10 Apps You Need for Your Europe Trip

Heading off on a grand European adventure? We're sharing a few tried-and-true ways to navigate, translate, and see the world as you sip, savor, and stroll through Europe like a local. Make your trip a breeze with these 10 easy-to-use and helpful apps.

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1. Ferryhopper

Since you won’t need a car to get around most European vacation destinations, you'll still have a few logistical steps to figure out when it comes to transportation. Going anywhere near the water and needing to take a ferry from one place to another? Ferryhopper is the must-have app! Whether you’re taking a day trip from one Greek island to the next or trying to get from Capri to Positano, you can find ferry timetables and buy tickets in the Ferryhopper app or website.

2. Trainline

Speaking of not needing cars, the easiest way to travel through Europe is by train. As Ferryhopper can get you almost anywhere by boat, you can purchase train tickets quickly and easily through the Trainline app. You can track train times, buy tickets, and select seats within the app. As a bonus, you never have to worry about validating paper tickets in countries like Italy, as the ticket and QR code are right on your phone.

3. Google Translate

Need to convey a message to someone who doesn’t speak your language? Download the Google Translate app, type your message, and the app will read the translation aloud in the selected language. Can’t read anything on the menu? Take a photo through the app to translate the text on the screen into your language! It’s nearly flawless and so helpful.

4. Ridemovi or Lime

Want to get around the city faster than walking without missing the views on the metro? Many European cities, such as Madrid, Rome, and Paris, have Lime and RideMovi electric bikes and scooters to get you around quickly and easily. Download the apps beforehand, and you’ll be ready to ride!

5. Booking.com

Certainly the most robust hotel booking site for European stays, you need to have quick access to your Booking.com reservations and can do so on their handy app. Booking.com offers more than just hotels, though! We've found the best rates with fewer fees than Airbnb. You'll want the app on your phone so you can quickly answer questions about where you're staying when going through customs or filling out official forms.

6. WhatsApp

While Americans don't use it as much, people worldwide use WhatsApp all the time. As a messaging and phone app, WhatsApp allows you to communicate with Airbnb or tour hosts, call restaurants to make reservations, meet up with friends, or keep in touch even after your trip. When we say everyone else uses it, we mean EVERYONE else uses it, so download it soon and start getting used to it!

7. Rideshare Apps

Many rideshare apps work across the continent, but Uber is the one we’ve found that works in most European countries. Lyft and Bolt are common, but Uber is the rideshare app of choice in most places.

8. Google Maps

Google Maps is the perfect app for planning and taking trips to Europe. Save places such as restaurant recommendations or must-visit attractions to your list in advance, and use the map for directions and location scouting while you’re on vacation. We’ve found that Google Maps typically works better than Apple Maps in Europe, but we use both frequently.

9. Get Your Guide

Want to skip the long ticket line for the museum on your vacation itinerary? Download the Get Your Guide app before your trip, and purchase your attraction tickets in advance! It offers ticket variations from skip-the-line access to audio tours to guided tours. When you get to the attraction’s main gate, all you need is the ticket on your phone, and you’re in! 

10. Airbnb

For every other cultural experience you can’t find on the Tiqets or Get Your Guide apps, there are Airbnb Experiences. Download the Airbnb app well before your trip and find the coolest local-led opportunities, from boat rides in the Mediterranean to cooking classes with local grandmas and everything in between.