Google Maps ships because the default navigation app on nearly all Android telephones, serving to thousands and thousands of customers every day to test for instructions, visitors standing, and extra.
Nevertheless, you need to use Google Maps for extra than simply turn-by-turn navigation. From serving to plan holidays with detailed native insights to retracing your steps on a particular day, it may be a strong journey companion and an area discovery device.
Listed here are six underrated Google Maps options that I quietly use that make a giant distinction in on a regular basis use.
6
Relive your journeys with Timeline
Your private journey log
Google Maps shops a timeline of all of the locations you go to. You may not assume a lot of this characteristic at first, however in case you journey rather a lot, it might probably grow to be like a journal.
It is particularly useful if you’ll want to retrace the locations you visited a couple of years in the past.
For example, I had an incredible shake at an area café in Barcelona in 2017. Once I returned to the town in 2024, I needed to revisit the identical café with my spouse.
Nevertheless, I could not keep in mind its title, nor may I discover any pictures of it in my Google Pictures library. So, I turned to Google Timeline, went again to the month I visited Barcelona in 2017, retraced my steps, and located the café.
It is also nice for rediscovering hidden spots I stumbled upon years in the past whereas driving — those I forgot to save lots of in Google Maps however all the time needed to go to once more.
Equally, I like with the ability to see once I final visited one among our favourite eating places and plan our subsequent journey accordingly.
Timeline view may help in case you are retracing your steps to discover a misplaced or misplaced merchandise. My pals use the characteristic to log distances for gasoline reimbursements for his or her work.
5
Actual-time location sharing
Conserving tabs on family members with ease
One other characteristic of Google Maps that you will need to use extra: location sharing. It lets you share your real-time location with pals or household for a specified time.
When touring with my household, I guarantee my mother and pop’s areas are shared with me. Since they are not acquainted with Google Maps, location sharing lets me observe their whereabouts and permits me to get to them in the event that they get misplaced.
Likewise, I share my dad’s location with myself when he travels to his hometown every year by automotive. This fashion, I can guarantee the driving force is taking the proper route, counsel good spots for breaks and meals, and hold observe of his journey.
Location sharing in Google Maps is extremely helpful when touring in giant teams. The group chief can hold observe of everybody’s whereabouts and hint them if they’re misplaced.
4
Discover your manner inside, not simply outdoors
Your information inside buildings
You need to use Google Maps to navigate not simply to a spot but additionally inside it. It is one of many app’s finest options past offering navigation instructions.
When inside malls you might be visiting for the primary time, you need to use Google Maps to shortly discover shops or sections that curiosity you, making certain you do not have to wander round aimlessly and saving valuable time.
It is an effective way to shortly investigate cross-check opinions and timings of shops after which determine if they’re value visiting.
For eating places, Google Maps lists their menus together with the anticipated value vary. I typically use the summarized evaluate part to shortly see which dishes are hottest at a specific eatery after which determine if I ought to go or not.
Indoor navigation is extremely helpful in airports, too, serving to you discover the closest rest room, the best terminal gate, or your favourite burger joint.
3
Test crowd ranges in actual time
Plan round peak hours
When touring to touristy locations, you’ll be able to test how busy an space could be utilizing the world busyness knowledge in Google Maps. It exhibits this knowledge for well-liked locations like shops, eating places, parks, and cafés.
I exploit this knowledge to determine when to journey to a touristy vacation spot. For instance, if I plan an outing to Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya or Park Güell, I test the favored occasions to get an thought of how a lot crowd to anticipate.
The characteristic additionally exhibits how lengthy guests sometimes keep, serving to me plan the most effective time to go and the way a lot of my day to put aside for the go to.
Google Maps even shows the ticket costs and experiences for straightforward reserving as effectively.
Equally, I can plan my weekends higher by avoiding locations with excessive footfall and as a substitute going someplace quiet.
That is not all. Google Maps shows the dwell bus and prepare crowd ranges in choose cities as effectively. And when touring with household and youngsters, it may be a lifesaver as I can wait an additional 20 minutes to take a much less crowded metro.
2
Discover each angle with Immersive and Road View
Get a digital preview
Immersive view in Google Maps offers a 3D view of buildings, landmarks, and different gadgets of curiosity.
It basically makes use of Road View knowledge and aerial pictures to supply a 3D world mannequin to supply a extra detailed, in-depth preview.
With Immersive View, you may get a top-down 3D have a look at a spot you propose to go to, making it simpler to visualise the world and plan your journey extra successfully.
When touring with my household to a global vacation spot, I all the time use Google Maps’ Immersive View to get a greater sense of the neighborhood the place I am reserving an Airbnb or lodge.
Immersive View shouldn’t be out there in all areas, and in such circumstances, I fall again on Road View. I additionally use this characteristic to get a visible thought of the situation and the way shut the closest eating places and grocery shops are.
1
Serving to others discover locations value discovering
Turning hidden gems into must-visits
You’ll be able to contribute to Google Maps by means of the Native Information program to make the info higher. So, as an example, in case you come throughout a retailer that has completely closed, you’ll be able to mark it as closed in Google Maps to assist others.
Some individuals may not assume a lot of it, however in case you use Google Maps closely, making common contributions may help you are feeling a part of the neighborhood.
Google offers factors primarily based in your contribution, making the method really feel like a sport.
You might be upgraded to a brand new Native Information degree primarily based on the amassed factors, with Google providing particular perks at larger ranges, like early entry to new options, invitations to unique occasions, and neighborhood recognition.
I am an lively Stage 9 contributor to the Native Guides program with over 53,000 factors. I seize pictures and movies of almost each retailer and place I go to to add to Google Maps.
Past the perks, my contributions and opinions assist convey lesser-known cafés and companies into the highlight and develop their attain.
It feels superb to see your pictures and place edits rack up 1000’s of views, figuring out you’ve got performed a small however significant function in boosting a enterprise’s visibility.
There’s extra to Google Maps than you assume
If you happen to use Google Maps solely for navigation functions, you might be barely scratching the floor of what it might probably do.
There’s extra to the service than simply serving to you go from level A to level B, with its different options being equally useful.
In addition to those talked about above, you need to use Google Maps to save lots of your parking location, discover eco-friendly routes in case you drive an EV, or plan a visit with a number of stops in a single go.
No marvel Google Maps is the world’s hottest navigation and mapping app. It really deserves that spot.