How to Use Google Street View to Explore Places Virtually

Google Street View is a feature inside Google Maps that lets you see 360-degree, ground-level photographs of streets, neighborhoods, businesses, and landmarks anywhere in the world. Instead of viewing a map from above, you can "walk" down a street and look around in every direction — as if you were standing there yourself.

Street View is useful in many practical ways. Before a doctor's appointment, you can look at the building entrance to know which door to use. Before a first visit to a restaurant, you can see the parking lot layout. Before traveling somewhere new, you can preview what the streets look like so the area feels less unfamiliar when you arrive.

Google has photographed over 220 countries and territories using special cameras mounted on cars, bikes, and even backpacks for trails and buildings. The images are updated regularly — though not in real time — so they accurately reflect what a location looks like in most cases.

Street View is available on the Google Maps website on a computer and inside the Google Maps app on your phone. It is completely free to use and requires no account or sign-in.

One thing to know: Street View is not a live feed. You are looking at photographs taken in the past, typically within the last few years. If a building has been demolished or a street has changed significantly, Street View may not reflect the current state.