Google Maps Adds New Customization Tools, Curated Lists, and More

Google Maps has tons of capabilities to help you take care of your movements whether you're on a trip or not, and these new features are designed to make that even easier.

Google announced the update in a blog post on Wednesday. In addition to citing new features that are now available or coming soon, the company also revisited some existing features, like AI in Google Maps. It's the new features we're most interested in, though.

Topping the list of new stuff? Ways to customize lists that you make in Google Maps. Now, when you create a list in Google Maps, you can organize the places you put on the list "by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary," Emmanuel Marto, Google Maps' Director of Product Management for Search, wrote in the blog post. You can also link to content you found on your social channels so you can see the inspiration for adding something to your list. Google says these new features will be available on Android and iOS later in March.

Next up is the ability to see curated recommendation lists from both publishers like The Infatuation and from community members. So, starting this week, your recommendation lists might be from a publication that you know or they could be from a local guide. And there will also be new trending, top, and hidden gems lists "based on what people are interested in or [who are] living in that city."

And while it's not a Google Maps feature, Google is also making it possible to use Circle to Search to translate whatever is on your screen. So, if you see something in a language you don't speak, you can just circle it on your screen and see an immediate translation. This feature will start rolling out for Pixel 7+ devices and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series "in the coming weeks."