Travel Tips Mobile Apps This Hidden Apple Maps Feature Lets You Virtually Visit Cities Around the World You can virtually visit cities around the world, from New York to Tokyo, with a click of a button. By Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Skye Sherman is a freelance travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida, a (rare) fourth-generation Floridian. After completing an internship at Palm Beach Illustrated and graduating from college in 2016, she dove into travel writing, testing the waters by growing her own blog and Instagram. Upon embarking on a six-month trip around the world as a digital nomad — and eventually diving into freelance writing full-time — she began writing for major publications, soon seeing her byline in USA Today, Atlas Obscura, Matador Network, The Epoch Times, and various other print and digital publications. Skye began writing for Travel + Leisure in 2018 (her first assignment was to break the news about Florida's Brightline train between Miami and Orlando and was due back the same day). She has written for a wide variety of print and digital publications, penning everything from cover stories on up-and-coming actresses to travelogues of cross-country train rides to the Palm Beaches' 30 Under 30 to breaking news. Before pursuing travel writing, she worked as the influencer marketing manager at Monq, a wellness company. She has also edited a handful of independently published books. Aside from traveling, she's also a private pilot, scuba diver, and self-proclaimed bookworm. She has visited 45 countries so far and hopes to visit all 195 during her lifetime. When she's not writing, she's probably watching a documentary or laying in the sunshine reading a thriller. * 10+ years of experience working as an editor * 5+ years of experience working as a freelance writer covering travel and lifestyle topics * 5+ years of experience in SEO and content strategy * Former contributing editor at Palm Beach Illustrated (print) * Essay accepted for presentation at Sigma Tau Delta 2015 Convention * Named Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges in 2014 * Ongoing supporter of Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County * Received a bachelor's degree in English from Palm Beach Atlantic University, with a minor in psychology Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 9, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email While lockdowns remain in place around the world and international travel is largely off-limits — if not impossible — we’re all looking for a way to escape, a way to break out of the mundane day-to-day routine and get a taste of the travel we all miss so much. Believe it or not, there’s a little-known feature hiding within the very phone you’re likely holding right now that allows you to do just that. Best of all, a similar real-life experience would cost thousands of dollars, if it’s even available. That’s because while using the Flyover tool on Apple Maps, which Apple calls “a bird’s-eye view of your favorite cities,” you can virtually fly through more than 350 cities around the world, swooping past their major landmarks and seeing the destination in a way that’s pretty much impossible in real life. You’ll feel like a bird or masked superhero, or like you’re buzzing around in a private helicopter. Try it now: Type in the name of one of the cities equipped with this virtual tour, click the “Flyover” button, and then press “Start City Tour,” which will steer you around major landmarks, or follow wherever your curiosity leads by navigating the city in 3D with your own fingers. You can zoom, pan, tilt, and rotate your phone to tour the sights from above, thanks to high-res photorealistic VR technology. A similar feature, called Look Around, offers an interactive 3D preview with 360-degree views of 17 cities around the world, including Dublin, Oahu, and Tokyo. It may not be quite the same as walking (or flying) through a city, complete with all its sounds and smells, but the experience is pretty immersive. It’ll awaken the part of your brain that loves to explore, recalling cherished memories of wandering around unfamiliar locales and making new discoveries along the way. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit