Getting Around Any City: The Nervous Traveller's Guide to Public Transport

Lu Nicholas
2 days ago
13 min read

Google Maps, planning apps, buying tickets - everything you need to navigate public transport overseas without the panic.

There is a particular kind of anxiety that comes with arriving in a new city, luggage in hand, and staring at a transit map that looks like someone spilled spaghetti on a page. Which line? Which direction? Do I tap, scan, or buy a paper ticket? How do I even know where I am going?

I have felt all of that. And I am here to tell you it gets easier with a bit of preparation and the right tools on your phone.

Public transport overseas is actually one of the most rewarding parts of travel. You see real neighbourhoods instead of tourist corridors, you sit next to actual locals, and you save a fortune compared to taxis and rideshares. But it does require a slightly different approach in every city, which is why this post focuses on the broad skills and tools that will help you in any destination - not just one.

A note before we dive in: every city's public transport system is different. This guide is about building a transferable toolkit - the habits, apps, and research approaches that work wherever you land.

Google Maps: Your Most Reliable Travel Companion

If there is one app to have on your phone before you travel, it is Google Maps. You probably already use it at home - but overseas, it has a few extra layers of usefulness that are worth knowing about.

Using Google Maps for Transit Directions

Most travellers know Google Maps for driving directions, but the transit function is where it really earns its keep when you are travelling. Once you enter your destination:

Tap the transit icon (the train symbol) at the top of the route options.
You will see several options - different combinations of bus, metro, train, tram, or ferry routes, each with travel times and walking distances.
Choose the route that suits you - not always the fastest. A route with fewer transfers might be worth an extra five minutes if you are carrying luggage or feeling uncertain.
Tap into a route to see step-by-step instructions: which platform, how many stops, where to get off, and which exit to take.

The step-by-step view is genuinely reassuring for nervous travellers. You can follow along stop by stop rather than counting and hoping you are in the right place.

Nervous traveller tip: Before you board, check the direction of travel on the platform signs and cross-reference with the direction shown in Google Maps. Metro lines typically show the name of the terminus station as the direction - knowing this helps enormously.

Setting Transit Preferences

Google Maps lets you filter routes by preference. Tap Options (or the slider icon) when viewing transit results to customise:

Fewer transfers - great if transfers feel overwhelming
Less walking - helpful when you have luggage or tired feet
Wheelchair accessible - filters for step-free routes where available
Avoid buses / avoid trains - useful if you want to stick to one mode of transport

You can also set a departure or arrival time - useful when you are checking whether you can make it from a day trip destination back to your hotel by a specific time.

Downloading Google Maps for Offline Use

This is the feature that turns Google Maps from a great app into an essential one. Downloading an offline map means you can navigate without using mobile data at all - a massive relief when you are on a local SIM with limited data, relying on WiFi only, or simply in an area with patchy coverage.

Here is how to download a map before you travel:

Open Google Maps and search for the city or region you are visiting.
Tap your profile icon (top right), then tap Offline maps.
Tap Select your own map and adjust the box to cover the area you need.
Tap Download. The map saves to your phone. Done.

A few important things to know about offline Google Maps:

Navigation still works offline - walking, driving, and cycling directions all function without data. Transit directions are limited offline, but walking navigation to a stop or station works fine.
Download over WiFi - offline maps can be large (sometimes hundreds of megabytes for a major city). Download before you leave your accommodation.
Maps expire after 30 days - Google will remind you to update them. If you are on a longer trip, set a reminder to update during a WiFi connection.
Download by neighbourhood or district if a full city map is too large for your phone's storage.

Practical habit: Download offline maps for every city on your itinerary before you leave Australia. It takes minutes and costs you nothing except storage space.

Using Google Maps Without a Data Connection

Even without offline maps downloaded, Google Maps can be surprisingly useful in low-data situations:

Search for your destination while on WiFi, then leave the route open on your screen. The route details often remain visible even when you lose connection.
Screenshot your route - old school, but completely reliable. Capture the step-by-step directions and the map view before you head out.
Use the blue dot - even without data, your phone's GPS can still show your location on a downloaded offline map.

Planning Your Route: Using Multiple Apps to See All Your Options

Google Maps is brilliant, but it does not always show you the full picture - particularly for longer journeys, intercity routes, or destinations where its transit data is less complete. This is where it pays to know about a few other tools.

Why One App Is Never Enough

Different apps have different strengths, different data sources, and different coverage areas. What Google Maps shows you as your best option might not account for a faster ferry, a scenic bus that costs a fraction of the price, or a train route that Google has incomplete timetable data for.

Seasoned travellers typically do a quick cross-check across two or three tools before committing to a route - not obsessively, but as a quick habit that pays off regularly.

Rome2rio: The Big Picture Planner

Rome2rio is the app to reach for when you want to understand all your options at once. Unlike Google Maps, which focuses on point-to-point routing within a city, Rome2rio thinks bigger - it will show you every conceivable way to get from A to B, including combinations of train, bus, ferry, flight, car hire, and rideshare.

It is particularly useful for:

Planning travel between cities or countries - where multiple modes might be in play
Day trips - quickly comparing whether the train, bus, or a guided tour makes more sense
Destinations where Google Maps' transit coverage is limited - particularly in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, South America, and parts of the Middle East
Getting a general budget sense - Rome2rio shows approximate prices alongside each option

Keep in mind that Rome2rio is a research tool more than a navigation tool. The pricing and timetable information is indicative rather than live, and you will need to book separately through official channels. But as a starting point for understanding your options, it is invaluable.

Example: You are in Bangkok and want to get to Chiang Mai. Google Maps might show you buses and trains. Rome2rio will show you those plus domestic flights, overnight sleeper trains, private transfers, and their relative costs and travel times - all in one screen. That context changes your decision-making entirely.

Citymapper: The Best in-City Transit App

For major global cities, Citymapper is arguably better than Google Maps for urban transit. It is built specifically for city navigation and goes into exceptional detail - real-time departure boards, service alerts, which carriage to board for the best exit, and even journey shaming (it will tell you if you would arrive faster on foot).

Citymapper covers cities including London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Berlin, and dozens more. Check whether your destination is covered before you travel - the list grows regularly.

One limitation: Citymapper requires data to function well. It is less useful in an offline scenario, though some journey planning is available in low-data mode.

Moovit and Transit: Real-Time Local Options

Moovit and Transit are global real-time public transport apps that aggregate live departure data from local transport authorities. They are particularly strong in cities where Google Maps' real-time accuracy is patchy, and are worth having as a backup.

Transit is especially popular in North America and parts of Europe. Moovit has broad global coverage. Both are free and integrate with local ticketing systems in some cities.

Local Apps: Often the Most Accurate

Many cities and countries have their own official public transport apps, and they are frequently the most reliable source of real-time information because they pull directly from the operator's systems. A few examples:

TfL Go (London) - line status, step-free routes, Oyster balance or card charges
Suica / Pasmo apps (Japan) - mobile IC card top-up and route planning
Navitia / RATP (Paris) - Metro, RER, and bus planning
OPAL (Sydney) - for reference, since you likely already know this one

A quick search for "[city name] public transport app" before you travel will often surface the official local app. Download it while you have WiFi, even if you only use it as a backup.

The App Cross-Check: A Simple Habit

Here is a practical approach that takes less than two minutes:

Search your route in Google Maps and note the recommended option
Search the same route in Rome2rio (especially for intercity journeys) to check whether you are missing a mode entirely
If your destination is covered by Citymapper, check there for real-time accuracy and platform-level detail
If something feels off - unusual travel time, missing a well-known route - check a local app or the official transit authority website

You will not always find a better option. But occasionally you will - a faster train you didn't know existed, a tourist pass that halves your costs, or an early bus that gets you to a day trip destination before the crowds arrive.

Researching and Buying Tickets: Every City Is Different

This is the part of public transport planning that catches most first-time travellers off guard. Unlike Australia, where you tap on and off with a contactless card on most networks, overseas transit systems vary enormously - from fully automated tap systems, to paper tickets from vending machines, to routes where you pay the driver in cash, to advance-booking trains where you need a seat reservation days ahead.

There is no single answer for how to buy tickets. What there is, is a solid research process that works everywhere.

Start With the Official Transport Authority Website

Every city's public transport system has an official website run by the government or the transit authority. This is your single most reliable source of truth for:

Current fares and fare zones
Available passes and tourist cards (often significantly cheaper than paying per ride)
How the ticketing system works - tap cards, paper tickets, mobile apps, or a combination
Whether you can pay by card or need cash
Any planned disruptions or engineering works during your travel dates

Finding the official site is usually straightforward. Search for "[city] public transport" or "[city] metro" and look for the .gov or official operator domain. For example:

Transport for London: tfl.gov.uk
Paris Metro (RATP): ratp.fr
Tokyo Metro: tokyometro.jp
NYC Subway (MTA): mta.info
Singapore MRT (LTA): lta.gov.sg

A tourist or visitor section is usually present on these sites - look for links like "Visiting London" or "Tourist Information" - and they often explain the ticketing options in plain language specifically for first-timers.

Before you travel: Spend fifteen minutes on the official transport website for your destination city. Note down: how you pay, whether a tourist pass saves money over your trip length, and whether anything needs to be purchased in advance.

Tourist Travel Passes - Often Worth It, Always Worth Checking

Many cities offer tourist travel cards or passes that provide unlimited travel on public transport for a set number of days. These can represent enormous value if you are planning to move around the city a lot.

Common examples include:

London Oyster card / contactless - daily and weekly caps mean you stop being charged after a certain amount, even without a special pass
Paris Navigo Easy / Navigo Semaine - weekly pass covering all zones
Tokyo Suica or Pasmo IC card - reloadable cards accepted on virtually all transport in Japan; also used for purchases at convenience stores
Rome 24/48/72-hour passes - covers buses, trams, and metro within the city
Singapore EZ-Link card - standard tap-and-go card for MRT and buses

Whether a pass saves you money depends entirely on how many journeys you plan to make. A rough rule of thumb: if you are planning more than three or four trips per day, a day pass almost always pays for itself. The official website will usually have a fare calculator to help you work it out. Also check out passes for certain age groups (students/pensioners) or group passes if your travelling as a family.

Information at Train Stations and Transit Hubs

Do not underestimate the value of being physically present at a train station or transit hub when you need help. Most major international stations have:

Information windows or counters - staffed by people who have answered your exact question hundreds of times before. Do not be shy about queuing and asking.
Ticket vending machines with English language options - almost universal in major cities; look for the flag or language selector button at the top of the screen.
Maps and network diagrams - usually available free at the counter or displayed prominently. Pick one up; a physical map is surprisingly reassuring when your phone battery is low.
Digital departure boards - showing real-time train and bus times, platform numbers, and delays.
Visitor centres - in major tourist destinations, these are sometimes located inside or adjacent to the main train station and can help with passes, recommendations, and local transport maps.

If you arrive somewhere and feel completely lost, walking up to the information counter and simply saying "I need to get to [destination], what is the best way?" is a completely legitimate strategy. Transport staff are used to it.

Buying Tickets Online in Advance

For intercity trains and longer journeys, buying in advance online is not just convenient - it is often significantly cheaper, and for some routes (popular European trains, Japan's Shinkansen during busy periods, overnight sleepers) advance booking is essential to guarantee a seat.

Where to buy:

The national rail operator's own website - always the most direct and reliable source. Examples: Trenitalia (Italy), SNCF (France), DB (Germany), JR (Japan), Renfe (Spain).
Aggregator booking platforms such as Trainline, Omio, or Rail Europe - these cover multiple countries and operators in one place, which is useful for multi-country itineraries, though sometimes with a small booking fee.
Rome2rio - links directly to booking pages for the options it displays, making it a useful starting point before clicking through to the official site.

For city-level transit (metro, bus, tram), advance booking is rarely needed or available. You simply purchase on arrival - either at a vending machine, via the local app, or at the counter.

Mobile tickets: Many operators now offer mobile tickets that live in your phone's wallet or the operator's app. These are convenient but always screenshot or download a PDF backup in case you lose connectivity when an inspector appears.

When You Cannot Find Official Information

Some destinations - particularly in Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Central America, and more rural areas of otherwise well-documented countries - have public transport that is informal, cash-based, or simply not well documented online.

In these situations, the best sources of information are:

Your accommodation - hotel and hostel staff know local transport intimately and are almost always happy to explain. Ask specifically: "How would a local get to [destination] from here?"
Recent traveller forums such as the relevant subreddit (r/[country]travel or r/[city]) or TripAdvisor forums. Search for recent posts — transport situations change, and a post from three years ago may be out of date.
Lonely Planet or Rough Guides destination pages - their Getting Around sections are written specifically for this situation.
Fellow travellers at the destination - if you are at a hostel, guesthouse, or even a cafe near a popular sight, chances are someone has just made the journey you are planning. Ask.

Cash vs Card: Know Before You Go

Ticketing systems around the world vary enormously in whether they accept card payments. While contactless payment is becoming the norm in many cities, there are still many destinations where:

Ticket vending machines accept cash only
Buses require exact change in coins
Only the local tap card is accepted at the gate (no contactless bank card)
Drivers will not accept large denomination notes

The official transport website will usually clarify this. If in doubt, carry some local small-denomination notes and coins as a backup. For very cash-reliant destinations, this is worth factoring into your currency planning before you arrive.

The Mindset That Makes It All Easier

I want to finish with something that matters as much as any app: the way you approach public transport when you are uncertain.

Most public transport systems - even the most bewildering ones - have a logic to them. Metro lines go back and forth. Buses have route numbers. Trams stop at clearly marked stops. The infrastructure is designed to move millions of people who are not tourists, which means it is designed to be legible. Your job is simply to slow down enough to read it.

Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

The single greatest source of transport anxiety is running late. When you have a buffer, a wrong turn or an unexpected delay is an inconvenience. When you are already cutting it fine, it is a crisis. Add fifteen to thirty minutes to any journey estimate when you are navigating a new system for the first time.

Get on, Then Figure It Out

Sometimes the most paralysing thing is trying to understand every detail before you commit. If you are reasonably sure you are on the right train, get on. You can confirm your location on Google Maps once you are moving, count the stops, and course-correct at the next station if needed. The worst case scenario in most city transit systems is arriving one stop past your destination and walking back. It is genuinely not a disaster.

It Is Okay to Ask

Transport staff, ticket inspectors, and fellow passengers are generally more helpful than you might expect. A simple "Excuse me, does this train go to [station]?" gets a useful answer almost every time. Most people have been lost on transit themselves and understand.

The nervousness you feel before your first trip on an unfamiliar system is completely normal. By your second day, you will be navigating it with quiet confidence - and by your third, you might even be giving directions to someone else.

Your Pre-Trip Transport Checklist

Download Google Maps offline for your destination city (do this on WiFi before you leave)
Research the official transport authority website - understand how ticketing works
Check whether a tourist pass saves you money based on your planned trips
Download Rome2rio and search your key routes to see all options
Check whether your destination has a dedicated city transit app (Citymapper, local operator app)
Confirm whether the system is contactless, card, cash, or app - and carry some local cash as backup
Screenshot or save key route details for your first day, before you have your bearings
Note the name of your accommodation's nearest station or stop - this is your anchor point when you need to orient yourself

Final Thoughts

Public transport in a new city can feel like one of the most intimidating parts of travel when you are staring at it from Australia. But it is also one of the most accessible skills to build - because the tools are right there on your phone, the information is readily available, and the systems themselves are designed to get people from A to B reliably.

Do the research before you go. Download your maps. Cross-check your options. And then get on the train.

You are going to be absolutely fine.