New map styling is coming soon to Google Maps Platform. This update to map styling includes a new default color palette and improvements to map experiences and usability. All map styles will be automatically updated in March 2025. For more information on availability and how to opt in earlier, see New map style for Google Maps Platform.

Map Tiles API overview

Tile API overview The Map Tiles API gives you direct access to Google's 2D Tiles and Photorealistic 3D Tiles. 2D Tiles are image files that depict the world divided into an indexed grid. Like 2D Tiles, 3D Tiles are image files, but they contain photorealistic imagery of buildings, monuments, and other POI, which you have to zoom in to see. You can use 2D and 3D Tiles to build a Google Maps-based immersive experience into your own application.

Why use the Map Tiles API

Map Tiles API is for Google customers who:

Want to build maps experiences without using JavaScript or Mobile SDKs.
- On the desktop, with non-web-based custom apps.
- For custom hardware and other tools that need a map.
- For navigation systems for automotive and aviation.
Want more metadata for Street View than is provided by the Street View Service or Static Street View API.
Want to create highly customized and immersive visualizations in 2D and 3D.

Available Map Tiles

The following thematic Map Tiles are served through the Map Tiles API. For coverage info, review the Google Maps Platform Coverage Details.

Map Theme	Description
Roadmap	The standard Google Maps basemap tiles + overlay data (with roads, buildings, points of interest, and political boundaries)
Satellite	Satellite and aerial imagery
Terrain	A hillshade and contour map that shows natural features such as vegetation
Street View	Street View panoramas with metadata
Photorealistic 3D	A 3D textured mesh with satellite and aerial imagery

How to use the Map Tiles API

2D Tiles

1	Review the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service	For more information, see the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service and Map Tiles API Policies.
2	Get set up	Start with Set up your Google Cloud project and complete the instructions that follow.
3	Get an API key	Create and secure an API key. For more information, see Use API Keys.
4	Get a session token	Retrieve a session token, specifying the `mapType`, and other options for the session.
5	Request 2D Map Tiles	Use your API key and session token to request a map tile, get a panorama ID, or get Street View metadata. If you want to request Street View panoramas, then see Street View Tiles for details.
6	Retrieve viewport information	For basemap, satellite, and terrain tiles, you can retrieve viewport information to get details about the displayed tiles. Viewport requests tell you which regions have imagery, and at what zoom levels, because not all regions support the maximum zoom level of 22.

Photorealistic 3D Tiles

1	Review the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service	For more information, see the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service and Map Tiles API Policies.
2	Get set up	Start with Set up your Google Cloud project and complete the instructions that follow.
3	Get an API key	Create and secure an API key. For more information, see Use API Keys.
4	Request 3D Photorealistic Tiles	Once you have your API key, you can begin accessing photorealistic tiles by specifying a root tileset URL to a 3D Tiles renderer of your choice. For more information, see Getting 3D tiles