Install
npx skillscat add aws-samples/sample-strands-agent-with-agentcore/google-maps Install via the SkillsCat registry.
The Google Maps skill enables an AI agent to search for places, obtain geocodes, retrieve directions, and display interactive maps. It solves the need to locate and navigate to specific locations programmatically. Use it when an agent requires place information or routing between coordinates or addresses.
Google Maps
Available Tools
search_places(query, location?, radius?, type?, open_now?, language?): Search for places using text query.
query(string, required): Search text (e.g., "restaurants in Seoul")location(string, optional): Center location as "lat,lng" (e.g., "37.5665,126.9780")radius(integer, optional): Search radius in meters (max 50,000)type(string, optional): Place type filter (e.g., "restaurant", "tourist_attraction", "hotel")open_now(boolean, optional, default: false): Only return currently open placeslanguage(string, optional, default: "en"): Language code
search_nearby_places(location, radius, keyword?, type?, rank_by?, open_now?, language?): Search near specific coordinates.
location(string, required): Center as "lat,lng" (e.g., "37.5665,126.9780")radius(integer, required): Search radius in meters (max 50,000)keyword(string, optional): Search keywordtype(string, optional): Place type filterrank_by(string, optional, default: "prominence"): "prominence" or "distance"open_now(boolean, optional, default: false): Only open placeslanguage(string, optional, default: "en"): Language code
get_place_details(place_id, language?, reviews_sort?): Get detailed place info including reviews and hours.
place_id(string, required): Place ID from search resultslanguage(string, optional, default: "en"): Language codereviews_sort(string, optional, default: "most_relevant"): "most_relevant" or "newest"
get_directions(origin, destination, mode?, alternatives?, avoid?, language?): Get directions between two locations.
origin(string, required): Starting point (address or "lat,lng")destination(string, required): Destination (address or "lat,lng")mode(string, optional, default: "driving"): "driving", "walking", "bicycling", "transit"alternatives(boolean, optional, default: false): Return alternative routesavoid(string, optional): "tolls", "highways", or "ferries"language(string, optional, default: "en"): Language code
geocode_address(address, language?, region?): Convert a text address to geographic coordinates.
address(string, required): Address to geocodelanguage(string, optional, default: "en"): Language coderegion(string, optional): Country code for regional bias
reverse_geocode(latlng, language?): Convert coordinates to a human-readable address.
latlng(string, required): Coordinates as "lat,lng" (e.g., "37.5665,126.9780")language(string, optional, default: "en"): Language code
show_on_map(map_type, markers?, directions?, center?, zoom?): Display locations or routes on an interactive map.
map_type(string, required): "markers" (location pins), "directions" (route), or "area"markers(array, required for "markers"): List of marker objects with lat, lngdirections(object, required for "directions"): Route data with origin and destinationcenter(object, optional): Map center {lat, lng}zoom(integer, optional): Zoom level 1-20
Usage Guidelines
- ALWAYS call show_on_map after collecting location data — visual maps are the primary value.
- Preserve
place_idfrom search results for use withget_place_details. - Infer transportation mode from context (driving for long distances, walking for short ones).
- Show 1-5 most relevant places per map.
Response Pattern
Follow the Text -> Map -> Text sequence. Do NOT call show_on_map in parallel with other tool calls.
- Text: Introduce what you'll show
- Map: Call
show_on_mapto display results - Text: Explain the results
Multiple categories: Use separate maps in sequence — never parallel.