Europe is one of the best destinations for your next big holiday. But it’s such a distance away that you’ll want to arrive prepared for everything it can offer. Travel apps have become a lifeline for holidayers, allowing you to research, book, and find the best places to visit, eat at, and much more. In this article, you’ll learn seven must-have apps you can take to Europe. Not only can they help organize your holiday, but they’ll also help you save time and money and ensure your trip is one to remember!

Here are the best free travel apps for European holidays

When preparing for your trip to Europe, don’t forget to prepare your smartphone as well. Below are some of the best free apps to download:

1. See more of Europe for less with Skyscanner

Europe has a fantastic transport system connected throughout the continent. It means you can get amazing last-minute trips from one city to another with little fuss. So, if you have free time and fancy seeing an entirely new culture, download Skyscanner.

With over 50 million downloads and counting, Skyscanner is an innovative app that allows you to see Europe at the cheapest price possible. Search for prices on flights, car rentals, and even accommodation throughout Europe, allowing you to fit in several major cities and towns in line with your budget.

The app will highlight the best times to book your trip and compare prices across all notable travel brands like EasyJet, Booking.com, and more. You can also set a price alert so that you’re given enough time to nab a cheap deal if prices drop.

2. Enjoy stress-free travel with Eurail

Navigate Europe the easy way with Eurail, an innovative travel app that helps you plan, book, and enjoy the best train networks across the entire continent.

Eurail simplifies traveling, allowing you to buy a pass that suits your trip. You can book single passes for one country or enjoy unlimited travel between countries to hop from city to city. This ensures you never pay more for travel tickets than you need to.

You can create an itinerary of your trip within the app, reserve seats if you want, and make sense of all the different European timetables in one concise, user-friendly app.

3. Use a VPN app to secure your internet connections

Whether checking flight information, keeping in touch with family, or wanting to do some remote work on your travels, you’ll no doubt want to go online when you touch down in Europe.

But going online when abroad can introduce security issues, as opportunistic hackers are keen to target weary travelers. One of the best ways of protecting yourself is by using a virtual private network (VPN).

A VPN app encrypts your internet connection, scrambling data sent and received from your smartphone, preventing anyone from monitoring your activity. Even on public WiFi networks, which are typically a hotbed for cybercrime, a VPN will safeguard activity.

And if you want to work in Europe, a VPN offering a dedicated IP is essential. This special IP address will be unique and assigned only to you. When your workplace approves the address, you (and only you) can access highly sensitive files anywhere in Europe without compromising your cybersecurity.

4. Keep in good health with Air Doctor

With so many European languages and customs, accessing healthcare and finding a doctor who understands you might seem impossible. Especially if an accident or emergency happens, you want to have peace of mind and receive timely treatment.

Air Doctor is a must-have travel app that connects you to a global network of local, multi-lingual healthcare professionals, all of whom have been checked and verified beforehand. A wide range of doctors, dentists, pediatricians, gynecologists, and more ensure that you will get the treatment you need and deserve, no matter the issue.

Additionally, you have a lot of choices when it comes to the type of treatment you want to access, including in-person visits and online, as well as managing prescriptions and more.

With 24/7 support and partnering with leading insurance providers, you will get practical help with no lengthy claims process, no matter where you travel in Europe.

5. Find the best places to eat with TheFork

Europe is world famous for its delicious cuisine. But finding the best places to enjoy food can be difficult, especially in an unfamiliar city or town.

TheFork is one of the best food apps you can pack before your trip. It has search and reservation features, allowing you to quickly scout local eateries and book a table. You can read various customer reviews and ratings to familiarize yourself with each restaurant.

Best of all, TheFork often has discounts, promotions, and offers that mean you can enjoy some of the best food possible, all at an affordable price.

6. Explore your location with CityMapper

Nicknamed the ultimate transport app, CityMapper is an essential app to pack if you’re looking for the best places to walk, cycle, drive, take a tram, take a bus or subway, and more.

The app contains highly detailed maps of cities, highlighting transit routes, station locations, and notable points of interest and tourist attractions. There is also a plethora of accessibility information, helping Canadian tourists with mobility needs to navigate the city safely.

You can search for bike routes and nearby stations, opening up a novel way of exploring Europe at any stage. Maps can be downloaded for offline use, allowing you to keep track of your whereabouts even without the internet.

Best of all, you can receive live updates from the app on the condition of transport routes and learn of delays, disruptions of service, or changes to timetables. This can help you avert disaster if something changes unexpectedly ahead of your trip.

7. GetYourGuide

The final app you need for your trip to Europe is GetYourGuide. As the name suggests, it helps you find unforgettable experiences by showing you everything from guided tours, nearby museums, and culture hotspots to outdoor activities, sporting facilities, and more.

You’ll never be bored with this app. You can review traveler ratings and reviews to get a sense of a place before visiting it. And when the time is right, you can instantly book tickets in-app, too.

What sets this app ahead of others is that local guides will organize many activities and have incredible insight into different parts of a city’s culture and history. This can give you a unique experience like none other.