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A note on how we fund this guide: Some links in this guide — mainly for insurance, flight/hotel booking, and eSIMs — are affiliate links. If you book through one, TILU may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes what we recommend: every provider listed here is one we'd suggest regardless of commission, and no listed provider pays to influence the information on this page.
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05 · Before you travel
Essential Apps for Italy
eSIMs, trains, transit, taxis, money, translation and food.
📶
Sort connectivity first. An eSIM gets you online the moment you land. Check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Install via QR code before travel (on home wifi) — it activates on arrival.
📶 eSIM
| Feature | Ubigi | Airalo | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast 5G, reliable coverage | Widest use, flexible plans | Heavy/unlimited users | Budget + security |
| Data type | Large packs, regional EU | Tiered (1/5/10/20 GB) | Unlimited | Tiered, budget |
| Speed | 5G, strong handoffs | 5G, can bottleneck | Full network | Standard |
| Extras | None | None | None | Ad-blocking, security (NordVPN) |
| Voice/SMS | No | No | No | No |
TILU Tip
Need a real Italian number? Buy a physical SIM on arrival (eSIMs are data-only).
| Provider | Where to buy | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Vodafone Italia | Airport kiosks, city stores | Passport, ~15–20 min |
| TIM | Airport kiosks, city stores | Passport, widest rural coverage |
| WindTre | City stores | Passport, often cheapest |
TILU Tip
Physical SIMs require ID registration by law — budget extra time right after a long flight.
🚆 Trains & intercity transport
| App | Best for | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | Booking high-speed trains | Combines Trenitalia + Italo, clean EN interface |
| Trenitalia (official) | Regional + e-ticket validation | Official state railway |
| Italo (official) | Private high-speed | Rome–Florence–Venice–Milan–Naples–Bologna |
| Trenìt! | Live status & strikes | Locals' go-to |
| FlixBus / BlaBlaCar | Budget intercity | Slower, cheaper |
Paper regional tickets must be validated in the platform machine before boarding — in-app tickets validate automatically.
🗺 Navigation & city transit
| App | Best for | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | Driving, walking, general nav | Download offline maps before landing |
| Moovit | Real-time city transit | Live bus/tram/metro data |
| Citymapper | Multi-modal routing | Best in Rome/Milan |
| MooneyGo (myCicero) | Buying city transit tickets | Covers hundreds of Italian cities + parking |
| ATAC Roma (official) | Rome metro & bus | Contactless Tap & Go |
| ATM Milano (official) | Milan metro & tram | Fully contactless |
🚕 Taxis & rides
⚠️
You cannot hail a taxi on the street — use a stand, call, or app. Only authorized white/yellow cars with a rooftop "Taxi" sign. Uber ≠ standard elsewhere — it connects to Uber Black or a partnered metered taxi, not budget peer-to-peer.
| App | Best for |
|---|---|
| FreeNow | Rome & Milan primary |
| itTaxi | Largest national network |
| appTaxi | Regional cities, Florence |
| WeTaxi | Guaranteed fare upfront |
Radio Taxi backup: Rome 06 3570 / 06 4994 · Milan 02 8585. (Florence/Naples/Venice numbers not yet verified — confirm directly.)
💱 Money transfer & currency
| App | Best for | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | Everyday transfers/spending | Real exchange rate, low fees |
| Revolut | ATM withdrawals abroad | 0% foreign fee on many plans, but 1% weekend markup |
🗣 Translation & language
| App | Best for | Camera mode | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Translate | Signs, menus, general | Best — AR overlay | Yes |
| Apple Translate | iPhone, live conversation | No | Yes, on-device |
| DeepL | Natural, polite phrasing | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Translator | Group conversations | Yes | Yes |
| iTranslate | Quick voice use | Limited | Paid tier only |
Camera/voice translation usually needs data even in "offline mode." Bonus: Busuu's "Italian for Travel" short course.
🍝 Food & dining
Delivery: Just Eat (widest selection) · Glovo (speed/variety) · Deliveroo (nicer restaurants).
| App | Best for | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| TheFork | Restaurant reservations | Italy-wide, "Yums" points system |
| Michelin Guide | Fine dining, trusted spots | Avoids tourist traps |
| TripAdvisor | Reading real reviews | Check specific reviews, not just the star score |
| Vivino | Choosing wine | Scan a bottle for ratings/notes |
| OpenTable / Quandoo | Backup booking | Smaller network than TheFork |
Only a fraction of restaurants use booking apps — many take phone/email reservations only. Dietary: AIC Mobile — Italy's National Celiac Association-monitored gluten-free app.
🧰 Other useful apps
- WhatsApp — used by hotels/restaurants/tour operators instead of calls/texts; install before you go
- Rick Steves Audio Europe — free self-guided audio tours, major cities, offline
- 112 — the EU emergency app (see Emergency Numbers)