Here are some must-have travel apps for iPhone users, especially photography enthusiasts, frequent travelers, and tech-savvy explorers.
Traveling is all about exploring new destinations, capturing unforgettable moments, and making the most of your adventures. But let’s face it—sometimes the logistics can be overwhelming. Thankfully, your iPhone can be your best travel buddy, equipped with apps that make navigation, flight tracking, language translation, and, of course, photography a breeze.
Travel Apps for Easy Navigation
Around Me
Getting lost in a new city can be exciting, but it’s not always convenient. Around Me is a lifesaver when it comes to finding nearby amenities. Whether you need a quick coffee fix, a pharmacy, or an ATM, this app has you covered. I use this app frequently while traveling and even in our hometown of Williamsburg. The interface is simple and intuitive, helping you discover what’s around you in just a few taps.
I downloaded this travel app about eleven years ago while traveling to a stock photography workshop in Cape Town, South Africa. It came in handy the first day! As we finished a sunset shoot on the beach at Camps Bay, someone suggested we grab dinner together and asked if anyone knew where to go.
Skip and I were somewhat familiar with the area because he had worked there part-time. I pulled out my iPhone and fired up Around Me for the first time. The Codfather, a fun seafood restaurant we liked, appeared on the list of nearby restaurants. It was a quick walk away, but we never would have found it without the app, because it was in a building that faced away from the beach.
Key Features of this travel app:
- Quickly locate the nearest restaurants, hotels, theaters, and more.
- Provides detailed information with maps and directions.
- User reviews and ratings help you choose the best options.
- You can sort restaurants by whether they take reservations or not.
TripIt
Planning a trip involves juggling multiple flight reservations, hotels, car rentals, and activities. TripIt organizes all your travel plans in one place. Simply forward your confirmation emails to TripIt, and it will create a master itinerary for you. You can even share your trip details with others who have TripIt installed.
This travel app is like having a personal travel consultant, and it’s another app I’ve owned since 2013. It even lets me know if I’ve forgotten to book part of the itinerary. I love that my past trips remain in the app, so I can quickly look up the details.
Key Features:
- Consolidates travel information into a single, easy-to-read itinerary.
- Syncs with your calendar for seamless integration.
- Provides real-time updates on flight statuses, gate changes, and delays.
Stay on Top of Your Flights with These Travel Apps
Flight Tracker
Keeping track of your flights can be stressful, especially with frequent changes and delays. Flight Tracker offers real-time updates on flight statuses, ensuring you never miss a beat.
With this travel app, I can even search and follow flights Skip is on to know when he’ll arrive.
Key Features:
- Real-time flight status updates and alerts.
- Gate and terminal information.
- Weather updates for departure and arrival cities.
- Integration with TripIt for streamlined travel planning.
App in the Air
App in the Air is another fantastic flight-tracking app that offers more nuanced features, such as airport tips and in-airport navigation. It’s the perfect travel app companion for frequent flyers.
Yup, it’s another app I’ve owned since 2013. I’m a strong believer that you can’t have too much information when traveling. I love this app for the details it provides, plus the trivia. According to it, I have spent one week in the air since I downloaded it in 2013. I’m also 0.60 to the moon. It’s lucky I’m not really concerned about this. It’s missing all the flights I took before 2013! Surely, I’m closer to the moon than that! 🤣
Key Features of this travel app:
- Real-time flight status updates.
- In-airport navigation and tips.
- Integration with TripIt for streamlined travel planning.
- A paid version offers more features.
Travel App for The Weather and More
You’ll be surprised how much information is available in the Weather App that comes with your iPhone! Yes, it will tell you the weather forecast. But look at the info on sunset times! And this is just one of the features. Spend some time exploring it!
Capture the Perfect Shot with These Travel Apps
Camera+
For those who want to take their iPhone photography to the next level, Camera+ is a powerful tool. It may not really be a travel app, but its advanced features will help you bring back better travel photos. You can see some of the features in the screenshot above.
Key Features:
- Manual controls for focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance. I love the ability to choose manual focus! It makes it easier to focus on small details. You can even turn on Focus Peaking to help with manual focusing.
- RAW shooting capabilities for higher-quality images. (Newer iPhones also offer this in the Camera app.)
- A wide range of editing tools plus more, including text and frames.
Moment
I shot this macro image of a flower using the Moment app and a Moment lens.
If you’re serious about mobile photography, Moment is an app you can’t afford to miss. It offers manual camera controls and integrates seamlessly with Moment’s range of high-quality lenses.
Also, if you’re planning to shoot video on your travels, this app is for you.
Key Features:
- Manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus.
- Support for iPhone models with multiple lenses.
- Integrated with Moment lenses for professional-quality shots.
- Two fun settings: Motion Blur and Light Trails. I’m looking forward to testing the Light Trails preset in London next week. I couldn’t test it in Norway last week because it never got dark enough!
- It also shoots video!
LightTrac
LightTrac is another app that isn’t strictly a travel app, but it really comes in handy when you’re traveling. This is easy software to use to plan timing for the best light for shooting, no matter which camera you use. It integrates with Apple Maps and shows you the direction the light is coming from. This screenshot shows the direction of light off the Isle of Man when we were there a few days ago.
And it tells you how long the shadows will be!
Skip and I shot this crazy photo of our shadows near the Opera House in Oslo, Norway earlier this month. I couldn’t resist checking Light Track to see what it would say.
PhotoPills
I’ve saved the most complicated photography/travel app for last. I shot this 8-second blue-hour photo of Le Mont Saint Michel in France a few years ago. I planned it using the PhotoPills app.
PhotoPills requires some training, but fortunately, the training is included in the app’s Academy tab! This is powerful software for planning your shoots. Whether you’re capturing a breathtaking sunset or the Milky Way, this app provides invaluable tools and information. But it’s so much more and applies to all cameras – mobile, DSLR or mirrorless. If you love nerding out about photography, you need this app on your iPhone!
Key Features:
- Augmented reality for visualizing sun, moon, and star positions.
- Comprehensive planning tools for timing and location.
- Detailed tutorials and inspiration from other photographers.
Break the Language Barrier with This Travel App
Google Translate
Navigating a foreign country can be challenging if you don’t speak the language. Google Translate makes communication easier by providing instant translations in multiple languages.
Key Features:
- Supports text, voice, and camera translations.
- Offline mode for use without an internet connection.
- Conversation mode for real-time spoken translations.
Now it’s your turn:
Traveling should be about the experience, not the logistics. With these essential travel apps on your iPhone, you can focus on what truly matters—exploring new places, capturing stunning photographs, and enjoying your adventures to the fullest. From navigating unfamiliar streets to tracking flights and breaking down language barriers, these travel apps have you covered. And don’t forget to add the photography apps. After all, what’s a trip without beautiful memories to look back on? Happy travels!
Wishing you knew more about your DSLR or mirrorless camera? Be sure to check out my online class, Camera Mechanics!
If you plan to shoot long exposures, you’ll need a tripod. This post I wrote will help you with tripods.
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