Lady

Looking for good apps for city walking maps specifically in Europe. I did a search here, but the most current thread I found was 5 years old. Hoping someone has developed (or improved) maps since then. Anyone have such experience?

scrb11

If you just want streets, there used to be a couple of apps that did that but not sure if they are still supported.

You can download Google Maps tiles, which would have details for a relatively small area, like restaurants, attractions (churches, historical buildings parks, museums, etc.). You'd have to do it each time you're at the hotel or somewhere with Wifi, as you want to cover different areas.

If you have a recent phone which supports eSIM, might be easier to add some data capability for a week to a month, but enough to use Google Maps and other apps. You can get SIM cards but then you have to be comfortable with swapping in SIM cards with the one you use at home and be okay with not having access to your normal phone number while you have a local SIM card which comes with data.

That's why a phone that has eSIM could be useful, you don't have to remove your normal SIM, just add an eSIM which you're going to use for a short period, just during the trip.


Or another option, a lot of cities now have "free" walking tours. Just Google "free walking tour Paris" or "free London walking tour" or something like that. You basically tip them after a couple of hours and they typically cover all the main attractions. Beware, even though free, many of these tours require reservations.

P_M

I often use Google maps for both driving and walking. I see no reason to use anything else.

crellston

I use Google maps for walking but, in many areas, Apple maps is much better for driving. Most other apps are based on those architectures

dreamon

Google maps is only good for walking in streets. For rural areas it's not so great.

I understand the original question but as an aside, my preference is to go to the local tourism office and take a local walking tour. Usually much more interesting and entertaining, with local knowledge. For self guided walks, I can't suggest anything in particular other than just a browser search in specific cities.

sanojdota3626

Also looking for same app, anybody can share it. Thank you

emmajm

Take a look at maps.me.

classicearth

Just try downloading google maps

suze

I actually prefer paper maps that I can tuck in my pocket and pop in somewhere to look at discreetly. Downloaded ones means getting your smartphone out and looking... well... lost

mlgb

Google Maps has a voice navigation option. You don’t have to look at your phone when you are walking (or driving). Those little ear buds mean that no one needs to know what you are listening to. In Lisbon I used a downloaded walking tour (free) podcast from Rick Steves. If you know how to use Google My Maps you can create your own itinerary.

SonjaDonnel

I would definitely recommend using Google Maps, they really work well in Europe. You can download selected areas (a region or a city, for example) so you would be able to navigate even without internet connection.
They also allow you to instantly check on the rating of certain places (imagine walking by a cafe being hungry, you definitely know that feeling) so you wouldn't interact with bad places.

scrb11

Has anyone used offline maps in Google Maps with latest iPhones?

Some time in the last couple of years, without a cell signal, it won't show your location on the map consistently.

When I fly, especially within Europe, I preload the maps of the route of the flight. It used to work for showing your location, even in Airplane Mode, of where you were, the name of the places you fly over.

No longer, without a cell signal, it won't update the blue dot.

So I wonder how useful Google Maps would be on the latest iOS without a cell signal.

You would have the downloaded offline map but it won't show your location in it.