Spain
Useful apps for Spain: transport, maps, translation
Install five apps before you fly: Renfe (or Iryo/Ouigo for your train), Google Maps or Citymapper, a ride-hailing app (Cabify, Uber or FreeNow), Alsa for buses, and AEMET for weather warnings. Add WhatsApp, since hotels and restaurants use it. Everything else is optional; a translation app helps outside big cities.
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- Plan calculated
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GuideSpain
Key facts
- Core five
- Renfe or Iryo/Ouigo, Google Maps or Citymapper, Cabify/Uber/FreeNow, Alsa, AEMET
- Messaging
- WhatsApp is used for hotel and restaurant bookings
- Trains
- Book on the app of the operator you travel with: Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo
- Buses
- Alsa for long-distance coaches; regional operators sell separately
- Weather
- AEMET issues official warnings, useful in summer heat and coastal storms
- Offline maps
- Download your city before arrival; mobile data is cheap but not everywhere
- Phone numbers
- Nine digits; mobiles start with 6 or 7; some apps verify by number
Details
Set the apps up at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly. Spanish apps often ask for a phone number for verification, and a card for payment; doing this at the airport on roaming data is the slow way.
Trains: Renfe runs most of the network and its app handles tickets and QR boarding. Iryo and Ouigo are separate operators on the Madrid–Barcelona and other high-speed lines, each with its own app and its own fares. If you booked with one, use that one; a Renfe ticket will not open in the Ouigo app.
City transport: Google Maps and Citymapper both handle metro, bus and walking well in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Bilbao. Local operators such as EMT Madrid and TMB Barcelona have their own apps for passes and real-time arrivals; useful if you buy a multi-day card.
Ride-hailing: Cabify, Uber and FreeNow all operate in Spain, but not in every city, and airport pickup rules differ. Check the app the day before you need it. Taxis are metered and plentiful in city centres; the official taxi app in Madrid is free to download.
Buses: Alsa covers long-distance routes and sells through its app. Some regional and island services sell only at the station or through a local operator.
Weather: AEMET is the state meteorological agency and publishes official warnings. In July and August, and during autumn coastal storms, it is the source to check before a day trip.
Language: Google Translate and similar apps handle menus and signs. Download Spanish offline before you go; Catalan, Galician and Basque are also spoken regionally, and offline packs exist for those too.
Money and admin: keep your bank or card app installed with travel notifications switched on. See spain atm and credit cards and spain currency for the practical side.
Summary table
- Install and log in before departure, on Wi-Fi.
- Download offline maps and offline translation for your regions.
- Turn on card travel notifications.
- Save your train ticket as a screenshot in case of poor signal.
| App | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe | Trains, tickets, QR boarding | Free; fares extra |
| Iryo / Ouigo | High-speed trains on their own routes | Free; fares extra |
| Google Maps / Citymapper | Metro, bus, walking, live times | Free |
| Cabify / Uber / FreeNow | Ride-hailing in major cities | Free; rides extra |
| Alsa | Long-distance coaches | Free; fares extra |
| AEMET | Official weather warnings | Free |
| Hotels, restaurants, tour guides | Free | |
| Google Translate | Menus, signs, offline Spanish | Free |
Ride-hailing coverage differs by city; check before you rely on it.
Tips
Spanish phone numbers are nine digits and mobiles start with 6 or 7; some apps ask for one for verification, so a working number or eSIM helps. See spain esim.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, AVE trains and many city squares, but do not count on it for booking a same-day train.
WhatsApp is the default for restaurant bookings and small hotels; a message often gets a faster reply than email.
If you are driving, use a maps app with offline maps and check toll and low-emission zone rules before entering city centres.
Keep a paper or screenshot copy of your train ticket and accommodation address; useful if your phone dies.
For a first visit, sort the apps alongside the rest of the plan: spain first time visitor and getting around spain.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which apps do I need in Spain?
Five cover most trips: Renfe (or Iryo/Ouigo for your train), Google Maps or Citymapper, a ride-hailing app such as Cabify, Uber or FreeNow, Alsa for buses, and AEMET for weather warnings. Add WhatsApp for bookings and a translation app for menus.
Does Uber or a local taxi app work in Spain?
Cabify, Uber and FreeNow operate in Spain, but coverage varies by city and airport pickup rules differ, so check the app before you rely on it. Metered taxis are plentiful in city centres and are often the simplest option late at night.
Does Google Maps work well in Spain?
Yes, for metro, bus, walking and driving in the main cities and on most long-distance routes. Citymapper is a good alternative in Madrid and Barcelona. Download offline maps before you travel, since signal can drop on rural and island routes.
Do I need a Spanish phone number for these apps?
Some apps ask for a number for verification. An eSIM or a prepaid SIM with a Spanish number makes this easier; a passport is required to register a prepaid SIM in a shop. See spain esim.
Are the apps free?
The apps themselves are free. You pay for what you book inside them: train and bus fares, ride-hailing trips and any in-app extras. AEMET, Google Maps, Citymapper, WhatsApp and Google Translate are free to use.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialRenfe
- officialIryo
- officialOuigo Spain
- officialAlsa
- officialAEMET
- secondaryWikivoyage – Spain