Travel diary and map apps: how to turn your smartphone into a digital logbook

People who travel slowly usually like to take notes, mark special places and remember the roads they have walked. Apps that combine a travel diary and a map were created exactly for this: they collect GPS tracks, photos and thoughts, and place them on an interactive map that you can browse even after the trip is over.

An interesting example is Strava. Even though it started as a sports app, it is widely used by slow travellers to record walks, bike rides and treks. Every activity becomes a line on the map, with distance, elevation gain and maybe a few photos. In this way, your personal profile turns into a timeline of stages, useful both as a memory and to share routes with other travellers.

If you are looking for something even more narrative, you can try Polarsteps and FindPenguins. Both automatically track your itinerary and let you add “steps” or “moments” with photos, text and impressions. At the end of the trip you get a complete map of your route and, if you want, you can turn the diary into a printed book to leaf through like a photo album.

These apps do not replace a paper notebook, but they can become a great companion for those who travel on foot, by bicycle or by train. On one side you have the precision of GPS, on the other the chance to tell stories, emotions and encounters. The result is a geolocated travel diary, easy to share with friends and family and useful to inspire other travellers.

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