UPDATED: This list has been recently updated with a must-have list of travel apps for Israel.
If you’ve got yourself a lovely shiny iPhone and you’re coming soon to Israel you might want to make sure you’ve got it loaded with some crucial travel apps that will make your trip even more enjoyable. There are, of course, hundreds of travel applications for the iPhone, we’ve managed to condense it down to a magnificent twelve…get downloading!
Forget your luggage, your backpack, your whatever – just don’t forget to bring your iPhone!
- UltraSn0w – If you want your iPhone to work with one of Israel’s mobile operators, you’re going to need to software unlock your iPhone 3G (this software unlock works on firmware version 3.0). By the way, if you want this software unlock to work on your phone, do not upgrade your firmware! You can get the file by adding repo666.ultrasn0w.com to your Cydia sources.
- Skype – Quite possibly the best way to keep in contact with friends and family back home. Skype provides unlimited country and world plans and is easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Dopplr – Known as “The Social Atlas app”, Dopplr enables you to share your travel plans with your family and friends, plus check out who you know that is already here in Israel. There are also city specific travel tips available. Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Flickr – Only officially released very recently, it enables you to easily share the photos you’ve taken with your iPhone camera, geo-tag them, and add them to sets. You can also search for photos and videos. Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone (but not available worldwide).
- Sit or Squat – If you’re searching for a public toilet in the nearest vicinity, this app points you in the right direction. Unfortunately, according to its map there are only four places to relieve yourself in Israel, but hey, this is your opportunity to be a hero in restroom folklore and genuinely put Israel on the map! Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.
- HebDict– If you’re looking for a Hebrew-English dictionary to help you out on your travels in Israel (maybe our survival Hebrew guide is enough), get this download (via Cydia), which is an addon to wedict which is easily located in the App Store on your iPhone (but no longer down-loadable for free).
- IsraelMoney – When you’ll be haggling your socks off in Carmel Market, you might well need this app on your iPhone, just to make sure you get yourself a bargain. It gives exchange rates for the Israeli shekel with a number of foreign currencies. Easily downloaded for free from the App Store on your iPhone.
- On The Road – Use this as a mini-blog to keep your friends and family updated. This app enables you to add photos, videos, slideshows, and GPS locations to your posts. Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Postino – Don’t bother looking for the same old “Holy Land” postcard to send to friends and family – this app gives you the ability to mail real postcards (printed on high quality paper) including photos of yourself in the perfect landscape (the Old City of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv beach…it’s all up to you!). Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Fring – This application lets you interact with your friends on all your favorite social networks including Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo! and AIM. Easily downloaded for free from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Backgrounder– This nice little app enables you to keep an iPhone app up and running even after you exit it. This is particularly useful for an app like Skype, which you can keep running in the background in case someone calls. This app can be downloaded from Cydia.
- English Israel News – You can’t visit Israel and avoid the news. This little app will set you back a dollar but keep you updated with all the latest breaking news from the Holy Land, in English of course. Easily downloaded from the App Store on your iPhone.