Rome in your Pocket: Best apps for foreigners in Rome

Rome’s Must-Have Apps

When it comes to navigating the city like a local, Rome is such a popular destination that it can be a challenge to wade through the sea of books, blogs, websites, and magazines to truly find the best advice. But what could be easier than pulling out your phone? With these 16 apps, you can explore the city’s food culture, brush up on your history, learn Italian, find a doctor and more. It’s like having an expert on all the best things to do in Rome right in your pocket!

Before downloading all the apps you’ll need in Rome, make sure you can actually stay connected. Holafly offers travel eSIMs that let you use mobile data as soon as you arrive in Italy, without searching for a local SIM card.

BEST APPS TO LEARN ITALIAN

BABBEL

Starting with zero Italian, I tried Babbel and found it welcoming. During setup it asks how much time you can spend, your level, and whether you want reminders; you can also set weekly goals, so it fits your schedule. Lessons start with simple quizzes that teach common words while showing spelling and pronunciation in real time. It builds confidence quickly. The app will advance your basic language understanding quickly, but the free trial only gives access to one lesson, after that it is subscription based.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

DUOLINGO

Language doesn’t have to be a barrier, and when in Italy it most definitely shouldn’t be. Food, drink and destinations should be at the top of your Italian language list. Duolingo is the ultimate app to start learning some basic Italian before and during your trip to Italy. Each mini-lesson takes you through a language or grammar skill using pictures, short translations, listening activities and more to help you brush up on your Italian basics or solidify key language concepts all in a fun and easy to use format. Armed with the basics, you’ll have a lot of fun testing out your skills with the locals. Brava!

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

ITRANSLATE

There are some words in Italian you simply don’t want to botch, whether it’s in spelling, meaning, or pronunciation. Like penne. Take our word for it. Enter iTranslate. This leading dictionary and translation app allows you to start voice-to-voice conversations in over 100 languages. The app also provides verb conjugations in different tenses, and can detect different dialects. You are bound to impress yourself when using this app abroad. The basic version is free. To unlock offline mode, voice conversations and camera translation you’ll need iTranslate PRO, which comes with a free trial and then costs €9.99 a week, from €12.99 a month or €99.99 a year.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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BEST APPS ON THE GO

CITYMAPPER

If you can brave the public transportation system in Rome, power to you. But do it right. CityMapper provides users with the fastest routes, latest updated times, real-time locations, and the distances from metro/bus stops. The app also features the carsharing capability which enables users to check out available cars, scooters, and also cabs nearby.  The “issues” section lets you know of any problems occurring on your route in real time, like traffic, strikes, a closed metro station. CityMapper can also remember your recent and frequent trips so you don’t have to!

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

FREE NOW

Your closest bet to an Uber experience is this trending app. FREE NOW, formerly My Taxi, has been around since 2015 and is arguably the most efficient way to get around using Rome’s competitive taxi services. Order your taxi in two taps, track your driver in real time, pay cashless, and take advantage of this app when continuing to move around Europe. It also allows you to pre-order service in advance. You can save your favorite drivers (pick up on that last in-depth convo) and…Heading to the airport at the end of the week? Try their pick-up and drop-off service on demand.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

URBI

URBI puts Rome’s shared mobility, taxis and public transport on a single map. Open the app and you’ll see the cars, scooters, e-scooters and bikes available around you, so you can compare options and pick the closest or cheapest without jumping between a dozen different apps. Bolt is among the latest services added. Beyond sharing, URBI lets you plan train and ferry trips, buy public transport tickets in some Italian cities and browse an in-app shop with mobility deals. The app is free, but you’ll still need an account with each sharing provider you want to ride with.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

PROBUS

Probus (Probus Rome) is a lightweight, no-frills transit app that nails the essentials: live bus and tram arrivals, nearby stops, route maps, simple trip planning, and service alerts for Rome. It’s fast, lets you save favorite stops, and surfaces updates when routes change. Because it relies on official data, accuracy is generally solid. Available on iOS and Android, it’s a dependable everyday companion for getting around the capital.

Download: App Store · Google Play

MOONEYGO

MooneyGo is one of Italy’s most complete mobility apps: you can buy Rome’s ATAC tickets and passes, pay for street parking, and handle everyday travel in one place. Beyond Rome, it covers 140+ transport operators across Italy and includes route planning plus train/bus ticketing. It also offers extras like electronic tolling (e-toll) and roadside assistance, which makes it handy for drivers. Availability varies by city because services depend on local partners, but for visitors and residents in Rome it works smoothly for tickets, validation, and parking.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

TOURIST

Tourist is a free app for iOS and Android that works as a digital tourist card. Once you’ve registered, you simply show the card on your phone at partner restaurants, cafés, shops, tours and attractions in Rome and get a discount on the spot. There are no codes to enter and no bookings to make: the staff check the card and apply the discount at the till.

The app also has a map with nearby deals, which comes in handy when you’re wandering around the city and want to know where to stop for lunch or a coffee without paying full price. Free members get 5 to 15% off at participating businesses. Tourist Plus, a paid monthly or yearly subscription, unlocks bigger discounts and removes ads.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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ESSENTIAL APPS

MEDINACTION

When you’re traveling or living abroad, the last thing you want to worry about is tracking down an English-speaking doctor when you’re sick. MedInAction is a medical service that will deliver a qualified doctor right to your doorstep 24 hours a day. Choose where and when you want the doctor to come. You can also book a video consultation with a doctor. This app revives the tradition of Italian doctors making house calls, except it’s faster, more modern, customized, and all right at your fingertips!

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

ACQUEA

Acquea is a handy, eco-minded app for finding free drinking water across Rome. It maps 150,000+ fountains and water points (including nasoni and water houses), shows you the nearest one with directions, and lists water-quality info where available. Recent updates add curated routes and a simple hydration tracker, and the app is available in English, Italian, and Spanish. Coverage is strongest in Rome and central Italy, and while a few users note occasional glitches, overall it’s cleanly designed, free, and great if you carry a refillable bottle.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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BEST APPS FOR FOOD LOVERS

DELIVEROO

If you could dine out in Rome every night, the Italian economy would applaud, and your palate would be forever changed. But it’s not always practical. Enter Deliveroo, the food delivery app that brings premium cuisine to your Roman abode on demand. With a sleek interface, curated foodie locales, and frequent offers, it makes eating in feel like dining out. Postcode-friendly, diet-conscious, and easy to use, it delivers all the perks of takeaway without the hassle.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

TOO GOOD TO GO

So much food goes to waste every day because of over-production. Too Good To Go alerts you of any food shops, cafes, or restaurants nearby that have a surplus of produce they can no longer sell the next day. You can reserve a box full of goodies for a very discounted price, usually around €5. All you have to do is go pick it up at the time the app tells you. You are helping the environment by helping consuming extra food that would be otherwise thrown in the trash, and also eating full meals for unimaginable prices. Be a part of the change!

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

THE FORK

It can be overwhelming looking for somewhere to eat in Rome, because the options are limitless. Forget all that time wasted looking for recommendations online, and start using TheFork. What’s great about this App is that it recommends places to eat with photos taken by other people who’ve enjoyed the food themselves. Yes, please! This is a fantastic new approach that makes a foodie hunt fun, visual and full of discovery. The app also provides menus for every restaurant, lets you reserve a table, and also enjoy great discounts on the bill! The more you reserve, the more Yums points you gain, the more discounts you get. Now you can find great food quickly and pay less, what are you waiting for?

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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CITY GUIDES

UNEXPECTED ITINERARIES OF ROME

Unexpected Itineraries of Rome is the city’s official app for exploring the Rome most visitors never see. Developed for Roma Capitale, it offers seven free routes that mix street art, archaeology and nature, from the murals of Quadraro and Tor Marancia to the Parco degli Acquedotti, the Caffarella valley along the Almone river, Forte Bravetta and the Esquilino. Two itineraries go further out, to the ancient Latin city of Gabii and to San Vittorino. Each route comes with step-by-step navigation that matches the signage on site, audio descriptions and a photo and video gallery, and the app also works offline. It’s a good pick for repeat visitors and anyone curious to see a quieter, less obvious side of the city.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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TIME TRAVEL ROME

History and archeology lovers, this one’s for you. If you’re looking for Roman works in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa you might no longer need a tour guide. TimeTravelRome app offers original content for >5000 ancient sites and monuments, 300 ancient texts and 10.000 photos. In addition to that, the new version displays on the map all ancient Roman roads, traced by academics from the AWMC and Mercator-E research centers – these new functions are free to all users. TimeTravelRome’s rich content and its unique features, which include 300 ancient texts and Roman roads maps, make it the ultimate ancient history app dedicated to the Ancient Roman Empire.

Download: Website · App Store · Google Play

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VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

JULIA – YOUR ROMA PERSONAL ASSISTANT

JULIA (Rome’s virtual assistant) is a city-backed, always-on chat assistant that helps you explore and live Rome more easily. It answers in real time with certified, official information on transport, events, museums, places to eat and stay, public services (water fountains, toilets), Jubilee updates, and even health info (ER waits, pharmacies). It supports 80+ languages, works 24/7, and can tailor answers to your location for nearby tips. In short: a reliable, lightweight companion for visitors and residents – without installing anything. You can access Julia via WhatsApp (+39 335 730 2661), Telegram, Messenger, and web chat.

Chat with Julia: WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger or web chat