The right European travel apps can save you money, time, and plenty of stress. With a few downloads, you can plan train journeys across borders, find a ride at midnight, translate a menu, split bills with friends, and eat a bakery's leftover pastries for a fraction of the price. Here are the most useful apps for traveling in Europe, and why they deserve space on your phone.
The Best European Travel Apps
Money-saving apps
- Too Good To Go: Buy "surprise bags" of unsold food from bakeries, cafés, and restaurants at the end of the day, usually for a third of the normal price. It is available in most of Western Europe and cuts food waste too.
- Wise or Revolut: Multi-currency accounts and cards with low exchange fees, useful outside the eurozone in countries like the UK, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, and Hungary.
- XE Currency: Quick, reliable currency conversion, even offline.
Transport apps
- Trainline or Omio: Search and book trains and buses across many European countries in one place, with digital tickets.
- National rail apps: Often cheaper and more complete for domestic trips, such as DB Navigator (Germany), SNCF Connect (France), Trenitalia and Italo (Italy), Renfe (Spain), and SBB (Switzerland).
- Citymapper: Excellent public transport directions in major cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Barcelona.
- Ride-hailing: Uber and Bolt are widely available. FreeNow covers taxis in several countries. Note that Uber is limited or unavailable in some places.
- FlixBus: Cheap long-distance buses across the continent.
Maps and navigation
- Google Maps: The all-rounder for directions, opening hours, and reviews. Download offline maps before you go.
- Maps.me or Organic Maps: Detailed offline maps, great for hiking and rural areas.
- AllTrails or Komoot: Hiking and cycling routes, with reviews and elevation profiles.
Apps for solo travelers
- Hostelworld: Book hostels and meet other travelers through the app's chat feature.
- Meetup: Find local events, language exchanges, and walking groups.
- GuruWalk or Freetour: Book tip-based walking tours in hundreds of European cities.
Apps for group trips
- Splitwise: Track shared expenses and settle up at the end.
- TripIt: Forward your booking emails and get a tidy itinerary everyone can share.
- WhatsApp: The most common messaging app in Europe, also used by many hotels and restaurants.
Other useful apps
- Google Translate or DeepL: Translate menus and signs with your camera, and download languages for offline use.
- TheFork: Restaurant bookings and discounts in France, Italy, Spain, and beyond.
- GetYourGuide or Tiqets: Skip-the-line tickets for museums and attractions.
- Official museum and attraction apps: Many, such as the Louvre and Vatican Museums, sell timed tickets that sell out in advance.
Stay Online to Use Your Apps
Most of these apps need mobile data. Free Wi-Fi in cafés and stations is handy, but unreliable when you are on the move. The egoViet Europe eSIM covers 33 countries, from the UK and France to Turkey and Iceland, so you can keep your apps working across borders without roaming fees. Read how an international eSIM works and check how much data you need.
Packing for your trip? See our Europe packing list.
FAQs: European Travel Apps
What is the best app for train travel in Europe?
Trainline and Omio are easiest for searching many countries at once. National apps such as DB Navigator, SNCF Connect, and Trenitalia often have better domestic prices.
Does Uber work in Europe?
Yes, in most big cities, though availability varies. Bolt and FreeNow are popular alternatives.
What is the best translation app for Europe?
Google Translate is the most versatile, with camera translation and offline languages. DeepL is known for very natural translations.
Do I need mobile data for travel apps in Europe?
Most apps work best online. Download offline maps and languages as a backup, and use a Europe eSIM for affordable data across borders.