travel google map art

Map illustration: A step by step guide

Master map illustration with this guide to creative cartography.

Map illustration has had a real resurgence over the past few years. An exciting alternative to a dry Google map, illustrated maps can be filled with character and fun detail to truly capture the atmosphere of a city. Creating your own map illustrations is a challenging exercise in composition, but can be a great addition to your design portfolio . 

Every map is a careful balancing act of plotting elements to their geographic location whilst also ensuring the illustration layout works in harmony. In this tutorial I’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide to how to create your own map illustrations, from initial layout to final image. All you need is access to Google maps and your digital art software of choice.

01. Select your location

First you need to decide the location for your illustrated map. This could be your favourite city or perhaps your last holiday destination – just make sure there are lots of interesting iconic landmarks to choose from. In this example I’ll be using a map of Seattle I created for the Visit Seattle tourist board.

02. Use Google Maps to make a plan

Google Maps makes it easy to plot the landmarks out. Sign in to Google Maps and choose ‘Your places’ from the main menu. Click the ‘Maps’ tab and then ‘Create map’. You can now search for any landmark and once the pin has dropped on to the map, choose ‘Add to map’. 

Create 6-8 pins across your map and take a screenshot. It will help to choose landmarks that are evenly distributed across the map and think about whether the layout needs to be portrait, landscape or square.

03. Add the main arteries of the city

Open Illustrator or Photoshop (other software packages are available) and import the screenshot of the Google Map. Set the transparency of the map screenshot to ‘Multiply’ and lock the layer. You can now create new layers underneath and you’ll always have the Google map as a handy reference.

Add a background colour and start drawing the main arteries of the city: the roads, rivers, train lines and so on. You’ll begin to see the form of the map start to take shape.

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04. Add your labels

Text can be a feature in itself, so add the labels early on to start building up the density of the map. Handwritten labels can really help add to the character of the artwork.

05. Sketch out and balance your icons

Research the landmarks and collect images of them from different angles. Think about which viewpoint works best with your map. I like to sketch out the landmarks on paper, then scan the sketches in and import them into my map, but you can do all this digitally if you prefer.

Try out different placements and sizes until you feel like the layout is evenly balanced. If some of the landmarks are all clustered together try spacing them out and adding arrows to help connect them with their geographic location. The beauty of illustrated maps if that they don’t need to be 100 per cent accurate. A bit of artistic licence is encouraged. 

06. Choose your colour palette

Try and select colours that help capture the atmosphere of the location. A sunny holiday destination might have a yellow background and a rural map could be predominantly green. It can also help to base your colour palette on one of the iconic landmarks and use this to set the tone for the rest of the map. 

Experiment with different combinations and try and find a complementary colour for the icons that helps them stand out from the background. Start to colour your landmarks. At this point you might need to resize them again, as the impact of the colour can alter the balance of the composition.

07. Build up detail

Add a few people and animals to breathe some life into your map. In the Seattle map the client wanted to include lots of different sports, such as canoeing and cycling, to show all the different activities you can do in the city. People are also a good way to help fill any empty space you might have. Add a bit of fun and play around with the scale of the characters – they could be as big as a building if you want.

08. Research the local cuisine

Icons of food and drink specific to the area are another great way to add more interesting detail to your map. Coffee cups and beer glasses are an ever-present in lots of the maps I create, but adding some unusual local delicacies will make your map more memorable.

09. Fill in any gaps

Small details such as buildings, road signs and trees help fill any remaining space and bring the whole map together. Double-check your colours and make sure everything is harmonising. Sometimes just the addition of a few small trees can alter the focus. Zoom out so you can see the whole map on screen and tweak the composition and colours until you have a well-balanced final composition. 

Below you can see my final design for the Visit Seattle tourist board magazine. 

For more of my work, visit my website , where you can also see my tutorial on how to make a 3D map .

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See Street Art Around the World via Google

Thousands of new images help preserve the art form

Street art, by its nature, is temporary. Always at risk of being painted over, knocked down or destroyed, street art is a product of its time and place, forever fleeting and ephemeral. That is until now.

The mission of The Google Art Project’s Street Art Collection is to preserve and democratize this art form through digitization and new technologies. While the collection launched in June 2014, Google has since partnered with 55 more street art organizations and collectives in 34 countries for today’s debut of thousands of additional images, doubling the total and bringing the collection to over 10,000 photographs. The new images expand the opportunities to observe and interact with street art around the world. Using the map on the site, you can navigate from Los Angeles to Dubai with relative ease, jumping from the politically-motivated work of French-Tunisian street artist eL Seed in Palestine to the brightly colored murals of Remed and Okuda in Miami.

The Street Art Collection is part of the larger Google Cultural Institute , which was launched in 2011 to bring the “world’s cultural treasures” online in order to make museum artifacts, documents and artwork accessible to a global audience.

The images help preserve an art form that is often temporary. Take one recent American example: In November 2013, the iconic mural space 5Pointz in Queens was whitewashed overnight. Though not unexpected—new development plans had been in place for months—the change was abrupt. Many were angry and others disappointed they had never made the pilgrimage to see these works of art. Today, the murals of 5Pointz are beautifully preserved in the collection (they were part of the 2014 debut), as are new images from the rapidly changing street art scene in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Below are images from seven of the most street-art-rich places on the planet, all available in high-res in Google’s Street Art Collection :

Sahara Desert, Tunisia

Over the last year, Tunisia has become a hub of street art , with artists from across the world descending upon the small North African nation. Villages have become open-air galleries, bringing in tourists and much-needed dollars. Known as “the gateway to the Sahara,” the southern town of Douz has become an especially vibrant location. 

Cavite, Philippines

The Filipino Street Art Project is a documentary effort and community organization in the fast-growing province of Cavite and the capital region of Metro Manila, documenting the evolution of street art in that region . The Philippines and Malaysia are havens for funky wall murals, with Beach Street in the George Town section of Penang, Malaysia particularly famous for them.

Bogotá, Columbia

In a city that classifies graffiti as a “violation” instead of a crime, street art has become a way for civil disobedience to be expressed. In fact, a 2011 police shooting of a Bogotá artist caused such an outcry that the city government further relaxed the laws around street art, and offered city walls as a canvas for artists to express their dissatisfaction, anger and rage at the state of affairs in their city. 

Lisbon, Portugal

The Corno Project was established in 2010 to commission artists to transform neglected buildings in Portugal’s capital into urban masterpieces . The Galeria de Arte Urbana (Urban Art Gallery) was set up around the same time to provide another place for Lisbon’s finest to turn a crumbling structure into a lively space. 

Los Angeles, California

In the early 1980s, the Los Angeles Arts District was often considered the “mural capital of the world,” and said to have murals per capita than anywhere else. While the city would eventually lose this distinction after its city council banned large outdoor artworks more than a decade ago , it’s in the process of trying to get it back. Murals are being commissioned and painted across the district—located in an industrial section of downtown L.A.—nearly every day. Displaying famed L.A. flair, the artwork here is unlike anywhere else in the world. 

Lodz, Poland

The Urban Forms Gallery project was started in 2009 with the support of the city and the mayor of Lodz. Attracting local and internationally-renowned artists, the third-largest city in Poland has been transformed into one that discusses its political, ethical and moral questions through public art . 

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Matt Blitz | | READ MORE

Matt Blitz is a history and travel writer. His work has been featured on CNN, Atlas Obscura, Curbed, Nickelodeon, and Today I Found Out. He also runs the Obscura Society DC and is a big fan of diners.

Indoor Google Maps help you make your way through museums

Jul 10, 2012

[[read-time]] min read

In the past, navigating through museums could be an art form in and of itself. But Google Maps for Android has got wayfinding inside your favorite museums down to a science. With indoor maps and walking directions for U.S. museums now available on your Android phone or tablet, you can plan your route from exhibit to exhibit, identifying points of interest along the way, including between floors.

Today, we’ve added more than  twenty popular U.S. museums  to our collection of over 10,000 indoor maps that we launched in  November : the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cincinnati Museum Center, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History and 17  Smithsonian museums —plus  a zoo !

"My location" in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City

To access the floor plans, simply open Google Maps on your Android phone or tablet and zoom in on the museum of interest. To find the museum, either search for it by name using the magnifying glass icon or, if you’re already there, use the “ My location ” feature to orient yourself. With the “My location” feature enabled you can even get  indoor walking directions .

More museums are adding their floor plans to Google Maps for Android soon, including the SFMOMA, The Phillips Collection, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. If you’re interested in getting your museum’s floor plan included in Google Maps, visit the Google Maps Floor Plans tool .

Along with the Google Art Project , indoor mapping is one more way we’re working with museums to bring greater access to revered cultural and educational institutions around the world. Tap into the latest version of Google Maps for Android in Google Play , and enjoy exploring the art and science of the great indoors.

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Google Upgrades Maps With Photo-First Searches of Things to Do

Selene Brophy , Skift

October 27th, 2023 at 11:12 AM EDT

Google's push to visually immersive search on its maps app may boost the discoverability of hidden-gem tours, activities, and museums.

Selene Brophy

Google on late Thursday outlined its highly anticipated updates to Google Maps , which it began rolling out to users in a select list of cities — mainly in North America and Europe to start.

For businesses in the travel experiences sector, the key new feature is photo-first searches of tours and activities. Rather than lists of links, a user can see photo-based representations of travel experiences and tap on photos to learn more and navigate to, say, the departure point of a boat tour.

“So if you’re in Tokyo, you could search for things to do’ to see thematic place suggestions like ‘anime,’ ‘cherry blossoms,’ or ‘art exhibitions,'” said Chris Phillips, a vice president who leads Google’s worldwide portfolio of geospatial and mapping products, technology and business.

The challenge for tour-and-activities operators and for museums is to make sure they have good visual representations of their travel experiences for Google Maps to display. This challenge can be especially hard for some emerging destinations, where small mom-and-pop proprietors lack savvy about the images that Google Maps is aggregating.

Google Maps Does More in Travel

Google’s move comes just a few months after it introduced a carousel in its search results to more clearly highlight tours and activities in destinations, as Skift reported .

Skift earlier this year delved into Google Maps’ potential to position itself as a superapp with the broad uptake of conversational artificial intelligence.

The immersive Maps updates, centered on visually rich content curated through AI, further enhance Google’s offering for tour operators and experience listings, following a new tours and activities carousel view released earlier in July.

Google Wants Maps to Help With Travel Inspiration

The search giant’s broad theme is to emphasize visually rich content for travel businesses and tour operators looking to make the most of organic discoverability through Google’s new tools.

The company also wants to make Maps more of a planning tool rather than an in-the-moment tool. The photo-based experiences underscore Google’s desire to “move up the funnel” of the consumer journey away from the transactions and more into inspiration will have ripple effects for travel marketers.

What else is new?

Google announced on Thursday other tools that aim to turn Google Maps into more than just a route planner.

• “Immersive views” (think: getting a visual preview of a walking tour’s route — complete with a “time-slider tool” to plan the outing based on simulated traffic and weather conditions).
• “Lens in maps” (think: a user discovering information about nearby activities, museums, and walking or boating tours by tapping an icon and raising their phone).

How Tour Operators are Navigating Direct Bookings: 3 Growing Trends

The lack of digital connectivity in the tours and activities sector concerns more than racing to get more tour operators online. It is about adding the right digital approach for that particular tour operator’s business.

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Tags: apps , artificial intelligence , experiences , google , google maps , online booking , search , tours and activities

Photo credit: Google searches for Things To Do are now also enhanced with photo-first results. Unsplash, Yu Kato

Electrostal History and Art Museum

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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The Snob's Guide to Travel Google Docs

Virtual treasure maps. Elite e-tineraries. Password-protected pushpins. How the modern nomad aristocracy wanders the globe.

A year ago, while sitting in a café in Milan, I asked a recent American transplant to the city for spots off the beaten path that I wouldn’t have patronized during my fashion week tours of duty. What she did next surprised me. Pulling out her iPhone, she chirped, “I’ll share my Google Map with you!”

Now, I had been a casual user of “My Maps,” the feature Google rolled out in 2007 for the sole purpose of making navigation easier, and I had even exchanged such atlases with friends, but this one was curated by someone with exceptionally good taste who was plugged into a matrix of travelers with supremely covetable tips. As it turned out, I got a digital pushpin chart not just to Milano but to every single place I could ever want or need to visit— in the entire world . Hotels on small islands I’d never heard of. Vintage shops on secret side streets. Restaurants better than the usual foodie favorites. The kind of if-you-know-you-know places shared only with confidants, lest they be spoiled.

With one act of generosity, I was suddenly inside a whisper network that made Tripadvisor look basic and my own itineraries seem like amateur hour. Its members are not exclusively famous or wealthy; they’re a roving aristocracy of travel foragers, such as the digital strategist JiaJia Fei, who has been hitting the international art fair circuit for the last decade and has the Google Maps and Docs to show for it. While working at the Guggenheim Museum, she even helped create a publicly accessible map of installations around the world by James Turrell, who envisioned a sort of passport system where you’d get a stamp at each of his sites.

“I still refer back to this list when I travel to see if I can check one more off my list,” Fei says.

Virtual treasure maps may be tech’s latest innovation for streamlining movement, but they’re not entirely new. Long before Google’s office suite (around 300 BC, actually), advice on visiting foreign cities was handed out by friends, agents, experts, and, every so often, an indiscreet concierge full of local insights. Before the internet, intrepid globetrotters consulted their paperback Lonely Planets and Zagats, the latter of which began as a survey among friends in New York for insidery knowledge.

Back when Beverly Nguyen worked for celebrity stylist Kate Young, design houses sent around high-level cheat sheets for fashion week visitors. “Valentino would send out a guide that said, ‘Here are the best things to do. Make reservations here. Go to this museum,’ ” says Nguyen, who is now a sought-after stylist herself and the owner of a homewares shop. Social media turned everyone into an expert, and soon savvy young travelers were curating their own versions on Google Maps.

On it, users can flag places they want to go, star them, mark them as their favorites, or add them to a separate list called Travel Plans. They can then color-code each spot according to which category it falls into, leave notes for themselves, combine recommendations with those from others, and email the whole thing to friends, who can then email it to their friends. (Not so fast, though: Privacy settings can be turned on to prevent easy dissemination.) For many, collecting travel recommendations has become something like a game—gotta catch ’em all!—and the especially type-A will even create extensive Google guides to their own cities to keep up with the latest openings.

But apps are for beginners. Among nomadic connoisseurs, the most prized guides do not bear the signatures of celebrities or even reflect the sensibilities of boldfaced bohemians. These hot docs are passed around like contraband, because they’ve been around for years, edited, revised, and updated like epic poems that are never finished. Fei’s public maps for Miami, London, and Mexico City have thousands of views. Nguyen, who is proud of her guides to Paris, Naples, and Hong Kong, says celebrity stylist Thomas Christos Kikis, who counts Gabrielle Union and Sofia Vergara as clients, has a New Orleans tip sheet that’s hard to beat. And food writer Katie Parla’s Rome guide directs diners to non-pasta spots, say, Filipino or Bangladeshi meals.

“I rarely recommend that people go to the obvious things,” says Nguyen, who uses Google Sheets. “I’ll never say, ‘Go to the Ritz.’ ” Instead she’ll give you names of all the best Vietnamese restaurants in Paris, the phone number of a Loewe shopkeeper in Madrid who will take you out clubbing, and the coordinates of a no-name dive bar in Puglia. Twenty-two years ago Nils Bernstein, a food, wine, and travel journalist, received a Microsoft Word document of Mexico City recommendations from a local friend of his, and he slowly added to it himself. The list is now a 30-page Leviathan in 10-point type and perhaps the OG source of all the Mexico City guides out there. Bernstein is devoted to Word, but at some point someone uploaded the guide to Google Docs to make it more easily shared, and it has since been copy-and-pasted, whittled down, added to , and emailed ad infinitum.

“One time I was there with a group of friends who were visiting,” Bernstein says, “and one of them said, ‘Well, you know, that’s all good and fine, but I have a really, really, really good, trustworthy list.’ It was a close friend, but somehow he got it in such a roundabout way that he didn’t know it was from me.” He doesn’t worry about it ever getting in the wrong hands, or that he may have created a monster. “Most of my anxiety around it revolves around people having really old versions of it,” he says, adding that he tries to add updates regularly, but it can be hard to keep up. “Like, ‘Wow, this guy’s really lame. He doesn’t have all these hot new places.’”

Others are more protective of their recommendations, something I learned the hard way. That expat with the invaluable Milan map? The share settings changed the minute I touched down in New York.

Leta Sobierajski, an artist who works with the likes of Gucci and Comme des Garçons and travels frequently, particularly to Japan, will share her carefully curated itineraries only with IRL close friends (as opposed to her 100,000 Instagram followers ). “I used to have a map. I think I shared it with, like, two friends, and five or six years later I’m still getting weird requests from random people to access it,” Sobierajski says. “They don’t even email me. It’s just, ‘So-and-so-at-gmail.com is asking for permission,’ and that really bothered me. That disassociation—people don’t even really care what the curator’s interest is.”

To preserve the integrity of the practice, Aminatou Sow , an interviewer and New York Times best-selling author who was born in Guinea and grew up in Nigeria and Belgium, believes that recommendations should be earned. “I give up my very good ones only to people who I know will appreciate them and who have also given me very good recommendations,” she says. “It’s like all things in life: You can’t be a guest all the time; you also have to be a host.”

Today she keeps her thoughtful curation close to her chest, leaving personal notes for herself and intimates. “I make Google Maps for friends the way you would a mixtape, and I get a lot of pleasure out of that,” she says. “But what’s really magical is being bestowed a Google Map, and not having to ask for it.” That’s when you know you’ve really made it.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Google will now let you use AI to build travel itineraries for your vacations

As we inch toward the summer holidays, Google is announcing a slate of travel updates that place it squarely in the travel planning process and give it a lot more insight into purchasing intent in the travel sector.

First up, Google is rolling out an update to its  Search Generative Experience (SGE) that will allow users to build travel itineraries and trip ideas using AI, the company announced on Wednesday.

The new capability — currently only available in English in the U.S. to users enrolled in Search Labs , its program that lets users experiment with early-stage Google Search experiences and share feedback — draws on ideas from sites across the web, along with reviews, photos and other details that people have submitted to Google for places around the world.

When users ask for something like “plan me a three day trip to Philadelphia that’s all about history,” they will get a sample itinerary that includes attractions and restaurants, as well as an overview of options for flights and hotels, divided up by times of day.

For now, the itineraries are just that: There are no options to buy services or experiences on the spot. When you’re happy with your itinerary, you can export it to Gmail, Docs or Maps.

Google has not commented on when or if it might roll this out more widely. But it points to how the company is experimenting with how and where it can apply its AI engine. A lot of players in the travel industry may be eyeing up the role that generative AI will play in travel services in the coming years — some excitedly, some warily. But even now, startups like Mindtrip and Layla , which provide users with access to AI assistants that are designed to help you plan your trips, are already actively pursuing this.

But with this new update, Google is taking on startups like these while also gathering data about travel purchasing intent (useful for its wider ad business) and learning what kind of appetite its users might have for such services.

Image Credits: Google

Google also announced that it’s making it easier to discover lists of recommendations in Google Maps in select cities in the U.S. and Canada. If you search for a city in Maps, you will now see lists of recommendations for places to go from publishers like The Infatuation, as well as from other users. You will also see curated lists of top, trending, and hidden gem restaurants in 40+ U.S. cities.

Finally, the company is adding new tools to help you customize lists you create, so you can better organize your travel plans or share your favorite spots with your friends and family. You can choose the order the places appear in a list so you can organize them by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary. Plus, you can link to content from your social channels.

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Vancouver Travel Guide 2024

Updated : March 21, 2024

AAA Travel Editors

Table of contents, getting into vancouver, getting around vancouver, best time to visit vancouver, top things to do in vancouver, best hotels in vancouver, best restaurants in vancouver, vancouver safety tips.

• Planning Your Trip to Vancouver

Vancouver, BC is a bustling, modern city set between the vast Pacific Ocean and the towering North Shore Mountains. This unique setting makes Vancouver an exceptional destination for all types of travelers, from seasoned backpackers and adventurers to families wanting to explore an artful city with occasional outdoor outings. In short: Vancouver offers the best of Canada in one easy-to-navigate city.

Vancouver is constantly growing and you can enjoy restaurants that borrow from culinary traditions around the world along with a great combination of historical neighborhoods and modern skyscrapers. Visit local museums and outdoor parks to experience the city’s unique culture, or spend a night on the town with wine tastings, pub crawls along cobblestone streets and local theater events. Of course, no trip to Vancouver is complete without enjoying its breathtaking nature and there are activities available for both serious hikers and those just looking for a quick view.

Whether you wish to set sail and whale watch near glaciers or enjoy the mountainous and modern skyline from a rooftop bar, this guide to visiting Vancouver will help you explore the best things to do on your next Canadian adventure.

Pacific Standard Time

The Canadian Dollar

Vancouver International Airport

The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is only 10 miles away from downtown and there are a number of ways to cheaply and comfortably reach your destination from all the terminals:

• The SkyTrain takes less than 30 minutes to reach downtown and it’s one of the most affordable options available for travelers (Roughly $5 per ticket.)

• Taxis average at around $40 and while generally very quick, may take longer than the SkyRail if traffic is heavy.

• Shuttles are available as well and may be free depending on your airline and hotel destination.

• Rental cars via Hertz and other brands are also available at YVR, making traveling convenient for any budget.

Vancouver is a major hub for cruises of all sizes that arrive from Washington, Alaska, plus other North American and international ports. While American travelers will not need a visa to enter Canada, note that some international visitors may be required to apply for a visa in advance, regardless of whether they enter by air, sea, or land.

If you’re in Vancouver and want to explore the incredible waters and nearby coastal regions, there are also many day-trips or even hour-long cruises available that are perfect for viewing the glaciers, whale watching, or traveling further towards Alaska for a great outdoor adventure.

For visitors coming into Vancouver from the United States, there are 13 land border crossings along Washington State which provide the easiest access when driving into the city.

The most common border crossings include:

• Peace Arch

• Blaine Surrey

• Lynden Aldengrove

• Sumas Huntingdon

Vancouver has multiple districts and vast parks to explore on foot, although getting from one end of the city to the other will require other forms of transportation. Plus, with many nearby national parks and outdoor wonders to explore, it's worth thinking about your transportation ahead of time so you never miss a bit. This quick Vancouver travel guide on transportation will help you plan your trip so you can easily explore everything you want on your next vacation.

Public Transit

Vancouver’s buses are a great transportation option, providing fast, clean and comfortable service throughout the city. The buses run from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. and they can quickly get through downtown towards main attractions like Stanley Park, among other essential parks and destinations. While many routes are direct, you may occasionally have to change lines when connecting from within the city towards the marina.

The SkyTrain is another option similar to the bus, although it provides a faster service with fewer stops. However, it can be a great way to quickly cross greater distances without a car.

Biking and Walking

Vancouver is a fantastic city to walk in and you can walk endlessly in the downtown area and along the bay for great views and exciting entertainment opportunities at any hour.

If you wish to travel a greater distance, you can also rent a bicycle and enjoy Vancouver’s extensive bike baths and green lines along the road for safe and efficient cycling. Be cautious of the weather, however, as cold weather or rain may make cycling difficult in certain seasons.

Vancouver has a number of ride-share options, including popular international brands like Uber and Lyft, along with more local apps, making it a great option for quick and convenient transportation throughout the city.

However, for longer-distance drives, such as to nearby national parks, it may be worth renting a car as ridesharing may be expensive or unavailable further into the wilderness.

Rental Car via Hertz

• Address: 3880 Grant McConachie Way, Vancouver, BC V7B 1Y7

Save time and money on your Vancouver vacation by renting a car from Hertz at the Vancouver International Airport. Choose from a wide range of models to fit your style and budget and enjoy quick and easy access to your hotel and all the city’s greatest attractions.

You can also utilize AAA and Hertz at other car rental locations throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Vancouver is beautiful in any season, but each season may provide something unique and exciting to help enhance your vacation.

September and October are often less crowded than the warm summer months, yet the weather is still sunny and ideal for walking and long days of sightseeing. While summer is certainly warmer, it will be much more crowded as it’s considered peak tourism season.

Starting in November, Vancouver experiences a lot of rain which usually lasts until March. During this time, there may also be occasional snowfall within the city, which can cause traffic congestion and mild travel issues. The surrounding mountainous regions will likely have a lot of snow during winter as well, making travel to the nearby parks more difficult.

From March to May, you can enjoy a milder climate with fewer crowds, which makes it a great time for cruises and general travel and potentially less expensive hotel stays as well.

From mid-May to August, you’ll experience the warmest months but also the most crowds and highest hotel prices.

From exceptional outdoor excursions to historical and modern metropolitan entertainment, here are some great things to do in Vancouver on your next vacation.

Whale Watching Boat Tour

Enjoy a three-hour whale watching tour to see Orcas, Humpback Whales and other exciting marine life in this scenic tour. While three hours is the most common tour duration, there are shorter and longer cruises available depending on your preferences.

Enjoy a Night in Downtown Vancouver

Along Granville Street in downtown Vancouver, you can walk among endless pubs, nightclubs and exciting new restaurants covered with bright neon lights. Plus, there are many historical side streets to get lost in and explore at any hour.

Families can also enjoy a night walk and watch as the city transforms into a colorful and bustling destination. However, couples and adult groups will likely want to stay out until later to enjoy the energetic buzz of nighttime Vancouver.

Granville Island Public Market

• Address: 1689 Johnston St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9

The Granville Island Public Market is right along the water and it’s a large complex that features over 50 unique restaurants and shopfronts to explore. From handmade pastries to delectable meals served to-go, along with everything from coffee to local wines and spirits, you can experience the best of Vancouver’s cuisine in one scenic and unforgettable location. There are many tables available as well, both indoors and outside along the marina.

This place is great for couples and families with kids of all ages. After your meal, make sure to walk around the harbor for incredible views of the city and bay.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

• Address: 5251 Oak St., Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1

The VanDusen Botanical Garden is great for families and couples and it features multiple colorful sub-gardens that you can walk around in for hours. Each garden is carefully cultivated and you can view gorgeous rose gardens, rows of cherry trees, magnolias and many other bright seasonal offerings.

Stanley Park

• Address: 7500 Stanley Park Dr., Vancouver BC V65 1Z4

Stanley Park is a vast, 400-hectare rainforest that features incredible trails, lakes and views of both the pristine bay and modern Vancouver. You could easily spend an entire day here hiking, riding your bike, or lounging among the gorgeous native fauna. You could also pass through relatively quickly by sticking to the main trails near the waterfront, making this a great place for those wanting a scenic view along with those looking to break a sweat.

There are also guided tours available if you wish to learn more about the region or get taken to a specific point of interest.

Vancouver Art Gallery

• Address: 750 Hornby St., Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7

The Vancouver Art Gallery is one of Canada’s largest collections of historical art and this outstanding museum features paintings from the 20th century along with modern art and rotating exhibitions.

This is a great place for those interested in history, art and local culture and it's suitable for all ages.

From luxurious to budget-friendly, Vancouver has a wide range of hotels available for your next vacation. Let’s look at some different options to help you get started.

The Westin Bayshore Vancouver

• Address: 1601 Bayshore Dr, Vancouver, BC V65 2V4
• Rates: From $235
• Amenities: Free onsite parking and valet, two restaurants, full bar, sauna, onsite peninsula marina, eco certification, indoor and outdoor heated pools, pet friendly in certain rooms

The Westin Bayshore Vancouver is a AAA Four Diamond designated luxurious and modern hotel right on Vancouver’s idyllic peninsula. With stunning views in every room, either of the bay or the surrounding skyline and mountains, you’ll feel pampered with the finest amenities and stylish comfort.

Great for couples, groups and solo travelers who desire luxury during their vacation.

Hilton Vancouver Downtown

• Address: 433 Robson St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 6L9
• Rates: From $274
• Amenities: Paid onsite parking and valet, restaurant, full bar, sauna, heated outdoor pool, pet friendly in certain rooms, valet laundry, eco certification

With an amazing downtown location, the AAA Three Diamond designated Hilton Vancouver Downtown allows you to enjoy the best of the city while living in modern luxury.

The airy rooms and decor make each room a pleasure to relax in and the views of the surrounding city are breathtaking at any hour.

Great for couples, those who wish to explore the city on a whim and families with children of all ages.

Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown

• Address: 1234 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1W2
• Rates: $157
• Amenities: On-site for a fee, heated indoor pool, valet and coin laundry, close to downtown, eco certification

The Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown is a AAA Three Diamond designated great option for families and couples who desire modern comfort without a premium price tag. Even with a lower price than other downtown hotels, the Residence Inn still provides spacious, comfortable and welcoming rooms that make you feel right at home.

Plus, the location makes exploring downtown on foot very simple and you’re a close drive to many of the city’s best attractions.

Great for couples, families with children and those looking for a comfortable, modern hotel at a reasonable price.

Vancouver has great dining options for all budgets and tastes and to help make your trip unforgettable, here are some must-visit places suitable for any occasion.

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

• Address: 1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4
• Type: Seafood
• Price: $$$$

Situated in a cozy, historical warehouse, the Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar holds a AAA Four Diamond designation and is one of Vancouver's highest-rated restaurants for fresh caught seafood, oysters and premium steaks.

Whether you want a classic salmon steak or beef ribeye, or a more interesting and unique presentation of delectable oysters and raw shellfish, you’re guaranteed to have an exceptional meal. Plus, they have a fantastic wine and cocktail menu to make your night complete.

Reservations are highly recommended.

• Address: 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0B9
• Type: Canadian, Pacific Northwest

Botanist is a trendy and beautifully decorated restaurant with a AAA Four Diamond designation that serves premium and artful meals in a relaxing setting. Try the local halibut, or an expertly prepared lamb rack, along with a delectable wine selection. The expert chefs are also visible at all times, making it an immersive and unforgettable experience.

Café Medina

• Address: 780 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A4
• Type: Canadian, Breakfast

Café Medina is one of Vancouver’s best spots for all-day breakfast. Enjoy Belgian waffles, home-style potatoes, plus a wide variety of omelets, side meats and fresh pastries. Along with great coffee and a cozy setting, this is a great spot for families and couples looking to start the day off right.

Rogue Kitchen and Wetbar

• Address: 602 Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1G1
• Type: Canadian, Pub Food

Rogue Kitchen and Wetbar is a casual yet cozy brewery that offers over 30 beers on tap along with fantastic cocktails and spirits. Plus, they serve up great burgers, pastas and salads among other pub-style offerings.

This is a great place to enjoy a casual dinner and drinks before hitting the town.

Reservations are recommended on weekends and holidays.

Vancouver is overall a very safe city for travelers of all ages, although it’s important to take proper precautions when hiking or venturing into nearby parks and trails.

For personal safety within the city, you should exercise standard precautions as you would in any other major city. While the overall crime rate is very low, make sure not to leave valuables visible in your car when away and take general safety precautions when walking in unfamiliar areas at night. Be aware of your surroundings and stay in well-lit areas of the city later in the evening.

Weather and Outdoor Safety

Vancouver can get quite cold in the autumn and winter and it’s important to have proper clothing while staying in the city. This includes:

• A winter jacket

• Non-slip winter boots

• Beanie or warm hat

All of these standard winter items can keep you warm and healthy during your stay.

When hiking, you may wish to bring the following items since the weather can change quickly on mountainous trails:

• Thermal pants

• Water-resistant clothing or ponchos

• Extra water and food

If hiking further outside the city limits, such as in the surrounding mountains and wilderness, please take proper precautions since these areas are often untamed and serious situations may arise.

Some safety tips in the wilderness to consider include:

• The presence of black bears and grizzly bears in certain regions. Do not engage with wildlife and talk to local rangers about whether there has been any recent bear activity. Some parks may also allow the use of bear mace if necessary.

• Tell people you know and the local rangers where you’re hiking and stay on the trail at all times.

• Expect there to be limited or no cell reception when hiking in the wilderness.

• Bring extra water and food.

• Bring a paper map to help you stay on the trail.

• If traveling far, bring a signaling device, such as a whistle, to make yourself known if lost.

Planning Your Trip to Vancouver 

When thinking of the best time to visit Vancouver it’s important to know that AAA members can access perks and take advances for vacation planning such as getting the best discounts on hotels , rental cars and entertainment tickets. 

AAA Travel Editors are AAA Travel Experts.

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Solar eclipse maps show 2024 totality path, peak times across the U.S.

A total solar eclipse  crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. Maps show  where and when astronomy fans could see the big event  as skies darkened in the middle of the day Monday, April 8.

The total eclipse first appeared along Mexico's Pacific Coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, then traveled across a swath of the U.S., from Texas to Maine, and into Canada.

About 31.6 million people live in the path of totality , the area where the moon fully blocked out the sun , according to NASA. The path ranged between 108 and 122 miles wide. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality.

Solar eclipse path of totality map for 2024

The total solar eclipse started over the Pacific Ocean, and the first location in continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's Pacific Coast, around 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. From there, the path continued into Texas, crossing more than a dozen states before the eclipse enters Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse exited continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.

The path of totality included portions of the following states:

Texas OklahomaArkansasMissouri Illinois KentuckyIndianaOhio Pennsylvania New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan also experienced the total solar eclipse.

Several major cities across the U.S. were included in the eclipse's path of totality, while many others saw a partial eclipse. These were some of the best major cities for eclipse viewing — though the weather was a factor :

San Antonio, Texas (partially under the path)Austin, TexasWaco, TexasDallas, TexasLittle Rock, ArkansasIndianapolis, IndianaDayton, OhioCleveland, OhioBuffalo, New YorkRochester, New YorkSyracuse, New YorkBurlington, VermontMap of when the solar eclipse reached totality across its path

The eclipse began in the U.S. as a partial eclipse beginning at 12:06 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass, Texas, before progressing to totality by about 1:27 p.m. CDT and then moving along its path to the northeast over the following few hours.

NASA shared times for several cities in the path of totality across the U.S. People could have also  checked their ZIP code on NASA's map  to see when the eclipse was to reach them if they were on, or near, the path of totality — or if they saw a partial eclipse instead.

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2024 solar eclipse map: Where to see the eclipse on April 8

These 2024 solar eclipse maps will help you make the best decision about where and how to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday (April 8).

It's finally here: Today, (April 8) a total solar eclipse will pass across the skies North America, giving more than 33 million people living in 15 U.S. states a rare view of the totally-obstructed sun, and — weather permitting — a taste of some seriously strange eclipse phenomena .

If you’re wondering where the total and partial phases of the eclipse will be visible, the good news is that almost everyone in the contiguous U.S. will be able to see the celestial spectacle to some extent. But for a more detailed view of the eclipse’s path, take a look at these handy eclipse maps, courtesy of GreatAmericanEclipse.com. 

Solar eclipse 2024 path of totality map

Totality is the moment that every eclipse-chaser lives for: The moment when the moon completely covers the sun’s face, resulting in a brief but eerie darkness in the daytime. The path of totality , shown in the map above, is the path of the moon’s shadow across Earth’s surface. 

On Monday (April 8), totality will begin in Sinaloa, Mexico, then move northeast up to Texas, ultimately crossing 15 states before moving on to Canada. The states where totality will be visible are: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine — although Tennessee and Michigan will only be glanced by the moon's shadow.

Related: April 8 solar eclipse: What time does totality start in every state?

Viewers MUST be within the path of totality to witness the total phase of the eclipse; if you are off the path by even a mile, you will only see a partial eclipse, and miss out on the spooky daytime darkness. Furthermore, the closer you are to the center of the path of totality, the longer totality will last for you — up to a maximum duration of 4 minutes, 27 seconds in Torreón, Mexico.

Note: Totality is the ONLY TIME when it is safe to view the sun without protective eyewear like certified solar eclipse glasses . You must protect your eyes during the entire partial phase of the eclipse, no matter where you are.

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Solar eclipse 2024 partial eclipse map

If you live in the U.S. and can’t make it to the path of totality, a partial eclipse still awaits you on April 8. The entire contiguous U.S. will have some view of the partial eclipse, ranging from 99% coverage of the sun just off the path of totality to about 15% coverage far to the northwest of the path.

The map above shows how much of the sun’s disk will be blocked from your location. Watching the partial phases of the eclipse — which last about an hour and 20 minutes before and after totality — means wearing protective eyewear at all times. Failure to do so could result in permanent eye damage, according to NASA .

If you want to experience the celestial spectacle but don’t have a pair of eclipse glasses handy, there are many other ways to safely enjoy the partial eclipse . These include making a homemade pinhole projector , using a pasta strainer to project the shadow of the moon onto the ground or watching one of the various eclipse live streams available.

2024 eclipse travel maps

If you want to see totality but don’t live within the path, driving or taking public transit to a city within the path may be possible. The map above shows how far the drive is to the path of totality, based on where you’re coming from. Meanwhile, the map below shows the most populated cities within the path of totality — many of which are expected to be flooded with millions of eclipse tourists on April 8.

The biggest cities within the path of totality include: San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth in Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Hamilton and Montreal in Canada; and Torreón and Mazatlan in Mexico.

Wherever you are on April 8, we wish you clear skies and protected eyes during this rare, wondrous eclipse over North America.

Brandon is the space/physics editor at Live Science. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. He enjoys writing most about space, geoscience and the mysteries of the universe.

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Map: 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New Jersey

By William B. Davis ,  Madison Dong ,  Judson Jones ,  John Keefe ,  Bea Malsky and Lazaro Gamio

Shake intensity

A light, 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck in New Jersey on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was felt across the New York City metropolitan area, and from Philadelphia to Boston.

The temblor happened at 10:23 a.m. Eastern about 4 miles north of Whitehouse Station, N.J., data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake's reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Aftershocks in the region

At 5:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, a light aftershock with a magnitude of 3.8 struck near Gladstone, New Jersey, according to U.S.G.S. (The agency initially gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 4.0.)

An aftershock is usually a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same general area. Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.

Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles

Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake. These events can be of equal or larger magnitude to the initial earthquake, and they can continue to affect already damaged locations.

How this quake compares

The U.S.G.S. has logged 188 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or greater within a 250-mile radius of New York City since 1957. In that timeframe, only seven have had a magnitude at or above 4.5. Today’s quake had the third-highest magnitude in the available data.

Today’s earthquake

Magnitude 4.8

250-mile radius

from New York City

Source: U. S.G.S.

By Lazaro Gamio

Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Eastern. Shake data is as of Friday, April 5 at 10:44 a.m. Eastern. Aftershocks data is as of Wednesday, April 10 at 2:53 a.m. Eastern.

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