what3words

What is what3words?

what3words has divided the entire world into 3 × 3 meter squares and assigned a unique three-word combination to each. Instead of imprecise GPS coordinates or an address that no one can find in the field, you can say ///stow.polite.living - and you know exactly what place it is.

Why it makes sense for travelers

Traditional addresses work great in cities. But what if you need to direct a friend to a specific festival entrance, a trailhead, a bivouac in the forest, a beach with no house number, or a parking lot near an unnamed trail?

• Precise - an address refers to a 9 m² square, not an entire street or building.
• Memorable - you'll remember three words better than 49.8175° N, 15.4730° E.
• Works offline - the app has a downloaded database; GPS coordinates don't need a signal.
• Localized - also available in Czech, so the words make sense.

When you'll appreciate it

• Meeting at a festival / concert: you send three words, and everyone finds the exact tent, not just "somewhere near the north gate."
• Emergency in the field: Czech rescuers and the Fire and Rescue Service know and use what3words if you can't describe the location otherwise.
• Transportation to an unmarked place: entrance to a private guesthouse, loading point at a market, trekking hut without an address.
• Meeting in a city where you don't speak the language: you don't have to dictate a street in Thai; three English words are enough.

How it works in practice

1. Download the app (Android / iOS) or open what3words.com.
2. Find a place on the map - the app will show you its three words.
3. Share the three words via WhatsApp, SMS, or dictate them over the phone.
4. The recipient enters them, and the app guides them to the exact square.

Limits worth knowing about

what3words does not replace Google Maps or Mapy.cz for classic navigation and finding points of interest. It's an add-on - a tool for sharing and finding precise locations where conventional addresses fail.