Display of the recommended route in a navigation device

The device has a display unit for showing a map image generated by a rendering section on a screen. The rendering section generates the map image having a recommended route overlaid on it in accordance with a determined display orientation of the recommended route. An orientation determining section selects several points on the recommended route, and determines a vector using the selected points to determine the display orientation of the recommended route. The points are selected from a segment starting from the current position of a mobile unit and ending at a point which is a predetermined distance away from the current position. A locating section derives the current position of the mobile unit to which the navigation device is mounted. A route searching section derives the recommended route. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) Displaying a recommended route for a mobile unit; and (b) Computer program for generating the map image of the navigation device.