We are leaving soon for a 2 1/2 week driving tour of Germany (Bavaria), Austria and Czech Republic. We are renting a car at Munich Airport upon arrival, but we don't want to pay an exhorbitant price for an in-car GPS. I would like to find an iPhone app that will provide offline turn by turn directions while I'm driving for those three locations. I've read past posts suggesting downloading the Sygic GPS app. I'm not technically savvy, so does this really work offline? I looked at the app and it appears that there are free maps available for all three spots we're visiting. I don't want to get to Munich and find out that I needed to do something else, like buy something or download something else to make it work. We burned a lot of data on our last trip by buying International roaming data in Spain for about $120 and using Google Maps, so I'm considering Sygic to save on the data cost. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3284 posts
Google maps can be used offline. You have to download maps when connected to WiFi. Keep your phone in airplane mode. I’ve used it in eu4ope and it works well.
Try it ou5 at home before you leave.
Posted by
OP
28 posts
Will Google Maps offline show me where I am on a map? I'm concerned about getting lost and not being able to find myself using the app offline. Thanks.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
First of all, try Google Maps "offline" at home and see how it works. Download the "offline" map for the area where you live while on WiFi. Then put the phone in airplane mode and go for a drive - navigate somewhere. It is a little different than "regular" online Google Maps, but it works about the same. On the downside: no traffic info (no smart phone GPS app can get traffic info without a data connection).
Once you've experimented at home, download the map for Germany - or at least the part of Germany you'll be driving in. Offline maps take space on your device; the larger the area of map you choose to download offline, the more space required on your device. You can always choose a smaller map now and then when you get to Germany choose different areas to download via WiFi from the hotel or whatever.
I used Google Maps "offline" to drive in Slovenia last year. it worked fine. for turn-by-turn directions and of course showing you where you are on a map.
$120 is sure expensive for mobile service, though. Buying a SIM card (if your phone is unlocked) might save a lot of money, whether you use the data for mapping/GPS or not.
Posted by
OP
28 posts
Thank you Andrew H for the detailed response. I'm gonna try it tomorrow. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
Posted by
Berlin
3020 posts
Take Sygic for the follwoing reasons:
1) It simply works very fast and reliable totally offline - in Germany and other European countries
2) Offline maps are very meaningful: In Germany at countryside you do not have always connections
3) The country maps can be selected and deleted. They can be saved on memory card in your device.
4) Do not care every few days for Google Maps if you have the offline maps. You have better things to do.
5) Sygic has functionality Google Maps does not have - if you want.
6) Sygic informs you when they have a map update
7) Not everyone can edit in these maps such in Google to post wrong information.
I used Sygic since years for journeys in Germany, Denmark, Norway, UAE, US, UK and some other places. Las trip this June: Over 6,000 km fom Berlin to North Cape and back and I vener get lost. It always worked well (few little hickups here and there like all other tools). Google Maps sometimes just would not know the route and was totally confused.
I was also writing a review with 5 examples why for example Here WeGo is not a good tool for such a trip. Just pm me if you are interested in a link.
And do not forget: In Germany no turn on red if no green arrow allows :-)