Apple Maps Transit directions are starting to go live in Europe

Apple Maps (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

Apple Maps Transit is now rolling out in Europe.
It was previously only available in the US.
It adds extra information for those using public transport.

[Update] It seems that some parts of Europe already have support for Apple Maps Transit directions, as we've noted before. However, it does seem that improvements are happening as we've heard of the feature now going live in some cities that are not on our list. Should out in the comments if you have gained new functionality this weekend.

Apple has started to roll its improved Apple Maps out to parts of Europe, with one Twitter user spotting that Apple Maps Transit is now available to them.

Apple Maps Transit Directions available in Barcelona, Spain, France and others in EU. @applesfera @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/6H559FfeZJApple Maps Transit Directions available in Barcelona, Spain, France and others in EU. @applesfera @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/6H559FfeZJ— 🐼 (@guillamet) February 16, 2020 February 16, 2020

Apple has been steadily improving its Apple Maps functionality in recent years and has just made much better maps available to the entire United States. Apple said that the rest of the world would get improvements throughout 2020.

We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today. It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people's lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core. The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.

Now that some European cities are seeing improved public transit data it's likely they will also soon start to see additional layers, including internal maps for things like malls. Eventually, users will see data for buses, trams, and trains.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.