Google Maps has a long list of useful features for everyone, from drivers and cyclists to walkers and public transit users.The navigation app also has some underrated features that often fly under the radar, especially if you don't know what to look for.One is a feature I only started using recently, and it's been useful this year as I explore new places and go on vacations.
Google Maps' Indoor Maps goes unnoticed amid its library of features, but next time you go to a busy building, it might save you time and stress.Here's all you need to know.What Indoor Maps actually shows you The fundamentals of this underrated feature Google Maps' Indoor Maps feature gives you a detailed look inside supported buildings.
Instead of showing you just the building's exterior and its location on the map, Indoor Maps can display floor plans and layouts, along with essential facilities, shops, information centers, and other points of interest.The exact information available depends on the building, but the idea is simple: you can use Google Maps to get a better sense of where you are going before you even start walking around, or preview locations that you are planning to visit in the future.Indoor Maps gives you a quick way to see how everything is laid out in a large building, rather than relying only on signs once you're inside.
I feel that this can be particularly useful in places where the layout isn't immediately obvious, or when you are traveling to another country, where you may have some trouble reading signs or asking for help in that local language.Google Maps' Indoor Maps is available on Android, iPhone, iPad, and desktop, although only at supported locations.How it works An easy way to navigate unfamiliar buildings Close Indoor Maps is easy to use once you try it.
Search for a building (the building must support Indoor Maps for you to use it), such as an airport, shopping mall, or other high-traffic public buildings.Then, simply zoom in to the building (you don't need to tap on "Directions" or anything — you can see Indoor Maps for any building that supports it) until the building's indoor floor plan appears in the right corner (Android and desktop) or left corner (iOS) of your screen.Now, you can tap any of the floors and see what shops, information centers, and points of interest are located on which floor.
Google Maps also lets you explore the interior of some buildings through 360-degree photos, which works well alongside Indoor Maps.To try this, search for a place inside the building, such as a store or hotel.Tap the place name or address and swipe through the available photos.
If there is a 360-degree photo available, look for one with the Street View symbol.Tapping it gives you a preview of the interior.You can tap the white arrows to move forward and backward through the space, or swipe around to look in different directions.
You can also use a dual-screen within this to move through different parts of the building easily.This feature comes in handy for airports and malls Navigate the crowd and confusion with ease Two particular places where Indoor Maps can come in handy are shopping malls and airports.Malls are often set up in a way that makes them easy to get lost in (a nightmare-dream for shopaholics), especially when you're visiting one you've never been to before.
You might know the name of the store you're looking for, but have no idea which floor it's on or which entrance will get you there fastest.With Indoor Maps, you can search for the store and check its location within the mall before you start walking around.If you're meeting someone at a particular restaurant or trying to find a specific facility, you can also get a better idea of where it is in relation to other points of interest.
Airports are another obvious use case.They're often much larger than they appear on a regular map, with multiple terminals, gates, restaurants, lounges, restrooms, and other facilities spread across different wings and floors.Being able to check the indoor layout can make it easier to understand where you need to go once you're inside, especially in instances like when you are running late or taking a quick connecting flight and barely have any time to spare.
This information is amazingly useful when traveling somewhere unfamiliar.Even if I don't use the map for every step of the journey, knowing where something is before I arrive saves me a lot of time.The catch The one major limitation of Indoor Maps Many functional features do come with some caveats, and for Indoor Maps, the biggest one is that it is, unfortunately, not widely supported by several buildings.
I was surprised to see that some incredibly popular locations I wanted to visit as part of my upcoming vacation, too, were not supported.So, I wouldn't rely on Indoor Maps as your only way of navigating an unfamiliar building.Instead, think of it as a useful extra layer in Google Maps, especially when you're traveling to new places.
If a building supports it, checking the Indoor Map before you arrive can give you a much better sense of where everything is and make those first few minutes inside a new, crowded, or unfamiliar building less overwhelming.A good addition to your travel kit If you use Google Maps a lot when traveling and value its travel-related features (such as Live View and offline maps), having an indoor map available with a few taps when you need it can be a game changer.
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