Navigating on foot: download maps/apps? GPS on iPhone?

I would download an offline map. Google works - but you need to download the map when you have internet. A lot of people use an offline map app, there are several popular ones. I use CityMaps2Go- you can mark places of interest and once you download the maps for your cities it works offline. So I can see my hotel, the museum I’m going to and any places of interest I’ve noted - like restaurants or churches - and stop on the way.

By works offline (in all cases I’m aware of, including Google) I mean the GPS works. You can see the full map and your dot in real time and watch your movement - make sure you are going the right way, helpful with twisty unlabeled streets in medieval quarters! What does NOT work offline is directions (take a right on street x, turn left on street y...).

I use Maps.me when I'm traveling. It's all offline, just download the Country or Region or City map you want to use. It uses your phones GPS and also works with Turn by Turn directions in the maps for Driving or Walking.

Paper maps are readily available from hotels for getting to main attractions and as a bonus usually have the hotel location highlighted. They fold up to nothing and are not nearly as interesting to thieves as phones and tablets. Because you aren't worried about them you can often look up and around yourself at the beautiful cities more.

I live on my phone (s). Actually use an Android phone, iPhone and Windows phone all day most days, as well as my iPad and 2 laptops. But when I am walking around in a new city my phone stays - most of the time - in an inside pocket and I use a paper map,

I had the same question as I am leaving for Italy in about four weeks. About a month ago I gave this a trial run by downloading an offline map on Google maps of the area I live in. I downloaded the map, turned off Wi-Fi and mobile data, and made sure that GPS I was on. I did a few tests to see if it would provide turn by turn instructions for me to get to work. It worked fine for me.

We use downloaded Google maps all the time. It’s wonderful to get the satellite blue ball that tells you where you are. I also love the feature that you can star places you really want to see, visit or eat beforehand and they then show up as highlighted later as you walk around. Interestingly, my husband’s Samsung tablet and phone work much better than my iPad when it comes to downloaded Google maps.

I'm with Nigel on this one. Free map is best thing to navigate by and as Nigel said is less interesting than your phone to thieves and paper map is easily replaced if it goes astray. I always carry a compass in my day sack to confirm we are heading in right direction (old habits die hard!).

Ian

Google Maps is great - that's what I use to navigate in Europe on food and by public transportation (in most cities). Last May in Venice, for example, I was out late taking pictures, and when I was done I used my phone to get me back to the hotel the quickest way, which turned out to be walking 10 minutes to a vaporetto stop (I had a pass). I didn't have to think about which stop was closest or how to get there (especially in Venice) or what the schedules were. In the old days, I would not have bothered and just walked all the way back - not impossible but my feet were already wiped out by this point so saving 20 minutes of walking was lovely.

But Google Maps "offline" works only for driving, not walking or public transit. So you need mobile service for your phone or tablet to use Google Maps this way - or another offline app that works without mobile data.

If your mobile carrier doesn't offer an affordable international roaming plan, SIM cards are a whole other topic we discuss a lot, but it's not hard to get one in most cases (and not expensive), even thought the prospect of a foreign SIM card seems to freak people out the first time.