GPS in Sicily

I drove using Google Maps for about 3 weeks in eastern Sicily in May, 2018 (is that still recent? If we don't count 2020?) and it worked just fine.

If you set up your mapping app e.g. Google Maps with an "offline map" ahead of time (download it before you get to Sicily), then you can use Google Maps without any mobile service - you can keep the phone in airplane mode. The GPS function itself works without mobile data, but your phone needs to have a map to reference to give you useful directions etc.

"Offline mode" will work fine but does not work the same as "regular" Google Maps. There is no traffic info without a mobile connection. And some information is missing in the "offline map." It works also only for driving directions, not for walking directions "offline."

If you want to try use say Google Maps this way in Sicily, I recommend you test it out at home first. Download the "offline map" for where you live while you are at home on WiFi. Then, put the phone in airplane mode and go for a drive. See how it works for directions and mapping. if that's acceptable, it will work the same in Sicily. (but in km not miles.)

If your phone will have mobile service in Sicily (with international roaming of some sort or by buying a local SIM card), then Google Maps will work the same as it does at home. But, I'd still download the "offline map" ahead of time for your driving area in Sicily, just in case, so if you wander to an area with no mobile reception, you can still use Google Maps in "offline" mode.

Google maps works, and also Apple iMaps. However every Italian I know in Italy, including taxi drivers, tells me that Waze is better and that is what they use. So in Italy I use Waze too. I don’t care much about their graphics, but Waze tells you everything correctly, like ZTL (restricted traffic areas), hidden speed cameras, and even if there is an object (like a piece of junk) obstructing the road.

I can’t imagine a GPS would be radically different from Google maps, but I will say my experience with Google maps left much to be desired. Specifically, Google LOVED suggesting more “direct” routes which were barely roads. Like, I would know the route, then suddenly Google would say “turn here” and I’m suddenly off the main road dodging potholes.

My main advice would be to get a real physical map. Stick to the main roads and autostrada. When you get into smaller urban areas, then Google will be good enough to get you the final mile.

Google maps worked fine for us in 2018. We drove around the entire island, mostly on rural roads. On that trip we had a Garmin and Google maps downloaded for offline use. Google maps worked so well, we only take the Garmin as a backup. On our recent Spain trip the Garmin wasn’t used after day 2. If Google maps works as well in Scotland on an upcoming trip, I’ll stop taking it altogether. Don’t rent one from the rental company. You could buy one for the price of renting one for one trip.

of all the aps on my phone, google maps is absolutely the most indispensable for me. while in sicily, as anywhere else i go i rely on it, not only to find places i want to visit but routes, estimated times, and real-time directions. i use public transportation and it has proven accurate in indicating the correct stop to get off. on countless occasions i have used maps to find a particular store, e.g. a vodaphone/tim store in order to buy/recharge a sim. however, maps is not 100%, more like 99 for my needs! in enna it consistently gave the wrong location for my airbnb. the owners actually made me aware before i went exploring on the first day. a couple of other times maps gave directions based on surface streets and ignored tunnels connecting two sides of a town at a train station passing under the tracks. bari was one such place. can't speak about using a stand-alone gps but wouldn't hurt to have a backup, i suppose.

Thank you all, I have a second part to the google maps question. My intl plan gives me 1/2 gig a day before going into overages. people have said that using google maps or any phone-based navigation will quickly run you into expensive overages. Did anyone experience that problem? I do understand that if I download the directions as opposed to getting them live as some have suggested then there would not be a data issue but I would prefer to keep it live if possible.

I don't know how much data you will use driving with Google Maps. I use Google Maps extensively for walking/public transit maps and directions when I'm in Europe,and I tend to use something around 100mb to 120mb/day or so. Downloading the "offline map" ahead of time might save you some data too even if you use your phone live with data.

I always use the downloaded maps so no data is required. If live and you’re driving for long periods you’ll use plenty of data. I only used live Google maps on certain occasions so as not to use too much data. Something I did run into in Spain was, my iPhone has a USB2 cable, but the rental car only had a USB-C port, so the phone’s battery drained fairly quickly. Therefore, on the open road I turned maps off when it wasn’t needed. Most often it’s needed getting into and out of towns and cities.