What “free” means for a virtual vacation
Free online experiences usually fall into one of a few models. None of them is bad, but it helps to know which one you are using.
- Public or institutional: museums, parks and public bodies publish tours as part of their mission.
- Donation-supported: the experience is open to everyone, and the site asks people who enjoy it to help pay the costs.
- Free to play: the core experience is free, with optional purchases or memberships for extras.
- Advertising-supported: you see advertisements in exchange for free access.
- Not stated: the site opens without payment but does not describe its model. Assume it could change.
Free virtual vacation options
Each option below opens in a web browser. We note exactly what each one says about cost on its own site.
-
1. Huntaz Virtual Vacation
Our pick: free shared trips with friends
Huntaz Virtual Vacation sends small groups on scheduled trips to real cities around the world. You join a Travel Party of up to 10, explore the destination’s streets and landmarks together with party voice and chat, ask the travel guide a few questions and, in many destinations, step into shared 3D places such as a beach, a restaurant or a painting studio.
Create a free account to join. Huntaz Coins are in-game currency: you can earn some by taking part in completed vacations, and they can never be exchanged for cash.
- Cost
- Free account; some activities cost Huntaz Coins
- Account
- Free account needed
- Company
- Travel Parties of up to 10
- Platforms
- Web browser on desktop and mobile
Good for: free time together with friends in a real city.
Worth knowing: vacations depart at scheduled times, and some activities cost Huntaz Coins.
-
2. Google Earth
3D globe
Google Earth on the web shows 3D terrain and buildings in hundreds of cities, with 360° street-level views. Its versions page lists no price for the web version.
- Cost
- No price listed for the web version
- Account
- Not mentioned on the versions page
- Company
- Solo
- Platforms
- Web, mobile apps and a desktop version
Good for: flying over mountains, coastlines and cities.
Worth knowing: it is a tool rather than a trip: you plan your own route.
Official site: google.com/earth/about/versions
-
3. Virtual Vacation (virtualvacation.us)
Video tours
An independent video travel site, not connected with Huntaz. It offers walking tours of more than 100 cities, driving tours, flying tours over more than 80 cities, live cams and window views, and asks for donations to keep its City Guesser game free.
- Cost
- Opens in a browser; supported by donations
- Account
- Not mentioned on the home page
- Company
- Solo
- Platforms
- Web browser
Good for: atmospheric city walks with sound.
Worth knowing: videos follow the camera’s route.
Official site: virtualvacation.us
-
4. The Louvre’s online tours
Museum tours
The Louvre’s website offers virtual tours of its Petite Galerie exhibitions, launched directly in the browser. The tours page shows no price.
- Cost
- No price shown on the tours page
- Account
- Not mentioned
- Company
- Solo
- Platforms
- Web browser
Good for: a cultural evening at no cost.
Worth knowing: tours cover selected exhibitions.
Official site: louvre.fr/en/online-tours
-
5. explore.org live cams
Live nature
explore.org describes itself as a philanthropic live nature cam network and documentary film channel. Its cameras show wildlife and wild places live.
- Cost
- No price shown on the live cams page
- Account
- Not mentioned on the live cams page
- Company
- Solo
- Platforms
- Web browser
Good for: slow, calming breaks with nature.
Worth knowing: what you see depends on the time and the wildlife.
Official site: explore.org/livecams
How to spot hidden costs
Free experiences are rarely a trick, but a few things are worth checking before you settle in for an evening.
- Look for the pricing or membership page. If a service has one, read what is free and what is not before you start.
- Check what needs an account. Some services are free to look at but need an account to join others or save progress.
- Notice optional purchases. In-game currencies and extras are common in free-to-play experiences. Decide on your own limit in advance, and remember that age limits apply to buying them on many platforms.
- Watch your data. Video and 3D imagery use a lot of mobile data. Use Wi-Fi for longer sessions if your plan is limited.
- Be wary of downloads. Everything in this guide runs in a browser. If a “free vacation” asks you to install an unknown program, think twice.
Free virtual vacation ideas by theme
Use the free options above to build a getaway around whatever you are in the mood for.
Cities
Take a video walk through an old town, then fly over the same city on a 3D globe to see how the streets fit together. Join a Huntaz vacation to a city to explore it with friends, where one is on the departures board.
Coastlines and beaches
Follow a coastline on a 3D globe and stop wherever a beach catches your eye. On a Huntaz vacation to a coastal country, the Virtual Beach lets your Travel Party relax by the ocean together; beach places appear only where they suit the destination’s country.
Art and history
Pick a museum that publishes its own online tours and spend an hour there. Then read about one work or object that stayed with you.
Wildlife and wild places
Leave a live nature camera running through an evening and check in on it from time to time. It is the closest thing online to sitting quietly and waiting to see what happens.
Mountains and snow
Fly through a mountain range on a 3D globe. On some Huntaz vacations, depending on the destination’s country, the Virtual Ski Resort is one of the shared 3D places your party finds under Things to Do.
Free with an account
What you can do for free on a Huntaz vacation
With a free account you can join scheduled vacations, form or join a Travel Party, explore the destination’s real streets and landmarks, talk with party voice and chat, ask the travel guide a few short questions and keep a private memory of each completed trip.
In the shared 3D places, walking around, sitting, waving and dancing with your party are free. Some activities, such as rides, meals and treatments, cost Huntaz Coins. Taking part in a completed vacation for long enough earns a small Huntaz Coin reward, shared equally among eligible travellers.
Illustrative image (AI-generated)
Free ways to make it feel like a holiday
The online part is free, and the rest can be too. A few no-cost touches at home make a virtual vacation feel like an occasion rather than more screen time.
- Change the room. Move to a different chair, open a window or dim the lights. A small change of setting helps you switch off from the working day.
- Dress for the destination. Wear something bright for a beach, or put on a warm jumper for a mountain trip. It sounds silly and works surprisingly well.
- Make a local snack from what you have. Many countries have simple dishes made from everyday ingredients: flatbreads, rice dishes, fruit salads or spiced tea.
- Listen to local radio. Many stations stream online at no cost. Hearing the language and the adverts of a place adds a layer no imagery can.
- Send a postcard. Write a short message to a friend about where you “went”, with a screenshot of your favourite view.
Free virtual vacations for families and classrooms
Free virtual trips are a lovely way to explore with children or students. Let each person choose one stop, ask them to spot three things that are different from home, and finish by finding the place on a map. Museum and nature options are especially good for younger explorers; check age guidance for any social platform before you start.
Which free option suits you?
-
Free time with friends
A Huntaz vacation with your own Travel Party.
-
Solo exploring at your own pace
Video tours, live nature cams or a museum’s online tours.
-
Culture
A museum’s own online tours.
-
To understand what a virtual vacation is first
-
Help with your first Huntaz trip
-
More free browser fun
Frequently asked questions
Are virtual vacations really free?
Many are. Museums and public bodies publish free tours, some sites are supported by donations, and some experiences are free to play with optional extras. Check each service’s own site for what it charges.
Is Huntaz Virtual Vacation free?
Yes: you can join vacations with a free Huntaz account. Some activities in the shared 3D places cost Huntaz Coins.
What are Huntaz Coins?
Huntaz Coins are in-game currency. You can earn some by taking part in completed vacations, spend them on activities in the shared 3D places and in the Huntaz Shop, and players aged 18 and over can buy them. They can never be withdrawn or exchanged for cash.
Do free virtual vacations need a download?
The options in this guide all run in a web browser. Huntaz works in desktop and mobile browsers with nothing to install.
Can I take a free virtual vacation with friends?
Yes. On Huntaz your friends can join the same Travel Party with free accounts. Our guide to virtual travel with friends explains how to plan it.
Sources and how we checked
We checked each service’s own website on 2 November 2026 for what it offers and what it says about cost, and the Huntaz details against the live product on the same day. Where a site does not state a price, we say so rather than guess. Check the official site before you rely on any detail here.
See the world for free, together.
Create a free Huntaz account, join a Travel Party and explore a real city with your friends.
Explore Virtual VacationsFree account. No download required.
Already have an account? See upcoming vacations