THE LATEST
Experience Virtual Travel from Yosemite to Amsterdam with These
Livestreams
Because you're going to run out of Netflix shows eventually.
BY CAITLIN MORTON
March 26, 2020
As more cities around the world feel the effects of the coronavirus and
government shutdowns, virtual travel is becoming more of a necessity.
Cities and hotels around the world are opening up webcams, so you can
tap into life far, far away from your own home. These live streams let
you see Hawaii's oceans, Croatia's islands, Tokyo's streets, and Kenya's
highlands (among others) in real time, making it even easier to picture
yourself in far-off places. So grab a plate of your favorite food,
snuggle up in your comfiest chair, and get ready to virtually visit some
seriously beautiful destinations.
Sydney, Australia
Easily one of the higher-quality videos on this list, Webcam Sydney
provides a gorgeous livestream of the Sydney Harbour. You can easily spot
the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, and The
Rocks in the panoramic shot; make sure to sneak a peak when the sun goes
down (which is about when the sun comes up in the U.S.) to see the
harbor's glittering nighttime lights.
Watch the livestream here.
Northern Lights, Canada
Trying to spot the elusive Northern Lights usually involves camping out in
the cold in the middle of the night, desperately hoping for perfect
weather and conditions (and even then it still might not happen). This
Northern Lights webcam in Manitoba, Canada, makes the process much easier,
letting us watch the night sky from the warmth of our homes. If the idea
of waiting for a spark of light on your computer screen is still too much
effort, the site also shows a highlights reel and lets viewers post
screenshots of their findings.
Watch the livestream here.
Trevi Fountain, Rome
Possibly the most famous fountain in the world, the Trevi Fountain is a
Baroque masterpiece depicting Neptune atop a chariot pulled by sea horses.
The Roman landmark is typically surrounded by masses of tourists, but
currently sits quiet thanks to Italy's nationwide lockdown. The resulting
livestream really shows off the fountain's design—and it's strangely
relaxing, too.
Watch the livestream here.
Yosemite Falls, California
The Yosemite webcam is one of our favorites. It streams the
2,424-foot-tall waterfall's top section, Upper Yosemite Falls, in its
scenic, roaring glory. The peak flow occurs in early summer as the snow
starts to melt, but it's looking pretty awesome right now. Watch the
livestream here.
Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Sailboats, yachts, sunsets: What more could you want while stuck at home?
This webcam gives viewers an all-encompassing look into the waterfront
life of Bermuda's historic Royal Naval Dockyard, which is still used to
house cruise ships, museums, and artsy shops.
Watch the livestream here.
CN Tower, Toronto
Get sweeping views of Toronto from this webcam located on top of the CN
Tower, the city's tallest—and most iconic—landmark at 1,815 feet. You can
switch between east- and west-facing cameras, letting you see Lake
Ontario, the Toronto Islands, the Royal Ontario Museum, and much more.
Watch the livestream here.
Hvar, Croatia
The country’s most popular island for nightlife and yachters, Hvar is also
Croatia’s sunniest spot. Luckily for those of us stuck with cramped
quarters and cloudy weather, the Croatian island offers a 24/7 panoramic
webcam showing off its port and the Pakleni islands in the distance. The
view is especially gorgeous during sunrise and sunset.
Watch the livestream here.