BEST FREE TRAVEL APPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO IRELAND
Free travel apps for Ireland are a great bonus when travelling around both the North and the Republic. They help you plan out where and what you want to see and you can even find restaurants, historic sites and more.
Need to know where you can wild camp? Park your RV for the night? Go fishing or watch a Gaelic Football Game? There’s an Irish app for that.
This is a comprehensive look at all the free travel apps for Ireland, and one or two that are so cheap they are almost free.
Currency converter app for Euro
Currency rates can be confusing at the best of times and I’ve lost track of how to convert from Euros to Canadian or Euros to US dollars. So I use XE Currency is an excellent way to convert your currency and a bonus it works offline.
Irish Journey Planning apps
The TFI JourneyPlanner App from Transport for Ireland is the only journey planner that provides a timetable and map information from all licensed public transport providers across Ireland. It is the only app that allows you to plan and start your journey from your doorstep.
It provides plans for trains, buses, trams, ferry and taxi services, and combines them into easy to read journey plans. The app acts like a door-to-door route planner and has information about scheduled departures and trips near your current location, and from any specified point.
It covers all 32 counties including N. Ireland and it also covers all modes of public transportation from trains to buses and trams.
The TFI Real Time Ireland App from Transport for Ireland integrates all real-time information services from Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, DART, Iarnród Éireann and Luas. The app provides live updates, helping you plan your journey efficiently.
The TFI Cycle Planner App from Transport for Ireland provides information on the best cycling routes for trips in the Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford city areas.
Free apps for visiting Dublin
If it is Dublin you are looking at, Dublin Bus is the app for you. Getting to and from the airport, and inner-city travel, this app will sort you out.
Looking to travel around the country? You can either travel by bus with Bus Éireann or by train with Iarnród Éireann.
You can just book online and show your email confirmation as your ticket. But the benefit of the apps are the real-time updates, so if there are any delays, you’ll know about it.
BOOKING YOUR HOTEL OR BnB IN DUBLIN
Irish Taxi Apps
Taxi apps such as Uber and Lyft are not used in Ireland. MyTaxi is the next best thing.
Order a taxi for now or book in advance. You can track your drivers’ arrival and share information about your trip details with friends, letting them know when you’ve arrived safely. MyTaxi for iOS MyTaxi on Android
Walk the Dublin Walls app
Along with Dublin city council, Dublinia has developed a free smartphone app that is available for download from Apple’s App Store. This app allows people to learn about the extraordinary history of medieval Dublin by taking a walk around the city’s medieval walls using GPS to map their route. Only available currently for iPhone users the Android version will be available soon.
Walk the Walls of Derry App
The Historic Walls of Derry-Londonderry app is now available for download through iTunes and for Android. This app allows users to catch a glimpse of the city as it was in the 17th century, with rich historical and archaeological information combined with computer-generated visualisations, a GPS-linked map, image galleries, and videos.
Best free Ireland Travel apps
Ireland – Travel Guide is a free and handy introduction to what Ireland has to offer, with everything from walking routes to fishing spots. The Republic of Ireland travel guide contains complete and up to date city guides for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and many other travel destinations in the Republic of Ireland. It works offline, you don’t need an internet connection.
Each location contains a sightseeing section with all the monuments. Pick your ideal restaurant in the eating out section containing the best restaurants. Discover the nightlife of the Republic of Ireland! Bars, pubs & discos in Bray, Sligo, Howth, Dingle. Ireland Travel Guide on iOS, Ireland Travel Guide On Android
This handy application presents you with several self-guided walking tours to see the best of Dublin, and it comes with detailed tour route maps and powerful navigation features to guide you from one sight to the next. No need to hop on a tour bus or join a tour group; now you can explore all of the best attractions on your own.
City Guide apps for Ireland
Dublin Guide with information on what to visit, where to eat, how to save, and more. They also offer transfers, excursions and guided tours in English.
Whether you are a local or a welcome visitor to Galway, this free app will show you everything to see and do in the vibrant city of Galway. The app is a comprehensive Shopping and Visitor Directory for beautiful Galway City, in the West of Ireland.
A handpicked guide to the best places to eat, drink and things to do and see during your time in Killarney so you don’t have to. See the hidden gems Killarney has to offer and some local insights into other attractions and businesses around the town.
A great little map for exploring Mayo built by Derek of WalkWestIreland
Beach and surf guides
The Irish Beach Guide provides information on Irish Beaches and Surf locations near your current location. The app includes all the Blue flag beaches for 2016 for Ireland. Each beach has information and links to information including weather forecasts, driving directions, Tidal information and where applicable surfing forecasts.
A great walking and hiking guide it has GPS tracking to track your route (no internet required). It also gives you the routes other people have taken so if you are not sure which route to take you can follow others and get an idea of how the hike went and see if it is suited for you.
Game of Thrones app
Travel the continents of Game of Thrones and discover their real-life counterparts in Northern Ireland. Find out which scenes were filmed where learn about the filming locations and plot them on the map.
Total Gardens Ireland is an interactive map with details of hundreds of gardens in Ireland, including public gardens and private gardens. You can find gardens nearby, view details and telephone the garden in advance to ensure availability and other details.
Only available on iPhone this app will give you all the great golfing locations in N. Ireland on the Causeway Coast
Walking Routes is a community of hillwalkers and ramblers dedicated to sharing Irish walking trails. Perfect for hillwalking, rambling and hiking in Ireland.
MPI – Motorhome Parking Ireland
The most up to date and biggest resource for Parking a Motorhome in Ireland North or South.
Irish Caravan and Camping Council
Detailed information about each campsite including facilities, size and opening times. Use the interactive map to locate sites near you. Find your favourites and plan your perfect holiday.
Waymarked Trails is a trail guide. It does the simple things like getting you from A to B but also helps you explore the history and points of interest along the trail. Use Waymarked Trails on the Dingle Kerry and Wicklow Ways.
County Clare
Cultural Road Mapp is not free but it is a fantastic steal at €2.09. Designed especially for motorists, the audio tour immerses you in the renowned culture and heritage of one of Ireland’s most beautiful counties as you drive Clare’s west coast on the Wild Atlantic Way touring route.
Dining Apps in Ireland
There are so many great restaurants to discover in Ireland. From traditional Irish food to fusions of Irish and international flavours.
The Lovin.ie app points you in the direction of the best local grub, as well as giving you great content about Irish culture in general. Lovin.ie for iOS, Lovin.ie for Android
Restaurants
Finding local restaurants with reviews only available on the iPhone.
Irish Weather Forecasting Apps
An Irish day can change in a heartbeat! Here we call it 4 seasons in one day, so Ireland’s meteorological service are the best people to chat to when it comes to weather. Met Eireann for iOS, Met Eireann for Android
Finding Accommodation
You can book your hotel or BnB stay through Booking.com, Hostelworld and Airbnb – are great to have downloaded if you haven’t booked your accommodation in advance.
Not available in apps but worth a mention For a unique experience, try Ireland’s Blue Book. This is a collection of quality Irish country house hotels, castle hotels and restaurants.
Entertainment in Ireland apps
Entertainment, pubs, clubs, cinema, gigs, festivals and events this free app has events, all movie listings and festivals in Ireland.
Sports in Ireland apps
If you’re coming here for the full Ireland experience, you’ll have to catch some sport, get the Official GAA app for fixtures, results, photos and info on tickets and venues.
When you visit Ireland you may want to know what to pack personal experience tells me that I need a carryon bag with those twisty wheels that go in all directions and has both carrying handles and a pull-out drag bar thingy. I want sturdy fabric, preferably in a day-glow colour so I can see the damn thing if I do have to check it. I also want soft sides that give a little – just in case. My recommended one? Well, I pick the azure blue TravelproTravelpro Maxlite 5 19″ Expandable International Carry-On Spinner. I know it’s a mouthful but a great case.
Now this one may seem a little odd but I see a lot of N. Americans complaining on the Irish forums that most hotels and B&B’s don’t have washcloths. Well, that’s true I mean after all who wants to use a used washcloth. Take your own these are great quick-drying washcloths that are reusable and environmentally friendly.
Now if you are really concerned about the whole liquid issue why not take solid shampoo bars and body wash bars. These products are paraben and SLS free, TSA approved (so to speak) perfume-free and chemical-free. That makes them very environmentally friendly and they are so easy to use.
Now you are going to need a 110v to 220v voltage converter so you can plug in hairdryers, phones, laptops or tablets and so on. My personal favourite and one that has lasted me 4 years is the Bestek Universal Travel Adapter.
Trust me on this one you will have more photos than you can store on either your phone or your camera and you don’t want to be deleting any to take more before you get home.
This Ultra Scandisk chip will work under adverse weather conditions (we get a lot of those here) and keep your photos or drone footage totally safe. A flash drive for your Smart Phone or Android will also come in very handy.
I’m not going to recommend cameras or other types of photographic equipment such as a drone because – well because I am a crap photographer who uses a good cell phone for most of my photos. Now I want a drone but I have to admit I haven’t bought one yet. So I was reading all kinds of reviews and know which one I want this a Holystone 1080P Drone.…sigh if only. This has a huge flying time of 26 minutes.
This little beauty is a Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger, which is an absolute, must-have when travelling. I keep mine charged and then bring it with me just in case. There is nothing worse than running out of juice when you are snapping some of the best views ever. You will never be out of power with this charger.
Here in Ireland a Windproof Umbrella will save your hair and clothes and is a requirement. I really like this small portable travel umbrella. It’s windproof, waterproof, and folds down super small and will fit into any purse or suitcase.
I never would have dreamed of bringing a flashlight with me to Ireland, but when it’s dark here man it’s freaking dark. So one night we wanted to go and see the Northern Lights up in Donegal but we didn’t have a torch. Shopping for one here in Ireland became a journey to 5 stores and each one more expensive than the last. This torch is perfect it has 5 modes, is rechargeable, super lightweight and waterproof you couldn’t ask for more.
If you want to print my Guide to free Irish Travel Apps you can download the pdf here.
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