As countries lock down in an attempt to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic, tourists have canceled their trips and citizens are being told to stay home. The destinations below are usually swarmed with tourists crowding for a good view, trying to get that perfect photo. Today they are largely empty. Streets are deserted, metro stations quiet, shops and cafes closed. These images of empty cities offer a different view that we don’t often, if ever, see—and despite the circumstances, they have a certain melancholy beauty.
Rome, Italy
![A Police stands alone in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/spanish-steps-rome-italy_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
A police officer stands in front of the Spanish Steps on March 12, 2020.
New York, New York
![Times square is practically empty of tourists](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/times-square-new-york_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Times Square stands mostly empty on March 21, 2020.
Madrid, Spain
![Empty puerta del sol in Madrid Spain](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/madrid-puerta-del-sol-spain_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Madrid’s Puerta del Sol is deserted on March 15, 2020.
London, England
![A lone tourist in deserted London under lockdown during the Corona Virus Covid-19 outbreak.](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/london-trafalgar-square.jpg)
A lone tourist sits in an empty Trafalgar Square on March 23, 2020.
Florence, Italy
![piazza del dumo in florence, italy](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Piazza-del-Duomo-florencee-italy_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Piazza del Duomo is shuttered in Florence on March 24, 2020.
Paris, France
![Eiffel Tower in Paris, France](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/eiffel-tower-paris-france_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Few tourists gather around the Eiffel Tower on March 17, 2020.
Warsaw, Poland
![Empty Old Town Square in Warsaw , Poland](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/warsaw-poland_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Old Town Square is empty in Warsaw, Poland.
Berlin, Germany
![Brandenburg gate Berlin, Germany](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/brandenberg-gate-munich-germany_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gate is void of tourists on March 21, 2020.
Kolkata, India
![Railway platform is empty in West Bengal, India Kolkata](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/West-Bengal-India_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
A railway platform is empty for Janata Curfew in Kolkata on March 22, 2020.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
![typically busy streets of Amsterdam are shown nearly empty as the Coronavirus pandemic](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/amsterdam-netherlands_coronavirus-streets-lockdown.jpg)
The typically busy streets of Amsterdam are nearly empty on March 7, 2020.
More from SmarterTravel:
- 14 Ways to Improve Your Future Trips While You’re Stuck at Home
- 11 Books to Inspire Your Future Travels
- 6 Ways to Feel Like You’re on Vacation at Home
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