9. Useful City Travel Apps

As would be expected, many of the bigger cities have their own transport and travel apps, combining interactive maps, bus, tram and metro routes, together with payment methods. All or most of these have been downloaded to a separate home screen on my phone. 

For Amsterdam I had previously found the GVB app very useful and cost effective. This time I will opt for the 48-hour ticket, costing €15 which will easily meet all my travel needs from my arrival on Thursday evening until my departure on Saturday afternoon. It found it very simple to use last time and also very effective. 

In Berlin I chose the Berlin City TourCard, costing €20 on the BVG app, this was also a 48-hour ticket. On my arrival on Sunday evening, I am planning to just buy a single ticket to get me to my accommodation. I don't plan to activate the 48-hour ticket until mid-morning on Monday, and this will then see me right through till departure on Wednesday. 

For Prague there is the IDOS app, recommended to me by my host Pavel, when I could not find a suitable app myself. 

For Vienna we will all download the WienMobil app which like the other apps mentioned provides directions, and online ticketing for all public transport options in the city. This iss remarkable value as it offers 72 hours unlimited travel for €17. 

For Bratislava there is the IDS BK app. There are no 24-hour or 48-hour travel pass options, so single journey tickets are recommended. The cost of single tickets seems to be expensive starting at €3.60 and going up to €4.90 depending on the number of zones travelled. More research is oviously needed to see if there are any cheaper options. 

In Budapest there is the BudapestGO app, which has 24-hour travel passes for 2500 HUF or €6.50. 

In Poland one app covers all public transport options in nearly all major cities, it is called Jakdojade and offers one-day and weekend tickets. Prices differ depending on the ticket and the city, but range from €5 to €12. It is interesting that the Krakow tickets are more than double the cost of Warsaw! Bloody tourists!

In Kaunas there is the Ziogas app with single tickets costing 70c. 

In Vilnius confusingly there are two equivalent apps, one is called Trafi, but the minimum purchase order is €5 at a time so seems to be more applicable to local residents than tourists. The other is called m.Ticket which allows single tickets to be purchased, but is only available in Lithuanian ! I will ask for local advice before deciding. 

Finally in Riga, there is the Rigas satiksme app, which has very low ratings on Google reviews, so it remains to be seen how useful it will be. Here I will ask my host Laure's advice.