Navigating Czechia gets easier with English-friendly Mapy.cz revamp

Czech navigation application and website Mapy.cz is making a significant leap towards global accessibility by rebranding to Mapy.com. This change aims to make the platform more user-friendly for international audiences—particularly English speakers—while maintaining and expanding its detailed navigation and offline features.

“The move to Mapy.com is a step towards greater clarity for foreign users. It will also bring benefits to domestic users thanks to a greater amount of shared data and experiences,” said David Finger, director of the Email.cz and Mapy.com division at parent company Seznam.cz, in a press release. The change will be rolled out in the coming months.

One of the key updates accompanying the rebranding is the expansion of full English-language support. While Mapy.cz has offered English translations in the past, the new Mapy.com will provide more comprehensive language integration, including improved English descriptions for landmarks, businesses, and points of interest. This will help non-Czech users navigate cities and find locations with greater ease.

Additionally, the user interface will be redesigned to prioritize clarity for international users. Previously, some map labels and navigation prompts remained in Czech, which could be confusing for foreign travelers. 

With the transition to Mapy.com, all core navigation elements—including search, route planning, and settings—will be fully translated, making the app easier to use for English speakers.

Another major improvement is voice navigation in English. While Mapy.cz primarily had focused on Czech users, Mapy.com will introduce more natural-sounding English voice guidance for turn-by-turn navigation, enhancing usability for international drivers and tourists.

Mapy.com is also expanding its real-time navigation features beyond the Czech Republic. Live traffic updates and full navigation are now available in Slovakia, Poland, Austria, and Germany, with upcoming support for Slovenia, Hungary, and Italy. Mapy.com will support German and Italian, too.

This means travelers can seamlessly plan routes from Prague to destinations like the Austrian Alps or Lake Balaton in Hungary while receiving real-time traffic and road condition updates.

For offline users, Mapy.com will introduce a more intuitive system for downloading offline maps. Instead of choosing from a predefined list of regions, users will be able to select any area directly from the map, ensuring more precise offline coverage. This feature will be particularly useful for hikers and travelers exploring remote areas with limited internet access.

Later this year, Mapy.com will also roll out smartwatch compatibility, with support for Apple Watch and Wear OS. Users will be able to track their routes and access navigation directions directly from their smartwatches, making it easier to use while on the go.

Despite the domain shift, Seznam.cz has assured users that the transition to Mapy.com will not disrupt existing services.