Europe Gps Navigation
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You’ll be driving on an upcoming trip to Europe and don’t want to rely on paper maps. This guide to GPS for Europe is your answer! It walks you through whether to use your smartphone, in-car GPS or a portable dedicated GPS device, including the pros and cons of each and what each means for your cellular data, memory and battery life.
What is GPS?
Before we get to your options for GPS in Europe, we want to make sure that everyone understands that you don’t need an internet connection to get GPS. GPS is free. Anyone can get a GPS signal so long as the path between the GPS receiver and the sky isn’t disrupted by things like dense trees or heavy metal (e.g., the inner depths of a big building). But GPS data is raw, so you need a smartphone application like Google Maps or your dedicated GPS device like a Garmin to process the data and show it on a map.
What Are Your Navigation Options For GPS for Europe?
Using Smartphone GPS in Europe
The biggest difference between smartphones and a dedicated GPS device is that a smartphone needs an internet connection to download a map while a GPS device has pre-downloaded maps, so it can operate without the internet. But that’s changing as smartphone applications are perfecting offline maps (learn more about offline maps).
If you already have a map downloaded on your phone, you don’t need an internet connection to show your location on that map. That’s why if you turn your phone to airplane mode right now and press the compass icon in Google Maps to show your location, you’ll still see the blue navigation dot. You’ll probably also see a detailed area in your immediate vicinity because your phone has already stored (or “cached”) the map around you in its memory. As you zoom out, you’ll lose details such as street names, and you won’t be able to search for locations unless they’ve already been stored in your phone’s memory.
Using a GPS Navigation Device in Europe
When navigating a rental car abroad, there are usually two types of dedicated GPS navigation: those that are already installed in a rental car and portable devices. In car navigation systems are available in most European car rentals and typically costs between $10-12 extra a day to rent (although some budget rental cars provide portable GPS devices instead of in-car GPS). Rental car companies use different GPS systems with different amenities, so look at what’s available at the company you’re considering renting from.
A number of manufacturers make portable GPS devices, but the major makers are Garmin, TomTom and Magellan. Garmin has traditionally been the most popular, but Tom Tom’s market share has increased due to its more affordable offerings. Users largely prefer one brand over the other based on familiarity, so the users of each claim their own device as the best.
If you have a portable dedicated GPS device but your maps are limited to the U.S., it will cost you $50 – $100 to get maps for Europe, depending on the number of countries and the device. Garmin charges $100 for all of Europe and TomTom offers the map for about $50. Before buying additional maps, just make sure they’re detailed enough for the areas you plan to visit.
Is Your Smartphone and a Dedicated Device the Best GPS for Europe?
When is a Dedicated GPS Navigation Device the Best GPS for Europe
Even with the improvement smartphone navigation, there are still a few instances when a dedicated GPS device is a must-have rather than a preference when navigating in Europe. One example is if you learn the area you’re visiting doesn’t get good cell service or you don’t want to rely on offline maps. So when choosing a navigation tool, step one is deciding how you plan to use your smartphone abroad and whether you’ll have service in the region in Europe that you’re traveling in.
Another reason to use a dedicated GPS navigation system is when you’re somewhere that has confusing roads and you’re driving alone, which makes looking at your phone for directions difficult and downright dangerous. Case in point: in Madeira, Portugal when one member of the Travel Honey team stayed an extra day, she was left trying to navigate the winding roads on her own!
But even if having a dedicated GPS system isn’t a must have, many prefer them over using their cell phone or in addition to their phone for GPS in Europe for the following reasons:
- Even if the roads aren’t confusing like in Madeira, and you’re driving with someone who can help navigate, dedicated GPS devices are easier and safer to use because they are mounted on the dashboard and the speakers are better (although iPhones can also be mounted with one of these contraptions).
- When you use your phone for directions, the map disappears for a short time when you get a call and you have to listen to the voice prompt from the map interrupting your call.
- Traffic can be provided over FM radio waves on your GPS device, so you’re not reliant on internet for traffic (some devices, however, provide traffic through cellular data).
- When you use a dedicated GPS device, you don’t drain the battery on your smart phone (turn-by-turn navigation usually drains a phone battery as fast as a standard car charger can charge it).
- The devices allow you to save your phone memory (a map of each state takes between 200MB and 500MB of storage and the whole USA requires about 4.5GB of data).
- You can pre-download maps for the destinations you plan to visit in Europe ahead of time into your portable GPS device. Also, in rental car navigation systems you can load the addresses using a thumb drive.
- In some places, GPS directions are more accurate than what you’ll find on a cell phone.
Reasons to Use Your Smartphone’s GPS for Europe:
- The dedicated GPS systems are usually more costly than navigating with your cell phone when you’re in Europe.
- Some portable GPS devices only come with maps for certain countries pre-loaded, and you have to pay extra for other countries. Many new devices come with the option to purchase unlimited map updates for the world, but those devices are more expensive.
- You have to manually update the maps in a GPS device by connecting the device to a computer, which is cumbersome, and you’re more likely to be relying on an outdated map.
- If you’re not familiar with the GPS device, it can be confusing and hard to use compared to your smartphone.
- We’ve found that using GPS in Europe sometimes sends us on a slower back roads route than the route provided by Google Maps.
Comparing a Portable GPS Device and an In-Car GPS for Europe
If you’ve decided to use a dedicated Device for GPS in Europe, you’re next decision is whether to get GPS in your rental car or bring your own portable GPS device.
Making Your Decision On GPS For Europe
In deciding on the best GPS for Europe, it’s ultimately a question of convenience and price. For optimum GPS navigation capabilities in Europe, you should bring a portable GPS device that you’re familiar with and use your smartphone. But if you don’t have a portable GPS device, you have to decide if obtaining a GPS device is worth the cost. Are you driving solo? Best to get the GPS device unless you have something to attach your smartphone to the dashboard. Are the roads extra confusing or is there bad cell phone service where you’re traveling? Again, probably best to spring for the GPS. Are you tight on cash and you find the thought of getting lost and finding new adventures appealing? Then save your dough, your smartphone will do just fine!
Do you want to learn more about using your cell phone in Europe, including whether to get a SIM card, 14 tips for saving data when traveling, what’s the best calling app and how to use offline maps?Then click here for links to all these articles.
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By Rick Steves
Phone-based map apps have taken much of the pain out of finding our way on road trips. But what about when we're overseas, where a phone connection might not be all that cheap, or fast? No road trip is without its wrong turns — but deciding on the best map apps, whether to use a GPS device, and arming yourself with some key tips for navigating in Europe can go a long way toward saving time and frustration.
My best tip for navigating unfamiliar terrain: Don't rely blindly on your phone's mapping app or a GPS device for directions. Always have at least a vague sense of your route, keep a paper map handy, and pay attention to road signs so you can consider alternatives if you feel the GPS route is Getting Pretty Screwy.
Maps and Apps
Truck Gps Navigation
Whether it's a map app on your phone or an old-school driver's atlas, a well-designed map of any kind is a must-have on any European road trip.
Mobile Mapping Apps
The mapping app on your phone works fine for navigating Europe's roads. The downside is that to get real-time turn-by-turn directions and traffic updates, you'll need Internet access (a concern abroad, where you are likely paying more for data).
For most travelers concerned about data roaming, the best option is an app that works offline: Google Maps, Here WeGo, and Navmii will give you turn-by-turn voice directions without a data connection — and if you make a wrong turn, will recalibrate and send you on the right way. They essentially offer nearly all the advantages of a dedicated GPS system, but on your smartphone — for free.
Download your map before you head out (it's smart to select a large region). Then turn off your cellular connection so you're not charged for data roaming. Call up the map, enter your destination, and you're on your way. For the best performance in Google Maps, use standard view (not satellite view) to limit data demands.
Be aware that Google Maps' traffic setting does not work offline, so check for slowdowns and detours before you hit the road or use data roaming for a brief period to get current conditions. And bring a car charger for your device, since mapping apps, even offline, gobble up battery life. It's also smart to bring a car mount for your phone that works for lots of vehicles.
As of the last update to this article, other navigation apps — such as Apple Maps and Waze — do not offer turn-by-turn directions offline. GPS apps from TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, and others do work offline but tend to be very expensive.
GPS Devices
If you'll be traveling without a smartphone, or want the convenience of a dedicated GPS, consider renting a GPS device with your car ($10–30 per day). It'll give you real-time turn-by-turn directions and traffic without the data limitations of a phone app. Note that the unit may come loaded only with maps for its home country; if you need additional maps, ask. Also make sure the device is set to English before you drive off.
The other option is to bring a GPS from home. You'll likely need to buy and download European maps before your trip (check that the maps available through the manufacturer are detailed enough for the areas you're visiting). Remember to bring your unit's car charger and a portable car mount.
Paper Maps and Atlases
Even when navigating primarily with a phone app or a GPS device, I always have a paper map on hand. It's invaluable for getting the big picture, understanding alternate routes, and filling in when my phone runs out of juice.
The free maps you get from your car-rental company usually don't have enough detail. Better maps and atlases are sold at European gas stations, bookshops, newsstands, and tourist shops. Michelin offers good individual regional maps and road atlases for each country (with good city maps and detailed indexes). Though they can be heavy, atlases are compact, a good value, and easier for drivers to use than big foldout maps.
Sometimes the best regional road maps are available locally. For example, if you're exploring your roots in the Norwegian fjord country, Cappelens 1:200,000 maps are detailed enough to help you find Grandpa Ole's farm. Other quality European brands include Hallwag, Freytag & Berndt, Marco Polo, Berndtson & Berndtson, AA (Britain's AAA-type automobile club), Road Editions (for Greece), and Kod & Kam (for Croatia and Slovenia).
Smart Navigation
Your trip will go more smoothly if you familiarize yourself with the quirks of navigating in Europe.
Signs and Symbols
All of Europe uses the same simple set of road symbols; it takes just a few minutes to learn them (see image). Many superhighway rest stops have local driving almanacs (or cheap maps) that explain such signs, roadside facilities, and exits.
Metric Distances
European countries (except the UK) use kilometers instead of miles. One kilometer is six-tenths of a mile. To convert kilometers to miles, cut the kilometers in half and add 10 percent of the original number (360 km = 180 + 36 = 216 miles; 90 km/hour = 45 + 9 = 54 mph — not very fast in Europe). Some people prefer to drop the last digit and multiply by 6 (if 80 km, multiply 8 × 6 = 48 miles), though this can be challenging with large numbers (340 km × 6 = ?). Choose whichever formula works for you.
When estimating how long a drive will take, figure you'll average 100 kilometers per hour on expressways (about the same as going 60 mph back home). Determining how much ground you can cover off the freeway is a crapshoot. I use a trick an Irish bus driver taught me: Figure a minute for every kilometer (covering 90 km will take you about an hour and a half). Double that for slow, curvy roads, such as in Italy's Dolomites or along its Amalfi Coast.
Navigating by Road and Town Names
Study the roads and major interchanges you'll be using before you set out. If you're headed for a small or midsize town, know which big city is nearby (and most likely to be signposted) to keep you headed in the right direction.
In some countries, road numbers can help you find your way: For example, take road A-1 to London, then B-23 to Bristol, then C-456 to Bath. Normally, the more digits the road number has, the smaller it is; so in Britain, M-1 is a freeway, A-34 is a major road, and B-4081 is a secondary road. In other countries, local signs ignore the road numbers (which can change along the way), so it's necessary to navigate by town name. Signs are often color-coded: yellow for most roads, green or blue for expressways, and brown for sightseeing attractions.
Most international European expressways are designated with an 'E' (similar to the 'I' designation on American freeways), but they may also be labeled on maps and signs with their national letters (for example, the main route between Paris and Lyon is known as both 'A-6' and 'E-15').
Europe Gps Navigation
City Centers
You can drive in and out of strange towns fairly smoothly by following a few basic signs. Most European towns have signs directing you to the 'old town' or the center (such as centrum, centro, centar, centre-ville, Zentrum, Stadtmitte). Most tourist offices, normally right downtown, are clearly signposted (i, turismo, VVV, or various abbreviations that you'll learn in each country). The tallest spire often marks the center of the old town. Park in its shadow and look for the tourist information office. When leaving a city, look for 'all directions' signs (toutes directions, alle Richtungen, etc.) pointing you out of town.
When you reserve your hotel room, ask your hotelier — or at least check their website — for tips on avoiding anything potentially tricky about reaching the hotel by car (especially if your hotel's in a dense Old World maze of streets). If possible, figure out your arrival route before you enter the city limits. While some small towns helpfully post signs directing you to individual hotels, in many cases you're on your own. If your hotel is within a restricted driving area, ask your hotelier to register your car ahead of your arrival or direct you to legal parking.