EveryCityMap Is Now 3D: Search Cities Worldwide

01 · The update

The whole product now speaks the same 3D language.

The first 3D version of EveryCityMap lived in an isolated experiment. It proved that the map could feel like a place rather than a flat picture, but it was separate from the product people actually used. This release moves that engine into the main EveryCityMap flow.

The homepage, city guides, Studio, saved maps, and shared links now connect to one map experience. You can begin with a city, choose a visual theme, switch dimensions, and keep exploring without being sent into a separate prototype.

1. Worldwide searchFind a city by name and open it directly in the 3D Studio.
2. 2D and 3DSwitch perspective without changing the city, theme, or current map view.
3. Six map themesExplore Atlas, Metro, Ink, Paper, Night, and Watercolor.
4. Portable viewsSave a map in My Maps or share the exact perspective through a link.

02 · Global search

The curated city list is no longer the boundary.

EveryCityMap began with 535 prepared cities. Those starting points were useful because each one had a reviewed name, location, and opening frame, but the catalog also made the product look smaller than the map engine had become.

Now, a worldwide search result supplies the location needed to open a city dynamically. The map then loads streets, water, land, and terrain for that view. The curated city guides still help with discovery and visual context; they no longer decide which cities are allowed to open.

03 · How to use it

Search, choose a mood, and find your own angle.

1. Search a cityUse the search button on the homepage, Cities page, or Studio.
2. Open the 3D viewDrag to move, zoom into a neighborhood, and rotate to change direction.
3. Try a themeUse the same city to compare six different ways of reading its geography.
4. Keep the viewSave it to My Maps or create a link that reopens the same perspective.

04 · Two dimensions, two jobs

3D is for exploration. 2D is still the clearest way to make an image.

A 3D map makes terrain, depth, and direction easier to feel. It is the better mode for moving through a city and finding an unexpected viewpoint. A 2D map is more predictable when you need a clean composition for a post, slide, wallpaper, or small print.

Dedicated 3D downloads are not available yet. Until they are ready, share the interactive view or switch to 2D for a PNG. The current options are explained on the pricing and export page.

05 · Why I rebuilt it

A city map should be a place to explore, not only a file to export.

I originally built EveryCityMap around finished 2D artwork. That made export quality the center of the product. While working on 3D, I realized the more interesting moment happens earlier: when someone recognizes a coastline, follows a river, rotates toward a mountain, or searches for the city where they live.

This update keeps the map-making tools, but gives exploration equal weight. The product can grow through cities people search for instead of waiting for me to prepare every location in advance. It also creates a stronger foundation for future city stories, collections, challenges, and saved personal places.

06 · Questions

What to know about the new 3D city map explorer.

1. Does EveryCityMap support every city?Any city returned by worldwide search can open directly in the 3D Studio. The curated city guides are editorial starting points, not an access limit. Map detail varies with the available OpenStreetMap and terrain data for each place.
2. Do I need an account to explore a city in 3D?No. You can search, explore in 2D or 3D, try all six themes, share a view, and export a 2D PNG without creating an account. Saved views can be reopened in Studio on this device.
3. What is included in a shared 3D map link?A shared link preserves the city, theme, location, zoom, and 2D or 3D perspective. The person opening it can continue exploring from that same view.
4. Can I export the 3D map as an image or model?Not yet. Interactive 3D views can be shared today. For an image download, switch to 2D and export a free PNG up to 2160 pixels on the longest edge.