Check out these webcams from ten eerily empty tourist spots

Photos: Shutterstock

As many countries go into lockdown, these live feeds of tourist spots across Europe make for peculiar viewing 

If one thing could really bring home how significantly tourism has changed over the past few weeks, it’s seeing sights like Rome’s Spanish Steps and St Mark’s Square in Venice completely, utterly deserted.  

Usually, you’d have to wade through crowds upon crowds to get within even queuing distance of the Doge’s Palace or Colosseum. But with curfews and quarantine measures being enforced throughout Europe, things are looking very different following the COVID-19 outbreak – as these live webcam feeds from Skyline show.  

You do wonder who the odd straggler is and why they’re still knocking about, but mainly it’s made us ever-impatient to get back out and explore. We’ll have to wait, and it’ll be great.

Webcams from deserted tourist destinations  

Trevi Fountain in Rome  

The water may still be flowing, but you’d be hard-pressed to spot more than one or two Romans passing by the Trevi Fountain every minute or so right now. It’s a similar story at the Spanish Steps and Colosseum. 

View webcam of Trevi Fountain via the QR code below

Puerta del Sol in Madrid

In any normal time, this would be one of the busiest places in the Spanish capital. Yet as the government enforces a lockdown, few are passing through but emergency service personnel.   

View webcam of Puerta del Sol via the QR code below

St Mark’s Square in Venice   

La Serenissima was one of the first Italian cities to go into lockdown, and its most popular tourist spot, St. Mark’s Square, is far from the bustling centrepiece it usually is.  

View webcam of St Mark’s Square via the QR code below

Old Town Square in Prague 

The Church of Our Lady Before Týn looms over a decidedly empty Old Town Square in Prague. On March 16 the Czech government ordered its citizens to stay indoors for at least a week.  

View webcam of Old Town Square via the QR code below

Las Vistas beach in Tenerife  

There’s no sign of life along the white sands of Las Vistas in Tenerife, where tourists have been told to stay in their hotels in line with Spain’s nationwide lockdown.  

View webcam of Las Vistas beach via the QR code below

Ponte Vecchio in Florence  

When we last went here, it took us a few minutes to barge through the boutique-lined Ponte Vecchio’s habitual crowds. Today it’s virtually deserted.  

View webcam of Ponte Vecchio via the QR code below

Market Square in Bruges  

Belgium isn’t on lockdown quite yet, but this historic marketplace in the capital is emptying out already.  

View webcam of Market Square via the QR code below

Western Wall in Jerusalem  

Usually a thriving place of pilgrimage, Jerusalem’s Western Wall is noticeably emptier than usual. Israelis have been told not to leave their homes unless necessary, and the country’s borders have been sealed off to visitors.  

View webcam of Western Wall via the QR code below

Barceloneta beach in Barcelona  

There are lots of seagulls on Barceloneta – yet no humans. Public life in the Catalan capital has shut down almost completely.  

View webcam of Barceloneta beach via the QR code below

Amalfi Coast in Italy  

All tourist activity seems to have faded along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, with boats at a standstill and roads almost car-free.  

View webcam of Amalfi Coast via the QR code below

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