Travel has taken a back seat for now, but our wanderlust can still be satisfied with digital tours of far-flung places, virtual museum exhibitions, wildlife cameras that bring us closer to the animal kingdom, and even online displays of wildflower blooms. For those missing the thrill of outdoor adventures, there’s an innovative solution.
Discover Drive & Listen
Drive & Listen is a new app that provides virtual driving tours of 38 cities (and counting), viewed from the front seat of a car, accompanied by local music. Consequently, users can enjoy the sights and sounds of street life while cruising through popular tourist destinations like Paris, Havana, Rome, Miami, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, New York, and Lisbon.
The app was created by Erkam Şeker, an Istanbul-born student currently studying for his master’s in Munich. He launched this engaging app on the cloud-based platform Heroku during a time of travel restrictions, providing a lifeline for eager travelers and those missing their hometowns.
“I was missing riding around my city, including the traffic and the vibrant activities of daily life, so I found myself watching videos of Istanbul,” Erkram explains. “It was delightful to see my city, but I thought, why not enhance it with some radio in the background? I realized that others around the world must be missing that exhilarating feeling of being on the road.”
When users open the app, they can select the city they wish to explore from videos sourced from YouTube travel channels or submitted dashcam footage. “I am adding new cities almost every day,” Erkam states. “People from around the globe reach out and ask how they can contribute.” Once a city is chosen, users can enjoy either the street sounds or a live broadcast from a local radio station, enhancing the immersive experience.
“Initially, I created the app to alleviate the feeling of homesickness, but now I view it as a unique way to explore cities,” Erkam adds. “It’s an incredible experience to visit new places with local tunes playing in the background, all while enjoying the comfort of your home. I believe this application also encourages patience during these challenging times.”
