If you’re going to be traveling in a strange city, or even in a not-so-strange city, there is a good chance you’re going to need some help getting from point A to point B, then maybe on to point C for a little while before you head back to point A. Using public transport systems that you aren’t familiar with, or even using systems that you know well to get to locations that you don’t, can cause a lot of anxiety. What if you get off at the wrong stop? What if you get on the wrong train? When do you need to leave to get to your destination on time? You can research your route before you leave so that you can make educated guesses about situations that you might run into on your journey, or you can download insurance and assurance right onto your phone.
Citymapper is a free app that you can use to get directions to anywhere you want to go. It’s available for iPhone and Android, and is also accessible through web browsers. Citymapper currently serves over fifty cities, and more are still being added. To get your route options, select your city and put in your starting point and destination. The app will offer to let you use your current location as the starting point, which is handy for skipping a search step or finding your way back to the known world if you end up getting lost in the course of your adventures.
You’ll be given several different options to use to get to your destination, including the types of transportation you’ll use (train, bus, walking, etc.), all of the changes, and how long it will take. You can select the transport type you want to use, or you can “use all” and see what form will best serve your purposes. Need to get somewhere as quickly as possible? Trying to avoid that tube line you just can’t stand? Rather spend more time walking than riding? Citymapper will give you all of the information you need to find the right route.
Once you’ve selected a route, Citymapper will break down every step of the journey, from lists of trains and busses headed for your destination and their arrival times to walking directions to get to the train station or bus stop and instructions on the best exit to use.
So what if you’re taking a trip abroad, and you decided not to get an international SIM card or sign up for one of those expensive international cell service packages? Even without a data plan, you can still make use of Citymapper. Just look up your routes ahead of time when you have wi-fi, then save the routes. This way, you can access them any time, with or without service. This is also helpful if you’ve got a complicated route and you’re heading into a patch of subway without any service.
I’ve navigated public transport by looking up directions on the internet, pouring over maps at tram stops, and asking for help from friendly bus drivers, but by far the easiest way to get around a big city is by using Citymapper. Next time you’re in need of some navigation help, give it a try – I’m confident you won’t be disappointed!
