Navigating a foreign country without the right app can quickly turn into a daunting experience. While apps like Google Maps, WhatsApp and Uber work in many places, some countries have their own apps that function more seamlessly. To know about the local travel apps and the ones suitable for your international trip, bookmark this article.
Almost all of these apps are available on both iOS and Android devices.
Best travel apps to download before heading out of the country
Africa
Uber is available in eight African countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. However, the Bolt App is widely used in other countries. Earlier known as Taxify, it is a ride-hailing app that is quick and safe. It offers features and a user interface similar to Uber.
Asia
Bahrain
ETraffic: Though this app offers traffic and vehicle management services, it also helps locate fuel stations.
Notlob: A food delivery app where you can find hundreds of food outlet menus in one place, allowing you to have your favourite dishes delivered right to your doorstep.
Talabat: It is a food, health, wellness and grocery delivery app that allows you to order food and other items from the comfort of your accommodation.
Careem: This Uber-owned app allows you to book rides, buy flight tickets, make hotel bookings, order food and schedule salon appointments, laundry and deliveries such as flowers, groceries, and medicines, among others. ‘The Everything app’ also allows you to transfer money to a third party and make donations.
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Bangladesh
BR Explorer: This app allows you to search trains and their routes. You can also track trains and do fare calculations on this platform.
Shuttle App: A cab service suitable for daily commuting in Dhaka.
Bhutan
DrukRide: A multi-service tech app where you can book cabs, flight tickets and tours, order food and make cashless payments.
Brunei
Dart Rider: It is a ride-hailing service where you can choose either a Dart Car (pre-agreed rate) or a Dart Taxi (standard metered fare). Uber and Grab (used mainly in Southeast Asia) are not available in this small country.
Cambodia
Grab: A super app perfect for transportation, food delivery and making digital payments during your stay in the country.
Cyprus
Bolt: An app from a European company providing ride-hailing and food delivery services in over 40 countries, including Cyprus.
Cabcy: Operating in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, Cabcy offers on-the-spot and pre-booked trips. Since a local company owns it, one can expect government-set taxi prices.
Georgia
Bolt: Operates in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Telavi, Gori, Poti and other locations in Georgia.
Yandex Go: A transportation and delivery app that lets you request cabs, order food and send packages anywhere in the country.
India
OLA: An Indian cab service that allows passengers to book their rides in any part of the country.
Zomato: A food delivery app that delivers food till the wee hours.
Indonesia
GoJek: A taxi and food delivery service.
Israel
Gett: This taxi app will help you get around in the country. The payment can be made via cash or card.
Japan
Go: A taxi app that allows you to book rides within a few minutes and also lets you schedule rides.
Jordan
Careem: A useful app that can make travel bookings, order food, buy movie tickets, schedule salon appointments and laundry service. The app also allows you to transfer money and make donations.
Kazakhstan
Yandex: Uber has been replaced by the Russian-based cab service Yandex, which is available in most cities of the country.
Kyrgyzstan
Yandex: Like in its neighbouring country, Kazakhstan, Yandex also provides cab services in Kyrgyzstan.
Laos
LOCA: A local cab service that also allows you to book private cars.
Lebanon
Allo Taxi: It is a taxi-hailing service operating across major parts of Lebanon and Syrian territories.
Malaysia
Grab: The app helps in getting around the country and is an affordable cab service and food delivery app.
The Maldives
Avas Ride: Offering private luxury cars, vans and cabs, Avas Ride has a wide network of drivers available in the capital, Male, and Hulhumalé island.
Avas Food: A food delivery app that lets you select your choice of meal from plenty of restaurants.
Mongolia
UB Cab: Online cab-hailing service available in the country.
Myanmar
Grab: Similar to its operations in Southeast Asian countries, Grab provides cab and food services here too. The company debuted in Myanmar in 2017, becoming the first international company to enter the country.
Nepal
Pathao: The multi-purpose app that lets you hail a ride, order food, access logistics services and make payments.
Oman
Oman Taxi: Otaxi: Operating since 2014, Otaxi is the most popular cab-hailing service in the country.
Pakistan
Bykea: A one-stop application for transport, logistics and payments.
The Philippines
Viber: Just like WhatsApp, this is also an instant messaging app that offers free messaging and calling and is a handy app to have in the country.
Grab: A widely used cab and food service app here.
Qatar
Karwa: Promises hassle-free taxi experience and also offers limousine services.
Saudi Arabia
Bolt: The cab service app makes moving around in the Kingdom easy.
Singapore
Grab: The leading app in the majority of Southeast Asian countries is actually a Singapore-based company and provides ride-hailing, food delivery and grocery services in the home country as well.
South Korea
Kakaot: This Korean transportation service app also allows you to rent cars.
Naver Maps: Since Google Maps does not work in South Korea, get Naver Maps to move around in the country.
Sri Lanka
Ceylon Taxi: A government-registered cab service that provides luxury chauffeur-driven cars and vans in the island country.
Tajikistan
Rakhsh Taxi: By dialling 33-33, one can call this cab service or even pre-book rides on the app.
Thailand
InDrive: A cab service app that lets you select your ride on the basis of driver rating and estimated time of arrival of the ride.
United Arab Emirates
WAZE App: It is a navigation app and is quite useful for getting traffic alerts in the UAE.
Botim: It is a popular alternative to WhatsApp, as the Meta-owned app is banned in the country.
Uzbekistan
Yandex Go: A taxi and delivery app that lets you request cabs, order food and send items anywhere in the country.
Vietnam
Grab: A widely used cab and food service app.
Europe
Uber operates in 30 countries in Europe, including Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Spain, France, Germany and Greece, to name a few. Other countries such as Hungary, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal, Georgia, Poland, Norway, Lithuania, Romania, Moldova, Malta, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Slovakia, and the UK use Bolt app.
Albania
Speed Taxi App: Founded in January 2012, the app offers cab services in major parts of Albania.
Belarus
Yandex Go: The app allows you to add multiple trips while exploring the country.
Belgium
Lyft: Most use this platform in Belgium for availing taxi services.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
mojTaxi: Moj translates to ‘my taxi’ and is the ride-hailing app that can be used in the country.
Bulgaria
TaxiMe: The app shares the average pickup time of three minutes and allows paying via cash or card.
Denmark
Viggo: This cab service takes pride in offering zero-emission cars.
Iceland
Hreyfill Taxi: You can book cabs within minutes with this app in Iceland, and it is also convenient to use.
Luxembourg
Alo Taxi Luxembourg: Using this app, you have the flexibility of booking a cab at any hour of the day.
Macedonia
Maxim: A taxi and food booking app.
Monaco
SIXT: A cab service app that promises to pick you up within minutes.
Serbia
Pink Taxi: A popular taxi service in the country’s capital, Belgrade, known for providing affordable and reliable service.
Slovakia and Slovenia
Hopin: Choose between an economy, premium and Eko ride (eco-friendly rides) on this ride-hailing application. You can also buy parking tickets and courier services on this app.
Switzerland
SBB Mobile: Get all the information about trains, buses and ships on this Swiss app.
Swisstopo App: This app shares information about hiking and cycling trails, snow sports and airports.
Ukraine
OsmAnd: It is a navigation app, just like Google Maps. It works well even when mobile data connectivity is weak or non-existent.
Uklon: A cab service app that covers both long and short distances.
Glovo: A food delivery app that accepts international bank cards easily.
North America
Lyft: Promoting itself as a ‘Ride whenever you need one’, it can be used across all states in the USA and Canada.
South America
MAPS.ME: Download this app to access locations even when you are offline. The app also allows one to bookmark places of interest and plan routes in advance.
DiDi: A mobile app to book a ride and order food.
(Hero and feature image credit: Patrick Schöpflin/Unsplash)
Related: I Used ChatGPT To Plan My Trip To London — Here’s How It Helped And Where It Failed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Are travel apps available for all devices?
Yes, the popular apps targeting the masses are available on all iOS and Android devices.
– Are travel apps free to use?
Yes, most cab service apps are free to use.
– Can travel apps help me with language barriers?
Yes, translation apps can help you communicate and navigate in a foreign country where you are not familiar with the local language.
-Do travel apps require internet connectivity?
Yes, most travel apps require internet connectivity, however, some travel apps, such as OsmAnd, can work even without the internet.
Written By
Ayushi Anand
A post-graduate in journalism and mass communication, Ayushi is a digital writer who has worked with several Indian media organisations, including Times Internet Limited and Zee Media Corporation Limited, in the news, lifestyle and entertainment space. When she's not on her desk, she can be found dancing, trying new restaurants or packing her bags to ..Read More
