Seven essential apps that make life in Barcelona easier for foreign residents

Barcelona is a popular place for foreign residents due to its coastal location, international businesses and startups, its unique architecture, world-class culture, festivals, and easy access to nature. 

But, there are some aspects of the city that can be difficult to navigate, such as parking,  bureaucracy, finding places to charge your electric vehicle, and transport connections. These apps will help you with all of these, as well as offering you great bargains on anti-food waste apps, restaurant recommendations and more. 

Smou

This is the Barcelona mobility app that helps you get around the city via various modes of transport, all in one place. It allows you to book Bicing bikes, pay for parking meters, recharge your electric vehicle and locate shared mobility vehicles, among several other features.

Drivers can also access B:SM car parks using the automatic number plate recognition system, without having to take a paper ticket.

All the services can be used within the city of Barcelona, but the parking meter feature can also be used in the surrounding towns of Badalona, Castelldefels, Esplugues de Llobregat, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Montgat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Joan Despí and Sant Just Desvern.

It's completely free and you can download it via the AppStore here and the Google Play Store here.  

TMB

Barcelona’s transport app, is a must-have for all those who use public transport to travel around the city frequently. You can plan your journeys on both the metro and the bus systems, including working out connections, waiting times and accessibility of various lines. You can also find out in real-time if there are any delays and receive alerts straight to your phone or e-mail.

It also allows you to buy and validate tickets via the app with T-mobilitat. All tickets such as the T-casual, T-usual and T-jove can be uploaded and recharged via the app so that you’ll be able to pass through the ticket barriers with a simple swipe of your phone rather than a physical ticket.

You can download the app from the Apple App Store here and Google Play here.

READ ALSO: How much does it really cost to live in Barcelona?

Fonts BCN

With the Fonts Bcn app you can access information about all the fountains in the city of Barcelona. It could be useful for those who have dogs who need to find water quickly on hot days or those who like to go out running and don't want to run with a heavy bottle. Find out which fountain is closest to you, how to get there, consult the map and obtain basic information on all the drinking fountains in the city.

It also allows you to consult artistic and historical data and fun facts about some of the city fountains, which are either works of art or iconic urban structures. You can even listen to fountain playlists, enabling you to enjoy your own magic fountains across the city. 

You can download the app from Google Play here and from the App Store here. 

Barcelona a la butxaca

This is the mobile app of the Barcelona City Council and offers all the main municipal services for residents in one place. From here you can manage any online procedures, be notified of any incidents on public roads, keep up to date with the schedule of events, consult current information and check the fiscal calendar.

You will also find real-time weather information, useful telephone numbers and access to the "How to get there" service to find the best route to get around the city. In addition, with the "La meva Butxaca" service you can store the content that interests you the most and access it when you want.

You can download it on Google Play here and on on the App Store here. 

READ ALSO: 14 Barcelona life hacks that will make you feel like a local

Too Good to Go

Too Good To Go is a great app that allows you to get your hands on food that would otherwise be thrown out.

According to the Too Good To Go website, around a third of food is wasted. Not only is that bad for the environment, but it also means that you can take advantage of loads of perfectly good (and tasty) food that would otherwise go straight in the bin. 

You can download the app here, and through the Apple App Store, Google Play y Huawei AppGallery. From there, you can browse the various local restaurants and businesses partnered with Too Good To Go, including Aloha Poke and Udon, and arrange to pick up your food from a nearby location. 

Phenix

Phenix is another anti-food waste app that allows you to save money, help the environment and support local businesses. This app basically lets you snap up food products that are going to be thrown out at bargain prices, in the form of a 'surprise basket'.

With over 360 local shops, restaurants, cafes, and butchers in Barcelona already signed up, there's a great deal of variety to choose from.

It's simple to use: download the app here, activate your geolocation, choose the local stores that most appeal to you, pay securely through the app, and then go and pick up your basket at the store at the time slot given to you. 

Barcelona Restaurants

The official guide to restaurants in Barcelona this app has been created by Turisme de Barcelona. It enables you to find updated guides to the city's culinary offerings, with a selection of some of the best restaurants.

You can carry out searches by area, price, type of cuisine, as well as particular characteristics such as if it has a terrace or if it allows groups. You can also find detailed information on each restaurant, located it on Google maps and share the location with your friends and contacts. A handy feature also enables you to mark the restaurants you like the most as "favorites". 

You can download it from the App Store here.