Google Maps is an incredibly convenient tool that allows you to find your way from point A to point B, no matter how far apart those points are: within walking distance or on opposite ends of the world. But the best thing about this tool is that it is completely free. It's very easy to learn how to use - just a little practice and you'll never get lost again!

Steps

There are two versions of Google Maps - for computer and for mobile devices. You can access Google maps from your computer by entering the address in your browser google.com/maps. To work with Google maps, you can download a free application on your phone or tablet, and most Android devices usually already have this application installed.

Search for a place

Enter the address in the search bar. When you open Google Maps, you'll see a map and a text bar at the top of the screen. If your device can determine your current location, you'll see a map of where you are and the surrounding area. To find the address you need, simply enter it in the text field - do this as thoroughly as possible to avoid mistakes, and then press the "Enter" key, or the magnifying glass icon.

• For example, if you want to find the address 13 Tverskaya St., Moscow, then you should enter it exactly like this in the search bar: 13 Tverskaya st., Moscow. If you wish, you can even add an index (if you know), but most often you can do without it.

1. Enter the name of the place. If the place you're looking for has a name (such as a public facility, landmark, or establishment), you usually don't need to provide its full address. You just need to indicate the name (if you don’t remember the exact name, then at least approximately) and press the “Enter” key or the magnifying glass icon. You can also add city, region, and country names if you want a more specific search result.

   • For example, if you want to find your local library, enter something like Russian State Library, Moscow.

2. To find several different places, use general search terms. Sometimes you may not know exactly where to go because there may be several options (for example, if you want to go to a cafe). In this case, you must specify some general search criterion in the test line. You can also specify a city or region if you are searching in a specific region.

   • For example, if you need to repair a car, you could enter something like Auto repair shop, Moscow.

3. Zoom in and out on the map as you view the results. All search results found will be marked with dots on the map. If there are too many options, you can zoom in by placing the map on the desired area. If your search returns no results or only one result, you may want to zoom out to get results for a broader area. For this:

   • Browser: Use the +/- buttons at the bottom of the screen or roll the mouse wheel.
   • Mobile app: Zoom in and out using two fingers: pressing your fingers together (a pinching motion) will zoom out, and spreading your fingers apart (a reverse pinching motion) will zoom in on the map.

4. Click on a result for detailed information. If you get multiple results, you can click on any of the points marked on the map - you will see more detailed information about that place. Depending on what item you are viewing, the following information may be displayed:

   • Operating mode
   • Reviews
   • Links to official sites
   • Photos of the place

   Search routes

   1. Find your destination. One of the most useful features of Google Maps is the ability to get detailed, turn-by-turn directions on how to get to a location. To get directions, you need to find the place where you want to go. This can be done either by the name of the place or by the address - the previous section described in detail how to do this.

      Click "How to get there" " . When you find the location you want, look at the information bar that appears and click on the "Get Directions" button, it looks like a road sign with a directional arrow pointing to the right.

      • Mobile app: If you are using a mobile device, simply click on the car icon in the lower right side of the screen, under which the time is written (for example, 10 minutes, 1 hour 30 minutes, and so on).

   2. If necessary, indicate your current position. If your computer or mobile device can determine your current location, Google Maps will automatically show you directions from your chosen destination. Otherwise, you'll need to enter your current location in the text box next to your destination.

      If there are several route options, choose the one you like best. Often Google Maps offers several routes, and for each of them the approximate travel time is indicated, as well as a brief description (for example, “via Dmitrovskoye highway”). Select the route that is most attractive to you from the list. This could be the shortest route, or a route that allows you to avoid highways, or something else – it’s up to you.

   3. Review your route. To view your selected route, you will need:

      • Browser: Select the route you want from the list, then click Step by Step to see the details. You can click on each item to find out in detail which directions to move in. You can use the printer button at the top of the page to print detailed instructions.
      • Mobile app: Click "Start Navigation" for the route you are interested in. Google Maps will start giving you directions on which way to go in real time. In other words, when you approach a certain place, the app will give you hints on where to turn. In any part, you can click on the tab at the bottom of the screen to see the full list of destinations.

   4. Switch between travel methods at the top. By default, Google Maps suggests driving directions, but you can get other travel options. Once you've selected your origin and destination, use the small icons at the top of the screen to switch between different travel methods. The following options will be available to you:

      • Automobile
      • Public transport (train icon)
      • On foot
      • By bike
      • By plane (browser only for long distances)

   Search for companies nearby

   Getting street information

   1. Use the "Traffic" function to see the traffic situation. Thanks to Google Maps, you can get up-to-date information about the traffic situation. In the traffic view mode, streets with no traffic are shown in green, streets with moderate traffic in yellow, and streets with heavy traffic in red.

      • Browser: Make sure you don't have any location selected, click on the "Traffic" menu item under the search bar.
      • Mobile app: Click on the small tab at the bottom left and swipe left. Select the "Traffic" option from the list that appears.

   2. Use the "Transport" function to see all transport lines. This feature shows all public transport on the map, including buses, trains and trams. Here's how to activate it:

      • Browser: Make sure you don't have a location selected, click on the "Transport" menu item under the search bar.
      • Mobile app: Click on the small tab at the bottom left of the screen and swipe left. Select the "Transport" option from the list that appears.

Today I decided to tell you about a very useful and interesting tool. This tool is Google Maps. This tool is very useful because you can not only find the place you need, but now you can also look at the streets of the place you are interested in. In general, let's take a closer look at how to use Google maps.

How to find google maps.

To find maps, you need to type in the search: “google maps” or “Google Maps”. The search engine will most likely immediately return the desired result. Once you go to the site, you will see a map. Let's figure out what to do next. Let's look at a classic example. You need to find a specific house, or rather, a house at a specific address.

How to search for addresses on google maps

At the top left you see a search box. In it you need to enter the address that you want to find. You just need to enter starting with the city (city, street, house). For example, “Moscow, Bolshaya Sadovaya 14.” Press search or the “Enter” keyboard button. The map will take you to the desired address.

It is very comfortable. Now, look at the screenshot, you see an icon on the map. This icon shows the house you want. But that's not all you can do with cards.

Scaling

Pay attention to the lower right corner. There you see a plus and minus icon. With these icons you can scale the map. You can also zoom using the scroll wheel of your mouse.

View from satellite

Now, pay attention to the lower left corner. There you see a small window with the inscription "Earth". If you click on this window, then you will be able to view the map, as if from a satellite. This is a very interesting view.

How to view photos on google maps

Let's go back to the bottom right corner if you are viewing google map in map mode and not in earth mode. You can see icons when you hover your mouse over them that say “Show Photos.” Click on these icons and you will see photos of nearby places. Please note that when you hover your mouse over the photo, a “ray” appears. This ray shows the place where the photo was taken. Click on the photo you are interested in and you will go to photo viewing mode.

This mode is very interesting because you can not only look at photos, but also travel through cities and streets. In order to navigate the streets, you need to select a photo, hovering over it, the inscription “Street View” appears. On regular photos, the caption “Photo” appears. In order to exit photo viewing mode, you need to click on the arrow in the upper left corner. This arrow will take you back to map view. You can see how to travel around cities on Google maps in the video below.

In general, this is a very interesting service. Using the Google Maps service you can find the address you need. See the sights. For example, I found an address in my city that I had no idea where it was before. It is also very interesting to travel to cities you have never been to. Google maps allows you to see not only the CIS countries, but the whole world.

This concludes this note. I wish you success and pleasant and interesting travels. Don't forget to subscribe to to learn about new materials.

Video: Google maps. Travel without leaving home

Satellite maps from Google are popular. This is a convenient and practical tool that allows you to view the planet at any scale. The satellite image reveals details: small streets and alleys near the house, cities, countries and continents. This became possible thanks to satellite imagery.
Earlier to receive pictures from space filming was used with a television camera with a signal transmitted to the station or filming with a special photographic camera, the images of which were displayed on film. Today, modern space technologies make it possible to look at the planet thanks to the scanning mechanism built into satellites.

Satellite Map: Applications and Purposes

Currently, real-time satellite world map is used in many fields: analyzing the state of agricultural fields, forests, oceans and identifying the location of friends using a smartphone. Google satellite map is used for these resources.
The main purpose of using satellite images of the world from Google remains navigation. The website features a world diagram showing continents, states, cities, streets and highways. This helps you navigate the area, appreciate its landscape, and simply travel around the Earth without leaving your home.

Quality of online world map images from satellite

The highest resolution images are available for the largest cities in Ukraine, America, Russia, Belarus, Asia, Europe and Oceania with a population of more than a million people. For settlements with fewer inhabitants, images are available in limited quantities and of poorer quality.
Despite this, everyone can take a detailed look at the territory of their home, nearby streets, and look at photos of the planet from almost any point. The pictures reveal the placement:

• cities, towns, villages,
• streets, alleys
• rivers, seas, lakes, forest zones, deserts, etc.

Good quality cartographic images allow you to examine the landscape of the selected area in detail.

Google map capabilities from satellite:

Google satellite maps help you see things in detail that are difficult to assess on regular charts. Satellite images preserve the natural shape of an object, its size and colors. Ordinary, classic maps undergo editorial elaboration before printing and circulation to match the scale, as a result of which the natural colors of the area and shapes of objects are lost. The cartographic images retain their naturalness.
In addition, you can quickly find the city of interest in any country on the map. The diagram has a column in which you can indicate the country, city, and even house number in Russian. In a second, the diagram will zoom in and display the location of the given object and those located next to it.

Satellite world map mode

Satellite images have the ability to switch to world map mode. It helps to view the territory on the surface of the planet, get as close as possible to the selected object, and consider the layout of the location. This mode allows you to quickly and conveniently plan your trip route, move around the city, find attractions, etc.
By specifying the house number, the diagram will display its location relative to the city center in a second. It is also possible to plot a route from the initially specified object. To do this, click on the appropriate button and enter the address.

Map of the earth from satellite to website

the site allows users to use a satellite map in real time completely free of charge. For convenience, the map is divided into countries. To search for a specific city or get acquainted with the area of ​​the state, click on the one you are interested in and begin your “travel”. The service is constantly improving, work is underway to post high-resolution satellite images of small settlements.
Good quality online satellite cartographic images posted on our website help you quickly find the desired object, examine the landscape, estimate the distances between cities, and find out the location of forests, rivers, seas and oceans. With Voweb, traveling around the world has become even more accessible.

Using Google Maps, you can search for post offices, bus stops, businesses, streets, and more.

Search results will be more accurate if you're signed in to your Google Account. For example, you can easily find a place you were looking for, or find out a friend's address by entering their name.

How to find a place on Maps

How to view the entire map

To hide the search box and sidebar, click the arrow to the right of them. This feature is not available in Easy Mode.

How to filter search results

Personalized search

Search results are personalized for each user based on many parameters. If you use Google+, you'll also be offered places recommended by people in your circles.

What influences the personalization of results

Parameters that influence the personalization of search results include:

• your cards in My cards (if any);
• people and places added to Google Contacts (for example, Pizzeria Delfina);
• posts, ratings, and reviews left by you or your friends on Google+ that contain a location tag.

If you don't want these settings to affect your Google Maps search results, change your settings in your Google services.

Even before Google Maps officially rolled out a feature that saved map sections for offline use, with a WiFi connection, you could scale the map in detail along your route, the data was saved in a cache and was accessible without the Internet. This way you could forever forget about buying offline maps for your travels. But the useful features of Google maps are not limited to this. We'll tell you which ones will come in handy while traveling and even at home.

Feature: offline cards

Use: for navigation without an Internet connection

With this feature, you can do without the tricks of zooming the desired areas and saving them to the cache. Open the left menu (sandwich button in the search bar), select “Offline maps”. In the tab you will see all your saved maps and the “Other map” option. Click on it, select the desired area and save it to your phone. Now you will have access to navigation even in a remote village.

Feature: departure time

Use: to calculate travel time to the train station/airport

When you are in an unfamiliar city, you can now quickly figure out the amount of travel time. Useful if you want to know what time you need to leave for the airport or how many minutes it will take for a transfer. Enter the route into the maps, select the public transport icon. The line “Departure to...” will appear below it. Here you can specify the time and see which transport will take you to your destination in what time. In “Parameters” you can specify the type of transport and priorities, such as “less walking/transfers”. When constructing a route based on time, the road load at that time of day is taken into account, which means that traffic jams and traffic are also taken into account.

Feature: local transport

Use: to plan routes around the city

The same function can be used to plan movements around the city. You will be shown all the necessary routes and transfers. Keep in mind that this works well in cities, for example, in Europe, and will not work in countries where public transport does not care about its schedule.

Feature: Near

Use: when you check into your Airbnb and look for a grocery store in the area

Google works well with the near command. If you are in an unfamiliar area and are urgently looking for a coffee shop or grocery store, enter, for example, “coffee shop near Alexanderplatz”, and all nearby establishments will be displayed on the map.

Feature: Share Directions

Use: to tell a friend where to find your hostel

Tip: book a taxi

Use: to get to places you have no idea about

You can call a taxi directly from Google Maps. The service supports integration with Uber, Lyft, and many local services. Price offers are visible right in the application, payment data will be automatically pulled from your account in the application, say, Uber. The function is working, tested on myself in Berlin. From a conversation with a taxi driver, it turned out that the cost from the card was lower than a direct order from the service.

Feature: Custom Map

Use: for short visits and routes around the city

If you have very little time in the city, a customized map will help you get everything done. At home, you make a route from the obligatory places, and then use it to quickly navigate on the spot. If you are a control freak, you can plan every day of your trip like this. The trick only works from the desktop, because there is a lot of functionality that you can’t fit into a phone. Come in here and start creating your map. You can share it with friends and organize quests around cities.

Feature: navigation in buildings

Use: when trying not to get lost at the airport

A new map feature that is not yet available everywhere. The map shows the layout of particularly large and complex buildings (eg Charles de Gaulle Airport). Convenient if you are trying to find your gate or exit from a complicated mall. Check if your next airport is already there.

Feature: navigation for motorists

Use: for comfortable car travel

Everyone already knows that Google Maps builds quite convenient and detailed routes for cars. In addition, they learned to take into account road load. In the top right menu, you can instruct the system to guide you past toll roads or highways. You can add stops to your city route, say, for coffee. This is done using the upper right menu, the “Add stop” option.

And good news for all Android owners. In 25 test cities, a parking overview is now available. Maps will show you where parking is difficult, and can also remind you where you left your car. This feature is currently not available for iOS.

Bonus.

Features you can enjoy from home

Feature: Local Guide

Use: Help others to earn more space on Google Drive

The service is designed to help travelers navigate cafes and attractions in a new city. You can become a local expert and update maps in your area. Google thanks you for this with invitations to its events and additional disk space.

Feature: chronology

Use: to feel nostalgic and/or scared

Feature: Google Maps - Travel

Use: to get sticky

The recently launched service has 23 locations. These are world landmarks photographed in the coolest 360° quality. You can virtually wander through them and see places that you yourself may not get to soon: Ankgor Wat, Fuji and the Great Barrier Reef are waiting for you.

Look for more chips , and share the most interesting ones in the comments.

Photo - Unsplash