The Best Travel Map & Navigation Apps

A good map app is the most useful travel tool on your phone. Download offline maps before you go to save data and keep navigating without a signal, and use transit apps for buses and metros in big cities. For hiking, dedicated trail apps show routes, elevation and recent trail conditions.

  1. 1
    Google Maps google.com
    Navigation, transit, reviews and offline maps almost everywhere.
    Visit
  2. 2
    Waze waze.com
    Crowd-sourced driving directions with live traffic and police alerts.
    Visit
  3. 3
    AllTrails alltrails.com
    Hiking trail maps, reviews and offline navigation.
    Visit
  4. 4
    Komoot komoot.com
    Route planning for hiking, cycling and bikepacking.
    Visit
  5. 5
    ViaMichelin viamichelin.com
    European driving routes with tolls, fuel costs and Michelin picks.
    Visit
  6. 6
    Citymapper citymapper.com
    The best public transport app for major cities.
    Visit
  7. 7
    Maps.me maps.me
    Offline maps with points of interest and routing.
    Visit
  8. 8
    Gaia GPS gaiagps.com
    Topographic maps for backcountry hiking and overlanding.
    Visit
  9. 9
    Moovit moovit.com
    Live transit directions in thousands of cities.
    Visit
  10. 10
    Organic Maps organicmaps.app
    Free, private offline maps with hiking and cycling trails.
    Visit
  11. 11
    HERE WeGo wego.here.com
    Offline maps and navigation with transit directions.
    Visit

What is the best map app for travel?

Google Maps is the most complete travel map in most of the world, with driving, walking and public transport directions, opening hours, reviews and offline downloads. Waze is better for driving, with live traffic, hazards and speed camera alerts from other drivers. In big cities, Citymapper and Moovit give the most detailed public transport directions, including live departures and which carriage to board. Note that Google Maps works poorly in some countries, such as China and South Korea, where local apps are better.

Which map apps work offline?

Organic Maps and Maps.me are built for offline use, with full downloadable country maps based on OpenStreetMap, including hiking trails and small paths Google misses. Google Maps and HERE WeGo also let you download areas for offline navigation. Download maps on hotel Wi-Fi before you set out so you can navigate without data or roaming charges.

What is the best app for hiking trails?

AllTrails has the biggest library of trail guides, with reviews, photos and recent trail conditions from other hikers. Komoot is excellent for planning hiking and cycling routes, especially in Europe, and Gaia GPS offers detailed topographic maps for serious backcountry and overlanding trips. Always carry a downloaded map and a backup battery in remote areas.

Planning a road trip route

ViaMichelin calculates European driving routes with toll costs, fuel estimates and Michelin restaurant recommendations along the way, which makes it ideal for budgeting a road trip. For stops and detours, pair it with a trip planner like Roadtrippers.

Tips for navigating abroad

  • Save your hotel and key places as favourites before you go.
  • Learn how to show a map in the local script so you can show drivers your destination.
  • Check whether public transport apps need a local payment card.
  • Turn on offline mode in remote areas to save battery.

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