Top 21 Free Travel Applications For Your Trip Planning
Embarking on a journey, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a new adventure to a new destination, has never been easier thanks to the several free travel applications available at our fingertips. In today’s digital age, your smartphone can transform into a versatile travel companion, helping you navigate unfamiliar destinations around the globe, discover hidden gems, and plan every detail of your trip. Whether you’re planning trips, booking transportation, reserving attractions, or making restaurant reservations, these free travel apps are essential for travelers.
Table of Contents
Tiqets
Viator
Hopper
Tours & Travel
TripIt
FlightAware
Uber
Free Now
itTaxi
Omio
FerryHopper
TripAdvisor
TheFork
Headout
Google Maps
Maps.Me
FlixBus
Skyscanner
Airbnb
Currency Converter
Expedia
1) Tiqets
Tiqets is among my favorite free apps for purchasing advance tickets to museums and historical sites. The convenience of buying tickets online has allowed me to bypass the often-lengthy queues for on-site ticket purchases. Beyond providing access to museum and site tickets, Tiqets helps you plan for various experiences, such as day trips, guided tours, entry passes for museums and galleries, and sightseeing excursions tailored to your chosen destination. In fact, you can even secure your tickets for Seine River cruises with Bateaux Mouches in Paris, hop-on-hop-off tours, and arrange hassle-free transfers.
2) Viator
With the Viator app, you can seamlessly book a wide range of tours, spanning half-day and full-day options, private and luxurious transportation, transfers, museum admissions, show tickets, and passes to various attractions. I’ve personally relied on Viator multiple times, whether it was to secure private transportation in Italy or to organize a memorable full-day excursion from Athens to Delphi. Viator has consistently delivered on its promises, providing exceptional and professional services for all my travel needs.
3) Hopper
Hopper stands out as one of my preferred free flight fare tracking applications that has been a reliable companion for my domestic and international travel plans over the years. The process is simple: select your intended travel date and destination, and Hopper goes to work. It not only presents you with available flight options but also identifies the current lowest airfare for that day, assisting you in making an informed decision on when to wait or to book your ticket. Additionally, Hopper provides valuable guidance on whether to secure your ticket immediately or wait for potentially lower prices.
Multiple Destination Tracking
Furthermore, Hopper offers the flexibility to track multiple destinations for the same or different travel timelines. It also allows you to filter flights based on airfare type, flight duration, airlines, and the number of stops. For those who prefer real-time updates, Hopper keeps you informed with notifications as tracked flight prices fluctuate.
Expanding beyond flights, Hopper now includes a comprehensive range of travel services, enabling you to search for hotels, rental cars, and accommodations for your chosen destinations.
4) Tours & Travel
Tours & Travel is your destination-specific, pocket-sized travel guide—all for free! This app provides comprehensive insights into your chosen destination, covering its rich history, vibrant culture, top museums, public transportation options, shopping spots, recommended dining experiences, and a curated list of activities and tours based on your trip duration. Additionally, you can easily book any suggested tours or activities directly within the app.
5) TripIt
TripIt is a free travel application allowing you to create an itinerary by forwarding your confirmation emails to TripIt. Have all your travel related booking information and documents all in one place, including your flight changes and cancellation.
6) FlightAware
Flight Aware is my go-to app for monitoring incoming and outgoing flights at various airports. It provides users with essential flight details, including the flight route, available gate information, and real-time flight status updates. To effortlessly track a specific flight, you can search by flight number, airline, status, or location.
Furthermore, Flight Aware lets you set up future flight status alerts, keeping you informed about any changes to your upcoming travels.
7) Uber
Uber operates in numerous cities across the United States and provides ride services in numerous countries worldwide. With the Uber mobile app, you can easily request a ride and arrange to be picked up at your desired location.Additionally, you can schedule advance pickups for early morning airport transfers, ensuring a stress-free ride. I found this feature very useful during my trip to Corfu, Greece.
In which countries does Uber operate?
Uber has a presence in numerous countries across the globe, although its service may be limited to select cities within some of these countries. Notably, Uber operates in select Croatian cities, including Dubrovnik, Split, and Pula. In Italy, Uber Black service is available only in Milan and Rome. In South America, Australia, New Zealand, and certain African countries, such as Egypt, Uber operates extensively. Within Europe, Uber offers its services in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Finland, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. For a comprehensive list of cities where Uber operates, please refer to the official Uber website.
8) Free Now
Free Now, a ride-hailing application available in over 150 European cities, serves as a viable alternative to Uber, especially in regions where Uber’s presence may be limited. Like Uber, Free Now offers a familiar ride-hailing experience, allowing users to request taxi rides within their respective cities. Moreover, it extends its services to include convenient scooter and bike bookings and payments. Much like Uber, Free Now enables users to request rides, providing upfront estimates of the fare. Payment options are flexible, allowing passengers to settle the fare using either card or cash. Additionally, the app offers a scheduling feature for advance ride bookings, ensuring a seamless and reliable transportation experience.
Where Does Free Now Operate ?
Free Now currently operates in 10 European countries and more than 150 cities, including applications in Italy (Milan, Naples, Rome, and Turin), Austria, France, in several cities in Germany, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, UK, and Greece.
9) itTaxi
itTaxi is a popular taxi application frequently used as an alternative to Uber or FreeNow in Italy. The app functions similarly to Uber and FreeNow applications.
10) Omio
Omio is an excellent application for purchasing tickets for trains, ferries, buses, and flights to various European destinations. With Omio, you can conveniently search for and secure your ferry and train tickets well in advance. Since certain routes tend to be in high demand and can sell out rapidly, it’s a prudent choice to book your tickets ahead of time if your travel plans are already set.
11) FerryHopper
If you’re headed to a coastal destination with plans for some island hopping, look no further than FerryHopper—it’s one of the most comprehensive ferry booking applications available. FerryHopper offers ferry tickets for an impressive 400 destinations across ten different countries, all operated by a network of 104 ferry companies.
Whether you’re exploring the islands of Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, or Turkey, you can easily search for both direct and indirect ferry routes, find the most cost-effective tickets, and complete your purchase hassle-free.
Plus, FerryHopper ensures that all ferry ticket purchases are free from extra fees.
Furthermore, the app offers convenient features like online check-in and a mapping function to help you track your itinerary.
12) TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor stands as the world’s largest travel review application, making it an essential companion for your travels or travel planning. Within the app, you can explore a wide range of information, including hotels, restaurants, and top activities categorized by overall popularity, bucket-list experiences, culinary delights, and nature and outdoor attractions specific to your chosen destination.
Additionally, TripAdvisor offers insights into highly-rated restaurants, historical tours, full-day excursions, bus tours, and private sightseeing, with traveler reviews for informed choices
13) TheFork
The Fork is a restaurant reservation booking application that operates in Europe, similar to the OpenTable application in the U.S. To secure your table, simply input the city name and specify either the type of cuisine or the restaurant’s name. Once you’ve made your dining choice, you can easily select your preferred date and time for your reservation.
14) Headout
Headout is another versatile application for purchasing tickets to museums, top attractions, transportation, and more. During my recent trip to Milan, I used the app to buy a train transfer ticket from Malpensa Airport to Milan Central Train Station. Once your purchase is complete, you’ll have your online ticket ready for immediate use.
15) Google Maps
Google Maps, a widely acclaimed mapping application, offers an array of invaluable features for travelers. Its meticulously detailed world maps are crafted using satellite imagery and aerial views, providing users with comprehensive global coverage.
This application serves as an exceptional navigation tool, helping travelers reach their chosen destinations or orienting themselves in unfamiliar locales. Google Maps offers multiple route options, accommodating various modes of transportation, whether you’re traveling on foot, by car, train, or bus. Notably, the app includes a valuable ‘Live View’ feature that offers real-time guidance for pedestrians, ensuring you head in the right direction.
Leaf Icon Feature
If you’re planning to drive to your destination and want to choose the most cost-effective route, keep an eye out for the leaf icon located at the bottom of the map. This icon indicates the estimated gas savings associated with your chosen route.
Another practical feature of this application is the option to add multiple destinations to your directions.
Offline Maps
Furthermore, the capability to download offline maps is another highly useful feature offered by Google Maps. To do so, simply click on your profile picture or the initials icon in the upper right corner of the screen and select ‘Offline Maps.’ After tapping ‘Offline Maps,’ choose ‘Select Your Own Map,’ and then adjust or select the specific area you wish to download for offline use.”
Additionally, Google Maps offers the convenient feature of adding or pinning places you’d like to explore in the future or have previously visited. To utilize this function, simply tap the ‘Saved’ tab located at the bottom of the Maps home screen. From there, you can create new lists based on location or other categories, allowing you to pin your chosen locations as ‘Favorites’ or ‘Want to Go,’ and include any personal comments you’d like to remember. Personally, I find this feature invaluable for keeping track of places I’ve visited or plan to visit.
Last but not least, Google Maps enables you to access reviews and photos shared by other users about specific locations and businesses. This provides valuable insights from the experiences of fellow travelers and customers.
16) Maps.Me
Maps.Me is an offline map application, allowing you to navigate without an internet connection. You can easily download offline maps and receive turn-by-turn route directions.
17) FlixBus
The FlixBus application enables you to search for and purchase bus tickets in both the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, it offers the option to buy train tickets for select European destinations. Please note that the purchased tickets are valid only for the specified date and time as indicated on your ticket. In many locations, bus drivers accept digital or e-tickets, although you may be required to present your ID to validate your ticket.
For more affordable options and to secure your preferred ticket, it’s advisable to make your purchase in advance. Tickets for popular routes tend to sell out rapidly.
18) Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a highly regarded travel app designed to assist you in searching and comparing flights, hotels, and car rentals. The app’s primary feature is its flight search capability, allowing you to search for flights based on your destination, travel dates, departure and arrival times, flight durations, and layover preferences. It provides a comprehensive list of available flights by airline, enabling you to compare airfares effectively.
Moreover, Skyscanner extends its functionality beyond flights, offering convenient search options for hotels and car rentals within the same application.
19) Airbnb
Airbnb is a renowned accommodation app that provides a platform for individuals and property owners to offer their homes and apartments for short-term lodging in various global destinations.
The application offers users the ability to explore detailed amenities for available Airbnb accommodations, secure their preferred lodgings, and complete payment transactions seamlessly within the app.
Furthermore, you can check reviews from previous guests, offering valuable insights into the specific Airbnb accommodations before making your booking.
20) Currency Converter
Currency Converter is a free application that provides users with up-to-date exchange rates for a wide range of currencies, along with a convenient conversion calculator. The app also includes interactive graphs that illustrate current currency exchange rate fluctuations and trends across various timeframes.
21) Expedia
Expedia stands as one of the most widely recognized and comprehensive travel booking and planning apps, offering a diverse array of features and services to streamline your trip planning. While it offers a range of valuable features, its flight and accommodation search capabilities rank among the most popular.
The app provides an extensive range of hotels, resorts, and accommodations worldwide. Users can easily search for lodging options based on location, price range, star rating, and guest reviews. Furthermore, members can accumulate points with each booking and enjoy exclusive discounts on certain properties.
The app simplifies the process of searching and booking flights to a variety of destinations. It offers filtering options that allow users to compare flights based on criteria such as price, airline, duration, and layovers.
In addition to flights and hotel reservations, users can conveniently book car rentals, purchase activities and tours tailored to specific destinations, and explore cruise options for various destinations across the globe.