App Watch: Cities Talking

Figuring out the maze of little alleys in old quarters, shopping in local markets, marvelling at the ancient architecture of heritage sites—exploring new cities can be a lot of fun. And if you’re an independent-minded traveller—no guided bus tours for you, we’re guessing—you’ll also want to experience them at your own time and pace. Well, here’s an app that lets you do just that. Custom-curated with the help of travel writers and historians, Cities Talking is a flexible app that takes you on an audio-guided tour of a city, with the help of Google Maps. You’re enlightened along the way with fun facts, interesting insights and untold stories about the place you’re visiting. Use their ‘Tour Notes’ feature to take notes or record information about any interesting place you come across. And should your stomach make demands, simply pause the tour and head to the nearest café in the town using their ‘FYI feature’, which is abundant with local knowledge. The app costs €4.99 to download; no roaming charges.