City Walking Tours: Explore Havana, Split, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Bangkok
It’s undeniably one of travel’s greatest pleasures; wandering the streets of a whole new city, soaking up its character and exploring its hidden wonders on foot. When the pavement-pounding wanderlust cannot be satisfied in reality, however, we’ve come up with the next best thing. Below are five city walking routes by GoTravelDaily, specially formatted so that you can enjoy them online. Simply load up Google Maps, switch to Street View, and start your virtual adventure…
Navigation
Map view: This is the default view of Google Maps.
Street view: To activate Street View, grab and drag the orange figure icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, and release when it is hovering over your desired map point. From here, you can move along streets by using the cursor and clicking in the direction you wish to travel.
Photo sphere: These are indicated by small blue dots that appear when you have clicked the orange figure icon. Drag and release onto the dots to get a 360° on-the-ground view of your surroundings.
Havana, Cuba: Old Havana Walking Tour
This walking tour highlights Havana’s unique historical district, built up around four main squares. Start by dropping onto La Catedral de la Virgen María de la Concepción Inmaculada de La Habana, which anchors the Plaza de la Catedral, a complex square full of atmosphere and always bustling with interesting characters (or, in this case, static images of them). Drop onto a photo sphere on the cathedral to look inside, return to map view, and drop again onto the Plaza de la Catedral to explore.
Return to map view, and then drop onto one of the photo spheres on Plaza de Armas, once used for military exercises. The plaza is still guarded by the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a beautiful 16th-century star-shaped fort. Drop onto the castillo’s photo spheres to take a look around its perimeter. If you turn east, you’ll also be treated to a great view across Havana Port.
Just south of the castillo is Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former official residence of the city’s governors. Return to map view and drop onto one of the palacio’s photo spheres to take in the building, which is also home to the Museum of the City of Havana. Next, return to map view and drop onto a photo sphere along Calle Obispo, one of the city’s most bustling and lively streets. This is an excellent street to wander up and down. After returning to map view, drop onto the cluster of photo spheres on Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, a breezy open space watched over by the Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asis. Finish your tour by dropping down at the photo sphere just north of the Terminal Sierra Maestra, and gazing out across the port.
Split, Croatia: Split’s Old Town Walking Tour
Start this virtual tour through Split’s fascinating Old Town by dropping onto the photo sphere at the foot of the Bell Tower and Chapel of the Holy Arnir, once part of St Euphemia’s Church, containing an altar slab and sarcophagus carved by the early renaissance master Juraj Dalmatinac. Using street view, head southeast along Ul. Kralja Tomislava, until you reach the imposing statue of Grgur Ninski, whose toe is said to bring good luck when rubbed (clicked). Return to map view and drop onto the statue’s photo sphere to check it out. Using street view, head south from the statue to the Golden Gate, the grandest portal of Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient palace built for Roman Emperor Diocletian.
Return to map view, and continue south along the palace’s main, bustling street, Dioklecijanova, using street view. At the end, return to map view and drop onto the photo sphere at peristil, the ceremonial court at the approach to the imperial apartments. Spend a second taking in your surroundings. Return to map view, and drop again onto one of the photo spheres next to the imposing St Domnius Cathedral. Return to map view and drop down onto the Ul. Andrije Alješija. Spend a little time exploring this area of medieval buildings and narrow alleyways using street view.
Return to map view and drop down somewhere along Narodni Trg, which has been Split’s main civic square since medieval times. Take some time using street view and its many photo spheres to explore. Although the square was once lined with Venetian Gothic buildings, only one remains, the 15th century Stara Gradska Vijećnica (Old Town Hall). Conclude your virtual tour by dropping onto the hall’s photo sphere and checking it out.
Melbourne, Australia: Arcades and Laneways Walking Tour
Central Melbourne is a warren of 19th-century arcades and gritty-turned-hip cobbled bluestone laneways featuring street art, basement restaurants, boutiques, and bars. Start your tour by dropping onto street view at Degraves Place, an archetypal Melbourne lane lined with interesting shops, cafés, and street art. Head north from Degraves Place to Flinders Lane, return to map view, and explore the nearby Centre Place, a bustling hub of cafés and bars, using its photo spheres. Return to map and drop back onto Flinders Lane, head west, and then make a right-hand turn onto Elizabeth Street. Continue north until you reach the Block Arcade. Built in 1892 and featuring ornate plasterwork and mosaic floors, it’s based on Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade. Return to map view and drop onto one of the arcade’s photo spheres to take a look.
Return to Elizabeth Street using street view, and navigate north, turning right at Little Collins Street. Navigating east along the street you’ll find the wonderfully ornate Royal Arcade on your left. Return to map view, and drop down onto the arcade’s photo sphere to look around. Return to Little Collins Street on street view, and continue east until you find a turning on your left to Union Lane Graffiti. Spend some time on its photo spheres to soak in the urban art. Return to Little Collins Street again on street view, continue east, and turn right onto Swanston Street. Move south until you reach Melbourne Town Hall on your left. Drop onto a photo sphere in front of the hall and admire its impressive facade.
Return to map view, and drop onto Collins Street next to the town hall. Continue east along the street, and then turn right onto Russell Street. Continue south, and then turn left onto Flinders Lane. Continue east along the lane, and you’ll reach Duckboard Place on your right. Wander around using street view, taking in the plentiful urban art. Return to map view, and drop down to end the tour on Hosier Lane’s photo sphere, one of the city’s most epically decorated alleyways.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Rio Walking Tour
A mélange of historic buildings and skyscrapers, the center of Rio is an intriguing place to discover the essence of the city away from its beaches and mountains. Begin by dropping down onto a street view of the Praça Floriano, a scenic plaza set with several outdoor cafes. Navigate around at street level and take in the views. Proceed north along the Praça Floriano, until you reach the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, one of the city’s finest buildings, particularly after its $20 million renovation in 2009. Return to map view and drop onto a photo sphere facing the theatre to take in its grandeur.
Return to map view, and drop down onto street view of Largo de Carioca, a bustling area with a small market. Wander around using street view. Facing north, you will be able to see the Igreja São Francisco da Penitência, a 17th-century church with a jaw-dropping gilded interior perched up on a hill. Return to map view, and drop onto Rua de Carioca. Navigate west along the road until you reach a right-hand turn onto Praça Tiradentes. Continue north on Av Passos, turning right onto R. Luis de Camores. Along this road on the left, you’ll find the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Reading Room), a historic reading room reminiscent of 19th-century Portugal. Return to map view, and drop onto one of its photo spheres to explore the book-lined interior.
Return to map view, and drop down onto street view by Paço Imperial, once the seat of the Portuguese rulers in Brazil; the building today houses intriguing art exhibitions as well as several cafes. Spend some time exploring using street view. Navigate onto R. Primeiro de Marco, and work your way northwest until you reach a right-hand turn to Largo do Paço. Navigate east until you reach the Arco do Teles. Go through it, and you’ll finish your tour on Travessa do Comercio, one of the centro’s oldest and most charming lanes.
Bangkok, Thailand: Old Bangkok Walking Tour
The bulk of Bangkok’s ‘must-see’ destinations are in and around the former royal district, Ko Ratanakosin. Start your virtual tour by dropping onto one of the many photo spheres at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha: Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram / Wat Phra Kaew, a vast, fairytale compound that is one of Bangkok’s biggest tourist attractions and a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Have a look around you using the multiple photo spheres on the site. Once you’re done, jump to the Grand Palace, the former residence of the Thai monarch (which is right next door), and do the same.
Return to map view and then drop again at Maha Rat Road. Navigate north until you reach Soi Tha Wang, enjoying the surroundings as you go. Return to map view, and drop down onto the photo sphere spot on Soi Tha Wang, a narrow alleyway holding a hidden classic Bangkok neighborhood. Return to map view and drop back onto Maha Rat Road. Head north, and find the amulet market on your left, a frenetic handicraft market selling Buddhist amulets and good luck charms. Return to map view.
Drop again onto Phra Chan Alley, and head east until you reach the gates of Sanam Luang, the ‘Royal Field’, which is an open public square on the edge of Wat Phra Kaew. Return to map view and drop onto the photo sphere on Sanam Luang for a different perspective of the temple. Return to map view and drop again onto Ratchadamnoen Nai Road.
Continue north until you reach the Royal Hotel. Follow the road’s curve east onto Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, considered the Champs Elysees of Bangkok. Continue along it until you reach the 14 October 73 Memorial, commemorating the civilian demonstrators who were killed on 14 October 1973 by the military during a pro-democracy rally. Drop onto a photo sphere to look around. Continue in the same direction and you’ll reach the Democracy Monument on a roundabout, erected in 1932.
Return to map view and drop onto Dinso Road. Continue south and follow the road’s curve west onto Bamrung Mueang Road. Follow the road until you reach a left-hand turn onto Atsadang Road. Continue until you reach a right-hand turn to Charoen Krung Road, and head west, stopping to check out Saranrom Palace Park on your right as you go. Return to map view and drop onto any of the park’s photo spheres to look around. Return to map view and drop onto the photo spheres on the tour’s final stop Wat Phra Chetuphon, home of the giant reclining Buddha.
