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12 smartphone apps you really need to download before you go on holiday
We've rounded up recommendations for iOS and Android that help you pack wisely, relax on lengthy flights and explore new cities
When preparing for a holiday, you'll likely find yourself juggling transport plans, travel insurance and packing. But if you can find the time, our experts have some handy mobile apps to make your trip even more enjoyable.
Prepare your phone ahead of a break away and it will quickly become a treasured travel companion, keeping you in touch with loved ones and simplifying complicated public transport networks. But remember the benefits of taking a break from your screen, too.
Keep scrolling for a selection of apps that we think deserve a spot on your phone's home screen. You'll also find tips on using offline maps and managing your data allowance.
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Smartphone apps for travelling
1. Duolingo – for learning a new language
Price: Free (£4.99 a month lets you retake lessons as many times as you like)
Available on: iOS, Android
If you're travelling abroad, you might fancy learning a couple of key phrases beforehand. Duolingo is one of the most popular education apps around and offers support for over 40 different languages.
As you work through themed chapters, you'll be presented with bite-sized lessons in speaking, reading, listening and writing. The app rewards you for checking in regularly, too, so you'll benefit from making a quick language lesson part of your daily routine.
Completing new lessons will earn you points, which affect your ranking on a weekly leaderboard. Adding friends and family to the app means you can compare results and compete for bragging rights.
Make sure your phone doesn't run out of juice at a crucial time – see the best power banks.
2. AllTrails – for scenic walks
Price: Free (£35.99 a year lets you download offline maps and get alerts for wrong turns)
Available on: iOS, Android
This trail-finding app helps you to discover hikes with stunning views, thanks to its community-based rating system. If you're in the mood for a picturesque walk, you can load up the app and filter by user score, location, difficulty, length and accessibility.
As you complete trails, they'll get added to your profile page. You can also leave some notes for other walkers if you think there's anything they should be aware of – a section of path that's overgrown or a nice stop-off point, for example.
If you're planning on going far off the beaten track, make sure you have a back-up plan – you can't always trust free maps, based on our free map app investigation, plus you could lose your phone. If you're on a walking holiday in the UK, you might want to consider Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.
For a device that reliably tracks your exercise sessions (not all do), check in with our expert fitness tracker reviews and smartwatch reviews.
3. Citymapper – for help with public transport
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android
If you're visiting a major city, mastering the complex public transport system can be crucial. This is where Citymapper is excellent: tell it where you want to go and it'll show you how to get there via train, bus, bike, taxi, or even combinations of all four.
The brainy app is backed by live data, so if a train line is experiencing delays, it will suggest a quicker route to take instead. Citymapper will even show you where to stand on the platform if you want a super-speedy exit at your destination.
Your smartphone comes with a pre-installed maps app, so consider downloading specific areas before your holiday. Doing so means you'll be able to navigate offline – good news if you're on a hike and the signal is a little spotty.
- On Google Maps - tap your profile picture in the top-right corner and choose Offline maps. Pick Select your own map, highlight an area and press Download (but pay attention to the estimated file size).
- On Apple Maps – search for a location and tap the place in your search results. Tap the Download button, or More > Download Map. You can adjust the area selected if needed.
4. Calm – for de-stressing
Price: Free (£39.99 a year unlocks exclusive content and video lessons)
Available on: iOS, Android
Calm is a meditation app that can help you block out headache-inducing noise on a plane or while you're lying on the beach.
The app is home to an expansive series of guided meditations that you're able to filter by category. Some of those meditations are designed to help you sleep, while others are used to combat anxiety.
If you simply want to listen to soothing sounds, Calm has a crammed music library made up of ambient nature sounds and classical music. The premium version of the app is paid-for, but you can activate a seven-day free trial and then cancel before it expires so you don't get charged.
Ensure you're protected if something goes wrong while you're away with the best travel insurance.
5. Netflix (and other TV apps) – for passing the time
Price: Starts at £5.99 a month
Available on: iOS, Android
Thanks to the 'download for offline' feature on the Netflix app, you don't need to have an active internet connection to binge your favourite TV show. In other words, you can load up your mobile with episodes ahead of time if you're about to tackle a long flight or bus journey.
Tap on the TV show or film you're interested in and choose Download. A spinning loading icon will show that the download is in progress. To see your saved content, choose My Netflix > Downloads. When you're finished with a file, tap the pencil icon, select the content and press the bin icon.
This feature isn't exclusive to Netflix, either – BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 offer the same service. If you're using ITVX, you need a premium subscription at £5.99 a month to enable offline viewing.
Download content through your home wi-fi network so you don't use your mobile data. Plus, remember that some streaming apps won't work outside of the UK if you're aiming to watch live content.
Want to enjoy watching on a larger screen than your phone? Take a look at our pick of the best tablets for all budgets.
6. PackPoint – for packing your bags
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android
With the PackPoint app, you can generate a packing list based on your destination and planned activities. If you've ever felt the pain of opening up your suitcase abroad and realising you forgot a charger, give it a try.
As you're creating a list, the app will ask you for the dates that you're away – this is so it can scan the weather conditions and adjust your packing list accordingly. Once the list is saved, you can share it with friends and family heading off on the same trip.
You can share your live location with contacts if you get separated. But remember that doing so will eat through your mobile data allowance if you aren't connected to a wi-fi hotspot.
- On WhatsApp – open an ongoing chat and tap the paperclip icon. Select Location > Share live location and pick an amount of time. Hit Send. Alternatively, you can go back and select Send your current location if you simply want to share a one-off pin that won't continue tracking you.
- On Apple Messages – open a conversation and, to the left of the text field, select the + icon > Location. Choose whether to Allow Once or Allow while using the app > Share. Next, choose how long ('Until End of Day' or 'For One Hour', for example). Press Send. If you change your mind or your recipient turns up and you want to save your data, tap the name of the person at the top of the conversation, then tap Stop Sharing My Location.
7. Google Translate – for making sense of your surroundings
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android
With the Google Translate app, you can type out a sentence and have it written out (or read aloud) to you in a chosen language. Once the translation is generated, tap the right-facing arrow and then the speaker icon to hear how it's pronounced.
If you're looking at text in an unfamiliar language, you can also use your phone camera to translate it. From the starting page of the app, select Camera > Open camera. Take a picture of the text in front of you (a poster written in Spanish, for example) and the words on-screen will automatically swap to your preferred language.
Find out what happened when we tested the best free translation apps.
Need a new comfortable bag to carry around? Treat yourself to one of the best backpacks revealed by our tests.
8. TheFork – for restaurant bookings
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android
This food-finding app, which is designed to simplify the restaurant booking process, is worth a closer look if you're exploring European destinations.
To get started, you scan a list of open restaurants near your current location and sort by user reviews from real customers. Then, you can go ahead and reserve your spot – the app will automatically apply any available discounts.
As you use the app, you'll earn Yums. Those points can be redeemed at partner restaurants for further savings.
For inspiration on where to visit next, see our guide to the best city breaks in Europe.
9. what3words – for sharing your location
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android
When you're in a remote location and need to share your whereabouts, or simply want to confirm a spot to meet with friends, what3words can be invaluable.
The idea is simple: the entire map of the world is divided into tiny squares, and each square has a unique name made up of three ordinary words. So instead of having to laboriously give your location as '10 Downing Street', for example, you could simply say that you're at 'easy.fans.blast'.
Before your break, consider creating a list of spots you want to visit through your phone's map app.
- Open Google Maps, then choose the Saved tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap New list, choose an icon and name it. Now, search for a landmark you'd like to stop by while you're away. Choose Save and select your newly-created list. From the Saved tab, you can also tap the three dots icon > Share list to send it to friends and family.
- In Apple Maps, scroll down and below Library, tap > and then select Guides from the list that appears. Tap the + icon and give your guide a name. Tap the Camera icon to add an image > Create. Back on the main map screen, select a place and tap the three dots icon and then Add to Guides. Tap your new Guide.
10. Splitwise – for sharing expenses
Price: Free (the ad-free version is £3.99 a month)
Available on: iOS, Android
Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, says: 'I like Splitwise. You add things you've paid for [in a group] and it splits it out evenly so you don't have to track who owes what.'
The free app aims to reduce the stress of managing shared expenses, whether you're splitting the bill for a birthday dinner or planning a trip abroad. You can settle up with friends and family using cash or online payments, and the app supports over 100 currencies.
Upgrading to Splitwise Pro lets you log unlimited expenses, attach images and PDFs and scan receipts for quick entries.
11. GetYourGuide – for booking tours
Price: Free (but you'll need to pay for the activities)
Available on: iOS, Android
If you're looking to pack your holiday with exciting activities, the GetYourGuide app can help you discover guided tours and experiences. Take a boat trip by Niagara Falls, go whale watching in Madeira, or track down the Northern Lights in Finland.
From the app, you can search for day trips and filter the results based on your budget, or by how long the tour lasts — whether you’re after a full-day experience or just a couple of hours. If any tours catch your eye, you can add them to your wishlist and revisit them later.
Tour bookings have their own dedicated section in the app, and you can easily share them with friends and family who are joining you on the adventure.
12. Instapaper – for offline articles
Price: Free (£5.49 a month for a permanent archive of articles in your account)
Available on: iOS, Android
Before boarding a long flight, use Instapaper to download a selection of articles to read offline – including the latest stories from our experts at Which?.
Browse the web as usual while you have wi-fi, tap the Share button and select Instapaper. The pages will be saved to the app and automatically downloaded, ready to read without an internet connection.
If you haven't already set up a Find My Phone service on your phone, you need to do this right away. Once it's done, you can virtually control your phone and stop your data from falling into the wrong hands. Your future self will thank you for it if you misplace your phone on holiday.
- On iPhone – visit iCloud.com/find or open the Find My app on another one of your Apple devices. Sign in with your Apple ID and enable Lost Mode to lock the device and display a custom message. Alternatively, choose Erase iPhone to delete all data.
- On Android – visit android.com/find or open the Find My Device app on another one of your devices. Sign in with your Google account and choose between Secure device (locks the phone and displays a custom message) or Factory reset device to delete all data.
- On Samsung – visit findmymobile.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account. Choose between Lock (you can create a Pin for when you find the device) or Erase data.
For more details, see our guide on what to do if your phone gets stolen.
Using AI to plan your holiday
Planning a holiday can be hard work at times, but using the power of AI, you can create a rough schedule that offers up some inspiration.
For example, you might simply want to ask your digital assistant for a shortlist of activity suggestions, or you could provide a full breakdown of the areas you'll be visiting and for how long – and ask AI to give you an hour-by-hour plan of things to do.
You can also use AI to create a packing list for your trip. There are dedicated apps for this (we've mentioned PackPoint above), but AI can generate a complete list in seconds without the need to download anything. Simply provide some basic details, such as your destination, the duration of your stay, and the activities you'll be doing.
Try these travel prompts:
- 'I am going to [location] for [duration] in [month] – what do I need to pack?'
- 'I am going to [location] for [duration] in [month]. Generate a list of must-see attractions for me, plus some alternatives if they aren't an option.'
- 'What are the must-try local foods and drinks in [location]?'
Our experts are using AI to transform their homes, get creative with cooking, learn new skills and more. See our page on 5 ways AI can make your life easier.
How to check how much data you're using
Apps can be useful, but you need to stay on top of your data usage while you're away. If you don't, you risk being hit with a nasty bill on your return.
On an iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings app and choose Mobile Data / Settings > Cellular.
- Note the figures under the Cellular data heading.
- Scroll down to see which apps are using data. You can also disable apps from using data entirely.
On an Android phone, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings app and choose Network & Internet > SIMs (or Mobile Network).
- At the top, you'll find how much total data you use.
- For detailed statistics, tap App data usage (or Data usage by app) and pick a period.
If you're thinking of upgrading your mobile, take a look at our Which? Best Buys and discover the best smartphones.
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