Plotting Google Map using folium package?

Folium is a powerful Python library that allows you to create interactive Leaflet maps. These interactive maps are ideal for building dashboards and visualizing geospatial data.

Installation

Installing folium is straightforward using pip ?

pip install folium

Creating a Basic Map

Let's start by creating a simple map centered on Hyderabad, India ?

import folium

# Create a map centered at latitude 17.3616, longitude 78.4747 (Hyderabad)
# zoom_start controls initial zoom level (higher = more zoomed in)
map_obj = folium.Map(location=[17.3616, 78.4747], zoom_start=4, tiles='Stamen Terrain')

# Save the map as HTML file
map_obj.save('basic_map.html')
print("Basic map created and saved as 'basic_map.html'")

Basic map created and saved as 'basic_map.html'

Adding GeoJSON Data

You can add geographical features using GeoJSON format. Here's how to plot random points ?

import folium
import numpy as np
from folium import features

# Generate random coordinates around a central point
N = 100
lons = 5 - np.random.normal(size=N)  
lats = 48 - np.random.normal(size=N)

# Create GeoJSON data structure
geojson_data = {
    'type': 'FeatureCollection',
    'features': [
        {
            'type': 'Feature',
            'geometry': {
                'type': 'MultiPoint',
                'coordinates': [[lon, lat] for (lat, lon) in zip(lats, lons)],
            },
            'properties': {'name': 'Random Points'}
        },
    ],
}

# Create map and add GeoJSON layer
map_geo = folium.Map([17.3616, 78.4747], zoom_start=10)
map_geo.add_child(features.GeoJson(geojson_data))
map_geo.save('geojson_map.html')
print("GeoJSON map created successfully")

GeoJSON map created successfully

Adding Markers with Popups and Icons

Markers help highlight specific locations. You can customize them with icons and popup messages ?

import folium
from folium import features

# Create a map centered on Charminar
map_marker = folium.Map([17.3616, 78.4747], zoom_start=15)

# Create marker with custom icon and popup
marker = features.Marker([17.3616, 78.4747])
popup = folium.Popup('Charminar - Historic Monument')
icon = features.Icon(color='red')

# Add components to marker
marker.add_child(icon)
marker.add_child(popup)

# Add marker to map
map_marker.add_child(marker)
map_marker.save('marker_map.html')
print("Marker map with popup created")

Marker map with popup created

Creating Interactive Charts in Popups

For advanced visualizations, you can embed charts in popups using Vincent library ?

# First install vincent: pip install vincent
import folium
from folium import features
import numpy as np
import json
import vincent

# Generate sample data for scatter plot
N = 50
scatter_data = {
    'x': np.random.uniform(size=(N,)),
    'y': np.random.uniform(size=(N,)),
}

# Create Vincent scatter plot
scatter = vincent.Scatter(scatter_data, iter_idx='x', height=200, width=300)
chart_data = json.loads(scatter.to_json())

# Create map with embedded chart
map_chart = folium.Map([17.3616, 78.4747], zoom_start=10)
marker = features.Marker([17.3616, 78.4747])
popup = folium.Popup('Data Visualization')
vega_chart = features.Vega(chart_data, width='100%', height='100%')

# Build the marker hierarchy
marker.add_child(popup)
popup.add_child(vega_chart)
map_chart.add_child(marker)

map_chart.save('chart_map.html')
print("Map with embedded chart created")

Common Map Tile Options

Conclusion

Folium makes it easy to create interactive maps in Python with support for markers, popups, GeoJSON data, and embedded visualizations. Use it for geospatial analysis, dashboard building, and location-based data storytelling.