Essential Apps to Download When Traveling in the Philippines

Here’s a list of the most recommended apps trusted by locals that are perfect for planning your tours in the Philippines:

Travel Booking App

Booking your flights, hotel, transfers, tours, and other travel services may seem nerve-wracking, especially for first-timers in the Philippines, but this app will help you plan your vacation, ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish.

Guide to the Philippines App

Exploring the Philippines can be made much easier with the help of the Guide to the Philippines app. Using the app gives you access to the largest online marketplace for Philippine travel, allowing you to book accommodations, flights, and tours for your trip to the Philippines.

Even if you’re traveling to multiple places in the country, you’ll find the app useful as not only does it offer services in top destinations like Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, and Palawan, as well as lesser-known places in the country, but it also has multi-destination travel packages that allow you to book flights, accommodations, transfers, and tours in several locations with just one tap.

Even if you’re just in the planning phase of your trip, the Guide to the Philippines app can help you, as it has hundreds of articles related to Philippine travel, including attraction and destination guides.

You can download the Guide to the Philippines app via Google Play or the App Store.

Transportation Apps 

Metropolitan areas in the Philippines, especially Metro Manila, are notorious for having some of the worst traffic. This is why locals have learned to embrace technologies like transportation apps to avoid traffic and travel faster.

Here are the most useful and widely used transportation apps that you should download when planning a trip to the Philippines and help you save time:

Grab

Photo from Apple App Store

Hailing a cab can be one of the most challenging things you’ll encounter in the Philippines, that’s why the majority of locals living in cities have the ride-hailing app Grab installed in their phones. These will give you access to book air-conditioned cars with a compartment for your luggage. 

Apart from the instant booking of taxi cabs and private cars, it also offers services such as food delivery and courier services. Grab services are available in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Pampanga, Bataan, and Naga. 

Angkas

Photo from Apple App Store

Since cars can still get stuck in traffic, you also have the option to use the motorcycle-hailing app Angkas. This is perfect for those who are feeling adventurous and don’t mind the heat but want to get to their destination the fastest way they can.

Take note that this can only accommodate 1 passenger and there’s no compartment for luggage. Angkas only services cities in Metro Manila. 

Sakay.ph

Photo from Apple App Store

Want to experience commuting in Manila? You should download the Sakay.ph commuting app. This gives you step by step directions with fares and the estimated time of travel going to any destination within the cities of Manila.

Sakay.ph will provide you with transportation options like jeepney, bus, train, and more. This is a must-download if you want to get the local experience of commuting in the metro.  

ikotMNL

Photo from Apple App Store

If you’re commuting to tourist spots around Metro Manila cities like Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Quezon City, and Caloocan via the Manila Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), download the ikotMNL app. 

You can track arrivals and departures of trains in the LRT stations, know the fare per destination, and check the crowds. 

MiCab

Photo from Apple App Store

If you're exploring Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, Davao, and Metro Manila, you can install MiCab, another taxi booking app similar to Grab.

Hirna

Photo from Apple App Store

If you're exploring, Mindanao provinces such as Davao, Cagayan De Oro, and Iligan, you can install this app to book taxis. 

Navigation Apps

Navigating the roads of destinations you're exploring for the first time can be challenging. These navigation apps will be your partners on the road.

Waze

Photo from Apple App Store

This app gives you real-time alerts and useful notifications based on the feedback of existing Waze users. It recommends the fastest and most convenient route to take, traffic situations on the road, and even on-going constructions along the way. 

Google Maps

Photo from Apple App Store

By simply mapping your destination, this app can pull up the nearby establishments you’re looking for and provides you information on how to get there via car, commute, or on foot. It's also useful when you want to know the ins and outs of the local transportation of the place you’re visiting. 

Food and Drinks Apps

Go on food tours in the Philippines and find the best local restaurants and bars with these apps that will also show you user reviews and menus:

Booky

Photo by Booky

Your food trip is made easy with the app’s ability to find the best food deals in town. The Booky app saves you from spending a lot of time looking for the best place to eat while traveling since it provides an endless list of recommendations.

You can also get discounts at some chosen restaurants by using Booky. You can access it with or without Wi-Fi – making it your go-to food app whenever, wherever.

Weather, Translating, Wi-Fi, and List Apps

AccuWeather

Photo from Apple App Store

The last thing you want during trips is canceled plans due to bad weather. This can surely be avoided by knowing the right activities to do and having a backup plan just in case the sun decided not to show up.

Prepare the right outfit and holiday gear by checking the weather forecast via Accuweather during the days you’re scheduled to go.

Google Translate

Photo from Apple App Store

While the majority of Filipinos can speak and understand English, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the culture while traveling than to converse with locals. Don't let language become a barrier. Find out how to better talk to locals with the Google Translate app.

WiFi Map

Photo from Apple App Store

It’s good to disconnect with your busy life while traveling and go offline for a bit however for times when you really need to have access to Wi-Fi, this app will allow you to do just that.

WiFi Map will compile the accessible public connections in your area so that you can use it whenever you need to.

We Wander PH

Photo from Apple App Store

Dreaming of being able to tick off all the 7000+ islands in the Philippines from your travel bucket list? The user-friendly We Wander app will help you track your progress and can help you plan your next trip. 

Have a Hassle-Free Trip in the Philippines

Traveling in the Philippines doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right amount of planning, researching, and a bit of help from technology – you are definitely guaranteed to have an easy and worry-free vacation.

Check out our travel guides and tours on different destinations in the Philippines to help you plan your trip better!