Digital European Atlas for Tablet Computer

[Viktorgeorge]

We travel around Europe a lot (in our retirement). SatNav is invaluable, we use mainly TomTom, which strips down detail to the essential and as a result is easy to use; but this creates a problem.

Pre SatNav (and in our younger days) we happily navigated with maps (with not too many arguments), which left the passenger/navigator free to also study the surrounding mapping as we drove, however, now that the passenger is no longer required to navigate (along with our older brains) maps are harder work keeping up.

So, to get to my point, has anyone worked out a combination of a tablet computer (with GPS) and a compatible offline comprehensively detailed atlas of Europe, which would show a passenger the location and allow him/her to study the surrounding mapping whilst travelling? Obviously, without any navigation facility required.

 

[kurienp]

We travel around Europe a lot (in our retirement). SatNav is invaluable, we use mainly TomTom, which strips down detail to the essential and as a result is easy to use; but this creates a problem.

Pre SatNav (and in our younger days) we happily navigated with maps (with not too many arguments), which left the passenger/navigator free to also study the surrounding mapping as we drove, however, now that the passenger is no longer required to navigate (along with our older brains) maps are harder work keeping up.

So, to get to my point, has anyone worked out a combination of a tablet computer (with GPS) and a compatible offline comprehensively detailed atlas of Europe, which would show a passenger the location and allow him/her to study the surrounding mapping whilst travelling? Obviously, without any navigation facility required.

Two options that come to mind
- Google maps - allows offline maps. You can download as many regions as you want and that allows for offline browsing and navigation
- Maps.me. Download detailed maps of regions. Available for both IOS and Android.

However, also consider giving the passenger a copy of paper maps and that will keep them hunting and busy for longer

Enjoy!

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[TripleBee]

Magic Earth - Free Navigation & Maps App for Android and iPhone

Magic Earth is a free maps and navigation app based on OpenStreetMap data. Enjoy 3D maps, Satellite maps, Turn-by-turn navigation, HD Traffic, Offline maps

www.magicearth.com

This uses OpenStreetMap.
Free to download, and frequent updates.

Navmii
But map updates take more than 1 year to appear, if they ever...
Also uses OpenStreetMap.

 

[rod_vw]

Have you discovered that the Free version of the OS map App also covers much of Europe although I don't know what downloadable options are available.

 

[kave]

We travel around Europe a lot (in our retirement). SatNav is invaluable, we use mainly TomTom, which strips down detail to the essential and as a result is easy to use; but this creates a problem.

Pre SatNav (and in our younger days) we happily navigated with maps (with not too many arguments), which left the passenger/navigator free to also study the surrounding mapping as we drove, however, now that the passenger is no longer required to navigate (along with our older brains) maps are harder work keeping up.

So, to get to my point, has anyone worked out a combination of a tablet computer (with GPS) and a compatible offline comprehensively detailed atlas of Europe, which would show a passenger the location and allow him/her to study the surrounding mapping whilst travelling? Obviously, without any navigation facility required.

Its a great question. The normal maps apps are not an atlas in that sence, usually you hardly can tell which country you are in or what is close. They are great for finding stuff you alreay know you want to go to, but for inspiration they are mostly useless.
I use about ten different apps for mapping but I have failed to find one for this exact purpose.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Topo GPS - Topo GPS

Turns your iPhone, Android phone or tablet into a full featured GPS device with offline available topographic maps.

www.topo-gps.com

small fee for each country but very detailed . I can recommend. regular updates.
Download for offline use before you leave.
Needs internet however for searches.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you for the several suggestions above.

I have solved my #1 posting, and delighted as a result.

I bought a 65GB Samsung tablet for £77 (non UK was cheaper (I chose South Africa at set up) and still fine for the purpose, as it included a GPS chip and no sim):

https://amzn.eu/d/e8smfej

Grok suggested four alternatives:

https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg==_7717452f-ef42-4aa5-b87a-7d0c4ea13408

I tried them all, plus forum members suggestions above (and those of a friend) and ended up with:

Organic Maps with all the European Countries' maps I needed taking up 18GB.

Topo GPS with downloaded maps only for Germany, Switzerland & Austria at £3.29 each (one off purchase) plus the online OpenStreetMap taking up in all 600MB. I avoided France because of the annual charge, the UK because of the fragmented 'tiles' approach and Italy had no download anyway.

Wikiloc Premium for local hikes and bikes etc., online for activity planning and then local downloads (though Organic maps is aimed at similar healthy activities, albeit still in early stages, much less comprehensive and still developing).

Google Maps

I cleaned off everything else I could from the android tablet so that is purely just a digital atlas for my wife's and my travels.

Although the above apps additionally offer road trip navigation, we will continue to use TomTom on an iPhone via CarPlay as we are used to it and we like the fact that it removes all the mapping 'noise' showing for driving only what you need: with us now able to leave the passenger with the full mapping on the tablet.

I was particularly taken by Organic Maps:

“No ads, no tracking no data collection
No battery drain, works offline
Fast, minimalist, developed by the community
Open source application created by enthusiasts and volunteers”

Wikiloc is similarly a community based app.

Grok's alternatives of OsmAnd, MAPS.me & MapFactor Navigator had their merits but the above apps were better for me.

I have not had an Android device before and it took a while to learn my way around and prune the packages.

I was pleased to find on TopoGPS OpenStreetMap for the UK all the main road junction numbers ("A14 Junction 56 roadworks ahead", etc.) which junction numbers are, puzzlingly, often missing elsewhere on mapping and street signs.

 

[Baldrick]

Thank you all for these suggestions. For the UK we use UK Map which has an £8 one off purchase price, I’ve been using it as my navigation aid of choice for walking and planning visits in the Van for about a decade.
Maps update frequently, can be used offline, which is great for the very rural settings... Download the map segments before we head out. It’s not a battery drain, works on iPhone and iPad - possibly Android I can’t comment on that. It can stay centred pointing in the direction of travel, which pretty much makes it bulletproof for any Copilot.
If I had a £1 for everyone who I’ve recommended it to who’s thanked me later...
Recently the road closed in front of us in Wales following a collision and I was able to switch straight from Waze to UK Map and navigate around it without being held up unduly. I’m not sure the programmers of Waze understand the historic UK road system and single track vs two lane B roads. This is a good plan ‘B’ especially if you have a copilot.
Happy Adventures All !