Each display also has clickable yellow and green buttons which will then give you their descriptions. 

We also like that you have two options for the walkthrough tour. You can choose the free movement option or video-like option where you can follow a pre-set flow and still be able to pause or play the video anytime you like.

For maximum interaction, The Pacific Museum of Earth has even posted various activities such as word searches and crossword puzzles. These activities use information from the collections so you can answer them after the virtual tour.

Pros

  • Free virtual tour
  • Completely digitized exhibit descriptions
  • Free movement and played tour options
  • Short jumps between navigation spots
  • Post-tour activities available for download

Cons

  • Video walkthrough has no audio

10. Rennie Museum

TestInfo
VIRTUAL TOUR LINKhttps://my.matterport.com/show/?m=s3t4tPiMtD1
WEBSITEhttps://renniemuseum.org/
ADDRESS51 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
CONTACT DETAILS(604) 682-2088

If you’re up for the best virtual tour that combines art and history, Rennie Museum’s Barkley L. Hendricks and Lorna Simpson exhibit may be what you’re looking for. 

This joint exhibit of impactful American artists was back in the art gallery during late 2021. 

Although it was only a temporary exhibit, the joint exhibit now has a virtual tour that’s accessible anytime. The best thing about these is that this virtual tour is also free!

This exhibit features over 50 years of masterpieces and artworks from the mentioned artists. It even has never- or rarely-before-seen pieces.

The virtual tour follows a 3D free movement type of tour, so you can move around and linger on pieces as freely as you want to.

The only thing we would have wanted added to it would probably clickable buttons that show descriptions and inspirations behind each work. Even without those, though, it’s a solid experience.

On the bright side, Rennie Museum has hosted a recent artist talk with Lorna Simpson. This artist talk, along with closeup and clear photos of exhibited work, is available through the museum’s website.

Pros

  • Self-paced 3D walkthrough
  • Free virtual tour
  • Rare and never-before-seen art pieces
  • Artist talk recordings are available online

Cons

  • Video walkthrough has no audio
  • No digitized description of displays

Types of Virtual Tours

Virtual tours also vary in their approach. Here are some of the types of virtual tours you may encounter.

1. Free movement tours

Free movement tours immerse you in a 3D virtual reality. Usually, these virtual tours have clickable buttons that will help you navigate the space.

The more buttons and navigation options, the better. If there are only a few navigation spots, then the jumps from one place to another would also be too big and you may miss out on small but enriching details.

2. Video tours

Video tours are simple virtual tours shot in video. Some types of video tours happen through video calls, making them more interactive.

These tours can either be in 3D, where the videographers pan around as the video plays out, or in 2D, where they only give the audience a glimpse of the space as they go along.

3. 360 photo tours

Some may also provide virtual tours by combining 360 photos from each relevant space. For this type of tour, you’d need only to click next or back and inspect the 360 photos of the space.

Aside from these types, you should also know that virtual tours can be guided or unguided. Guided tours are simply those with experts and educators explaining the sights to the audience.

FAQs about Virtual Tours


We hope our list helps you find the best virtual tour in Vancouver to satisfy your wanderlust. You can even go to all these virtual tours if you have the budget and time for them all!

Do you think we missed locations that allow virtual sightseeing? If so, feel free to share them with us so we can hopefully add them, after reviewing them of course.

Now, if you want to enjoy the actual places, you may benefit from our other lists. Here are some of our articles featuring tourist-worthy destinations in Vancouver:

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