Best Offline Travel Apps: Navigate, Translate, and Explore Without WiFi

Why Offline Capability Is Non-Negotiable for Travel

Your phone is the most powerful travel tool ever created. It replaces paper maps, phrasebooks, guidebooks, currency calculators, and translation dictionaries. But all of that power depends on one thing: an internet connection. And when you are navigating a side street in Marrakech, hiking a trail in Patagonia, riding a ferry between Greek islands, or arriving at an airport at midnight in a country where your SIM card does not work yet, you have no internet.

International data roaming costs between $5 and $15 per day with most US carriers. Local SIM cards require finding a shop, presenting your passport, and potentially waiting while the card activates. eSIMs are getting easier but still have coverage gaps. And in many of the world's most interesting places -- rural Japan, Moroccan desert towns, Central Asian villages, Andean highlands -- cell coverage simply does not exist.

The solution is preparing your phone for offline use before you leave. This guide covers the best apps in every category that work fully or substantially without an internet connection, with specific setup instructions, download sizes, and honest comparison tables.

Offline Maps: Your Most Critical Download

Google Maps Offline

Google Maps is the most widely used mapping app in the world, and its offline functionality is genuinely good -- with some limitations.

How to download offline maps:

1. Open Google Maps and search for the city or region you are visiting
2. Tap your profile picture (top right) and select "Offline maps"
3. Tap "Select your own map"
4. Pinch to zoom and position the blue rectangle over the area you need
5. Tap "Download"

What works offline:

• Turn-by-turn driving navigation
• Searching for addresses and specific locations
• Viewing the map and zooming in/out
• Saved/starred locations and lists

What does NOT work offline:

• Public transit directions (bus, train, metro routes)
• Real-time traffic information
• Business hours and contact information
• Reviews and ratings
• Street View
• Walking directions (limited functionality)

Storage requirements:

Area	Approximate Download Size
Paris city center	70-100 MB
Greater London	150-200 MB
Tokyo metropolitan area	200-300 MB
All of Portugal	250-350 MB
All of Thailand	500-700 MB
All of Japan	1-1.5 GB

Expiration: Offline maps expire after approximately 1 year if not updated. Google Maps will prompt you to update before expiration if you are connected to WiFi.

Pro tip: Download maps over WiFi at your hotel before heading out each day. Download broader regional maps before leaving home, as airport WiFi can be unreliable.

Apple Maps Offline (iOS 17+)

Apple Maps gained full offline map support starting with iOS 17, making it a strong alternative for iPhone users.

How to download:

1. Open Apple Maps
2. Tap your profile picture
3. Tap "Offline Maps" then "Download New Map"
4. Search for or scroll to the area you need
5. Adjust the area and tap "Download"

Advantages over Google Maps offline:

• Public transit directions work offline (a major advantage)
• Walking directions work fully offline
• Download sizes are comparable to Google Maps
• Automatic updates when connected to WiFi

Disadvantages:

• Apple Maps has less detailed business information in many countries
• Coverage quality varies significantly outside North America, Europe, and East Asia
• Google Maps has better point-of-interest data globally

Maps.me (MAPS.ME)

Maps.me is built specifically for offline use and is the preferred choice of backpackers, hikers, and budget travelers.

Key strengths:

• Extremely detailed offline maps based on OpenStreetMap data
• Includes hiking trails, dirt roads, and paths not on Google Maps
• Offline search for restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and attractions
• Offline navigation (walking and driving)
• Community-contributed bookmarks and points of interest
• Free for core features

Download sizes are larger than Google Maps (an entire country download for Thailand is approximately 300-500 MB) but include more detail.

Best for: Countries with limited Google Maps coverage, hiking and trekking, rural areas, budget travel in Southeast Asia and Africa.

OsmAnd

OsmAnd is an open-source mapping app based on OpenStreetMap with the most powerful offline features of any map app.

Key strengths:

• Completely offline navigation (driving, cycling, walking, public transit)
• Contour lines and hillshade for hiking (downloadable add-on)
• Wikipedia articles for points of interest (downloadable offline)
• GPX track recording and import
• Nautical charts available
• Highly customizable

Key weaknesses:

• The interface is significantly less polished than Google Maps or Apple Maps
• Steeper learning curve
• Some features require the paid version (OsmAnd+, approximately $9-15)

Best for: Hikers, cyclists, and travelers who prioritize offline functionality over interface beauty.

Offline Maps Comparison Table

Feature	Google Maps	Apple Maps	Maps.me	OsmAnd
Offline driving navigation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Offline walking navigation	Limited	Yes	Yes	Yes
Offline transit directions	No	Yes	No	Yes (basic)
Hiking trails	Limited	Limited	Good	Excellent
Download size (typical city)	70-200 MB	70-200 MB	100-300 MB	100-300 MB
Offline search	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Business info offline	No	Limited	Limited	No
Price	Free	Free	Free (ads)	Free / $9-15
Best platforms	Android, iOS	iOS only	Android, iOS	Android, iOS

Offline Translation

Google Translate Offline

Google Translate's offline mode is remarkably capable and should be downloaded for every language at your destination before departure.

How to download offline languages:

1. Open Google Translate
2. Tap the download icon next to either language
3. Select the language(s) you need
4. Download over WiFi (each language pack is 35-55 MB)

What works offline:

• Text translation (typed input)
• Camera translation (point your phone at text -- signs, menus, labels -- and see the translation overlaid)
• Conversation mode (speak into the phone and see/hear the translation)
• Handwriting recognition

What does NOT work offline:

• Quality is slightly lower than online translation (offline models are smaller)
• Some newer languages may not have offline packs
• Image translation quality is reduced

Available offline languages (partial list): Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, and approximately 50 others.

Storage: Each language pack is 35-55 MB. Downloading five languages requires approximately 200-275 MB.

Apple Translate (iOS)

Built into iPhones (iOS 14+), Apple Translate offers offline translation for a growing list of languages.

Advantages:

• Deep integration with iOS (translate text in any app via the share sheet)
• Clean, simple interface
• No ads

Disadvantages:

• Fewer languages than Google Translate (approximately 20 vs. 100+)
• No camera translation in offline mode (camera translation requires internet)
• Less accurate for non-European languages

Microsoft Translator

A strong alternative to Google Translate with offline capability for approximately 70 languages.

Unique feature: Multi-device conversation mode. Multiple people can join a translation session from their own devices, even offline via Bluetooth, making it useful for group conversations with locals.

Dedicated Phrase Apps

For situations where translation apps feel too impersonal, dedicated phrasebook apps provide culturally appropriate phrases organized by situation:

• TripLingo (free with in-app purchases): Phrases, voice translation, and cultural tips organized by formality level. Offline mode available.
• iTranslate ($6/month for premium): Voice translation with offline support, dictionary mode.

Offline Travel Guides

Wikivoyage (via Kiwix)

Wikivoyage is the Wikipedia of travel guides -- community-written, comprehensive, and completely free. The entire Wikivoyage database can be downloaded for offline reading via the Kiwix app.

How to set up:

1. Download Kiwix (free, available on Android and iOS)
2. Open Kiwix and search for "Wikivoyage"
3. Download the English Wikivoyage file (approximately 800 MB for all destinations)
4. Browse any Wikivoyage article offline

What you get: Full destination guides including orientation, getting around, sights, activities, eating, drinking, sleeping, and safety information for thousands of destinations worldwide.

TripAdvisor Offline

TripAdvisor allows you to download city guides for offline use, including maps, reviews, and venue information.

How to set up:

1. Open the TripAdvisor app
2. Search for your destination city
3. Look for the "Download Offline City Map" option
4. Download over WiFi

What you get: Venue listings, reviews, photos, and a basic map. Not as comprehensive as the online version but useful for finding restaurants and attractions without connectivity.

Wikipedia Offline (via Kiwix)

The entire English Wikipedia can be downloaded offline via Kiwix (approximately 90 GB for the full version, or 6-8 GB for the text-only version without images). For travel, this gives you historical context, cultural information, and detailed articles about every major attraction you visit.

Offline Currency Conversion

XE Currency

XE is the standard currency conversion app used by travelers and financial professionals worldwide.

Offline capability: XE stores the last-synced exchange rates and allows conversions offline. Rates are updated whenever you connect to the internet.

Limitation: Offline rates are only as current as your last sync. In countries with volatile currencies (Argentina, Turkey), rates can shift significantly in a single day. Sync before heading out.

Wise App

The Wise (formerly TransferWise) app shows mid-market exchange rates and works offline with cached data. If you use a Wise debit card, the app also shows your balances and recent transactions offline.

Offline Language Learning

Duolingo Offline

Duolingo allows premium subscribers ($7-14/month) to download lessons for offline use. Free users cannot access offline lessons.

What you get: Full lesson content for the languages you are studying, including audio pronunciation.

Practical value: Useful for reinforcing basic phrases during long flights or bus rides without WiFi.

Drops

Drops is a visual vocabulary app that allows offline downloads of word sets. The free version gives you 5 minutes of practice per day; premium ($10/month or $70/year) removes the limit and adds offline access.

Offline Entertainment for Transit

Long bus rides, train journeys, and flights without WiFi are inevitable. Prepare entertainment in advance:

• Spotify: Download playlists and podcasts for offline listening (Premium required, $11/month)
• Netflix / Amazon Prime Video: Download movies and shows for offline viewing before your trip
• Kindle / Apple Books: Download ebooks. Most travel guidebooks are available digitally (Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Moon Travel)
• Pocket: Save web articles for offline reading. Excellent for downloading travel blogs and restaurant recommendations before you lose connectivity
• Podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts): Download episodes about your destination for informed traveling

Storage Management: How to Fit Everything

Offline maps, language packs, travel guides, and entertainment add up quickly. Here is a realistic storage budget:

Content	Approximate Size
Google Maps: 3 city/region downloads	300-600 MB
Google Translate: 3 language packs	120-165 MB
Wikivoyage (full Kiwix download)	800 MB
Spotify: 100 downloaded songs	500 MB
Netflix: 2 downloaded movies	1-2 GB
Kindle: 5-10 guidebooks	200-500 MB
Total	3-5 GB

Tips for managing storage:

• Delete apps and content you will not use during the trip
• Move photos and videos to cloud storage before departure to free space
• Download maps and language packs incrementally (one destination at a time) rather than all at once
• Use the "Offload Unused Apps" feature on iOS to free space without losing data

Pre-Trip Download Checklist

Complete this checklist over WiFi at home before your trip:

Maps:

• [ ] Google Maps or Apple Maps: Download offline maps for each destination
• [ ] Maps.me: Download country maps for any rural or hiking areas
• [ ] Save/star hotels, restaurants, and key locations on your map

Translation:

• [ ] Google Translate: Download offline language packs for each destination language
• [ ] Test offline camera translation on a foreign-language text (book, website screenshot)

Guides:

• [ ] Download Wikivoyage via Kiwix (or download specific destination guides)
• [ ] Download TripAdvisor offline city guides for major stops

Currency:

• [ ] Sync XE Currency app with latest rates
• [ ] Download the Wise app if using a Wise card

Entertainment:

• [ ] Download Spotify playlists and podcasts
• [ ] Download Netflix shows and movies
• [ ] Download ebooks and guidebooks

Utilities:

• [ ] Download your airline's app and save your boarding pass to your phone wallet
• [ ] Screenshot hotel confirmation details, addresses, and check-in instructions
• [ ] Save emergency contact numbers (embassy, hotel, insurance) as phone contacts

Build Your Offline-Ready Trip

Having the right apps downloaded and configured before departure transforms your phone from a connectivity-dependent device into a self-contained travel command center. You can navigate unfamiliar cities, communicate across language barriers, convert currencies, and find restaurants -- all without a single bar of cell service.

TripGenie helps you build detailed itineraries that you can reference offline throughout your trip. Export your TripGenie itinerary before departure and access your day-by-day plans, restaurant recommendations, and activity schedules even when you are deep in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains or island-hopping through Indonesia without reliable WiFi.

The best travel experiences often happen in places where connectivity is limited. Do not let a lack of internet keep you from exploring the world's most interesting corners.