Our pick of travel apps: the 27 essentials for a round-the-world trip. The right apps can turn a basic smartphone into a traveler’s true Swiss Army knife.
The 27 Best Apps for a Round-the-World Trip or a Long Journey
Share with your loved ones, the ultimate app
Polarsteps
Free (optional photo book from 30 euros) | A must for a travel journal
Polar Steps automatically tracks your route via GPS, even offline, and creates a visual travel journal with the places you visited, the distances covered, and the photos you add. You can write stories or simply let the images speak for themselves. The result is clean, well laid out, and easy to share with your loved ones. At the end of the trip, you can even have a keepsake book printed with a map, photos, and stories.
Ideal for keeping a clear record of each stop without spending hours on it. Can’t remember where you were on September 12? The app remembers.
Getting around (flights, trains, buses)
Skyscanner
Free | A must for flights
One of the best comparison sites for spotting the cheapest plane tickets. Skyscanner compares hundreds of airlines, including low-cost carriers, and offers flexible search: you can look for a flight to "Everywhere" from where you are, view prices over a whole month, or set a price alert so you're notified when fares drop. Very handy for winging the next leg of your trip based on prices.
Essential for finding a simple one-way flight between two countries when overland journeys are too long. Also think about multi-city flights to build your own route.
Rome2Rio
Free | Useful when you're not sure how to get around
Want to get from Luang Prabang to Hanoi or from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama? Rome2Rio shows you all the options: plane, bus, train, ferry, car, or rideshare, with estimated travel times, approximate prices, and the companies that run them. It's not a booking app, but a planning tool that brings all the transport info together.
Very useful for overland border crossings, often poorly documented (Laos/Vietnam, Bolivia/Chili, etc.). You can quickly see whether it's better to take a bus, train or local flight.
Trip.com
Free | Favored for travel in Asia
Not well known in Europe but essential in Asia, Trip.com is both a booking platform and a comparison site. Flights, trains, buses, hotels, airport transfers, and even activities: you can book everything in the app. Prices are often competitive, sometimes cheaper than Skyscanner.
Very often used to book trains in China (the official Chinese site is hard to use with international bank cards). Useful too in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam for local flights.
Kayak
Free | Well known but less used than Skyscanner
A full search engine that goes one step further on certain points: trend analysis ("buy now or wait"), an interactive map of possible flights from where you are, and multi-stop itineraries. The Explore tool shows you where you can go in the world with your budget.
A good complement to Skyscanner for complex itineraries or when you're unsure about the best time to buy a ticket.
Trainline
Free | Popular for travel in Europe
Traveling in Europe? Trainline lets you book train and bus tickets in many countries without having to juggle the sometimes dated sites of local operators. Clear interface, schedule and price comparison, ticket directly in the app. Also works for some long-distance buses (Flixbus, BlaBlaCar Bus).
Faster and smoother than SNCF, Renfe or Trenitalia for booking. Ideal if you're starting or ending your round-the-world trip in Europe.
Travel by vehicle
Park4night
Free (version at 9.99 euros/year for offline use) | The app for vanlifers
Traveling by van, camper van, or modified 4x4 in Europe? Park4night lists thousands of spots shared by travelers: tolerated parking, overnight spots in nature, camper van areas, public showers, water sources, dump stations. It's community-driven: users add places, rate them, and leave helpful comments. Outside Europe, go with Overlander.
A must-have for finding a quiet place each night without planning ahead. You can also find free showers and water points.
Waze
Free | Popular with road trippers
Community GPS where the info comes from other drivers in real time: traffic jams, speed cameras, roadworks, slowdowns, potholes. Unlike Google Maps, Waze goes all in on optimizing travel time.
Very handy for dodging traffic in big cities or reporting hazards on the road. You can download the route ahead of time if you don't have a steady connection.
iOverlander
Free | Popular, especially outside Europe
The equivalent of Park4night for the Americas, Africa, and Asia. iOverlander lists thousands of useful places: wild camping spots, campsites, gas stations, garages, water points, showers, borders, ferries. All shared by other travelers. The interface is a bit rough, but the info is solid, with photos, detailed descriptions, and reviews.
Very useful for border crossings: there is often detailed information on paperwork, customs, and insurance.
Gasoil Now
Free | Less well known but useful in Europe
A simple, effective app for comparing fuel prices near you (SP95, diesel, LPG, E85). You can see all the stations on a map with their up-to-date prices. Works only in Europe, using official gas station data.
It can save you real money on a European road trip. Handy for spotting a station before crossing a border or avoiding highway prices.
Finding a place to stay while traveling
Hostelworld
Free | A must-have for backpackers and solo travelers
The go-to app for finding a hostel. You can filter by vibe (quiet, lively, social), price, amenities, and rating. Reliable backpacker reviews and realistic photos help me avoid unpleasant surprises. Some hostels are only available on Hostelworld.
Ideal if you're traveling solo and want to meet other travelers. Be sure to book ahead in busy cities.
Booking.com
Free | You’ll always find a good place to stay there
The go-to reference for booking accommodation almost anywhere in the world. Hotels, guesthouses, apartments, hostels, often with no upfront payment. Filters by budget, rating, distance, free cancellation. After a few bookings, you become "Genius" with discounts and perks (late checkout, room upgrade).
A must for late arrivals after a long journey. Detailed reviews about cleanliness, quiet, or hot showers really make a difference on a long trip.
Airbnb
Free | Some prices are better than a hotel or hostel in the long run
Ideal for settling in for a few days or weeks in a cozy apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, and workspace. You can take advantage of long-stay discounts (from 7 or 28 nights), making it a really solid option for remote working or traveling at a slower pace.
Perfect for taking a break in your trip, cooking for yourself, doing laundry, or hosting family who’s joining you.
Agoda
Free | Very popular, especially in Asia
Less well known than Booking in Europe, Agoda is a go-to in many Asian countries. The prices are often very competitive, with mobile-only deals. In Asia, Agoda is sometimes the only app listing certain places to stay.
Definitely download it if you plan to spend time in Southeast Asia. Always compare prices between Booking and Agoda before booking.
Couchsurfing
Paid (2,20 euros/month or 13,20 euros/year) | Well known, but used less and less since it went paid
The idea: stay for free in a local’s home in exchange for a shared moment. You can also join traveler events in hundreds of cities. Since the app became paid, it works less well than before and you need to be more patient to find a host.
Still a great option for traveling on a tight budget and meeting locals, especially in expensive big cities.
Eating vegetarian and vegan
HappyCow
Paid (4 euros to buy, no subscription) | Less well known, but loved by vegetarians
HappyCow helps you find vegetarian, vegan, or "friendly" restaurants in more than 180 countries. You can filter by cuisine type, location, and price. Each place is rated and reviewed by travelers. In countries where veggie food is hard to come by, it's a real gem.
Super useful in cities where menus are pretty sparse on details (Japan, China). You'll uncover little local spots you won't find on Google Maps.
Find activities
GetYourGuide
Thousands of activities around the world: walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, street food tours, cruises, cooking classes, with verified reviews and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. You can sort by duration, language, and activity type.
Handy for booking a local activity without comparing 15 agencies around town. Very useful in countries where local agencies don’t have a website or don’t accept bank cards.
That said, most activities are more expensive than going directly to the agency offering the activity.
TripAdvisor
The classic go-to for reading reviews about a hotel, a restaurant, or an activity. Millions of users leave ratings, comments, and photos. It’s not always objective, but by comparing the info you can avoid quite a few unpleasant surprises.
Useful for checking out a hostel or hotel you found elsewhere. Traveler photos often show the truth behind the official pictures.
Finding your way during your trip
Google Maps
Free | A must-have
Beyond navigation, you can download offline maps, create custom lists of places, check opening hours and reviews, and even see public transport in real time in many cities.
You can save every must-see spot in each country. Offline maps are essential when you don't have a signal. They're also super handy for getting around on foot or by scooter in unfamiliar cities.
Maps.me
Free | A traveler favorite
A fully offline map app. Download the countries you want ahead of time, then navigate without a connection. Based on OpenStreetMap, it often includes details Google Maps misses: hiking trails, water points, fords, local guesthouses.
A must in remote areas without service (mountains, jungle, countryside). It uses less battery than Google Maps, so it's great for long treks.
AllTrails
Free (Pro version at 29,99 euros/year for offline) | Very popular with hikers
More than 400 000 hiking routes worldwide, with maps, elevation gain, reviews, photos, and practical info (difficulty, duration, water points). A collaborative database, and you can also save your GPS track.
Very useful for hiking abroad without a guide. You know what to expect: marked trail or not, fords, and whether camping is possible.
Komoot
Free (1 region included, world pack at 29,99 euros) | Favored by hikers and cyclists
Plan and follow your routes with detailed topographic maps. You can filter by activity (walking, cycling, mountain biking, gravel), trail type, elevation gain, and surface. Voice guidance and offline navigation are available.
Great for planning a hiking or cycling route in countries where standard maps are blurry or incomplete. You create your full route and export it to your watch or GPS.
Maps.me
Free | Great for offline use
A fully offline map app. You download the countries you want ahead of time, then navigate without a connection. Based on OpenStreetMap, it often includes details that Google Maps doesn't show: hiking trails, water points, fords, local guesthouses.
Essential in remote areas with no network (mountains, jungle, countryside). Less of a battery drain than Google Maps, so it's handy for long treks.
AllTrails
Free (Pro version at 29,99 euros/year for offline) | The go-to for hikers
More than 400 000 routes for hiking around the world, with maps, elevation gain, reviews, photos, and practical info (difficulty, duration, water points). A collaborative database, or you can also save your GPS track.
Very useful for hiking abroad without a guide. You know what to expect: marked trail or not, fords, whether camping is possible.
Finding a restroom (yes, seriously)
Toilet Finder
Free | Less known, but a lifesaver when you need it
More than 450,000 toilets are listed worldwide. Users say whether they’re clean, free, accessible, or if you need to come with your own roll. Simple, effective, and sometimes absolutely vital.
In a rush in Bangkok or La Paz? The app has your back. You can filter by accessibility, free access, and whether there’s toilet paper. Also handy for finding restrooms in parks, train stations, or gas stations.
Managing your money
XE Currency
Free | Highly appreciated by travelers
The best-known currency converter: fast, reliable, and works offline with the latest updated rates. You can add multiple currencies, customize the order, and set alerts.
You see each price converted instantly without pulling out your calculator. Essential for avoiding a bad exchange rate at the currency counter.
iPhone Calculator
Free | Built-in currency conversion
Apple’s simple, clean app. Just choose Conversion mode in the Calculator app to get live currency exchange rates.
Tricount
Free | For travelers in pairs or groups
The go-to app for managing shared expenses. You enter who paid for what, and for whom, and Tricount automatically calculates who owes what to whom. Invite the others to enter their expenses and keep track of repayments.
Essential if you travel as a pair or in a group. Easier and less stressful than doing the math by hand at the end of the month.
Western Union
Free (transfer fees depend on the amount) | Less used day to day, but useful in an emergency
Money transfers in more than 200 countries, often with cash pickup in just a few minutes at a partner location. Everything is handled through the app with real-time tracking.
Handy when things go wrong: stolen bank card, banking issue, budget running dry. Someone can send you money from France, and you can withdraw it at a local branch.
iGraal
Free | Less known, but loved by savvy travelers
A cashback app that gives you part of your online purchases back. You go through the app before booking a flight, hotel, or insurance, and you get back a percentage of the total. Works with Hostelworld, Trainline, Allianz, and plenty more.
You can easily get back several dozen euros on bookings you were going to make anyway. Cashback adds up and can be transferred to your account once it reaches 20 euros.
Country-specific applications
Each country has its must-have local apps for taxis, public transport, food delivery, or mobile payments. Here's a quick reference table of the main apps by destination. Download them before you arrive so you're up and running as soon as you land.
Country | Taxis | Transport | Food delivery | Payments | Other |
Thailand | Grab, Bolt | 12Go, ViaBus | GrabFood, Foodpanda | TrueMoney Wallet | Line |
Vietnam | Grab, Gojek | 12Go, Vexere | GrabFood, ShopeeFood | Momo, ZaloPay | Zalo |
Indonesia | Grab, Gojek | Traveloka | GoFood, GrabFood | GoPay, Dana | Halodoc |
Japan | JapanTaxi, Uber | NAVITIME, Suica | Uber Eats, Tabelog | - | Yomiwa |
China | Didi | Baidu Maps, Ctrip | Meituan | Alipay, WeChat Pay | Pleco |
Australia | Uber, Didi | Opal Travel | Uber Eats, DoorDash | - | Campermate, WikiCamps |
Brazil | Uber, 99 | Cittamobi, Buser | iFood, Rappi | Pix | iOverlander |
Argentina | Uber, Cabify | BA Subte | Pedidosa, Rappi | Mercado Pago | BA Turismo |
Colombia | Uber, InDrive | Busbud | Rappi, Uber Eats | - | iOverlander |
Mexico | Uber, Didi | ADO Movil | Rappi, Uber Eats | Mercado Pago | - |
Costa Rica | Uber, Didi | Yo Viajo | Uber Eats, PedidosYa | SINPE Movil | iOverlander |
Peru | Uber, InDrive | Peru Hop, RedBus | Rappi, Pedidosa | - | iOverlander |
Spain | Uber, Cabify | Renfe Ticket | Glovo, Just Eat | Bizum | Park4night |
Portugal | Bolt, Freenow | CP, CARRISway | Uber Eats, Glovo | MB WAY | Park4night |
Conclusion
You don't need to download the apps on this list before you leave. The main thing is to know which ones suit your travel style. A solo backpacker in Southeast Asia won't have the same needs as a couple in a campervan in Europe, or a family on a round-the-world trip with kids.
Our tip: set up the core essentials before you go (Google Maps, Booking, Skyscanner, XE Currency, Google Translate, Maps.me) and download the country-specific apps along the way, a few days before you arrive in each new country.
Also remember to download offline maps and language packs while you have Wi-Fi: it will save you a lot of hassle in weak-signal areas. And if you were to keep only one? Polarsteps, so you can remember everything you've experienced, even when your memory starts to slip after six months on the road.
