A couple on a trip to Rome (Image: iStock)

Imagine visiting the Colosseum in Rome and watching the gladiators fight and the crowds cheer. Or, stroll through the gardens of historic Kyoto and attend a grand tea ceremony. All this but with the help of augmented reality (AR). As technology becomes more and more a part of travel and travel becomes about “experiences,” the world of AR is helping to make travel more immersive by blending the physical and digital worlds.

What is augmented reality?

At its core, AR is a technology that overlays computer-generated images, sounds, or sensory data onto the real world. Unlike virtual reality (VR), which immerses users in a fully fabricated environment, AR enhances the physical world, making your environment interactive and engaging in real time. For travel, AR offers travelers an additional level of engagement with the world around them, accessible through apps and AR glasses.

How does AR help improve your travel experience?

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Brings historic sites to life with interactive 3D visualizations

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Provides navigation aids for visually impaired travelers
*Makes travel more attractive and accessible, overcoming the challenges faced by tourists

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AR apps help travelers understand foreign languages ​​– from menus to road signs to real-time translations

(With inputs from Suresh Iyer, co-founder of an AR travel app)

Before you travel, check if your destination offers AR experiences. Many cities and tourism offices are partnering with augmented reality companies to provide these digital guides and immersive experiences.

Vani Sharma, Travel Experience Creator

An AR app helping a tourist navigate (Image: iStock)

Here’s what AR apps can help you with:

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Navigation

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Obtain historical information using analysis

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Virtual guides and animated stories

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Translation

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Capture and book travel experiences in 3D, creating a personalized digital souvenir of your trip
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With contributions from Yashagya Handa, Principal Engineer, Google Lens, an AR travel app)

With AR, you don’t just look at the monuments, you learn about the events that made these places important

Kanika Verma, digital tourism strategist

A mini guide to help you on your next trip

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Download AR apps:

Popular apps like Google Lens, AR City, and History Here offer interactive maps and virtual tours

*Explore location-specific AR experiences:

Cities like Paris and Rome offer AR guides with rich historical content

*Use interactive features:

Enjoy virtual historical tours and other immersive AR features to enhance your tourism experience

(With input from Vani Sharma, a travel experience designer)

A woman using AR to enhance her trip to Japan (AI-generated image for representation purposes only)

Cities are leading the way in AR travel

*Rome:

Offers AR experiences that let you see the Colosseum in its heyday

*Paris:

AR-enhanced tours of the Louvre for an immersive experience

*Kyoto:

AR apps allow visitors to participate in traditional tea ceremonies and explore historic gardens

*New York, London, Tokyo:

Using AR to deliver immersive travel experiences at key locations

*Dubai:

Using AR to visualize futuristic attractions and developments

I wanted something more than the usual fridge magnets. With AR, I could capture moments digitally, like a virtual diary. I even took home a 3D image of a Japanese temple, it’s my favorite souvenir from the trip

Priya Yadav, travel blogger who recently visited Kyoto