6 Ways To Experience The World From Your Smartphone

Many of us harbor a desire to experience the world, its diverse cultures, iconic cities, historical landmarks and exotic food. But time, money, family and a whole host of other things might get in the way of those dreams, meaning we have to turn to other sources to satisfy our need to see what’s out there. Thankfully, modern technology allows us to do just that and there are lots of great apps that bring the world to us.

Google Street View

"Google Street View - Pan-American Trek -" (CC BY 2.0) by kevin dooley

Visit any city in the world with Google Street View. Using stitched together high resolution images, you can travel along roads while enjoying a 360-degree view of your surroundings. Not only that but you can even step inside some locations such as restaurants, arenas and museums.

Google Arts and Culture

Through collaboration with hundreds of museums, galleries and institutions in countries around the globe, this app makes exhibits you could once only see by, for example, visiting the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for an intimate view of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, nothing more than a few finger taps away. Through the app, you can see world-renowned exhibits in crystal clear detail and you can browse all sorts of complementary material too such as photos, videos and manuscripts.

Like A Local

Designed for travelers but a great tool to experience different cultures even if you have no intention of leaving your sofa, Like A Local brings you the inside scoop from writers living in the country you want to experience. Learn about traditions, current politics, social trends, religious beliefs, etiquette, taboos, and even what the weather’s like. For those that do end up traveling to these cities, individual guides have been prepared at a cost of $1.99 each.

Leo Vegas

"ib2630.JPG" (CC BY 2.0) by Sangre-La.com

Leo Vegas brings to life one of the great American experiences – that being gambling in Las Vegas’s casinos – to glittering life. It has essentially digitized the best bits of the world's gambling capital and put them in a handy smartphone app. New users even get free spins and first deposit bonuses with Oddschecker so it’s an even more enticing way to try your hand at the slots machines without getting on a plane.

VRSE

One of the best free VR apps for the smartphone, VRSE was created by filmmaker Chris Milk and technologist Aaron Koblin and features a variety of videos and short films, many of which are dedicated to exploring the world. “Take Flight”, a film commissioned by the New York Times is one of the most extraordinary inclusions, taking you from ground level in New York and gently raising you into the clouds.

Orbulus

This is another great VR app which uses Google’s Photo Sphere technology to allow us to gain a new perspective on real-world locations. Featuring a gallery of images taken from well-known tourist spots as well as lesser known spots around the globe, Orbulus is an immersive way to enjoy new experiences without leaving the comfort of your home.