Best Apps for Backpacking Europe (Planning, Budget, Transport & Travel Tools)

Planning a backpacking Europe trip can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling transport, accommodation, budgets, and navigating new cities.

The right apps make all the difference.

After spending 2 months travelling across Europe ourselves, these are the apps we actually used (and still rely on) to make travel easier, cheaper, and far less stressful.

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, is the best products possible whilst travelling.

Best Transport Apps for Backpacking Europe

When backpacking Europe, transport apps are essential, especially for train travel, buses, and city hopping.

Rome2Rio

This was one of the first apps we ever used and it’s been super helpful for navigating backpacking Europe.

You just enter your start and end destination, and it shows you all the different ways to travel, train, bus, flights, and even ferries. You can then compare options, prices, and timings to figure out what works best.

It does need internet to work, but it’s really useful for planning routes on the go.

Omio

We actually found Omio through Rome2Rio and ended up using it even more while backpacking Europe. Whether you are travelling Europe via bus or train, you’re going to use this one! 

It’s super easy to use and lets you book trains, buses, and flights directly in one place. You just pick your route and date, and it instantly shows you all the times and prices, along with clear departure and arrival details.

It’s been one of our go-to apps for planning travel days across Europe (and even in the USA).

Skyscanner

An obvious one, but popular for a reason, Skyscanner is still one of the best apps for finding cheap flights anywhere in the world.

It compares prices and flight times across different airlines and travel sites, making it easy to find the best option and check things like layovers and baggage before booking.

Just always double-check final prices, as extras like luggage aren’t always included upfront.

Interrail App

If you’re planning a backpacking Europe trip, the Interrail app is a really useful one to have, especially if you’re travelling by train.

It helps you plan routes, check train times, and manage your Interrail pass all in one place. We found it especially handy for figuring out connections between cities and making last-minute travel decisions a lot easier.

It’s not essential for every traveller, but if you’re doing a proper Europe rail trip, it definitely makes life simpler.

FlixBus

FlixBus was one of our most-used travel apps during our two months backpacking across Europe.

It’s a really budget-friendly way to get between cities and countries, especially when trains were expensive or sold out. We used it loads for long-distance travel days and last-minute routes, and it was always straightforward to book and use.

Not always the fastest option, but definitely one of the cheapest, and perfect for keeping costs down while travelling Europe.

Best Accommodation Apps for Backpacking Europe

Finding places to stay is one of the biggest parts of backpacking Europe.

Hostelworld

Probably one of our most-used apps while backpacking Europe. Hostelworld has saved us more than once with last-minute accommodation bookings.

It’s really easy to use, shows prices per night, and gives detailed ratings and recent reviews so you know exactly what to expect before you book.

If you are going down the hostel route, check out our rundown of the best hostels in Europe we visited during our trip! 

Booking.com

Probably our second most-used accommodation app while backpacking Europe. It’s really useful to have alongside Hostelworld, as you’ll often find places here that aren’t listed elsewhere.

It’s easy to use for booking accommodation (and sometimes activities), and we like that you can reserve stays without paying upfront on many listings.

There are also Genius rewards if you use it often, which can get you discounts and occasional upgrades.

Airbnb

We don’t use Airbnb all the time, but when we have, it’s always been a really positive experience.

It’s a great backup option if you want your own space or an apartment for a few nights, especially for city breaks or longer stays. We’ve also met people who use it for their whole trip and love the “live like a local” feel.

A handy one to have in your backpacking Europe toolkit.

Best Budgeting and Money Apps for Backpacking Europe

Keeping track of money is key when travelling Europe long-term. Whether you have a lot to spend, or travelling Europe on a budget, keeping track of your finances will always help you out. 

TravelSpend

We’re definitely the type of travellers who like to stay organised, and TravelSpend has been a game-changer for keeping on top of our budget while backpacking Europe.

It lets you log every spend (cash or card) in any currency, then automatically tracks and categorises your expenses by country and type. It does take a bit of effort to keep updated, but it’s 100% worth it when you can actually see where your money went at the end of the trip.

There’s a free version, but if you’re travelling long-term or across multiple countries, the paid version is worth it for unlimited trips.

Monzo & Revolut

We genuinely wouldn’t travel without Monzo and Revolut—they’ve made managing money while backpacking Europe so much easier.

Both apps let you spend abroad without the usual nasty exchange fees, and you can instantly see what you’re spending in real time, which is a lifesaver when you’re trying to stick to a budget.

We also love being able to split costs, move money between friends, and keep everything organised in one place. Between the two, they’ve basically become our travel wallets.

Splitwise

Splitwise is one of those apps that just quietly saves you a lot of arguments while travelling.

It’s perfect for backpacking Europe with friends because you can easily log shared costs like accommodation, food, or transport and it keeps track of who owes what.

Instead of trying to work everything out at the end of the trip, it does it all for you in real time. Simple, stress-free, and honestly a must if you’re travelling in a group.

Best Navigation Apps for European Cities

Getting lost in Europe is fun… until it isn’t.

Google Maps

Another obvious one, but it would be rude not to include it, considering how much we use it while backpacking Europe.

It makes navigation super easy, showing the fastest routes whether you’re walking, using public transport, or taking the train or metro, complete with timings.

One of the best features is offline maps, which you can download in advance so you can still navigate without data.

Citymapper

Citymapper is one of the best apps for getting around big European cities.

It gives super detailed public transport routes, metro, buses, trains, and even walking, and often feels easier to follow than Google Maps in places like London, Paris, or Berlin.

If you’re doing a lot of city hopping in Europe, this one makes navigating so much smoother.

Uber & Uber Eats

Duh, another must-have while travelling. Uber works in loads of countries worldwide and has been super useful for getting around quickly and safely in places like New York, Berlin, and Costa Rica.

It’s also handy to have Uber Eats for those nights when you don’t want to leave the accommodation (or things get a bit too easy-going after a long travel day).

Airalo

Airalo is one of those apps we now wouldn’t travel without. It takes all the stress out of sorting SIM cards when you arrive in a new country.

Instead of hunting around for a local SIM, you just download an eSIM before you travel and activate it when you land. It gives you data instantly, which is a lifesaver for things like Google Maps, booking transport, or just letting people know you’ve arrived safely.

We’ve found it especially useful when backpacking Europe, where you’re constantly crossing borders and don’t want to keep swapping SIM cards. Simple, quick, and honestly just makes travelling so much easier.

Best Travel Planning Apps for Europe

These help you organise routes and avoid chaos.

Wanderlog

Ahhh Wanderlog… the app that made our organised-traveller dreams come true.

If you download one app for a backpacking Europe trip, make it this one. It’s the app we’ve used the most and couldn’t recommend it more.

You can save accommodation, restaurants, and activities in one place, and even plan full itineraries with mapped routes using Google Maps. Best part, it works offline too, so you can still access your plans without data while travelling.

TikTok

It might sound a bit unusual for a travel apps list, but TikTok actually helped us find loads of great food spots and activities we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

We found some of our favourite restaurants in Italy just by searching things like “best cheap food in Spain” “best party destinations in Europe” or “hidden gems in Madrid”, it’s surprisingly useful for travel inspiration.

Windy

Windy is one we used a lot while travelling, it’s great for checking the weather in advance so you can plan your days properly.

It gives detailed forecasts up to 9 days ahead, which is really helpful when you’re backpacking and trying to organise activities between cities.

Like any weather app, it’s not perfect the further out you look, but it’s still one of the best for planning ahead while on the road.

Best Food and Local Experience Apps for Europe 

Foursquare

Foursquare is one we used almost daily while backpacking Europe—it’s easily one of the best food discovery apps we found abroad.

You can search by the type of food you’re craving, set a price range, and use the map to find nearby places. It’s also great for finding things to do in a specific area.

We mainly used it for food, and as a coeliac/gluten free traveller, it was especially helpful for finding gluten free restaurants and options when searching “gluten-free”.

Google Translate

Unless you’ve got better language skills than us (not hard), Google Translate quickly becomes your best friend while travelling.

It’s not always perfect, but it’s helped us communicate with people all over the world when we didn’t share a common language.

The camera feature is especially useful—you can point it at menus, signs, or timetables and get an instant translation. Super handy when figuring out buses or ordering food abroad.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is one we’ve used a lot for booking activities and it’s such an easy way to find things to do while travelling.

It lets you book everything from guided tours, zoo trips and day excursions to skip-the-line tickets for major attractions, all in one place. There are thousands of experiences available worldwide, so it’s great when you arrive somewhere and don’t really know what to do.

We’ve found it especially useful for last-minute plans—you can book on the go and get instant confirmation, which just makes travelling feel a lot more flexible.

Definitely worth having if you like mixing sightseeing, tours, and experiences into your trip. 

HappyCow

HappyCow is perfect for finding vegan, vegetarian, and allergy-friendly restaurants anywhere in the world. We used it loads to spot places that actually understand dietary requirements, and it’s especially useful when travelling somewhere new and not knowing where is safe to eat.

Find Me Gluten Free

This one is a must if you’re gluten free or coeliac. It shows gluten free-friendly restaurants near you with reviews from other people, which really helps when deciding where to eat and avoiding risky places.

Between the two, they made eating out while travelling so much easier and way less stressful.

Too Good To Go

This is SUCH a good one for budget travel.

Too Good To Go lets you pick up leftover food from restaurants, bakeries, and cafes for super cheap, perfect when you’re trying to save money backpacking Europe.

It’s also a great way to try local food without spending loads.

Games, Podcasts & Books

No matter how you’re travelling around Europe, you’re going to spend a lot of time on buses and so it’s worth downloading a few things to keep you entertained, especially on flights! 

We usually go for a mix of games (Candy Crush and Balls are our go-tos), podcasts (true crime or sport), and a good book series like Harry Potter.

Just make sure everything is downloaded offline before you leave, so you’re not relying on WiFi or data while travelling.

Essential Apps for Backpacking Europe (If You Only Download a Few)

If we had to narrow it down for a real backpacking Europe trip:

• Hostelworld
• Google Maps
• Omio
• Splitwise
• Rome2Rio

These alone cover 90% of travel situations.

Extra Tips for Your Europe Travel Apps

When backpacking Europe, don’t overload your phone with too many apps. Stick to a few reliable ones and download offline maps before you arrive in each country.

It makes travelling easier, cheaper and less stressful!

FAQ: Backpacking Europe Apps

Final thoughts

Backpacking Europe can feel like a lot to organise, but having the right apps genuinely makes everything easier.

You don’t need all of them; just a few solid ones for transport, accommodation, and navigation will go a long way. The rest are just there to make things smoother, cheaper, and a bit more fun along the way.

These are the apps we’ve personally used while travelling, and they’ve saved us time, money, and a fair bit of stress. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you.

If you’ve got any favourites we’ve missed, let us know! We’re always looking for new ones to try on our next trip.

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, is the best products possible whilst travelling.