9 Apps to Download Before You Visit Italy
Before you visit Italy, download your airline app, the Trenitalia and Italo train apps, a restaurant booking app, a taxi app, offline Google Maps, offline Google Translate and set up a travel eSIM. Do it on home Wi-Fi before you fly, because most of these work best when they are ready before you land.
Updated 27 October 2026
This list is for first-time and returning visitors who want trains, tables, taxis and directions to work from the moment they land in Italy. Start with the apps that hold your bookings, then add the tools that help you get around and talk to people.
1. Your airline's app
Gate changes, delays and baggage updates arrive as notifications, which saves you hunting for a departures board in a busy Italian terminal. Online check-in is also usually handled there.
How: Download the app, sign in with your booking reference and turn on flight notifications. Do this as soon as you book, then again on the day you fly.
Tip: Save your boarding pass to your phone wallet as a backup in case the app is slow to load.
2. Your bank's app and card alerts
Overseas purchases can trigger fraud blocks if your bank does not expect them, and that is a bad surprise at a ticket machine or restaurant till.
How: Open your bank's app, add a travel notice if it offers one, and switch on transaction alerts. Check that your card works for contactless payments.
Tip: Carry a second card from a different bank or account in case one is blocked or declined.
3. Trenitalia and Italo train apps
Most travellers cover long distances between cities by train, and these two operators run the main high-speed services. Buying in the app lets you compare times and keep your tickets on your phone.
How: Download both official apps from your phone's app store and create an account in each before you leave. Compare your route in both, then book.
Tip: If you end up with a paper regional ticket, validate it at the platform machine before you board.
4. TheFork for restaurant bookings
Popular restaurants in cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice can fill up, and booking ahead beats wandering around hungry. TheFork lets you browse and reserve tables in many Italian cities.
How: Download TheFork, make an account and save a few places you like near where you are staying. Book the evenings that matter most before you travel.
Tip: Remember that Italian dinner usually starts later than many visitors expect, so choose a time that suits the local rhythm.
5. A taxi app such as itTaxi or FREENOW
Taxis in Italy are often found at ranks or booked by phone, which is awkward without Italian. A taxi app can connect you with licensed local taxis in several cities.
How: Install the app, create your account and add a payment method at home. Check which cities it covers for your itinerary.
Tip: Keep your accommodation's address saved in the app so you can send it quickly.
6. Google Maps offline areas
Narrow old-town streets and patchy signal in stations or inside thick stone buildings can leave a live map stalled. An offline map still shows your position and routes.
How: In Google Maps, tap your profile picture, choose Offline maps, then Select your own map and drag the box over each city you will visit. Do it on Wi-Fi.
Tip: Star your hotel, stations and bookings so they show up on the saved map.
7. Google Translate with Italian downloaded
Menus, signs and ticket machines are not always in English. The camera mode can translate printed text, and a downloaded language pack lets you use it with no signal.
How: Open Google Translate, choose Italian, and tap the download option for offline use. Test the camera mode on any printed text before you go.
Tip: Learn a few greetings anyway, as a quick buongiorno goes a long way.
8. Phone wallet for passes and tickets
Boarding passes, train tickets and booking confirmations are easier to find when they live in one place, especially while you are queuing or on a moving train.
How: Open Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and add passes using the Add to Wallet option in your airline and rail emails or apps. Check each one appears before you leave home.
Tip: Take screenshots of key bookings too, in case a pass will not open.
9. A travel eSIM for data
Maps, translation, taxi and train apps all work better with mobile data, and finding a local SIM shop after a long flight is a chore. A travel eSIM lets you set up data before you arrive.
How: Fresim creator stores sell travel eSIMs, delivered by email with one-tap install buttons (Install on iPhone, iOS 17.4+ / Install on Android, Android 10+). Check your phone supports eSIM, choose a plan for Italy and install it before you fly.
Tip: Keep your normal line for calls and texts, and use the eSIM for data only.
Staying connected
Your travel eSIM arrives by email with an Install on iPhone button (iOS 17.4+) and an Install on Android button (Android 10+), so one tap installs it. The QR code in the same email is the second option, handy for sharing the eSIM or installing it from another screen. Prices vary by destination and are set by each store.
Checklist
- Download apps on home Wi-Fi
- Create train and taxi accounts
- Save offline maps and Italian
- Add passes to your phone wallet
- Install your travel eSIM
Planning the trip? eSIM for Italy: Complete Travel Data Guide [2026]
Frequently asked questions
What apps do I need for Italy?
Useful ones are your airline app, the Trenitalia and Italo train apps, a restaurant booking app, a taxi app, offline Google Maps and Google Translate. A travel eSIM keeps data working when you arrive.
Can I buy train tickets in Italy on my phone?
Yes, the Trenitalia and Italo apps let you search and buy tickets for their services on your phone. Create your accounts before you travel so you are not signing up on a slow connection at the station.
Do I need data in Italy?
You can manage with offline maps and Wi-Fi, but data makes trains, taxis, bookings and translation much easier. A travel eSIM can be installed before you fly so it is ready on arrival.
How do I install a travel eSIM from Fresim?
Fresim creator stores send the eSIM by email with an Install on iPhone button (iOS 17.4+) and an Install on Android button (Android 10+). Tap the one for your phone, and use the QR code as a second option if you prefer.
Do I need to speak Italian to use these apps?
No. Most of these apps offer an English interface, and Google Translate can help with menus and signs. A few Italian greetings are still appreciated.
More travel lists
Run a travel channel? Sell eSIMs under your own brand.
Sources
- Google Maps Help — Download areas to use Google Maps offline
- Google Translate Help — Offline translation and camera translation in Google Translate
- Apple Support — Add passes and tickets to Apple Wallet
- Trenitalia and Italo Treno — Trenitalia and Italo official app store listings