Don't have the time (or money) to see the castles of Japan or the valleys of Norway? Not to worry -- you're not alone in being glued to your office chair.

Enter Google Street View: your tool for seeing the world without spending a dime.

Google Street View began in 2007 as an experimental project to capture the world in pictures, according to the company's website. In 2012, the program came under fire after being accused of collecting personal data in more than 30 countries around the world. While the company admitted to accidentally gathering information from unsecured WiFi networks, its biggest offense has been the delay in deleting it.

Whether you're a fan of the search engine's cameras or not, our guess is that you'll enjoy some of these photos we've gathered from Google Street View below. We know it's not as great as the real deal, but give yourself a mini-vacation anyways.

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  • Adelie Penguin Rookery - Ross Island, Antarctica

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Bergün / Bravuogn Rhaetian Railway - Bernina-Albula, Switzerland

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Fjæra Grimstad, Norway

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Historic Center of Florence - Florence, Italy

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Hilton Waikoloa Village - Waikoloa, Hawaii

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Fuji Golf Course - Yamanaka, Japan

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • American Art Museum, Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Historic Town Of Ouro Preto - Ouro Preto, Brazil

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Historic Walled Town Of Cuenca - Cuenca, Spain

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden - Cape Town, South Africa

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Kumamoto Castle - Kumamoto City, Japan

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Lago Bianco - Grisons, Switzerland

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Mill Network - Kinderdijk, Netherlands

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Palace Of Versailles - Versailles, France

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Sanctuary Of Bom Jesus Do Congonhas - Congonhas, Brazil

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Scott's Discovery Hut - McMurdo Station, Antarctica

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • Stonehenge - Avebury, United Kingdom

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>

  • The White House - Washington, D.C.

    All images from <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery.html" target="_hplink">Google Street View</a>