How to Enhance Navigation and Wayfinding in Your Tour

Effective navigation and wayfinding are essential for self-guided tours, ensuring visitors can explore with confidence and ease. STQRY provides a range of tools to help users navigate self-guided tours effortlessly. With built-in mapping, visual and audio cues, and structured wayfinding features, you can create an intuitive experience for your visitors. 

This guide will walk you through the key features and best practices for optimizing navigation in your STQRY tour.

1. Provide a Clear Tour Overview

A well-structured introduction sets the stage for users, helping them understand the route, key stops, and how to interact with the tour. You can include:

• A welcome message with a brief overview of what users can expect.
• An outline of the tour route and estimated duration.
• Instructions on how to navigate through the app.

Example: Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum:

Welcome to the grounds of the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum! This self-guided Walking Tour starts at the sign in the parking lot, directly facing Highway 28/F Street, near the EV charging station. (So if you’re not there, head on over before proceeding!)
This tour is designed to walk you through a slice of early Quincy history and culture. You’ll get a virtual peek of our indoor exhibits — even when the doors are closed!
How this tour works:
1. There are 7 stops on this walking tour. Each stop has a few screens of information. Walk around in the immediate area as you listen to the audio narration, or relax on a bench to read more about our history.
2. At the end of each stop, a map will show you where to walk next.
3. Each stop features links to optional “sidequests” to deepen your learning. You can also access these later from the home screen.
4. Lose your way? Click the folded-map icon at the bottom of the tour screen. You can also click the magnifying glass to scan the QR code at a Walking Tour signpost, or enter the number code of the stop using the app keypad.
Walking Tour order: (1) Parking Lot, (2) Reiman-Simmons House, (3) Windmill, (4) Summer Kitchen, (5) Pioneer Church, (6) Granary and Heritage Barn, (7) Quincy Bell and Flagpole.
Ready? Let’s begin your journey!

2. Use GPS and Custom Maps for Seamless Navigation

STQRY offers GPS mapping and geofencing capabilities, enabling real-time navigation and automatic content triggers based on a user's location.

Custom maps can also be uploaded to match your tour’s unique layout.

Example: The Walt Disney Family Museum features three detailed floor plans, each with distinct markers to help visitors easily navigate different levels of the museum.

3. Leverage STQRY’s In-App Navigation Features

STQRY’s navigation tools help users stay on track with minimal effort. Key features include:

• QR Code Scanning & Keypad Entry: Allow users to scan QR codes or enter numeric codes to access relevant content, making navigation interactive and accessible.
• In-App Navigation with Mapbox – STQRY’s built-in turn-by-turn navigation, powered by Mapbox, seamlessly guides users from stop to stop, providing real-time directions and arrival notifications. This eliminates the need to switch between apps, ensuring a smooth and intuitive wayfinding experience.

Example: The Art Bikes App provides several mapped experiences, each experience includes turn-by-turn navigation and audio guides that play automatically when you reach a destination.

Please note that the turn-by-turn navigation may be limited if you are not near the tour location. Below is a demo showcasing this feature.

4. Enhance Visual Wayfinding with Markers

Using consistent icons and colors helps users quickly identify key locations.

• Upload or create your tour route and customize its colors to differentiate various paths.
• Adding numbers to guide users along a specific path.
• Custom icons can mark points of interest, rest areas, or parking locations.

Example: Jackie Robinson Museum provides visual markers for each stop, ensuring users know where to go next, even between audio instructions.

5. Incorporate Interactive Panoramic Views

For indoor or site-specific tours, panoramic images with interactive hotspots can enhance the experience. Users can explore their surroundings virtually before arriving at a location.

Example: Taliesin Preservation uses panoramic views to allow visitors to explore architectural details with directional arrows guiding them through the space.

6. Give Clear Instructions Through Media

STQRY allows you to provide navigation instructions through multiple formats, including:

• Audio: Guide users with spoken directions (e.g., "Turn left at the next intersection").
• Video: Show landmarks or key turns for better orientation.
• Images: Provide step-by-step visual instructions.

Example: Bike Grand Canyon integrates geofencing with audio instructions, delivering turn-by-turn guidance that allows cyclists to ride uninterrupted while receiving real-time navigation cues.

Whether leveraging GPS maps, panoramic images, media-based instructions, or geofenced content, STQRY ensures visitors enjoy a seamless and immersive experience.

For additional guidance, explore our help articles or contact our support team at support@stqry.com. Happy app building!