Moving to a new country can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to navigating everyday life in a foreign land. For expats settling in Italy, having the right tools and resources at your fingertips can make all the difference. From language learning to banking, healthcare, transportation, and socializing, here’s a curated list of the best apps and resources tailored specifically for expats living in Italy.
1. Language Learning and Translation
Mastering Italian is key to integrating into Italian society. These apps will help you learn the language or translate on the go:
a. Duolingo
- Why It’s Useful: Duolingo offers gamified lessons that make learning Italian fun and accessible. Perfect for beginners and intermediate learners.
- Key Features: Bite-sized lessons, pronunciation practice, and progress tracking.
b. Babbel
- Why It’s Useful: Babbel focuses on conversational skills, making it ideal for expats who want to communicate effectively in daily situations.
- Key Features: Real-life dialogues, grammar tips, and cultural insights.
c. Google Translate
- Why It’s Useful: This app is indispensable for quick translations. It works offline and includes a camera feature to translate text in real time.
- Key Features: Voice translation, handwriting recognition, and phrasebook saving.
d. Reverso Context
- Why It’s Useful: Reverso provides contextual translations, helping you understand how words and phrases are used in sentences.
- Key Features: Examples from real conversations, idiomatic expressions, and audio pronunciations.
2. Banking and Finance
Managing finances abroad requires reliable tools to handle currency exchange, budgeting, and banking.
a. Wise (formerly TransferWise)
- Why It’s Useful: Wise offers low-cost international money transfers with transparent fees, making it perfect for sending money back home or receiving payments in euros.
- Key Features: Multi-currency accounts, borderless cards, and instant transfers.
b. Revolut
- Why It’s Useful: Revolut allows you to hold multiple currencies, spend abroad without excessive fees, and exchange money at interbank rates.
- Key Features: Budgeting tools, travel insurance, and cryptocurrency support.
c. N26
- Why It’s Useful: N26 is a digital bank popular among expats for its simplicity and ease of use. It operates across Europe, including Italy.
- Key Features: No hidden fees, real-time notifications, and free ATM withdrawals within the Eurozone.
d. Satispay
- Why It’s Useful: Satispay is an Italian payment app that lets you pay friends, shops, and utilities easily using your phone.
- Key Features: Cashback rewards, bill splitting, and secure transactions.
3. Housing and Accommodation
Finding a place to live is one of the first challenges expats face. These platforms simplify the process.
a. Immobiliare.it
- Why It’s Useful: The largest real estate portal in Italy, offering listings for apartments, houses, and shared accommodations.
- Key Features: Advanced filters, virtual tours, and direct contact with landlords.
b. Idealista
- Why It’s Useful: Another leading platform for buying, renting, or selling properties in Italy.
- Key Features: User-friendly interface, detailed property descriptions, and neighborhood guides.
c. Facebook Groups
- Why It’s Useful: Many cities have active expat groups where people post available rooms or share housing advice.
- Examples: “Expats in Rome,” “Milan Expat Community,” etc.
d. Spotahome
- Why It’s Useful: Designed for long-term rentals, Spotahome verifies listings so you can book confidently before arriving in Italy.
- Key Features: Video tours, verified photos, and flexible lease terms.
4. Healthcare and Wellness
Italy has excellent healthcare services, but understanding the system as an expat can take some effort.
a. Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) App
- Why It’s Useful: Once registered with the SSN, this app helps you manage appointments, prescriptions, and medical records.
- Key Features: Digital health card access, appointment scheduling, and prescription renewals.
b. Doctolib
- Why It’s Useful: Doctolib connects patients with doctors and specialists across Italy, allowing you to book appointments online.
- Key Features: Multilingual options, reviews, and reminders.
c. Mytherapy
- Why It’s Useful: A medication management app that reminds you to take pills and tracks your health data.
- Key Features: Customizable schedules, symptom logging, and exportable reports.
d. Find a Doctor – HealthTap
- Why It’s Useful: If you’re unsure which doctor to see, this app connects you with English-speaking professionals.
- Key Features: Telemedicine consultations, expert advice, and second opinions.
5. Transportation and Navigation
Getting around Italy is relatively easy thanks to efficient public transport systems and ride-sharing services.
a. Trenitalia & Italo Apps
- Why They’re Useful: These are the two main train operators in Italy, offering affordable and convenient travel between cities.
- Key Features: Timetables, ticket purchases, and seat reservations.
b. Moovit
- Why It’s Useful: Moovit provides real-time updates on buses, trams, and metros in major Italian cities.
- Key Features: Route planning, live departure times, and step-by-step navigation.
c. BlaBlaCar
- Why It’s Useful: A carpooling service that’s great for traveling between smaller towns or rural areas.
- Key Features: Affordable rides, driver ratings, and luggage options.
d. Citymapper
- Why It’s Useful: An urban mobility app that combines public transit, walking routes, biking, and ride-hailing options.
- Key Features: Fare estimates, alternative routes, and offline maps.
6. Socializing and Networking
Building a community is essential for feeling at home in a new country.
a. Meetup
- Why It’s Useful: Meetup organizes events based on interests, such as hiking, cooking, or language exchange.
- Key Features: Local groups, RSVP functionality, and event calendars.
b. Internations
- Why It’s Useful: A global network for expats, Internations hosts regular events and forums for connecting with other internationals.
- Key Features: Professional networking, city guides, and discussion boards.
c. Bumble BFF
- Why It’s Useful: While primarily a dating app, Bumble BFF helps you find local friends in your area.
- Key Features: Profile matching, chat functionality, and activity suggestions.
d. Couchsurfing
- Why It’s Useful: Even if you’re not staying on someone’s couch, Couchsurfing offers opportunities to meet locals through hangouts and events.
- Key Features: Event listings, traveler reviews, and cultural exchanges.
7. Practical Tools for Daily Life
These apps cover everything from grocery shopping to legal paperwork.
a. IO (Italian Government App)
- Why It’s Useful: IO consolidates government services, letting you pay taxes, fines, and utility bills digitally.
- Key Features: Secure login, document storage, and push notifications.
b. Too Good To Go
- Why It’s Useful: Combat food waste by purchasing unsold meals from restaurants and bakeries at discounted prices.
- Key Features: Surprise bags, eco-friendly initiatives, and geolocation.
c. Supermercato24
- Why It’s Useful: Get groceries delivered to your door from local supermarkets like Esselunga and Carrefour.
- Key Features: Same-day delivery, customizable orders, and loyalty programs.
d. EasyTaxi
- Why It’s Useful: Book taxis effortlessly in major Italian cities without needing to call or hail them manually.
- Key Features: Fare estimates, GPS tracking, and cashless payments.
8. Legal and Administrative Assistance
Navigating bureaucracy can be daunting, but these resources provide clarity.
a. The Official Website of the Italian Government
- Why It’s Useful: Provides information on residency permits, tax codes (codice fiscale ), and other legal requirements.
- Link: www.interno.gov.it
b. Expat.com Forum
- Why It’s Useful: A forum dedicated to expat experiences, offering advice on visas, work permits, and more.
- Key Features: Country-specific threads, Q&A sections, and user stories.
c. AngloInfo Italy
- Why It’s Useful: Offers practical guides on moving to Italy, covering topics like schools, healthcare, and employment.
- Key Features: News updates, directories, and community forums.
