Apps That Will Have Your Back When You Study Abroad

Whether you’re figuring out how to get from Florence to Rome, how to order a meal in Japanese, or splitting flight expenses with friends in Peru, sometimes the right app can save you a lot of hassle and make your travel a lot smoother. 

We’ve compiled the list below to share a few of our favorite apps that accompany us on our travels for a smoother experience all around: 

APPS TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANY STUDY ABROAD DESTINATION

1. GOOGLE MAPS. For navigation and exploration, this is essential for more than just directions. It will help you explore everything from local businesses to transportation routes to walking paths. You can save your favorite spots—like your home stay, campus, and the best coffee shop—and download maps offline for when you’re not in wi-fi range.

2. DUOLINGO. If you’re studying abroad with us, you’ll be learning or improving on another language (unless you’re already bilingual!), so download Duolingo well in advance and start practicing! The gamification of language learning, bite-size lessons, and the amusing antics of Duo the green owl can be real motivators. This is especially true when combined with classes and practicing your second language out and about in daily life. 

3. SPLITWISE. As you probably already know, splitting costs among a group can get messy, but it’s something you’ll probably do quite often while studying abroad. Splitwise takes the headache out of sharing travel or meal expenses with friends, making it easy to track who owes what and removing the need for any potentially awkward conversations about money. 

4. GOOGLE TRANSLATE. Despite your impressive Duolingo streak, classes, and real-life practice, you’ll likely still stumble on situations in which a translation app is useful. While it’s not always perfect, Google Translate can be a lifesaver for deciphering menus, signs, or figuring out new vobcabulary. The camera translation feature is a real bonus. 

5. XE CURRENCY. Currency conversion will be on your mind daily when you’re working out the difference between dollars and sol, euros, or yen. This app will convert currency in real time so you know exactly what you’re spending when you pay for something locally. It also makes it easier to determine whether something you want to buy or do is within your budget. 

6. ROME2RIO. When you study abroad, you’re likely to be planning a side trip or two, and Rome2Rio can be a huge help when you’re trying to figure out how to get from A to B. It will give you multiple transportation choices with trains, buses, planes, and more to choose from so you can compare your options before making a decision. 

7. PACKPOINT. Packing can be a real pain, and PackPoint makes it a bit easier. You input your destination, travel dates, and any particular planned activities and this app will generate a packing list tailored to your trip. While you’ll still have to go over it to make sure it truly suits your individual needs, this gives you a solid place to start. 

8. WHATSAPP. If you’re not already using this popular messaging app, now is the time to get on board. It works seamlessly across the globe for messaging and voice or video calls and you’ll have a reliable way to stay connected to friends and family back home as well as to chat with new friends in your host country. 

9. NOTION. There’s a lot to keep track of when you study abroad and Notion is a platform for keeping your life in order. You can create to-do lists, budgets, travel itineraries, and more and have them all in one place. It will also sync across devices so it will be easily accessible any time you need to access it. 

10. AIRALO. Forget the pain of buying local SIM cards. Use Airalo for affordable eSIMs which will give you data in almost any country so that you’re always connected. 

11. SMART TRAVELER. This is the official US State Department app for American travelers, so it’s worth a download. You’ll be able to find US embassy locations, maps, and up-to-date travel information as well as any advisories or warnings about every country.

EXTRA APPS TO DOWNLOAD: FLORENCE, ITALY

1. TRENITALIA. If you’re planning to travel through Italy by train—which is an excellent way to get around and explore regionally—this app makes it easy to book train tickets for day trips or break week adventures to places like Rome, Venice, or Cinque Terre.

2. TOO GOOD TO GO. Here, you’ll find discounted meals available from local restaurants and bakeries in Florence. This app was set up as a sustainability effort to reduce food waste, and it can be very useful for students on a budget too.

3. TABUI. From art exhibits to cultural festivals, there’s always something going on in Florence, and this app gives you a user-friendly way to stay in the loop and discover what’s happening locally on any given day. 

EXTRA APPS TO DOWNLOAD: FUKUOKA, JAPAN

1. NAVITIME JAPAN TRAVEL. Japan’s public transportation can be a little bit complex, so this app provides step-by-step instructions for navigating your way between destinations, including coverage of both buses and trains in Fukuoka. 

2. PAYPAY. PayPay is a popular way to pay by mobile in Japan and is used in many stores, cafes, and even vending machines. Setting it up early means you’ll be able to pay for things more conveniently once you arrive. 

3. GURUNAVI. If you’re planning on exploring the local food scene—and we highly recommend you do—GuruNavi shares restaurant recommendations including some hidden gems, and has detailed reviews, and menus in English (which is particularly useful). 

EXTRA APPS TO DOWNLOAD: LIMA, PERU

1. CABIFY. Similar to Uber, Cabify is widely used in Lima and will let you connect with safe, professional drivers when you need a reliable ride somewhere. If public transportation isn’t an option, this is a great way to navigate the city. 

2. YAPE. A lot of small businesses in Lima will use Yape for payments, so setting it up in advance can be useful as a quick and convenient way to pay, especially if you’re making transactions in markets or with street vendors. 

3. PERU HOP. If you’re planning weekend trips or break week getaways, the Peru Hop is one for you. You’ll find detailed itineraries and tickets to get safely to popular destinations like Paracas and Cusco. 

At the end of the day, studying abroad is all about the experiences you have, the people you meet, the community you connect with, and the lessons you learn along the way. But with these apps in your pocket, you’ll have a little extra confidence in navigating the unknown. So download away, and then slip that phone away until it’s needed so you can mindfully connect with the new world that’s about to unfold for you.