Google Maps

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is a navigation and local discovery app that has become essential infrastructure for modern travel. It provides directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transit, along with information about businesses, restaurants, and attractions worldwide.

For digital nomads, Google Maps is the tool you open multiple times daily: finding your way to a coworking space, locating a good lunch spot, navigating public transit, or saving your Airbnb location so you can find your way back.

Why Every Nomad Needs Google Maps

Navigate Anywhere

Whether you are walking through narrow streets in Lisbon, taking the metro in Tokyo, or driving in Mexico, Google Maps gets you there. The app handles:

• Walking directions through pedestrian areas
• Driving routes with real-time traffic
• Public transit with departure times and transfers
• Cycling routes where available

Offline Maps Save the Day

No data? No problem. Download maps for any area before you arrive and navigate without internet. This is critical when:

• You land in a new country without a SIM yet
• Your eSIM runs out of data
• You are in areas with poor coverage
• You want to save battery and data

Discover Places to Work and Eat

Google Maps is not just navigation. It is a discovery tool:

• Find highly-rated cafes with good WiFi
• Check if restaurants are open before walking over
• Read reviews to avoid tourist traps
• See photos to judge atmosphere

Essential Google Maps Features for Nomads

Offline Maps

Before arriving anywhere new:

1. Search for the city or region
2. Tap the city name at the bottom
3. Tap "Download" or find it in the menu
4. Adjust the download area (bigger = more storage)
5. Download over WiFi to save data

Offline maps include streets, navigation, and search. They expire after 30 days and need refreshing.

Saved Places and Lists

Create custom lists to organize your discoveries:

• Want to Visit: Attractions and landmarks
• Good Cafes: Work-friendly spots with WiFi
• Restaurants: Places recommended by locals
• Practical: Pharmacies, grocery stores, laundromats

When you arrive somewhere new, your saved places appear on the map immediately.

Location Sharing

Share your real-time location with travel partners, friends, or family:

• Tap your profile picture
• Select "Location sharing"
• Choose who can see your location and for how long

Useful for safety, meeting up, or letting family know you are okay.

Contribute and Earn Points

Leave reviews, add photos, answer questions about places. Google rewards contributors with "Local Guide" status and occasionally perks. More importantly, your contributions help fellow travelers.

Tips for Digital Nomads Using Google Maps

Download maps for your entire region. If you are spending a month in Portugal, download maps for the whole country, not just Lisbon. Storage is cheap; being lost without maps is not.

Check "Popular times" for cafes. Scroll down on any business listing to see when it is typically crowded. Plan your work sessions during quieter hours.

Use "Nearby" search. Tap the search bar and select categories like "Restaurants," "Coffee," or "ATMs" to see options around your current location.

Save your accommodation. First thing when you arrive: save your Airbnb, hotel, or hostel location with a clear label. You will thank yourself when tired and lost at night.

Check opening hours before walking. Many businesses have irregular hours. Verify before making the trip, especially for important errands.

Google Maps vs. Alternatives

Google Maps wins on comprehensiveness and accuracy in most countries. Apple Maps is improving and better for privacy. Maps.me uses less storage for offline maps.

Managing Battery and Data

Google Maps can drain battery quickly during active navigation. Tips:

• Lower screen brightness during navigation
• Use offline maps to reduce data usage
• Carry a power bank for long navigation days
• Download maps on WiFi before leaving accommodation

Who Should Use Google Maps?

Google Maps is essential for:

• Every digital nomad navigating unfamiliar cities
• Public transit users who need accurate directions
• Anyone who wants to discover local businesses
• Travelers arriving without local data

The only reason to skip Google Maps is strong privacy concerns. Even then, most nomads use it despite the trade-off because nothing else matches its utility.

The Bottom Line

Google Maps is the most useful free app on any nomad's phone. The combination of navigation, offline maps, transit directions, and local discovery is unmatched by any competitor.

Download it, learn the offline maps feature, and start saving places. Within a week of traveling, you will wonder how anyone navigated before it existed.