You can now visit the 7 wonders of the world from your sofa - here's how

From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, the wonders of the world have been must-visit sites for many travellers. But what if you could visit them all in an afternoon?

Here we (and the virtual school trips team at Uswitch) take a look at seven free virtual tours, allowing you to experience the allure of these wonders of the world right from your armchair. 

Great Wall of China, near Beijing, China

Every year, over 10 million people visit the Great Wall - China’s longest wall and biggest piece of ancient architecture. Its winding path covers over 21,000 km and it is thought to be 2,300 years old. 

This Virtual Tour provided by The China Guide allows you to ‘walk’ along the wall with just a click of your mouse.

Petra, Jordan

With Google’s Street View Treks, you can get up close and personal with Jordan’s Rose City, Petra. 

Leave your passport at home and grab your headphones to be immersed into this ancient city, steeped in history and impressive architecture. 

Petra is over four times the size of Manhattan, but with Google Street View Treks, you can explore caves, temples and tombs spread out for over a hundred square miles from your sofa.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy

Roughly 6.4 million people took in Rome’s Colosseum last year, making it one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the world - and it is easy to see why. 

This majestic amphitheatre measures over 189 metres long and 50 metres high, and could seat over 50,000 to watch sporting events and games. 

Take a virtual tour on YouTube - this hour-long walking tour of the Colosseum is filmed in pin-sharp 4K, immersing you into the action.

Chichén Itzá , Yucatán, Mexico

Attracting more than 900,000 visitors each year, Chichén Itzá continues to be a historical wonder popular with tourists. Situated just two hours from tourist hotspot, Cancun, it’s a popular cultural excursion for many visiting Mexico. 

Experience a 360 view of the stepped pyramids in this virtual tour.

Machu Picchu, Cuzco Region, Peru

Set high amongst the Andes mountains in Peru, it’s an adventure just getting to Machu Picchu. Built in the 15th century, this ancient Inca site draws tourists from all over the world to visit. 

This virtual tour comes complete with a voiceover, educating and entertaining as you take in the spectacular scenery of Machu Picchu. 

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

This ornate marble mausoleum is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

The building was designed to be completely symmetrical and, in the event of a disaster, such as an earthquake, everything would fall away from the tomb inside.  

Go behind the scenes of India’s Crown Jewel with this virtual tour from Google.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This colossal statue of Christ the Redeemer is the largest art deco statue in the world, standing at an impressive 98 feet tall overlooking Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and has been classed as a ‘World Wonder’ since 2007. 

To reach the statue on foot, you’ll scale around 200 steps, but you don’t need to with this virtual tour of the statue. This 360 view includes a guided tour with some interesting facts about the origins and construction.