Armchair Travel With Google Maps

Dan Frommer — November 17, 2006

When Google added satellite photography of virtually the entire planet to its popular Google Maps service this summer, travel nuts finally had a wider use for the website than finding nearby Thai restaurants. ‘Gmaps’ is not the first web-enabled incarnation of satellite imagery. But when combined with Google’s predictive-downloading navigation engine, escaping to the Provençal countryside during a dull conference call is now magnificently simple. With both the web-based Maps and desktop-based Google Earth software available, armchair travel has gone mainstream, evidenced by the popularity of Google Sightseeing and similar sites.

Getting There

The logical starting point is Google Maps’ homepage, maps.google.com. For cities and addresses in the United States, searching is the easiest way to pinpoint your target. But European destinations require a little more work—while Google’s city database is rich for the 50 states, much of the rest of the world is still sketchy. Try using anglicized names, such as ‘Florence, Italy’ and ‘Munich, Germany’. Smaller towns are not generally included in the search database, but their fuzzy, low-resolution photos aren’t worth much effort to begin with. Sharing and bookmarking views is easy: click ‘Link to this page’ for a permanent URL.

My Favorites

After hours of exploring, retracing old trips and scoping out future destinations, I’ve compiled a few of my favorites. Many of these are places I visited during my 2004 backpacking trip across Europe.

	Amsterdam, Netherlands — This shot of the Dutch capital includes the Centraal train station plaza (upper right), the Damrak main drag (diagonal from upper right to lower left) and the infamous Red Light District, hugging the canal on the right side of the photograph.
	Budapest, Hungary — The Széchenyi bath complex is one of Europe’s largest and most famous. Within City Park on the Pest side of the Danube, visitors are treated to thermal baths of varying temperatures, indoor and outside.
	Dubrovnik, Croatia — This Dalmatian Coast hotspot near Croatia’s southern tip is quickly rediscovering its pre-war popularity. Dubrovnik’s best views are from its ramparts, featuring vibrant sightlines of red roofs, blue sea and green hills.
	Florence, Italy — An obligatory stop between Venice and Rome, Florence is best known for its Renaissance art and a nude named David. The massive Duomo (center) is an architectural masterpiece.
	Krakow, Poland — Rynek Glowny, Krakow’s main square, forms the center of the city’s Stare Miasto (Old Town). Attractions include the Cloth Hall market (center) and St. Mary’s Church, in the square’s upper right corner.
	Mont Saint Michel, France — A kilometer off France’s northern coast, the fortified isle is one of France’s historical wonders. Climbing the winding stone steps to the abbey at age 13, as the sun set over the English Channel, is one of my favorite travel memories.
	Munich, Germany — München’s English Gardens form the largest metropolitan public park in Europe. Its beer gardens alone are worth the trip.
	Prague, Czech Republic — Václavské námestí, or Wenceslas Square (center), is the cultural center of Prague’s New Town and has hosted demonstrations, celebrations and revolutions. The building in the lower right corner of the photo, at the ‘head’ of the square, is the Czech National Museum.
	Split, Croatia — Split’s historic Old Town and palm tree-lined waterfront are stunningly beautiful. Beyond being the gateway port to the Dalmatian islands, Split is also hometown of former Chicago Bulls superstar Toni Kukoc.
	Venice, Italy — St. Mark’s Square (center), at the mouth of Venice’s Grand Canal, has probably seen more American newlyweds than any plot of land in Europe. Casanova’s sinking paradise is still one of Europe’s most interesting experiences, especially when done right—without a map.