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Sitting at the southernmost tip of Africa, nestled between the great Indian and Atlantic Oceans … to many, South Africa feels a world away for both Africans and international travellers. From today, you don’t need to let hours of plane travel or miles of ocean stand in the way of the “Mzansi experience:” a virtual trip to South Africa awaits you in Google Maps.

South Africa is known for its unique array of wildlife. Visiting Kruger National Park in Google Maps, you can see some of its majestic creatures as if you were there in real life. Catch a glimpse of a rhinoceros grazing the plains, an elephant enjoying a grassy snack, and a herd of buffalo charging against the wind. You may even spot a leopard, who often remain elusive to tourists and locals alike.

Climbing atop Table Mountain, even on a cloudy day, gives you a breathtaking view of where civilization and nature collide in Cape Town. Feeling like you’re on top of the world has never been so easy as it is at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.

For the beach bums out there, South Africa is a must. With Street View, you can watch the waves break at Sandy Bay, gaze at the clear blue sky and water at Clifton Beach, go parasailing at Sunset Beach or just take a long walk along Durban’s Golden Mile.

This South African Street View tour is just a taste of these vast plains. We hope that visiting South Africa with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the country, its wildlife and show the beauty of the African continent. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or in person, we invite you to enjoy the views and landscapes of the Rainbow Nation.

Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Special Collections Program Manager

Every March, dozens of competitors and hundreds of dogs gather in Anchorage, Alaska for the start of a dog sled race that travels more than 1,000 miles to the west coast city of Nome. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race requires the sled drivers or “mushers” to safely guide their dogs across the wilderness of Alaska through steep mountainous terrain, extremes of weather, and days of sleep deprivation. A British reporter covering the 1978 Iditarod tagged it “The Last Great Race on Earth.”

The Iditarod Trail is a National Historic trail that evolved as busy winter highway as people flocked to Alaska during the gold rush of the 1890s and 1900s. During the months that ocean access to western communities was frozen, dog sleds delivered groceries, mail, and even the preacher. On their return trip, they hauled gold and furs all the way to Anchorage or Fairbanks. On some days more than a hundred sleds headed over the Alaska Range, traveling 50 or more miles a day. Like the stagecoaches of the Old West, the mushers would stop at roadhouses along the route to rest and feed the dogs, and themselves.

At the checkpoint the musher’s first responsibility is to make sure his sled team is fed and rested. Straw is used to provide insulation from the cold ground and special wraps help keep the dogs warm.

Despite the long history of mushing in Alaska, the development of snow machines in the 1960s removed its role as a major mode of transportation, and it became primarily a recreational activity. The Iditarod Race evolved as a way to save both sled dog culture and the heritage of the Iditarod Trail. Competitors and their dog sled teams travel from checkpoint to checkpoint, just like the freight sleds did in years past. And just like those times, it’s not always an easy ride—the terrain and variable weather conditions present real challenges for the mushers, which the Google Trekker camera discovered for itself during the 2015 Iditarod.

Due to unseasonably warm weather conditions over Anchorage and the Alaska Range, the route of the 2015 race was switched to begin in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the traditional “ceremonial start” (held in Anchorage), a special sled #80 driven by Dean Osmar, the 1984 Iditarod Champion, towed a second sled with a Googler wearing the trekker. The slushy conditions led to an 11-mile adventure complete with frozen puddles, cheering spectators, crashes, pink flamingos and a man-sized penguin. Sometimes our mission to map the whole world is harder than it looks!

Learning from this experience, we later successfully navigated the first 60-mile leg of the official 2015 route. Now you can follow our mushing adventures in Anchorage and Fairbanks, explore the rural Alaska communities of Galena, Unalakleet and Nome, and see the race checkpoints and finish line—all in Google Street View. This cold-weather adventure is literally at your fingertips directly from your mobile device when you download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS and Android. And if you’re in the area in person, you can also explore and navigate to other popular spots across Anchorage and Fairbanks. Hike!

Posted by John Bailey, Program Manager for Google Geo Education

Life is full of the unexpected—things that send us scrambling for a gas station in the middle of nowhere, looking up a florist on our way home from work or searching for a restaurant as we tour the back roads of our latest vacation destination. Finding and navigating to these last-minute pit stops used to force you out of navigation mode in Google Maps—and away from the traffic updates, turn-by-turn directions and map you rely on to stay on track.

That changed last October with an update to Google Maps for Android that lets you add detours to your route, without ever leaving navigation mode. And starting today, this feature will start rolling out on iOS as well, in any country where we offer navigation—more than 100 worldwide. So no matter where you’re from, where you are, or whether you use Android or iPhone, making a pit stop is now a breeze. Here’s how it works on the iPhone:

When you’re in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner of the screen to see a menu of helpful options for places you might need to stop at, like gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants. If the drop-down options aren’t what you need, you can tap the search icon or use voice commands to search by specific name or category to find what you’re looking for. Search results include ratings and the estimated amount of time the detour will add to your trip, so you can choose the one that’s best for you.

Whether you’re running an errand in your own backyard or roadtripping through a foreign land, Google Maps helps you get where you’re going, even if you have to make some stops along the way.

Posted by: Aditya Dhanrajani, Google Maps Product Manager

Whether you watch to laugh, cry or go on a journey through time, film lets you travel the world, if only for a few hours. And whether it’s in a movie or with a map, we’re fans of armchair travel. So to celebrate this Sunday’s 88th Academy Awards Show, we’re taking you on some of the most famous journeys from film, through the lens of Google Maps.

This tale of a remarkable man may remind you of your childhood sweetheart, inspire you to take a good, long run or eat a box of chocolates. That’s all we have to say about that.

What does it take to win 20 million rupees? Just ask this millionaire! Pro-tip: a mapping app with train schedules might come in handy.

Feeling like a washed up superhero? This Oscar winner proves Batman can still fly and is sure to please movie and theater critics alike.

Maybe through the journey of these characters you learned a little more about Google Maps, or maybe you were able to see their stories from a different perspective. Either way, grab a bowl of popcorn because SHHH . . . it’s starting!

Posted by Megan Stevenson, Google Maps Marketing Manager

Did you know that starting today you can go on a Street View tour of sports stadiums and arenas? #Winning.

Start by revving your engines, now for the first time, NASCAR fans can zip around the Homestead Miami Speedway. Looping around the track, you can imagine driving at high speed, burning rubber along the way. More interested in tossing around a pigskin? No sweat. Just step out on the field of Century Link Stadium in Seattle, home to the Seattle Seahawks.

Homestead Miami Speedway, Miami, Florida

If futbol (not football) is what you have in mind, Google Maps can take you out on the big green. Stop by Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park, where the Colorado Rapids play, or the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, where you can step out on the field like you’re on the Columbus Crew SC. Goallllll!

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado

Shoot some virtual hoops on the court of the Verizon Center in DC, where Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Georgetown Hoyas fans all root on their home teams. You can also hit the paint at the AT&T Center in Texas, where the San Antonio Spurs and the San Antonio Rampage take home court advantage.

Verizon Center, Washington DC

All these collections and more are also available on your mobile device, so download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS or Android to preview can’t miss spots and get simple directions, no matter which team you’re rooting for.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager

Looking for the perfect place to eat and drink today? Good news: Google Maps has got a menu for you. Starting today in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Japan, you can choose the “Explore around you” option in Google Maps for mobile on Android to get quick suggestions for places to eat and drink that suit your style. Already available in the U.S. and U.K, whether you’re a tourist looking for a top-rated dinner spot or a local trying to find a new neighborhood watering hole, Google Maps can help you make a delicious, timely discovery while you’re on the go.

Say you’re in Milan looking for a quick bite between meetings, or you want a great spot for dinner with kids in Berlin. Tap the “Explore around you” icon at the bottom of Google Maps for mobile for a quick look at what’s nearby. Options are organized by category, and once you pick the one that catches your eye (and stomach), you can easily swipe through photos and check out ratings and reviews from Google and previous diners. And for select spots, you may see information on why it’s particularly relevant to you: for example, Google Maps may recommend a place that’s popular with other diners who visited a place you’ve been to in the past.

Finally, if you’re in Tokyo or Paris, you’re in for a treat: an expanded list of categories for your taste buds are available. For Parisians, categories like Lieux mythiques; Brasseries classiques and Un verre avec une vue; En vue de la Tour Eiffel may surprise and delight. While in Tokyo, jazzy spots listed in the オールドスクール ジャズ レトロなジャズバーとクラブ might pique your interest. Pro tip for tourists: Google Translate may also come in handy when exploring these categories!

Whatever flavor you’re searching for, we hope Google Maps gets you there.

Posted by Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps

Many of you have been asking for Google Places API search results that more closely reflect those on maps.google.com. With that goal in mind, we’ve integrated the Places API with Google Maps search. We’re pleased to offer more consistent search results across Maps and the Places API, which results in better overall search quality for API responses.

In conjunction with this change, we are also modifying how we support place type restrictions in the Places API web service and JavaScript library. Beginning Feb 16, 2016, we are replacing the types restriction parameter with a new type search parameter. If you have been using the types parameter for Nearby Search, Text Search or Radar Search you will be affected.

Type search works similarly to types restriction, but it only supports one type per request.

Requests using the types parameter and those specifying multiple types (for example, types=hospital|pharmacy|doctor) will continue to return results until Feb 16, 2017, but we do not recommend using multiple types in a search request. After that date, requests with multiple types will no longer be supported. To ensure the best possible search results for your users, we recommend using a single type in search requests.

Using the new type search feature is straightforward. Here is an example of a Text Search request:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/textsearch/json
?type=airport
&location=-33.87,151.21
&radius=5000
&key=

In addition, we are amending the list of supported types. The types establishment, food, health, general_contractor, finance and place_of_worship, will not be available as searchable types from Feb 16, 2017. However these types will still be returned in search and details results.


Posted by Marcelo Camelo, on behalf of the Google Places API team

While you may know which team you’re cheering for this Sunday, chances are you’re undecided on another big question: where you’ll watch the football finale. Google Maps just scored you the perfect guide to the big game, so you can focus on getting your game face on.

Starting today on Google Maps for Android in select cities across the U.S., you can discover the spots near you where you can get a great seat for kickoff. Just open Google Maps, tap on “explore food & drinks in this area” and select “Best Spots for the Big Game – Where to eat, drink & watch.” You’ll see a curated list of bars and restaurants around you where you can go to watch the biggest game (and best commercials) of the season. The experience is available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver and Charlotte.

If you’re attending the festivities in person in the Bay Area, explore a My Map highlighting the locations of all the key events. Public transit is the recommended form of transportation, but if you must drive, use the Google Maps app to get around. We covered all the local road closures and transit schedule changes so you can get where you’re going without missing a play.

For those wanting to explore more of what the Bay Area has to offer, Google Maps Local Guide and foodie expert Kristin Rimbach has used My Maps to put together an insider’s guide for you to experience the best of the East Bay, the South Bay, and the city itself. East Bay highlights include some Latin love at Brazil Cafe and unmissable mac and cheese at Homeroom. If you’re going to stay within SF’s 49 square miles, she recommends stopping by Suppenkuche for hearty German fare and Smitten Ice Cream for a sweet treat.

To access these recommendations on the go, visit Kristin’s My Map and tap the star toward the top left of the map. That’ll save the My Map in Your Places in Google Maps so you can pull it up when you’re ready to explore.

Whether you’re sporting orange or blue this Sunday, we’ll help make your big game a touchdown, not a toss up.

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Water Girl

Declared the “monarch of mountains” by Lord Byron, the Mont Blanc massif is shrouded in mystery, rolling clouds and imposing snowfields. One of Europe’s highest peaks, the wild terrain of the famed mountain range is reserved for ardent mountaineers and intrepid explorers. Starting today in Google Maps, you can get an up-close, 360-degree look at the breathtaking beauty of Mont Blanc. Following last year’s first-ever vertical imagery collection of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers, and runners to collect Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.

By working with legendary adventurers, the Street View team was able to capture the spirit of the massif in a way few witness firsthand. Run on the summit with Kilian Jornet—he holds the speed record for ascending and descending Mont Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes! Ice climb up a serac with record-setting alpine climber Ueli Steck, or go knee deep in powder alongside 14-time ski mountaineering champion Laetitia Roux and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou.

You can also join French climbing legend Catherine Destivelle on the imposing yet beautiful Aiguille du Midi, the 3842-meter peak near the Mont Blanc. Or, crouch below innovative filmmaker and free skier Candide Thovex as he soars through the air or has fun as only he can—by taking his skis from the snow to the grass.

Renan Ozturk, acclaimed cinematographer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, alpine photographer Jonathan Griffith, and Sender Films joined Google on Mont Blanc as part of the team.

If reaching the top is what you care about, elite guide Korra Pesce joined the troupe by carrying the Street View Trekker up and down the Goûter Route of Mont Blanc. Click through the Street View to get his first-person perspective of each step to the summit.

Unfortunately, Mont Blanc’s glaciers are receding due to climate change. You can learn more about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the the glacial melt on the Mer de Glace. So this Street View imagery also serves as a digital record of Mont Blanc as it appears today, so future outdoor enthusiasts and scientists can look back at this time capsule to see how the mountain has changed.

Whether you choose to run up the Mont Blanc with Kilian Jornet or ski down with Laetitia Roux, we hope you enjoy reaching new heights in Europe’s beautiful and endangered mountain range.

Posted by Sandy Russell, Project Lead, Mont Blanc Street View

It’s almost 5 p.m. Wednesday—time for that daily game of traffic roulette. The likelihood of stop and go traffic looms in front of you, yet at the same time the latest episode of Downton Abbey and the comfort of your couch are calling.

Well, Google Maps has good news for you. Now with just one tap on Android, you can find out whether you should hit the road or put in some gym time while you wait out the gridlock. Get information like ETAs, traffic updates, nearby gas prices and quickest routes to familiar places–like home, work and recently searched destinations–all without entering a destination.

To add a driving shortcut, press on your homescreen until Android widgets appear, then select the Google Maps driving shortcut icon.

You can also access this feature through the sidebar menu in Google Maps. Tap the sidebar menu and select the “Start Driving” option.

Why join the masses in bumper-to-bumper chaos when your time could be spent doing something else? With quick access to traffic info, it’s now easier to make the call.

Posted By: Brian Ferris, Google Maps Software Engineer

For those looking to relive their childhood dreams of being a conductor of their own railway and playing with dollhouses, we have a Street View surprise for you: Hamburg’s famed Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway, has come to Google Maps. Boasting 13,000 meters of track and more than 200,000 tiny citizens, the museum includes tiny replicas of a variety of German provinces, famous places in America and even a fully-functioning airport!

Street View cameras have floated on gondolas in Venice, ridden on camels in the Liwa Desert and soared on snowmobiles on Canadian slopes. But to capture the nooks and crannies in Miniatur Wunderland, we worked with our partner at Ubilabs to build an entirely new—and much smaller—device. Tiny cameras were mounted on tiny vehicles that were able to drive the roads and over the train tracks, weaving through the Wunderland’s little worlds to capture their hidden treasures.

Google Maps’ miniature Street View devices cruising the railways and streets of Miniatur Wunderland

Touring the marvels of Wunderland, you must first begin in its oldest section: Knuffingen, a fictional town situated squarely between the Alps and Harz. Become one of this tiny city’s 10,000 inhabitants: Stop by the city’s rustic farmer’s market, witness the local fire department spring into action when a building catches fire and even see a plane lift off from Knuffingen’s airport.

Farmers market in Knuffingen, Miniatur Wunderland with the Street View car driving by

You can also see a variety of real places designed with an eye for accuracy: a soccer match in Hamburg’s stadium, a traditional town center in central Germany, a rowdy Oktoberfest celebration and a replica of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, and even the ski slopes of Austria. You can also glimpse the everyday lives of thousands of miniature citizens, as they bike, camp and dance their way around the Wunderland.

Wunderland figurines enjoying a parade in Hamburg

Then it’s a (very) short hop over to the U.S., where you can zoom through the valleys of the Grand Canyon, gambol down the strip in Las Vegas, and even stop by Mount Rushmore to salute past U.S. Presidents. Because we captured this imagery at “street level” within the Wunderland itself, you can observe many tiny details in Street View that are not visible even to visitors to the museum — deep sea divers at a county fair, farmers riding a broomstick, a newly-married couple on the steps of the courthouse and the dancing crowds at an outdoor concert.

See the bright lights in Las Vegas in Miniatur Wunderland

To see more of Miniatur Wunderland, including a miniature Street View car built to commemorate this joint project, explore our Street View gallery. As you navigate through this truly wonderful Wunderland, we think you’ll agree: when it comes to great views, size doesn’t matter!
Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Program Manager

2016 is just around the corner. Before we pop champagne and ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the enhancements we’ve made to Google Maps over the past year. From using Google Maps offline to discovering new places with Explore, we’re proud to not only get you from point A to point B quickly and easily, but to also help you explore the world around you with confidence.

Below is a list of the new features you might’ve missed, along with a handy chart showing you where you’ll find them. If you got a new phone this holiday season, now’s the time to give the Google Maps app a go.

2015 Google Maps New Features

1. 2015 is ticking away, but you can take a look back at the places you’ve traveled with Your Timeline.
2. Always know when your favorite stores are open with up-to-date holiday hours and alerts.
3. Whether you’re in a parking garage with no signal or traveling in country with expensive data, search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline.
4. Always stay on the fastest route and beat bumper-to-bumper traffic with real-time traffic updates and dynamic re-routing.
5. Never run low on fuel with up-to-date gas prices in search results and on the map.
6. Make quick pit stops without long detours–search for places along your route without leaving navigation mode.
7. Find the best local spots to eat and drink with curated recommendations.
8. Get all your travel options and compare ETAs across driving, walking, biking and transit–all on one screen.
9. Get the scoop on when the lines are shortest and shops least crowded by checking businesses’ most popular times–by day, by hour.
10. Get the lay of the land before you arrive by using Street View thumbnail.
11. Never miss a bus or train with real-time transit information (schedules, fares, updates) in more than 18,000 cities across 64 countries.
12. Get directions, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates from your wrist with the Google Maps app on Android Wear and Apple Watch.

To see these new features in action, take a look back at our Maps Minutes Holiday Hacks series.

Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house for a cozy gathering, going to watch the ball drop in Times Square or attending an extravagant masquerade ball, the last thing you want to worry about on New Year’s Eve is driving.

With the Google Maps app, you can get where you’re going without ever getting behind the wheel. Earlier this year we launched a new feature that allows you to see various transportation options and compare travel times–all on one screen.

Once you enter your destination in the Google Maps app, you’ll see four options to get there: driving, walking, biking or transit (bus/train). You can quickly compare ETAs and switch between the transportation modes for more details and up-to-date information for each option.

If you’re heading to a casual celebration not so far from home, walking or public transit might be your best option. The Google Maps app will give your walk time ETA along with a few transit route options with real-time schedules, updates and fares.

Google Maps can also help you grab an Uber, if arriving by bus or train isn’t your holiday style. You can see the estimated trip duration, pickup time and estimated cost once you scroll down to the bottom of the app’s transit option screen.

Stay safe with Maps Minutes Hacks and enjoy your New Year’s celebrations wherever they take you.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing

‘Tis the night before Christmas, at our northernmost pole
And all through Santa’s Village it’s almost time to roll!
The elves have been working hard for this night
Santa’s village is abuzz—tonight’s the big flight!

Google’s Santa Tracker launches today—
And it’s time to follow the jolly man’s sleigh.
He’s off on his trip ‘round the world
Delivering toys to all good boys and girls.

You’ve got a front-row seat to the show
Just fire up Google Maps to see where he goes.
Thanks to the elves’ precisely coded route
Santa and his reindeer will fly swiftly—look out!

Now the sleigh tuning’s done,
Tales of global traditions spun,
Every gift in the sleigh gently placed,
Wrapped with care, without haste.

The reindeer are prancing and eager to fly,
Ready for Santa’s trip through the sky.
With so little time to get their job done—
They may need your help on this gift-giving run.

So keep the translation tool handy;
Geography trivia would also be dandy.
There’s no telling what Santa might need
Traveling from Brisbane to Lima to Leeds.

Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
Join in on the fun—find out what you’re missin’!
On Maps! On Android, Chromecast and Google.com!
There’s something for everyone, from kids to mom.

So watch that sleigh as it takes to the air,
And wherever you are, St. Nick will soon be there.
To borrow a phrase, as Santa takes flight—
“Happy holidays to all, and to all a good-night!”

Posted by Luke Mahé, Chief Excitement Officer