You don’t need 30 travel apps on your phone before every holiday. These are the ones I actually think are worth having for your trip, the apps I use to find my way around, translate menus, pay for things, stay connected, book something last-minute and keep myself entertained on a long journey.

Some are absolute essentials. Others depend on where I’m travelling or what I’m doing. But one thing they all have in common? They make travelling a little bit easier.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you book or purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and services that I use or would genuinely consider using myself.

Google Maps

I genuinely don’t know how I travelled before Google Maps. For me, this is the number one travel app. And I don’t just use it for directions. I use Google Maps to find restaurants, cafés, shops, supermarkets, attractions and pretty much anything else I might need while I’m away. I’ll often open it while I’m walking around a new neighbourhood just to see what’s nearby.

It’s also one of the reasons I created the Leave List Maps. I already use Google Maps so much when I travel, so having all my carefully researched places saved there makes perfect sense.

My favourite thing about it is that everything is in one place. You can see where you are, what’s around you, reviews, opening hours and how long it will take to get somewhere. And please, download your destination’s offline map before you leave. You never know when your signal is going to disappear.

→ Explore the Leave List Maps

Citymapper

If you’re visiting a big city, I also recommend Citymapper. I find it particularly useful when I’m using public transport and don’t know the network very well. It takes away some of the confusion of working out which train, metro or bus you actually need. I wouldn’t say you need it everywhere, but for cities with complicated transport systems, it’s definitely worth having.

Uber, Bolt & Grab

These are very destination-dependent. I tend to check which ride-hailing app is most commonly used where I’m going and download that one rather than filling my phone with all three.

Uber is useful in lots of destinations, Bolt is a great alternative in many European cities, and Grab is particularly useful across much of Southeast Asia.

My tip: Download the app and set everything up before you actually need a taxi. The last thing you want after a long flight is to be standing outside the airport trying to create an account.

Google Translate

Another one I would never travel without. Yes, it’s useful for translating words and conversations, but my favourite feature when travelling is the camera translation. You can point your phone at a menu, sign, food label or information board and instantly get an idea of what it says. And honestly, it has saved me from ordering some very mysterious meals over the years.

I also recommend downloading the language you need for offline use before you leave. That way, you aren’t relying on mobile data when you need a translation.

My tip: Don’t wait until you’re abroad to download everything. Do it at home while you have good Wi-Fi.

Revolut & Wise

I like having a good travel money app on my phone because I want to know what I’m spending without constantly doing mental currency conversions.

I use apps such as Revolut and Wise to manage money abroad, check exchange rates and make payments in different currencies. Which one is best for you will depend on how you travel and what you need from your account, so I won’t try to cover everything here.

I’ve gone into much more detail in my dedicated guide:

→ The Best Travel Money Apps: How to Avoid Currency Conversion Fees

One thing I always recommend: take a backup card with you too. Your phone battery can die, your card can disappear and technology can occasionally decide not to cooperate. A little bit of redundancy when it comes to money is never a bad thing.

Airalo & Saily

I love eSIMs. Not having to find a shop, buy a physical SIM card and spend the first hour of your trip trying to work out how to activate it is a pretty big win in my book. Apps such as Airalo, Saily and Nomad let you arrange your mobile data before you travel, so you can land, switch your phone on and actually have internet straight away.

I always recommend checking the coverage, data allowance and activation instructions before buying, as the best option will depend on your destination and how much data you need.

→ The Best eSIM Apps for Travellers

My tip: If you’re using an eSIM, set it up before you travel if possible. It’s much easier to troubleshoot at home than when you’ve just landed somewhere with no Wi-Fi.

GetYourGuide & Klook

This is one of my favourite categories because I don’t think every part of a trip needs to be planned months in advance. Sometimes you’re already somewhere and suddenly think:

I fancy doing a food tour tomorrow.

I want to see that attraction.

What can we actually do here?

That’s where apps like GetYourGuide and Klook are really useful. GetYourGuide has tours, day trips, attractions and experiences in destinations all over the world. Klook is particularly useful in Asia, with attractions, activities, transport and tickets available through the app.

I like having these on my phone because I can decide while I’m there. I’ve definitely had trips where I planned the main things in advance but then booked an extra activity because I spotted something that looked too good to miss. And that’s exactly how I like to travel: organised enough to make the most of my time, but with enough flexibility to change my mind.

WhatsApp

This one probably doesn’t need much explaining. If you already use WhatsApp at home, you’ll almost certainly use it while travelling too.

It’s useful for keeping in touch with family and friends, but I also find myself using it to contact restaurants, tour companies, drivers, accommodation and people I’ve met while travelling. Just remember that you’ll need an internet connection, so this is another reason I like having mobile data sorted before I arrive.

Destination-specific apps

Some countries have their own apps that are much more widely used than WhatsApp.

My advice is simple: check before you go. You don’t need to download every local app you come across, but if everyone in your destination uses a particular messaging or communication app, it’s worth having it.

A VPN

I’m not going to tell you that you need a VPN for every second of your holiday. But I do think it’s worth having one on your phone, especially if you’re regularly using public Wi-Fi. Think airports, cafés, hotels and other networks where you don’t know exactly who else is connected. A VPN can add an extra layer of privacy and security when you’re online.

My pick: Surfshark. It’s easy to use, works across your devices and is one of the VPNs I’d consider if you want something simple to switch on while travelling. I would install it before you travel, log in, and make sure you know how to connect. You don’t want to be trying to figure it out for the first time while sitting in an airport café.

These aren’t particularly exciting, but they’re the apps I think are worth having just in case.

Your airline’s app

Download your airline’s app. It’s usually the easiest place to find your boarding pass, check your flight status and see gate or schedule updates. I particularly like having it when travelling because I don’t have to dig through my emails every time I want to check something.

Your travel insurance app

If your insurance provider has an app, download it before you go. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but if something does happen, you’ll want your policy details and emergency assistance information without having to search through your inbox.

Google Drive / iCloud / Files

I always think it’s worth keeping important travel documents somewhere you can easily access them from your phone.

For example:

• Passport copy
• Travel insurance details
• Booking confirmations
• Tickets
• Important addresses
• Visa or entry information

Not every useful travel app is about getting around. Sometimes you just need something to make a six-hour journey go a little faster.

Spotify

I always recommend downloading your favourite playlists and podcasts for offline listening before a flight or long train journey. Because relying on airport or plane Wi-Fi to stream your music is a gamble I don’t really want to take.

Netflix & Prime Video

Download something before you leave. I know it sounds obvious, but it’s very easy to forget and then end up scrolling through Netflix on the airport Wi-Fi five minutes before boarding. A few downloaded episodes or a film can make a long flight, train journey or airport wait much more enjoyable.

Kindle & Audible

If you’re a reader, travelling is a great excuse to finally get through that book you’ve been meaning to read. Personally, I love having a few things downloaded before a trip so I can switch off from my phone when I want to.

Don’t download an app just because it’s on a “best travel apps” list. Think about the trip you’re actually taking.

Going to Tokyo? You’ll probably want Google Maps, Google Translate, a good eSIM and Klook.

Doing a European city break? Google Maps, Citymapper, Revolut and your airline app might be all you really need.

Heading on a hiking trip? Add your outdoor and weather apps.

The best travel apps are the ones that solve a problem you actually have. And that’s really what this list is about. I don’t want my phone to make travelling more complicated. I want it to take the annoying little jobs out of travelling so I can spend more time enjoying the trip.