International roaming charges are highway robbery. I learned this the hard way during a trip to Japan when I opened Google Maps to find my hotel and returned home to a $200 phone bill. Never again.
The solution? Download offline maps before you travel. Your phone's GPS works globally without cell service—you just need the map data stored locally. Here are the best free apps that let you navigate any country without spending a cent on data.
Quick Recommendations
- Best Overall Free Option: Organic Maps — Privacy-focused, completely free, works offline globally
- Best for Driving: HERE WeGo — Excellent turn-by-turn navigation, works offline
- Best for Cities: Google Maps — Download areas before your trip (free)
- Best for Public Transit: Citymapper — Selected cities only, but excellent when available
The Apps: Detailed Reviews
🌿 Organic Maps
Organic Maps is my go-to recommendation for international travel. It's completely free, requires no account or login, and works entirely offline. The maps come from OpenStreetMap, which means they're community-maintained and surprisingly comprehensive—even in remote areas.
What sets Organic Maps apart is its privacy focus. The app doesn't track your location, doesn't show ads, and doesn't collect any personal data. For travelers concerned about privacy in countries with surveillance issues, this matters.
✓ Pros
- Completely free forever
- No account or login needed
- No ads, no tracking
- Works in 195+ countries
- Shows hiking trails
✗ Cons
- No traffic data
- No satellite view
- Public transit limited
Download size: Varies by country (Japan ~600MB, Thailand ~150MB, Germany ~800MB)
🚗 HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo (formerly Nokia Maps) is excellent for driving and offers full turn-by-turn navigation offline. The maps are developed by HERE Technologies, which licenses data to car manufacturers worldwide—so the road data is extremely accurate.
The app also covers public transit in major cities, showing metro, bus, and train routes with schedules. This makes it particularly useful for urban travel where you'll mix walking, transit, and rideshares.
✓ Pros
- Excellent driving navigation
- Public transit included
- Voice guidance offline
- Speed limit warnings
✗ Cons
- Larger download sizes
- Some features require account
- Fewer hiking trails
Best for: Road trips abroad and car rentals where offline navigation is essential.
🗺️ Google Maps (Offline Areas)
Google Maps offers offline downloads for specific areas—you just need to remember to download before you leave WiFi. The offline maps include driving navigation but lack some features like public transit directions and traffic.
The advantage of Google Maps is familiarity and business data. Restaurant reviews, opening hours, and points of interest are unmatched. Download your destination city before flying.
✓ Pros
- Familiar interface
- Best POI / business data
- Restaurant reviews
- Driving navigation works offline
✗ Cons
- Must download manually by area
- Offline maps expire after 30 days
- No transit directions offline
- Google account required
🚇 Citymapper
Citymapper is the gold standard for urban public transit—but only in its supported cities (about 100 globally). If you're visiting London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, or other major metros, Citymapper provides superior transit directions with real-time updates.
The app offers full offline support in most covered cities. Download the city before you arrive and you'll have metro maps, bus routes, and walking directions without needing data.
Supported cities: London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, and about 90 more.
Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist
📋 Before You Fly
- Download your destination in at least two apps (redundancy!)
- Download adjacent regions if you might day-trip to nearby areas
- Test in airplane mode to verify everything works
- Screenshot critical addresses (hotels, embassies, emergency contacts)
- Download language packs for Google Translate if visiting non-English countries
Tips for Navigating Abroad
Use Airplane Mode Strategically
Keep your phone in airplane mode to prevent accidental roaming charges, but enable WiFi to connect in hotels and cafes. Your GPS will continue working in airplane mode.
Save Important Locations Offline
Before leaving WiFi, star or bookmark critical locations in your offline map app: your hotel, the airport, embassy, and any must-visit destinations. These saved places will be available offline.
Screenshot Confusing Directions
If you find a restaurant or attraction online, screenshot the map view and address. Even if navigation fails, you can show the screenshot to a taxi driver.
Learn Basic Address Formats
Different countries write addresses differently. In Japan, addresses are based on blocks rather than streets. In some European countries, the house number comes before the street name. Know what format to expect.
Country-Specific Recommendations
Europe
Best choice: Organic Maps or HERE WeGo. Both have excellent European coverage. Citymapper works great in major cities like London, Paris, and Berlin.
Japan
Best choice: Organic Maps + Google Maps. Japan's transit system is complex; Google Maps handles train routing well once you're on WiFi. Download Organic Maps for walking navigation between stations.
Southeast Asia
Best choice: Organic Maps. OpenStreetMap coverage in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and surrounding countries is surprisingly good, often better than commercial alternatives.
South America
Best choice: Organic Maps + Google Maps. Coverage varies by region. Download both and test which works better in your specific destinations.
Final Thoughts
The days of printing MapQuest directions are long gone, but the need for offline navigation hasn't disappeared—especially for international travel. Download your maps before you leave home, and you'll navigate confidently anywhere in the world without paying a cent in roaming fees.
My personal go-to combo: Organic Maps for general navigation and walking, plus Google Maps downloaded for restaurant searches while on hotel WiFi. Together, they cover 99% of travel navigation needs.