A map display apparatus includes a display unit, a data access unit accessible to map data, which includes a map image and character strings, and a control unit that allows the display unit to display the map data on a screen in such a manner that each character string is overlaid on a corresponding position on the map image. The control unit interprets the character string having characters, the number of which exceeding a predetermined maximum number of characters, as a scroll character string. The control unit creates a scroll display field in the corresponding position to the scroll character string and causes the scroll character string to scroll within the scroll display field.