Nine Travel Apps That Are Worth The Download 

In the age of technology, there’s no denying that travel apps can be our best companions when on our adventures. It’s not just about using our phones to keep us safe, it’s also about having the tools to connect with our surrounding and building relationships in foreign environments with ease. 

I can’t live without Google Maps, even in my hometown, because I have absolutely no sense of direction, and Google Translate, despite its faults, is one of the best ways to communicate simple statements in local languages.  

Read on to discover some of my five favourite travel apps to have downloaded when travelling – you might be inspired to download them yourself!

The Best Travel Apps Of 2023

Navigation Apps

Citymapper

Google Maps is the navigation app, but Citymapper is just as useful when you’re using a city’s public transport network. The travel apps’ highlight is that it allows travellers to find the quickest and easiest route between two points of interest, factoring in all available modes of transport including, trams, ferries, bikes, and rideshares. You can also save places and maps to access them offline. 

Download Citymapper here.

Google Maps

Beyond the obvious fact that this is the most popular and practical travel app, Google Maps is great for itinerary-creating travellers because you can use colour-coded pins to plan your trip. It’s also a fantastic place to find unusual and less popular attractions as they pop up along your path.

Another great feature is, of course, the offline maps function which serves well if you don’t have access to WIFI or data. 

Download Google Maps here.

Translation Apps

Google Translate

Whether you’re in Kenya or Kuwait, Portugal or Peru, Google Translate is the handy little dictionary every traveller should be using. It allows you to download languages so you always have access to the translation tools, making it easy to communicate with locals in their native language (never expect people to speak English just because you do). 

Beyond this very handy element, you not only have the option to translate through typing but can use the speech feature whereby you can say something from your native tongue and have it feed out through the language of your choice.

Do keep in my mind that Google Translate is not perfect, so keep the phrases as simple as you can.

Download Google Translate here.

SayHi

As travellers, our primary use for translation apps is for holding conversations, and SayHi is the perfect download for this. The app hosts 100 languages, with dialect support, and allows you to communicate with ease by providingsimultaneous, direct translation as you’re speaking. As a result, you don’t have to manually switch which languages because the AI technology will automatically recognize and switch between the two. There is also an option to slow down audio playback!

Download SayHi here.

Outdoor Adventure and Activity Apps

AllTrails

With over 300,000 curated trails, AllTrails is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers searching for their next perfect hike or cycling route. The travel app also allows you to share your favourite trails with friends and has GPS tracking in case you get lost – and trust me, that happens pretty often when you’re out in the wild. 

Download AllTrails here.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is one of the largest platforms for booking activities worldwide, and while web users can get easily comfortable with the website, the app is even better! Book attractions on the go and have e-tickets land directly into your pocket with a click of a button. 

Download GetYourGuide here.

Finance Apps

Splitwise

Whoever invented Splitwise is my hero. The travel app is perfect for tracking expenses when you’re travelling as a pair or in groups and want to ensure everyone contributes equally. Using the app is as easy as creating a group, inviting individuals and saving and splitting your spending with said members. At the end of the trip, Splitwise will calculate how much one person may owe the other, so you don’t have to worry your pretty little mind with the complicated math.

The app also offers 100 currencies in which to add expenses, which means working out currency conversion goes out the window.

Download Spiltwise here.

Restaurant Suggestion Apps

Happy Cow

Simply searching ‘vegan and vegetarian restaurants near me’ in Google doesn’t always work as perfectly as we wish, and this is where Happy Cow comes in. The vegan food app makes it easy to find the best vegan options in your area – and can be used all over the world. You can search by cuisine, location or type of establishment and features reviews from fellow travellers, so you have an idea of what you’ll be getting yourself into for your next meal.

Download Happy Cow here.

Yelp

Truthfully, I don’t use Yelp all that much, but I know people that love it because it offers access to customer reviews on more than just restaurants and cafes. Yelp makes it easy to find dining options within your budget, and cravings and results can be sorted according to distance, price and ratings. 

Download Yelp here.