Greek Like Me Guide: The 10 Best Free Apps for Traveling to Greece
So, you’ve planned your trip to Greece, made all your reservations, and you’re on your way to the airport. You’re waiting to board your flight and have some spare time and free WiFi. Why not download some helpful apps for your stay in Greece? As much as I love the idea of totally disconnecting when I’m traveling on vacation, the reality is that I am very dependent on my smartphone. I know I’m not the only one, so I’m going to share the top 10 apps that will enhance your trip and make your travel experience better. And if you have questions about using your cell phone in Greece, check out this blog post. All of these apps are available for Apple and Android devices, and they’re all free!
GoogleMaps: The most accurate map of Greece where roads aren’t always labeled clearly and traffic laws are often treated like suggestions. I recommend you download an offline map of Greece so you’re not always using data or cell service. If you’re renting a car or scooter, this is a must-have. I also have several lists of places to visit, restaurants to dine in, or beaches to enjoy saved on my maps. I encourage you to do the same! Here’s an example of a Walking Tour of Athens I made on Google Maps. Feel free to save it and use it when you travel! Get Google Maps for your iPhone. Get Google Maps for your Android.
Google Translate: The Greek language is tough, and I’m saying that as a bilingual person! The alphabet is different, and even though things like street signs and shop signs are often in Greek and English, you’ll probably find yourself struggling to read or understand something around you. Google Translate has several great features. I recommend downloading Greek to use offline. This will allow you to use the app’s visual AI to translate Greek text into English when you point your camera at it. It’s really amazing and 95% accurate! Definitely good enough to get the message across. You can even use it to speak into and it will speak back in Greek. Honestly, it’s a game changer! Get Google Translate for your iPhone. Get Google Translate for your Android.
FreeNow: Greece’s version of Lyft or Uber. Use it to call a taxi, and you can choose to pay via the app, or with cash. Greek taxi drivers are somewhat infamous for their shady behavior, but this app takes the risk out of getting an unscrupulous driver who might take a longer route or charge you extra just for being a tourist. But, there are also TONS of amazing cabbies who are genuinely wonderful and hospitable and will do their very best to get you safely to wherever you need to go. Get FreeNow for your iPhone. Get FreeNow for your Android.
Wolt: food, grocery, and other retail delivery app primarily used in Athens but also Chania, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki. Get Wolt for your iPhone. Get Wolt for your Android.
eFood: Food delivery app used in most major cities and towns across Greece. Get eFood for your iPhone. Get eFood for your Android.
What’sApp: This app is commonly used in Greece instead of texting, making voice and video calls. Unlike the US, unlimited texting and data is much less common in Greece, so people often use this chat app to get in touch with each other. Get What’sApp for your iPhone. Get What’sApp for your Android.
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. I know social media isn’t for everyone, and I fully support you if you aren’t into it! But, if you are, I recommend choosing to use one while your on vacation and just sticking with it. Enjoy yourself and forget about the rest of the world! Check the AppStore or GooglePlay for your fave social media app.
VisitGreece: helpful articles and resources for specific destinations. Get VisitGreece for your iPhone. Get VisitGreece for your Android.
FerryHopper: A great way to find ferry schedules to plan your island hopping! Get FerryHopper for your iPhone. Get FerryHopper for your Android.
Your Preferred Airline’s App: This is great for checking in, tracking luggage, and for updates on your flights! Check the AppStore or GooglePlay for your airline’s app.
Your Bank’s App: Ok, so this is number eleven, one more than I promised, but you probably already have this one, so it’s kind of cheating! Having your bank’s app on your smartphone can be essential in case you have any issues with your accounts or cards. Ask at your bank, check on the bank’s website, or in the AppStore or GooglePlay store for your bank’s app.
If you have any favorite travel apps, I’d love to hear from you! Send me a message at yiasou@greeklike.me or on Instagram!