Most of us have seen our worlds shrink dramatically in the last few months. Our evenings, once filled with happy hours, gallery openings, and midnight movies, are now more limited, to say the least. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ways to bring our favorite cultural experiences into our homes. Here, 103 ways to make your world a little larger—to experience (virtual) travel to all seven continents, drink with some of the best sommeliers in the game, and attend never-before-seen theatre productions, all from the comfort of your own home.
Movies, television, live(streamed) exhibitions, and virtual theatre to whisk you away
Right now, the broadway curtains are drawn, and it may be a while before impressionist art lovers can visit the Musée d’Orsay. But that doesn’t mean you can’t partake in your favorite culture-based entertainment, whether you’re a theatre buff, an architecture nerd, or a self-identified artiste. Here, our favorite (live)streaming options, including movies for armchair travel, shows for foodies and artistic souls, and virtual theatre for those missing the hallowed Broadway stages.
Visit your favorite hotels around the world through these famous movies and television shows
Watch world-class virtual operas at the MET via livestream
Watch the original cast of Hamilton perform from your living room on Disney+
From Frida Kahlo to Salvador Dali, tour your favorite artists' homes for a look into their personal creative spaces
Visit the famed Uffizi Gallery in Florence to see Bottecelli’s Birth of Venus
Attend the world's first virtual reality art show
Gear up for The New Yorker Festival, which is happening virtually from October 5 to October 11
Frequent The New York Times’ live events programming, which in addition to presenting “offstage” theatre focuses on culture, food, and politics-related topics
Take an architecture lover's dream tour of 12 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings
Try a BroadwayHD free trial and stream your favorite broadway musicals at home
Draw inspiration from top mixologists and sommeliers
Remember touring wine cellars in Tuscany, and tasting directly from the barrel in Napa? Well, until we can return to those days, the best wine makers and mixologists are bringing their upscale offerings to you. Learn from the martini-shaking experts, master the use of Campari, and tour the vineyards of Bordeaux virtually while staying home.
Watch The Beaumont London’s bar manager make a 007-inspired martini
Order your favorite spirits to your front door using these home delivery services
Become well-versed in Campari and try the five brand-approved Campari cocktails
Learn how to make a classic negroni with the one and only Stanley Tucci
Create an enviable at-home bar with all the necessary spirits, liqueurs, and accoutrements
Sample the latest northern California wines with virtual tasting experiences from Napa Valley
Make limoncello at home with help from the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese bar manager
Make the perfect gin and tonic with guidance from the American Bar's head bartender
Test how diversified your spirits palette really is by seeing whether you have these seven spirits travelers swear by
See what cocktails celebrities like Padma Lakshmi are mixing at home
Travel around the world with these 12 global cocktail recipes
Bring upscale cuisine from around the world into your home
There is nothing like successfully creating a restaurant dish you love at home. Whether you’ve been trying to duplicate the hummus you had in Tel Aviv since your last trip to Israel, or your approach to cooking is just to do whatever Ina Garten says, these top chefs allow you to bring the fine dining experience to your kitchen table.
Make hummus with Michael Solomonov, the famous chef behind Philly’s James Beard Award-winning restaurant, Zahav
Order takeout from our favorite Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.S.
Tune in for Antoni Porowski’s Quar Eye: Cooking Lessons in Quarantine
Do your bubbie proud and tune in to “Tradish,” a cooking series with the Jewish Food Society
Hang out with Massimo Bottura on Instagram as he releases episodes of his Kitchen Quarantine series
Try these recipes from five-star hotel chefs around the world
Host high tea for your family, prepared in the proper British style
Whip up a meal with items in your pantry with go-to easy recipes from these renowned chefs
Visit the Michelin Guide's Instagram page for new recipes from coveted restaurants around the world
Soaking up culture through literature, art, music, and even gaming
Take this time at home to discover a new culture-based hobby, whether that’s getting back into reading one book a month, rekindling your love with vintage records, or even hosting game nights to bring your friends together. This is a quick selection of some of our favorite literary and musically inclined pastimes.
See the travel world through the eyes of these 20 exceptional black authors
Browse the work of modern impressionist artists from around the globe
Find the top-of-the-line record players on the market to upgrade your home sound system
Read our favorite books for the traveler at heart
Follow this guide to host a virtual poker tournament for your friends and family
Decorate with and lust over these visually stunning travel-inspired coffee table books
Up your style at home with guidance from cultural tastemakers and interior designers
Let’s be real, we’re spending most of our time at home. And there’s nothing like spending 24 hours a day in the confines of four walls to make you realize that your faux mid-century console in the dining room isn’t cutting it. From borrowing design pieces from five-star hotels (ahem, you can buy those Four Seasons’ pillows) to Kondo-izing your closet and achieving a cohesive plantscape in your home, these resources will kick your design game up a few notches.
Take a few cues from President Obama’s White House interior designer while updating your home
Organize your walk-in closet with help from an expert (you know you’ve been meaning to…)
Missing the hotel experience? Bring your favorite hotel comforts into your bedroom
Up your organization game with these Marie Kondo-inspired home accessories
Take office styling advice from two cutting-edge Swedish designers
Learn the key design elements of chic Parisian apartments from a Havenly designer
Peruse luxury home accessories from iconic five-star hotel brands
Bring the essence of a posh London flat into your apartment with these tips
Experience the very best of virtual travel
Armchair travel to every corner of the globe, with these virtual tours of South Africa, Alaska, the hidden gems of Italy, and a whole lot more. Armchair travel is by no means a replacement for actual travel, of course. But think of it as a way to inspire your future travels and show you places you didn’t even know you needed to add to your bucket list.
Discover the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska
Head to Hawai’i to see the majestic volcanoes of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Stargaze with your special someone (or by yourself–a partner is far from a stargazing requirement) in Bryce Canyon National Park, a dark sky reserve
Head 70 miles off Key West to see Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park
Visit the most under-the-radar spots in Italy with this Instagram influencer
Pretend you’re vacationing in Iceland on The Retreat at Blue Lagoon’s Instagram
Watch this Earth Cam to see the best views around the world, from Mount Fuji to the Eiffel Tower
Tour all seven wonders of the world with this virtual tour
Have a once-in-a-lifetime experience from your couch with a tour of the international space station
See the world's most-visited tourist attractions without tourists
Take a très chic French vacation at home—Hèrmes scarf encouraged, but sold separately
Experience the beauty of slow travel with these elegant virtual train rides
Take a luxe virtual island vacation, curated by Baha Mar
Have a virtual face-to-face with the majestic Rwandan gorillas
Host a Grecian vacation at home with a tour of Athens' famous acropolis
Broaden your children’s horizons with unexpected field trips
Field trips may be canceled for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean you can’t further your child’s learning outside the virtual or in-person classroom. Whether they’re a budding traveler eager to visit the plains of Africa, a Pixar fanatic, an animal lover, or are already showing signs of a green thumb, there’s plenty of virtual activities to take part in with your children.
Build a meditation garden and create an at-home spa with your children
Show your children the 100+ caves of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico
Follow the adventures of the sweetest, smallest sheepdog in Ireland
Take a virtual field trip to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and hang with the penguins
Print coloring books from more than 100 galleries, libraries, and museums around the world
Bring your children to the San Diego Zoo and on an African safari to spot the Big Five
Watch recordings of Dolly Parton reading 10 classic bedtime stories to your children
Get a travel subscription box for your kiddos—it comes with their own "little passport"
Curate five-star zen, spa, and beauty experiences by taking inspiration from wellness gurus around the world
While most professionals are staying home, many are still working harder than ever. When you can’t leave the office, it’s particularly hard to log off. Whether you’re a full-time employee, parent, caregiver, home-school teacher, or all of the above, it’s understandable to feel drained during this uncertain time. Make sure to dedicate time to self-care, with inspiration from the wellness experts.
Create a natural southern California glow with brightening and hydrating face masks
Bring the luxe salon experience into your home with direction from the pros
Start balancing your Ayurvedic doshas by nurturing mindfulness at home
Get salon-style hair with these luxurious at-home hair masks
Up your at-home mani/pedi game with these trendy summer colors
Refresh your master bedroom to optimize your sleep and encourage relaxation
Curate your plant selection with wisdom from a Netherlands-based botanist
Coveted classes you can participate in virtually
No time like the present to learn something new, be it conversational Spanish or how to assemble a stunning cheese platter. With your favorite global brands and local businesses offering classes online, take advantage and hone a new skill set.
From Master Class to Peloton, find the wellness classes that resonate with you most
Learn a new language as a family with these seven apps
Compete with your favorite athletes with guidance from Nike's Living Room Cup Challenge
Learn to make pasta with a very sweet and technologically savvy Italian grandmother
Take a virtual cheese class with NYC’s Murray’s Cheese
Learn what it takes to pass the most challenging wine and spirit education courses
Don’t miss a beat in your luxury workout routine with the newly launched Equinox app
Stream yoga classes with our favorite instructors around the world
Scout the hottest luxury real estate listings around the world
If you haven’t spent at least nine cumulative hours on real estate websites since March, you’ve got some catching up to do. Luckily, we’re all too fond of taking a closer look at the most exciting and architecturally significant listings. Come along with us on these tours of celebrity estates and Frank Lloyd Wright stunners, and get ready to make an offer on Brigette Bardot’s former Cannes residence.
Browse the healthiest house in California, which went on the market at $26 million
Tour the rare Frank Lloyd Wright property that went up for sale in Minneapolis this year
Tour Brigette Bardot's former Cannes estate
Get inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright home that's now on the National Register of Historic Places
Tour the $1 million Millard family home designed by the one and only Frank Lloyd Wright
