15 Handy Apps and eBooks for your trip to Italy

Planning a trip to Italy? Here are some handy apps and eBooks.

Planning a trip to Italy soon? Here are 15 handy apps and eBooks that you might want to consider to ensure you have an incredible time in Italy.

Apps for your trip to Italy

1. Italy Travel Tips & Hints – An essential app that you should have even before your trip to Italy. It offers tips on things to know and do in the planning stage to advice on the different coffee drinks you’ll find in a bar. Written by Martha Bakerjian who writes for About.com Italy Travel, and who I’ve had the chance to meet on several occasions, you can be sure that the tips are spot on. It is also available for Android.

Street in Erice, Sicily

2. Abruzzo Tourism Board – I was surprised to see that the Abruzzo Tourism Board has taken the initiative to produce not one, but three apps for the region covering events, hiking and skiing details, and an interactive guide where you could also share your experience on Abruzzo.

3. Amalfi Coast Travel Essentials – I know Gillian well and as a regular visitor to the Amalfi Coast, her app is packed with insider tips to this stretch of coastline that’s one of the most spectacular, and popular destinations in Italy.  She offers tips on how to get there, where to eat, places to shop and tons of invaluable insights that will help you make the most of your stay. Note: Check out the guest post Gillian wrote on Capri.

Views while driving along the Amalfi coast

4. Puglia Travel Guide – A region that I absolutely adore, this other app by Martha Bakerjian shares some hidden gems in this southern region that is still off-the-beaten-path for many visitors. Puglia boasts some of the best beaches in Italy, is a paradise for food-lovers, and dotted with charming towns. Besides sharing tips on places to visit, it also recommends places to stay – including trulli, typical Apulian homes with conical roofs. This app is also available for Android.

5. Umbria Slow: Food, Culture and Travel by Rebecca Winke and Alex Leviton – Offers comprehensive off-line maps of the region, insiders’ tips, advice for traveling with children, and calendar of events to name a few. I met Alex last year who mentioned she had written an app for Umbria. Alex has worked for Lonely Planet and “penned all four editions of Umbria for Lonely Planet’s Tuscany & Umbria”. She has a wealth of knowledge to share and it’s here in this app. This app is available for Android.

Countryside in Umbria

Language

6. Talking Italian Phrasebook – This app is now free thanks to Fiat. The app has “40 different categories cover everything from Travel, Food and Accommodation to Shopping, Beaches and even Romance”.

7. Menu Translate – Another free app offers instant translation of more than 5,000 Italian foods and dishes. The app does not require Internet connection and will tell you exactly what you are ordering from an Italian menu: the ingredients, how it is cooked, and how to pronounce a dish.

Food-related apps

8. Cibando – A free restaurant guide app, it is as easy as drawing a circle around a selected area, and you’ll gets to see which restaurants are nearby. In addition to that, the app is filled with stunning photos galleries, description of the dishes and all the needed information about a place as well as how to reach it. There also have an Android version.

9. Series from Elizabeth Minchilli – Eat Rome, Eat Venice and Eat Florence. Covering the main cities in Italy, if you want to eat well in Italy, have these apps handy before your trip. I know Elizabeth and can assure you that you can’t go wrong with her recommendations.

10. Rome for Foodies by Katie Parla – If you need more options for fabulous places to eat in Rome, check out Katie’s app. Avoid the tourist traps and for the minimal price, it buys you a peace of mind that you will be enjoying the best dishes Rome has to offer.

11. Tuscany for Foodies by James Martin – Tuscany is one of the most popular regions in Italy and as food plays a central role in Italian culture, this app, with maps and directions, guides you to shops, restaurants, bakeries and those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve simply the best homemade meals.

12. Chianti Food & Wine by Judy Witts – A resident of Tuscany for nearly 30 years, Judy also offers cooking lessons. Covering the route from Florence to Siena, the app highlights charming towns, vineyards, places to eat and hidden gems.

Places to Stay

13. Agriturismo.it – I love staying in an agriturismo (farm stay)and if you are looking for an authentic experience, I’d suggest you consider staying at one.  The apps lists thousands of agriturismi throughout Italy and while some are simple, others are very well-equipped. With the app, you can search based on location, price and type.

eBooks

14. Uffizi Art History Guide – This guide to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence helps you identify the masterpieces and understand the meaning and importance of the paintings. Written by Alexander Korey, a Florence-based art Historian, you will get the most out of your visit by ensuring you see the most important works and learning about them through relevant facts.

15. Revealed Rome Handbook – Amanda Ruggeri is a journalist and blogger based in Rome. She reveals invaluable tips on Rome such as knowing if a Roman restaurant is authentic at first glance, protecting yourself from being pickpocketed, how to take a taxi without being ripped off and more.

And here are two bonuses!

Sardinia Inside Out – When Sardinia is mentioned, pristine beaches and turquoise waters usually pop into the mind (I’m guilty of this too!)  While this app does cover the beaches – over 40 of them, there’s more to do in Sardinia than just hitting the beach. Paola Loi, a local insider and James Martin, authors of the app, guide you through this amazing island filled with Romanesque churches, saffron fields, fascinating festivals and more.

Inferno Florence Guide by the editors of the Florentine – If you enjoyed Dan Brown’s latest book, Inferno, this app is for you. It pinpoints the places mentioned in the book and offers more insights on them. The app can be used offline and written by experts who are long-term residents of the city.

What other apps, eBooks and resources would you recommend for a trip to Italy?