There are countless articles on the web claiming they have identified the best travel apps. But it can be overwhelming just to decide which articles to trust, much less to make a decision on which apps are really worthwhile. The latest and greatest apps change constantly, so the best app last month might be outdated today. New apps come out all the time and developers stop updating older apps. As a consequence, I add & delete apps on a regular basis.
These are the apps that are currently on MY iPhone. We use these apps all the time, sometimes daily, in Europe.
Travel Apps for Europe:
Getting Around Town
Pocket Earth PRO Offline Maps – My husband is the navigator of the family, and he is obsessed with this app. We have the paid pro version. My step-dad downloaded the free version during his recent visit, but we noticed things didn’t always load on his app like they did on ours. Pocket Earth has helped us find places that we never would have been able to navigate with a standard map. The app also shows restrooms, potable water, points of interest and restaurants. And the best part is, you can use it offline, like the title says. You need neither cellular or wireless connectivity to use.
Free version or $2.99 Pro version
Detailed worldwide maps and travel guides • Works completely offline even with GPS • Great when abroad, NO data roaming charges • All data FREE, no in-app purchases • Online routing and much more!
Rome2rio – Another navigation app that my husband couldn’t live without is Rome2rio. He uses this app to plot our trips and to find the best travel routes. Is it faster to travel by train, plane or car? The app also provides approximate costs for each mode of transportation.
Free
Rome2rio is a comprehensive global trip planner that helps you discover how to get anywhere. You can enter any town, address or landmark as your destination and Rome2rio will instantly display flight, train, bus, ferry and driving options with estimated travel times and fares.
Rail Planner – Offline Timetable for Eurail and Interrail Passes – We used this app for the first time during our trip to Italy. The offline timetable made it easy to explore Bordighera then hop back on the train without wasting our day hanging around the station.
Free
Rail Planner offers everything you need to help plan your rail journey in Europe. It provides offline timetable information for international European trains and connections, synchronising and simplifying cross-European travel.
DB Navigator – Deutsche Bahn – Although this is a German train app, it has train schedules throughout Europe.
Free
With DB Navigator the Deutsche Bahn AG offers you the most comprehensive information service for your journey by ICE, IC, by regional transport, by underground train, bus and tram. The DB Navigator provides access to the timetables of more than 250,000 stops and stations in Germany and Europe – all up-to-date and in real time.