Citymapper is a free public-transport app that turns any two points into clear, step-by-step directions across every urban travel mode — metro, bus, train, tram, ferry, bike, scooter, ride-hail, and walking. It's known for being more transit-focused and detailed than general map apps, with live arrival times, the best carriage to board, and step-free routes. It's owned by Via and covers 430+ cities worldwide.

Is Citymapper better than Google Maps for public transport?

For dense cities with complex transit, many travelers find Citymapper better: it shows live departures, which exit or carriage to use, real-time disruptions, and clearer multi-modal options. Google Maps has wider global coverage and works in places Citymapper doesn't. A good rule: use Citymapper in the big cities it supports, and fall back to Google Maps everywhere else.

Yes, the core app is completely free. There's an optional paid Citymapper Club subscription that adds extras like enhanced disruption alerts and trip features, but you never need it to plan routes, see live times, or get full step-by-step directions in any supported city.

Does Citymapper work offline?

Partly. Citymapper can show saved routes and schedule data, but for live arrival times and real-time disruptions it needs an internet connection. Before relying on it abroad, get a local eSIM or roaming data. If you'll be fully offline, download an offline map app as a backup.

Does Citymapper include Uber and bikes?

Yes. Citymapper is multi-modal — it compares public transport against walking, cycling, e-scooters, and ride-hailing options like Uber side by side, often showing the time and cost of each so you can pick the best trade-off for a given trip. That comparison is one of the app's most useful features for travelers.

Do I need to create an account to use Citymapper?

No. You can open Citymapper and plan routes immediately without signing up. Creating a free account lets you sync saved places and preferences across devices, but it isn't required to use the core navigation features.

How to Use Citymapper: The Complete Guide for Travelers (2026)

When you land in a big city you don't know, the question is always the same: what's the fastest way from here to there, and which of these confusing lines do I take? Citymapper answers exactly that — and it tends to do it better than a general map app, because transit is the only thing it cares about.

Here's what Citymapper is, how to get the most from it, and where it actually works.

What is Citymapper?

Citymapper is a free public-transport app that turns any two points into clear, turn-by-turn directions across every urban mode: metro, bus, train, tram, ferry, bike, e-scooter, ride-hail, and walking. Where a normal map app gives you a route, Citymapper gives you the traveler details — live departure times, which exit to use, the best carriage to board so you're next to the right exit when you arrive, step-free options, and real-time disruption alerts.

It's owned by Via, covers 430+ cities, and in 2026 added AI-powered journey planning to make those routes even smarter.

How to use Citymapper

Type where you want to go (or pick a saved place). Citymapper instantly lays out several route options.
Compare modes side by side. Each option shows time, cost, number of changes, and even calories — metro vs bus vs bike vs Uber, all in one view.
Tap a route for step-by-step guidance, including live countdowns to the next departure and the exact platform or exit.
Save Home and Work (or your hotel) so directions are one tap away all trip.

Use the carriage and exit hints

Citymapper's signature trick is telling you which carriage to board and which exit to take. In a sprawling station, that small detail can save you five minutes and a lot of confusion — especially with luggage.

Which cities does Citymapper work in?

As of 2026, Citymapper supports 430+ cities worldwide, including London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Madrid, San Francisco, and dozens more across Europe and North America. You can check — and vote for your city — at citymapper.com/cities.

It's brilliant in big cities, blank in small ones

Citymapper's depth comes from rich local transit data, so it only covers cities with that data. In a smaller town or a city that isn't on the list, you'll see little or nothing — keep Google Maps installed as your fallback for everywhere Citymapper doesn't reach.

Citymapper vs Google Maps

Both are excellent, and the honest answer is use both:

Citymapper wins in dense, complex cities it supports — clearer changes, live times, exit and carriage guidance, better disruption handling.
Google Maps wins on global coverage and works in places Citymapper doesn't, plus it handles driving and offline maps.

The simple rule: Citymapper in the major cities it covers, Google Maps everywhere else.

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Tips for travelers

Sort out data first. Live times and disruptions need a connection — get a local eSIM or roaming before you depend on it.
Check the multi-modal comparison before defaulting to a taxi; the bike or metro option is often faster and cheaper.
Save your hotel as a place so "get me back" is always one tap.
Keep a backup map app for offline use and for cities outside Citymapper's list.

The bottom line

Citymapper is the closest thing to having a local friend who knows the transit system in your pocket — and it's free. In the cities it covers, it's the fastest way to move like you've lived there for years.

The one thing it won't do is make the decision for you — it lays out the options, but you still have to weigh cost against time against hassle on every trip. That judgment call, made automatically the moment you arrive in a new city, is exactly what Arrived is being built to handle.