Travel is one of the best adventures you can have, but let’s be real—between flight confirmations, hotel check-ins, metro maps, and dinner reservations, even a “simple” trip can feel like a full-time job.
The good news?
There’s an app for pretty much everything now.
Want to catch a driverless ride in Phoenix or San Francisco? Waymo, the world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service, has you covered.
Need a bathroom ASAP in Rome or Bangkok? Flush Toilet Finder is hilariously handy.
Curious about that random plant in a Paris park? PictureThis will tell you what it is in seconds.
And if you’re just trying to get around, bike rentals in Europe (like Vélib’ in Paris) and Asia (like YouBike in Taipei) are all easily managed through English-friendly apps.
We’ve rounded up the essential (and just-for-fun) travel apps we keep on our own phones, so you can stress less about logistics and spend more time enjoying the ride.
TOP 60 Travel Apps You May Need in 2026
- Waymo One – Driverless car apps are already available and active in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, with plans to expand to Dallas, Washington D.C., and Miami in 2026
- Fitbod – AI workouts tailored to available gym equipment.
- Freeletics – Intense bodyweight training anytime, anywhere.
- HostelWorld – Book hostels and join global social events.
- Meetup – Connect with locals through group activities.
- IQAir AirVisual – Track global air quality in real time.
- Plume Labs: Air Report – Forecasts hourly air pollution levels worldwide.
- Airscope – Monitor live air quality data with global coverage.
- AirQuality – Simple tools to check real-time air conditions.
- SpotHero – Reserve parking spaces before reaching destination.
- Lime – Rent e-bikes and scooters in minutes.
- Vrbo – Full-home rentals ideal for families or groups.
- HipCamp – Unique campsites, cabins, and glamping stays.
- Waze – Navigation app with community-driven traffic updates.
- Citymapper – Simplifies urban travel with real-time routes.
- Transit – Real-time public transport schedules and alerts.
- Trainline – Book trains across the UK and Europe in English.
- Rome2Rio – Compare and book multi-modal journeys worldwide.
- AllTrails – Maps and reviews for hiking worldwide.
- Komoot – Travel app for planning hikes, bike rides, and backpacking routes.
- Komoot (Global Maps) – Offline topo maps for long-distance adventures.
- GetYourGuide – Book guided tours, attractions, and activities.
- Headout – Last-minute tickets, tours, and show discounts.
- Noonlight – One-tap emergency service with location sharing.
- bSafe – SOS alerts and live tracking for safety.
- SOS – Global emergency assistance app for travelers.
- Earthquake + Alerts – Get notified about seismic activity near you.
- Yelp – Discover restaurants, cafes, and local favorites.
- HappyCow – Find vegan and vegetarian dining worldwide.
- Spotted by Locals – Insider city guides written by locals.
- GeoCaching – Join the world’s largest treasure-hunting community.
- Google Translate – Instant text, voice, and image translation.
- iTranslate – Phrasebooks and quick voice-to-voice translations.
- TripIt – Organizes bookings into one simple itinerary.
- Wanderlog – Plan trips collaboratively with offline access.
- Timeshifter – Beat jet lag with science-based schedules.
- Calm – Guided meditation and sleep app for travelers.
- Splitwise – Track shared expenses and settle balances easily.
- TrabeePocket – Manage personal budgets across multiple currencies.
- Xe Money Transfer – Convert currencies and send money abroad securely.
- Wise – Send and receive money internationally with low fees.
- Revolut – Mobile bank for international spending, transfers, and travel perks.
- Miles & More – Track and redeem airline miles with Star Alliance partners.
- Miles Program Apps – Manage loyalty points across multiple airlines.
- Airalo – Buy and activate eSIMs for affordable international data.
- WiFi Map – Find and share free Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide.
- AdGuard – Block ads and trackers for safer browsing.
- NordVPN – Secure internet browsing and access to regional content.
- ExpressVPN – High-speed VPN for privacy and global access.
- Atlys – Get visas quickly and track applications digitally.
- Electronic Travel Advisory (UN) – Stay updated on global safety and travel advisories.
- Drone Assist – Flight planning and safety guidance for drone users.
- Airhub – Drone airspace and compliance tool.
- Jettly – On-demand private jet booking.
- PrivateFly – Book private flights globally.
- PictureThis – Identify plants and flowers instantly.
- Google Lens – Visual search for objects, landmarks, and text.
- Boddy.Travel – AI-powered fitness and wellness suggestions while traveling.
- TrainAway.Fit – Access gyms globally with one pass.
- Vivino – Scan wine labels to discover ratings and reviews.
Fitness on the Road
Travelers looking for fitness centers can rely on apps that work internationally in English. Google Maps is the easiest option—just search “gym” or “fitness center” in any city to see ratings, hours, and directions.
For broader access, ClassPass app is popular across Europe, Asia, and North America, offering entry to gyms, yoga, and fitness studios with one subscription, while Gympass partners with many global gyms (often through employers).
Another useful option is Mindbody, which helps find and book classes like yoga, pilates, or strength training. Together, these apps make it simple for travelers to find workout options wherever they go.
Fitbod
A good hotel with a good gym can be hard to find. Fitbod shines when you’ve got gym equipment available, in a hotel fitness center or even a small rental setup by helping you build routines around what’s on hand and adapts as you go, so you’re never stuck wondering what workout to try next.
The app generates customized strength workouts and tracks recovery levels. It’s free to download with limited features, the premium plan is $15.99/month or $95.99/year.
Freeletics
Sometimes body weight is all you’ve got. If it’s all you’ve got to work with, Freeletics provides high-intensity programs you can run in a hotel room or outdoors. The short workouts are easy to fit into a tight schedule, making it simple to stay active while moving between destinations.
There’s a free version with basic bodyweight exercises, while premium plans range from 3 months ($3.85 to $4.23 p/week), 12 months ($1.83 to $2.40 p/week), and lifetime plans ($274.99 to $334.99 total) unlock personalized AI coaching and nutrition features.
Meeting Friends & Locals
Tinder and Bumble are not just dating apps but also have “friend” modes that help connect with locals socially.
For language and cultural exchange, HelloTalk and Tandem are great for meeting people while practicing languages.
In many Asian cities, WeChat (China) and Line (Japan, Thailand) are also central for making and maintaining local connections.
HostelWorld
We’ve all yearned for the hostel/backpacking life, I’m sure. This makes HostelWorld perfect for social travelers. Many hostels use it to promote social events and activities, so you meet people as soon as you check in. It’s a natural option if you like blending accommodation.
It’s free to use, though hostels may charge booking deposits directly through the app.
Meetup
If you’ve already got a place to stay, Meetup can connect you with locals through activities, like photography walks and casual food tastings. Most events are free, but some organizers charge fees ($5–$20 typically) for activities.
Air Quality Checks
IQAir AirVisual
Need some breathing room on your trip? IQAir delivers reliable city data that covers thousands of locations worldwide and is a solid companion on international trips for those sensitive to air quality. It’s a quick way to decide when or where to spend time outdoors. Free to use, with historical and forecast data included.
Plume Labs: Air Report
Unlike basic trackers, Plume Labs predicts air quality hours in advance. You can plan a morning jog or a day of sightseeing around the times when the air is actually cleaner. The app is free, with advanced features like detailed analytics.
Parking & Bike Rentals
Copenhagen has many local bike rental shops like Copenhagen Bicycles.
Amsterdam offers many affordable bike rental shops charging hourly or daily.
Paris runs the large public bike-share system Vélib’ Métropole with thousands of stations.
London has Santander Cycles (“Boris Bikes”) and also private dockless e-bike services like Forest.
Taiwan operates the YouBike system with thousands of stations and an English-friendly app.
Seoul’s Ttareungyi public bike system has over 40,000 bikes citywide, also app-based.
In India, MYBYK runs in several cities with rentals linked to transit hubs.
In Malaysia, Penang’s LinkBike offers docked rentals across George Town, with free first 30 minutes.
SpotHero
Nothing is worse than hunting for parking as the timer on your schedule is ticking away. SpotHero is useful for travelers who drive or are looking to drive. It allows you to find and book parking in advance, so there’s no circling the block in an unfamiliar city. Having a guaranteed space saves time and reduces stress, especially when visiting crowded urban centers.
The app is free, though parking rates vary by city and time. Many garages offer discounts for app users.
Lime
Wanna avoid the open road? Lime works well for travelers who’d rather not drive. Lime’s e-bikes and scooters are quick to rent, easy to ride, and perfect for covering the gap between a train stop and your hotel.
Unlock fees are usually around $1, plus $0.15–$0.45 per minute depending on location.
Home Rentals & Stays
Vrbo
Step aside AirBnb. Vrbo is best for families or groups by offering whole-home rentals that give space and privacy. Splitting the cost of a house can be cheaper than multiple hotel rooms. The app’s filters also make it easy to find pet-friendly homes or places with kitchens, adding comfort to extended stays. Free to download! Users just pay the rental fees set by owners.
HipCamp
Hotels aren’t the only way to travel. This app lists tent sites as cheap as $20 a night, plus cabins and glamping setups for travelers who want more comfort; both open up new ways to stay in and experience nature.
Free to use, with bookings ranging from $20–$200+ depending on the type of stay.
Alternatives to Google Maps
Waze
Waze is the stand out app for drivers. It reroutes around traffic in real time, making it useful in busy urban areas. The app also relies on community reports for hazards, police checks, and closures, giving drivers practical updates that traditional maps don’t always provide. Completely free for iPhone and Android phones, supported by ads.
Citymapper
For getting around without a car, Citymapper is built for city life, pulling buses, trains, bikes, and walking into one plan, complete with minute-by-minute instructions. First time on the London Underground or the Tokyo Metro? Citymapper makes those transfers painless.
The free version covers most features, the premium “Club” plan ($2.99 p/month) adds extras like AR directions and offline maps.
See all good alternatives to Google Maps here.
Hiking & Outdoor Adventures
AllTrails
AllTrails is trusted worldwide for hiking and, with trail maps and community reviews, it’s a reliable tool when exploring new terrain. The app also includes difficulty ratings and photos from other hikers, which help you decide whether a trail fits your ability and timeframe.
Free basic version, AllTrails+ ($35.99/year), AllTrails Peak ($79.99/year) unlocks offline maps and wrong-turn alerts.
Komoot
Komoot is built for trips that stretch beyond a single afternoon hike. Cyclists can use it to map out long rides, and backpackers rely on its offline topo maps when service drops in the mountains. Elevation profiles and route details also help you prepare for the climbs ahead.
Free for one region, extra regions or global maps cost $8.99 each or $29.99 for unlimited.
Local Transit Navigation
In Europe, Trainline is one of the most popular platforms for booking trains and buses across countries like France, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
Omio also covers trains, buses, and flights, making it easy to compare and book different transport modes. For city transit, apps like Citymapper (available in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome) provide real-time directions across buses, metros, trams, and trains.
In Asia, Klook and 12Go Asia are widely used for booking trains, buses, and ferries in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and Malaysia, all with English interfaces.
Additionally, apps like Japan Transit Planner or Navitime Japan Travel help navigate complex rail systems in Japan, while Seoul Subway and Taipei Metro Go offer clear, English-friendly metro guidance.
Waymo
Waymo One is the world’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service, letting you book a car with no driver behind the wheel. Just open the app, set your pickup and drop-off, and a self-driving Waymo car arrives to take you where you need to go — 24/7.
Prices are similar to Uber or Lyft (usually $10–20 for a short ride across town, depending on distance and time), and you see the fare estimate before booking.
The self-driving car service is live in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, while in Austin and Atlanta, you can book Waymo rides directly through the Uber app. Miami and Washington, DC are next on the rollout. It feels just like using Uber, but the car drives itself.
Transit
For daily urban navigation, Transit is one of the most dependable options out there; it shows live arrival times for buses and trains in hundreds of cities across the globe. You open it, and within seconds you know if you should wait for the next bus or grab the one coming around the corner.
The free version includes real-time schedules, the premium “Royale” subscription ($25/year) adds features like offline maps and better trip planning.
Last-Minute Activities & Tours
If you’re looking for last-minute cheap flights, there are several English-friendly apps that work well worldwide, including Europe and Asia.
Skyscanner is one of the most popular for finding last-minute deals across airlines, with flexible “Everywhere” search to spot the cheapest destinations.
Hopper uses price prediction and can alert you to last-minute drops, while Kiwi.com specializes in combining airlines (including budget carriers) for very cheap fares.
Kayak has an “Explore” feature that shows spontaneous flight deals from your location, and Google Flights is a good option for quickly scanning prices and booking directly with airlines (from August 2025 you can filter out basic economy as well).
For very spontaneous trips, Lastminute.com (especially in Europe) often combines cheap flights with hotels for package deals.
GetYourGuide
With GetYourGuide you can book everything from $15 walking tours to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. One highlight is the “Turning the Lights on at the Vatican Museums” tour in Rome, about $410 per person, where you join the Key Keeper at dawn, help unlock doors, and see the Sistine Chapel before the crowds arrive. Few apps offer access like that.
Free to use, you only pay for tours and experiences, which range from $15 to $500+.
View our selection of the best local guides, apps, and sites.
Headout
Sometimes your trip leans into spontaneity. With Headout, same-day discounts are common, often cutting 10–20% off ticketed shows or attractions in major cities, A popular pick is the Disneyland® Paris 1-Day 1-Park ticket with meals at Brasserie Rosalie starting at about $76, combining entry with a French dining experience.
The app itself is free, bookings vary widely in price depending on city and attraction.
View our selection of the best vacation rental apps.
Emergency & Safety Apps
Noonlight
When something goes wrong, this app connects you directly to emergency services with a single tap. Even if you can’t talk, your location is sent instantly to first responders. That’s a huge comfort if you’re walking alone at night in an unfamiliar place.
Free basic service, the premium plans ($5-10/month) adds features like automatic crash detection and Apple Watch integration.
bSafe
With bSafe you can share your live location with friends or family, and they’ll know exactly where you are. It also offers voice activation and SOS features as another layer of protection. The app is free to download, but premium plans ($0.49-$4.99/month or $49.99/year) unlock unlimited live tracking and video recording.
Food & Restaurant
In Europe, the most popular food delivery apps are Glovo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, with local favorites varying by city (e.g., Just Eat in Madrid, Uber Eats in London and Paris).
In Asia, travelers can easily use GrabFood (via the Grab app) in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, or Foodpanda in Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.
Yelp
Yelp has been around forever. Its still a go-to for people wanting a good place to eat within their budget. When you’re in an unfamiliar city with too many choices, Yelp makes narrowing them down faster and less stressful. Completely free!
HappyCow
HappyCow highlights vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, cafés, and grocery options all over the globe. Instead of scrolling through dozens of mixed reviews, you can filter straight to places that fit your needs and get back to exploring.
$3.99 on the Google Play Store, and $4.99 one-time freon iOS, this unlocks offline access, bookmarks, and filters.
Language Translation
Google Translate
Google Translate has become a must-pack app for international travel. Point your camera at a menu or a street sign and it instantly translates the text, no guessing required. Offline language packs mean it still works when you’re out of service, which makes it invaluable when you land in a place where English isn’t widely spoken.
Free, with over 100 languages supported and offline packs at no extra cost.
iTranslate
iTranslate comes with phrasebooks and voice features that are perfect for short exchanges. Overall, it’s a perfect option when you need quick help in conversation. Free basic use with 100 languages, premium ($4.99 to $99.99) adds offline translation, website translation, and voice-to-voice conversations.
Itinerary Management
TripIt
This handy little app pulls details from confirmation emails and organizes them into a single itinerary. It also updates directly to your google calendar, making it a (mostly) hands off tool. The free version is enough for most users, but TripIt Pro ($49/year) adds extras like real-time flight alerts, seat tracking, and fare monitoring.
Wanderlog
For those who want more control, Wanderlog is the awesome fit. You can add activities, notes, and routes and then share them with friends to collaborate on the trip together! Free version is feature-rich, Wanderlog Pro ($39.99/year) includes offline maps, unlimited expense tracking, and larger trip collaboration.
Here are the top apps for finding cheap flights.
Travel Wellness
Timeshifter
Timeshifter helps fight jetlag with light exposure therapy, sleep timing that aims to reset your body clock. Frequent travelers find it particularly helpful for long-haul flights that cross multiple time zones. Free trial is included, full access costs about $24.99/year or $9.99 for a single jet lag plan.
Calm
Calm takes a broader approach to wellness; it is not primarily a ‘fix my jetlag’ app but through guided meditation, breathing exercises, and sleep stories, it helps travelers rest better in new environments. It’s also a helpful tool to manage stress while constantly changing timezones.
Free basic features, but Calm Premium ($79.99/year) unlocks the full library of meditations, music, and stories. You can also get Calm for Life at a $399.99 one time payment.
See the best wearables for tracking your sleep.
Budget Tracking
Splitwise
Group trips usually mean someone (typically us) fronts cash for meals and taxi rides. Splitwise takes the awkward math out of it by logging each expense. It tracks who paid, and calculates what everyone owes. Instead of debating over receipts at the end of the trip, the app keeps a running balance and even suggests the simplest way to settle up. It’s a quiet tool, but one that prevents the money side of travel from souring good memories.
Free to use, Splitwise Pro ($3/month) adds currency conversion, receipt scanning, and itemized bills.
TrabeePocket
This app is great for solo travelers by tracking personal expenses across currencies and sticking to your daily spending limits. It is especially valuable in destinations where exchange rates fluctuate or where you’re managing multiple expenses at once. Free basic version available, Pro Upgrade $2.99/Pro Monthly $3.99/Pro Annual $29.99 adds multi-currency support, charts, and export features.
Wrapping Up
Travel can get overwhelming, but the right apps simplify everything from meeting locals, fitness and safety to booking and budgeting. With smartphone applications like Citymapper for navigation on Android and iOS, Splitwise for expenses, and Calm for better rest, you spend less time on logistics and more time enjoying the trip.
Explore the travel gadgets you may also need for your trip.
