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I spent some time in Italy this past summer, and these are the best app you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY download before your trip! I only found out about some of these apps during my trip, so learn from my experience and be fully prepared for your Italian travels.
Better yet, download these free travel apps to your mobile phone in your home country.These travel apps will make your trip to Italy more convenient and seamless! Read along this blog post for a list of best travel apps.
Table of contents
Transportation Travel App 🚅:
1. Trenìt!
What can I do with this travel app?
Get the most up-to-date train schedule, most accurate train platforms, GPS positioning, and buy tickets to Italian trains.
You can buy your train tickets with other apps and plan your train travel accordingly. BUT for up-to-date train schedules, platform transfers, and real-time information, use Trenìt! This application aggregates train data from Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord, Ferrovie del Sud Est. This app is vital for travel planning the best routes to your favorite cities.
The user interface is, admittedly, not my favorite- it’s kind of outdated and hard to read at times. However, what it lacks in UI and UX is made up by its display accuracy for any changes you encounter during your trip! Believe me, you’ll have quite a few (voluntary or involuntary) delays or changes during your trip 😢.
In that case, your platforms might be swapped last minute, or your train might come late. The most reliable information would always be on this app. Always, always reference this on the go; I found out about this app from my seatmate on the train, and this was after I got off at the wrong station beforehand! 😭
2. Trainline
What can I do with this travel app?
Buy train tickets all over Europe!
I recommended this app in my travel apps to download before going to Paris post, but I would totally recommend it once more for any Italian trip! This is my favorite app to actually purchase European train tickets and have them available for quick access. Its interface is simple and straightforward, and I was able to save my card to buy all my French and Italian intercity train tickets. I also tried Omio, but this one is my favorite for longer travels for sure!
The e-Ticket will show up as a QR code that you can scan at the train station gate. The best thing is, I was also able to choose my seat numbers to ensure I can seat nearby my luggage. I really prefer to sit where I can see my belongings. You can never be too safe, right?
3. Uber
What can I do with this app?
Get convenient rides within a city!
I have to confess, I committed a cardinal sin when I went on my trip. The worst European travel mistake of all: I brought a giant luggage! 😭😭
Most Italian cities are lined with uneven cobblestones, which made the experience of dragging my big luggage even worse than in France (their sidewalks are mostly flat, compared to Italy). Especially the streets of Rome! The stonework, while appears beautiful in pictures, sadly became an involuntary F45 session in reality.
A 15-minute walk from the train station left me with little will to live when I finally reached my Airbnb. After plenty of curses and regrets, I decided to use Uber to transfer back and forth to the local train station. Honestly, best 10-15 EUR I have ever spent- especially since I was traveling solo.
You can register your debit card or credit card as a payment method. Make sure it is from Visa or Mastercard to be able to use it internationally.
Activities Travel App 🏛️:
1. Get Your Guide
What can I do with this app?
Book tours, classes, experiences, and admission tickets!
In light of my trip, I found that Get Your Guide is one of the most convenient apps to sign up for tours or other activities. It is also the most widely used apps for experiences and admissions! Through this app, I found a Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto factory, and balsamic vinegar tour in Parma and Modena 😋.
Additionally, I also used it to book a Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum tour in Rome- although I cannot recommend this particular tour provider. On the whole, the guide’s explanation was unclear and I left the tour not knowing much more than when I started.
In Rome, you can book tickets to Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel. See the treasures of the Vatican museum in St. Peter’s Basilica. Buying tickets online ensures easy access and less queues.
In Florence, you can buy tickets or book tours to the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia (where Michelangelo’s David is)! I find it very easy to quick access all the admission tickets in the form of QR codes from the app.
2. Airbnb
What can I do with this travel app?
Book experiences, tours, classes, and find places to stay!
I said it and will say it again: Airbnb experience can be a gold mine! This is a very handy app since you can browse through Experiences available in one area and book stays, all in the same application. There are photographers, cooking class, food tours, even haunted tours that are all available here!
Travel tips: if the date/time you want is full, message the host. You might be able to book directly with them!
One of the best experiences I found was a photographer to capture my time in certain cities I fell in love with. It was an awesome way to commemorate my travel journey, a memorable time for sure. It is also a good app to find photographers for your pre-wedding or engagement photoshoots! You can browse a sample of their work and choose from there.
Read about my experience joining a pasta and pizza class in Rome here!
Communication App 🤳:
1. WhatsApp
What can I do with this travel app?
Get in touch with Italians!
I found that most Italians use WhatsApp, and it is a free app! It is the most convenient way to get in touch with tour providers or other service providers after booking.
My food tour provider in Parma and my pizza class in Rome both used this app, and it is indeed the best way to contact them.
Travel App for Stays 🛏️:
1. Booking.com (for full-service hotels)
I find Booking.com ‘s app to be very convenient to reserve rooms in advance. This is especially needed if you are applying for a visa! Usually a proof of hotel bookings need to be submitted, and you can find bookings that are free in advance in this site. Not all hotels will allow you to book without payment!
This is one of the most must-have apps for Schengen visa applicants.
2. Airbnb (for unique stays at reasonable prices)
I booked some stays through Airbnb during my Italy trip. Though I prefer to use it if I am staying 5 days or longer!
Airbnb can be a mixed bag depending on the host, thankfully I only met excellent ones during my recent travel. They can accommodate uncommon travel times as well, as long as you let the hosts know. It is best to book when you are traveling with 2 parties or more, because the units can usuall accommodate larger parties. Best for cost sharing.
One thing for sure though, take pictures of the room before you check out! Better yet, take a video and show that the appliances are working well. I have been burned too many times before with weird charges after I leave. I used to think that taking a picture of the room is enough, but turns out I have to be more thorough.
3. Hostelworld (for hostels)
For those tightly watching their travel expenses, book your stays with Hostelworld. It has good UI, and you are also able to chat with people who are coming to the Hostel at the same time!
If you are traveling solo or just looking for fun people to hang out with, hostels are your answer. Be aware that for the cheapest prices you’d need to share the room with people.
Travel tips: Bring your own travel towel, you can use it as a curtain for the lower bunk beds as well!
Food App 🍝:
1. Too Good to Go
What can I do with this travel app?
Purchase food-filled mystery boxes from restaurants!
This app has been very popular lately on social media! I really enjoy people unboxing their Too Good to Go orders. The aim of this app is to reduce food waste by giving a commerce platform for restaurants to sell leftover (but still good to eat!) food.
Customers buy mystery boxes on the app, only knowing the (much larger) retail value of the goods inside. Too Good to Go has got fairly wide coverage in Europe and is just starting to pick up in the US.
Download it and try it out to save more on dining out! You can pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Paypal.
2. Google Maps
What can I do with this travel app?
Navigate and view restaurant reviews from locals and tourists from all over the world!
Truthfully, I still rely on Google Maps reviews to pick my restaurants. An important tip is to aim to come at odd hours if you’re trying to avoid the crowds! This is especially true for popular restaurants in highly-visited neighborhoods like Trastevere in Rome. With this in mind, my rule of thumb is to go to popular restaurants at 5-6 pm, since Italians usually have dinner at 8 pm or later.
Additionally, it is best to download offline maps of the major cities you are planning to visit. I find the the easiest way to get around just in case you have unstable internet connection. SIM cards or eSIMs can be tricky, and sometimes I do not have coverage in certain parts of the country. So be prepared for offline use!
Finally, I hope this guide for travel apps is helpful to you! Enjoy your trip and have plenty of fun 💕
P.S. = If you are planning your trip to Italy, check out my guide to Cinque Terre! Heading to France as well? Find out the best apps before your travel!
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