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67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know

Spain. Mexico. Argentina. Peru. Colombia.

If you're learning Spanish , the mere the mention of these countries can leave you daydreaming about your next trip abroad.

And although there are many incredible things to do and see in Spanish-speaking countries, what really makes these places special are the local people.

So before you pack your bags and jump on a plane, why not learn a little Spanish to help you make the most of your trip?

In this post, you’ll learn 67 Spanish phrases for travel that can help you survive in the language during your trip abroad. And who knows, they might even help you make a few new friends too!

To make it easier for you, I’ve divided the phrases up into different categories:

Table of Contents

Take the time to learn a few of these key Spanish travel phrases and you’ll be able to mix with the locals, get by in various situations and have a much more enjoyable and authentic experience during your trip.

By the way, if you want to learn Spanish in time for your trip, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

Press play on the video below to learn Spanish travel phrases thanks to a story. Otherwise, keep scrolling to discover all 67 Spanish travel words and expressions.

First Things First: Greetings To Use On Arrival

Knowing how to greet people is the most basic thing you can learn in a foreign language. And yet its importance shouldn't be underestimated.

Even if you aren’t fluent enough to hold a long conversation, a simple ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?  (Hello, how are you?) can make all the difference.

You'll be able to use these expressions as soon as you arrive at your destination, whether it's at the airport, the train or bus station, or the hotel.

People appreciate it if you make an effort to speak their language when you visit their country, even if it’s only a few words.

Spanish-speaking countries are especially polite and greeting people correctly will go a long way towards endearing you to the locals, be they friends, people you meet in shops or on the street.

• ( BWAY-nos DEE-as)
• (BWAY-nas TAR-des)
• (BWAY-nas NOH-chays)
• (KOH-moh eh-STAH)
• (KOH-moh eh-STAHS)
• (bee-EN  GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])
• (KOH-moh te YA-mas?)
• (May YA-moh… )
• (MOO-choh GOO-stoh)

And of course, let’s not forget common courtesy!

• (por fa-BOR)
• (GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])

If you get stuck in your Spanish conversation, you can always fall back on these next two phrases to get you out of trouble.

• (yo no en-tee-EN-doh)
• (Ab-la in-GLAYS)

Get What You Want On Your Trip With The Verb Querer 

Once you’ve finished greeting someone, you’ll need to be able to move on to the crux of your conversation and to do that you’ll need to learn a couple of common verbs.

There are hundreds of Spanish verbs to learn and, to make your life more difficult, these verbs conjugate (change form).

This means learning a verb is never as simple as learning one word; you have to learn multiple different forms.

Having said that, you might be surprised by how far you can get only knowing one simple verb: I want .

It may not make you the most sophisticated Spanish speaker but 9 times out of 10 it will get you what you, well, want .

The verb in question is querer (to want) and in the first person form, it becomes quiero (I want).

Let’s take a look at how you can use it:

• (yo kee-EH-ro oon me-NOO)
• (YO kee-EH-ro oon taxi)
• (yo kee-EH-ro OO-na ser-BAY-za)

If you’d like to be a bit more polite (which is usually a good idea), you can also use:

• (kee-see-EH-ra…)

Asking For & Understanding Directions On Your Trip

Whether you’re looking for the toilet in a restaurant or trying to find a hotel to stay at, you’ll inevitably need to ask for directions at some point during your trip.

The simplest way to ask where something is, is to use ¿Dónde está? followed by the noun you are looking for:

• (DON-day es-TAH el BAH-nyo?)
• (DON-day es-TAH el BAN-koh?)
• (DON-day es-TAH la KA-yay de al-cal-AH?)

When travelling in a foreign country, if you're asking someone on the street for directions, don’t forget your manners! To get someone’s attention, start by saying:

• (Dis-KUL-pay)
• (Con per-MEE-soh / Per-DOH-nah-may)
• (eh- stoy per-DEE-doh)

Asking for directions is one thing but it’s pretty pointless if you don’t know how to understand the directions that are given to you!

Memorise these phrases to help you understand what the friendly locals are trying to tell you when you ask for their help:

• (A la de-RE-cha)
• (A la iz-kee-ER-da)
• (De-RE-cho)
• (En la es-KEE-nah)
• (a OO-na KWAD-rah)

Getting Around Spanish-Speaking Countries

If you’re not keen on walking everywhere, you'll need to be able to find out about local transport options to find your way around wherever you are.

Here are a few simple phrases you can use to locate a bus, train or taxi and get to wherever you need to go:

• (DON-day PWAY-doh en-kon-TRAR oon taxi?)
• (DON-day eh-STAH la pa-RAH-dah de ow-to-BOOS mas ser-KA-nah?)
• (DON-day eh-STAH la es-tah-see-ON de ferro-carr-EEL mas ser-KA-nah?)
• (KWAN-to KWES-ta oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra …)
• (oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra … por fa-BOR)

At A Restaurant On Your Travels

Each Spanish-speaking country has its own unique flavours and cuisine for you to try when you travel!

Food is definitely one of the big attractions to cities like San Sebastian in Spain and Buenos Aires in Argentina , so you'll need to make sure you have a basic grasp of food vocabulary ahead of your journey!

To start with, you need to be prepared to hear and understand certain questions in restaurants, such as:

• (kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra koh-MER?)
• (kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra beh-BER?)
• (KAY kee-EH-res koh-MER?)

When you read the menu, you'll see the available food grouped into different categories, just like in an English menu:

• (oo-na en-TRA-da)
• (oon PLA-toh prin-si-PAL)
• (oon POS-tray)
• (OO-na beh-BEE-da)

When you're ready to order, use either  quiero (I want) or  quisiera (I would like) with the items on the menu to tell the waiter what you'd like. For example,  quiero…

• (OO-na SOH-pah)
• (OO-na en-sa-LA-da)
• (el POY-oh)
• (la CAR-nay)
• (oon AG-wa)
• (oon BEE-noh TIN-toh / BLAN-koh)
• (OO-na ser-BAY-sa)
• (oon ka-FAY)

So, for example, to order that ice-cold beer you're looking forward to at the end of a long day, you'd say  quiero una cerveza.

If you're not sure what to try, you can always ask your waiter for a recommendation:

• (kay may re-kom-ee-EN-dah?)

In most restaurants in Spanish-speaking countries, the staff will be more than happy to suggest a particularly tasty local dish for you to try.

If you're a vegetarian or you have dietary complications, these next two phrases are essential:

• (soy be-he-tah-ree-AH-noh/nah)
• (TEN-go al-ER-hee-ah a las noo-EH-ses)

Finally, let's learn a couple of quick phrases you can use to ask about prices and pay the bill.

• (KWAN-to KWES-ta? )
• (la KWEN-ta por fa-BOR)

Key Spanish Question Words For Your Trip

Over the course of your journey, you'll almost certainly find yourself asking lots and lots of questions.

You might not have a huge Spanish vocabulary to draw on, but if you know the basic question words, you'll be able to get by in almost any common situation you might find yourself in.

Here are some key Spanish question words you need to know:

• (KWAN-doh?)
• (A kay AW-ra?)
• (KWAN-toh?)
• (KWAN-tohs)
• (kah-dah KWAN-toh?)
• (por KWAN-toh tee-EM-poh)

Once you’ve got these question words in your memory bank you’ll start noticing the patterns in Spanish grammar which will help you to move away from the basic Spanish phrases every tourist is using.

As you learn new words on your trip, you'll be able to combine them with these question words to start forming your own sentences and questions!

Get Ready For Adventure With These Spanish Travel Phrases!

Take the time to memorise these key Spanish travel phrases and you'll have everything you need to get the most out of your journey.

With just a few words of Spanish, I'm sure you'll meet lots of amazing people and have plenty of life-changing experiences along the way.

Who knows, perhaps spending some time visiting a Spanish-speaking country will motivate you to strive for fluency?

If this article has inspired you to both travel and to learn Spanish, then I've got something to get you started on your Spanish learning journey. 

I'm a big believer in the power of story to enable you to learn a language. That's why I've created an entire beginner course dedicated to learning Spanish by immersing yourself in an engaging story.

It's my Spanish Uncovered course, and it's designed to take you from beginner to B1 Intermediate level.

Click here for more information on the course, test it out for free and to find out how it'll help you.

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131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn

Have you been dreaming about your upcoming vacation to Spain?

Eagerly awaiting your backpacking trek through South America?

Whatever the case, your trip to any Spanish-speaking country will be so much more fun and meaningful if you can communicate with locals .

But what kind of Spanish travel phrases do you even need to know?

Below are the essentials— the most common Spanish phrases for travel  to help you upgrade your trip from “goodw” to “great.”

1. Basic Spanish Greetings and Phrases

2. basic spanish phrases for everyday use, 3. asking for directions in spanish, 4. spanish travel phrases for the hotel, 5. spanish travel phrases for the restaurant, 6. spanish phrases for the airport and ticket offices, 7. medical emergencies in spanish, 8. spanish phrases for having a bit of fun, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Spanish-speaking countries are generally very polite and you must always be courteous and say “hello” and “how are you?”

Don’t worry about making mistakes. Most people will try their utmost to understand you and to make sure you understand them. Try your best and they will be happy to reciprocate!

• Buenos días — Good morning
• Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
• Buenas noches — Good evening
• ¿Cómo te llamas? — What’s your name? (informal)
• ¿Cómo se llama? — What’s your name? (formal)
• Me llamo… — My name is…
• Mucho gusto — Nice to meet you
• ¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (informal)
• ¿Cómo está? — How are you? (formal)
• Bien, gracias — Good, thank you
• Por favor — Please
• Gracias — Thank you
• Perdón — S orry
• ¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
• No hablo español — I don’t speak Spanish

You can go far with some very easy-to-remember travel phrases and words.

You’ll likely use “I want,” “I like” and “Do you have…?” quite often. If you don’t know the noun, you can simply point at the object or show a photo.

You can also say a lot of things with very simple verbs we’re about to introduce. It may not be the sophisticated way you speak in English, but you will be understood.

• Quiero / No quiero  — I want / I don’t want
• Me gustaría ; Quisiera — I would like (more polite)
• ¿Dónde está…? — Where is…? Since  dónde ends in  e and  está  starts with one, these two words flow into each other, almost like they were a single word.
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost? 
• ¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
• ¿Tiene…? — Do you have…?
• Tengo / No tengo  — I have / I don’t have
• Entiendo / No entiendo  — I understand / I don’t understand
• ¿Entiende? — Do you understand?
• Quiero un boleto — I want a ticket

…un hotel — …a hotel

…un taxi — …a taxi

• No funciona — It doesn’t work

That last one is an all-purpose word . You can use this for a million circumstances! Just point at the shower or whatever and say “ ¡No funciona!”

What we’ve seen so far is basic survival Spanish, so even if you can only remember these words and phrases, they’ll still help a great deal.

If you get a bit lost or unsure of how to get somewhere, “¿dónde está?”  is the simplest way of asking for directions. Here are a few more phrases, locations and other directions in Spanish that will be helpful on your trip:

• ¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril? — Where is the railway station?
• ¿Dónde hay un restaurante? — Where is a restaurant?
• Un tren — A train
• La calle… — The street…
• Un banco — A bank
• El baño — The bathroom
• Busco un hotel — I’m looking for a hotel
• Necesito un hotel — I need a hotel

…un cuarto — …a room

…un cuarto con baño — …a room with a bathroom

• ¿Dónde hay una casa de cambio? — Where is the currency exchange?
• ¿Dónde está el banco? — Where is the bank?
• Dinero — Money

Once you have asked a question, someone will answer you in Spanish. Listen for these key words:

• A la derecha — To the right
• A la izquierda — To the left
• Derecho — Straight ahead
• En la esquina — At the corner
• A una cuadra — In one block

…dos cuadras — …two blocks

…tres cuadras — …three blocks

…cuatro cuadras — …four blocks

You’ve finally found your hotel and you’re ready to check in!

Staff at international chains will probably be able to communicate in English with you, but these phrases and questions will come in handy for local hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, etc.

These will also be helpful when you need to make adjustments to your reservation or are curious about other hotel amenities.

• Tengo una reserva a nombre de… — I have a reservation under the name of…
• Estadía de tres noches — Three-night stay
• Una habitación para dos personas — A room for two people
• Una habitación con una cama de matrimonio — A room with a double bed As you can see, habitación is a synonym of cuarto . You can use either term when booking a room.
• ¿Dónde está la piscina? — Where is the pool?
• ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? — What time is breakfast?
• ¿Puedo solicitar una salida tardía? — Can I request a late check-out?
• ¿Tiene servicio de habitaciones? — Do you have room service?
• ¿ Cuál es la contraseña de WiFi ? —  What is the WiFi password?
• Una cama supletoria — An extra bed
• Vista al mar — Ocean view
• Vista a la ciudad — City view
• Un balcón — A balcony
• La terraza — The rooftop / terrace
• El gimnasio — The gym
• La playa — The beach
• El vestíbulo — The lobby

Probably the most useful travel phrases you will need are the ones you would use in a restaurant. Let’s go over some basic restaurant vocabulary in Spanish :

Ask for anything by using quiero  or quisiera  — “I want” or “I would like.” And remember to say  por favor  and  gracias!

• Una mesa — A table
• Una mesa para dos — A table for two

…tres — …three

…cuatro — …four

• Un menú / Una carta — A menu
• Sopa — Soup
• Ensalada — Salad
• Hamburguesa — Hamburger
• Con salsa de tomate — With ketchup

…mostaza — …mustard

…tomate — …tomato

…lechuga — …lettuce

• Una entrada — An appetizer
• Un postre — Dessert
• Una bebida — A drink
• Agua — Water
• Vino tinto / Vino blanco — Red wine / White wine
• Cerveza — Beer
• Un café — Coffee
• ¡Señor! / ¡Señorita! — Mister / Miss (when calling a waiter or waitress)
• La cuenta — The check
• Una tarjeta de crédito — A credit card
• Una tarjeta de débito — A debit card
• Pagar en efectivo — Pay in cash

Note that many places in smaller towns still don’t take credit cards , so make sure you have enough cash with you.

You can ask if a place takes credit cards by using the noun with a question. For example, you can pull out your credit card and say: ¿Tarjeta de crédito? They will understand.

It’s time to soak in some culture ! Whether you want to go see a show, check out an art exhibit, watch a local movie or visit the next town (or country) over, you’ll need to buy some sort of ticket.

We’ll start with some airport-specific vocabulary —bearing in mind that many of these phrases are versatile and can be used in various situations—followed by more general vocabulary. 

• Su pasaporte, por favor — Your passport, please
• Quisiera cambiar mi reserva — I would like to change my reservation
• ¿Podría elegir mi asiento? — Could I choose my seat?
• Quisiera cambiar mi asiento — I would like to change my seat
• Este es mi equipaje de mano — This is my carry-on luggage
• ¿Se ha cancelado el vuelo? — Has the flight been canceled?
• ¿Dónde está la terminal internacional? — Where is the international terminal?
• ¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque? — Where is the boarding gate?
• ¿A qué hora es el embarque? — What time is boarding?

Earlier we defined entrada as an “appetizer.” Entrada has multiple meanings related to “start” or “entry,” so you can also use it to say “ticket.”

• ¿Cuánto cuesta una entrada? — How much does a ticket cost?
• Dos boletos de ida y vuelta — Two roundtrip tickets
• ¿ Tiene un pase de un día ? — Do you have a one-day pass?
• ¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren ? — What time does the next train leave?
• ¿De qué plataforma sale? — Which platform does it leave from?
• ¿Qué puerta? — Which gate?

For more specific situations, here are some words and phrases you might need when purchasing tickets:

• El espectáculo — The show / performance
• El teatro — The theater
• La exposición — The exhibit
• El cine — The cinema
• Una película — A movie
• Un vuelo — A flight
• Viaje de ida — One-way trip
• Viaje de ida y vuelta — Return trip / round trip
• El asiento de pasillo — The aisle seat
• El asiento de ventanilla — The window seat
• La primera fila — The first row

La segunda fila — The second row

La tercera fila — The third row

La cuarta fila — The fourth row

Also, as you’ve likely noticed, for anything dealing with money or quantities, you’ll want to be familiar with numbers in Spanish .

A smart traveler always comes prepared with some emergency over-the-counter meds. After all, you never know what could happen when you’re overseas.

But when those aren’t enough, these are the phrases that will help with your health-related concerns when in a Spanish-speaking country:

• ¿Dónde está la farmacia? — Where is the pharmacy?
• ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? — Where is the nearest hospital?
• Seguro de salud internacional — International health insurance
• No me siento bien — I feel sick / I don’t feel well
• ¿El doctor habla inglés? — Does the doctor speak English?
• ¿Necesito una receta? — Do I need a prescription?
• ¿Qué medicina necesito? — What medicine do I need?
• La cita médica — Doctor’s appointment
• La cita de seguimiento — Follow-up appointment

If you need help explaining your symptoms, these terms will help you out. With the exception of the last phrase, start off by saying tengo , followed by any of the below:

• Un resfriado — A cold
• Dolor de garganta — Sore throat
• Tos — Cough
• Fiebre — Fever
• Dolor de cabeza — Headache
• Dolor de estómago — Stomachache
• Dolor de espalda — Backache
• Resaca — Hangover
• Me gotea la nariz — I have a runny nose

Of course, a trip to a Spanish-speaking country wouldn’t be complete without a little ¡fiesta! (carnival; party). If you’re keen to hit the town, here are a few phrases to help you get your groove on.

• ¡Salud! — Cheers!
• ¿Hay algún bar por aquí? — Is there a bar around here?
• ¿Dónde están las discotecas? — Where are the clubs?
• ¿A qué hora abren las discotecas? — What time do the clubs open?
• ¿Me recomienda un lugar para bailar? — Can you recommend me a place to dance?
• ¿Quieres bailar conmigo? — Do you want to dance with me?
• ¡Bailemos! — Let’s dance!

Of course, to use all these phrases successfully, you’ll need to practice ! You can save and print this post as a PDF or even create your own flashcards. You can also use a program that creates flashcards for you, like the video-based FluentU .

Do you feel more prepared for your trip now? Pack these Spanish travel phrases with the rest of your essentials and you’ll be sure to get the most from your vacation!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Basic Spanish Phrases for Travelers

Learn how to greet locals, ask for directions, and order food

It doesn't take much to be understood in Spanish—many people who speak it in Latin America and Europe are forgiving of errors and very helpful. A combination of sometimes silly pantomime and basic Spanish words and phrases are what you need most to travel in a Spanish-speaking country. "Please​" and "thank you" go a long way, and a phrasebook is a big help. 

Greeting People

If you only learn one phrase in Spanish before your trip, make it be how to say "hello." Locals will always appreciate your effort to speak their language, so learn how to greet them in Spanish.

• Hello:  hola (oh-lah)
• Good morning:  Buenos días  ( bway-nos dee-ahs )
• Good afternoon:  Buenas tardes  ( bway-nahs tar-des)
• Good evening:  Buenas noches  ( bway-nahs noh-chess )
• How are you?: ¿Cómo está? (coh-moh es-tah)
• Good, thank you:  Bien, gracias  ( bee-ehn, grah-see-ahs )
• Can you speak English?:  ¿Habla inglés? (hah-blah een-glays)

Asking for Directions 

As a traveler , some of the most common phrases you can expect to use have to do with directions. You might need to ask someone where your hotel is, where the restroom is, or where you can get a meal. And, of course, you'll need to be able to understand their response, too.

• Where is...?: ¿Dónde está...? (Dhohn-dheh ehs-TAH)
• Where is a restaurant?:  ¿Dónde hay un restaurante? (Dhohn-dheh eye oon rest-ore-rahn-tay)
• Where is the restroom?  ¿Dónde está el baño? (Dhohn-dheh ehs-tah el ban-yo)
• How far?:  ¿A que distancia? (Ah kay dhees-tan-syah)
• Right:  A la derecha   (Ah lah dey-ray-chah) 
• Left:  A la izquierda   (Ah   lah eez-key-ayr-dah )
• Ahead:  Derecho  ( De-rey-choh )
• Can you help me?: ¿Puede ayudarme? (Pweh-dhe ah-yoo-dh-AHR-meh)
• Please: Por favor (por fav-ore)
• Thank you: Gracias (gra-see-uhs)

Eating in a Restaurant

When you're not asking locals for directions, you'll most likely be asking for food and drinks in restaurants. After all, you'll find the best food at the places that don't have English menus for tourists. Learn the restaurant basics and you'll be all set to handle eating out in a foreign country.

• How much is it?: ¿Cuanto cuesta? (Kwahn-toh kweh-stah)
• The bill, please: La cuente, por favor (Lah kwhen-tah, por-fav-ore)
• That was delicious: Estuvo delicioso (est-ooh-vo del-ish-ee-oh-so)
• I am vegetarian:  Soy vegetariano/a (soy veg-et-air-ee-an-oh/ah)
• A table:   Una mesa (oona me-sah)
• A menu:  Un menú (oon mey-noo)
• A drink: Una bebida (oon-ah beh-beed-ah)
• Beer:  Cerveza (ser-vay-sah)
• Red or white wine:  Vino tinto or blanco  ( vee-noh teen-toh or blahn-coh )
• Water: Agua (ahg-wah)
• A coffee:  Un café (uhn cah-fey)
• Sandwich: Torta (tore-tah)
• Burger:  Hamburguesa (ham-burg-ess-ah)
• Chicken: Pollo (poy-oh)
• Spicy: Picante (pick-ant-ay)

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Travel Spanish: 70+ Essential Phrases for Your Trip

Updated on January 28, 2024 by Lou Mac

So you’re planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country (woohoo!). But how much language prep have you done for your trip?

Knowing basic travel Spanish is essential for any trip: for communicating with locals to find the best restaurants, asking for directions, and perhaps most importantly, in any emergency situation.

So, we’ve compiled this list of Spanish words and phrases that will be useful for when you immerse yourself in Hispanic culture.

If you’re unsure about the pronunciation of these phrases, this guide to Spanish pronunciation will help you understand all the basics!

Essential Travel Spanish Basics

The following words and phrases are worth going over and over until you can say them pretty much automatically, as they will be some of the basic building blocks to your Spanish knowledge.

• Hablo español / No hablo español . — I speak Spanish / I don’t speak Spanish.
• ¿Tiene…? — Do you have…?
• Tengo… no tengo… — I have… I don’t have…
• Entiendo, no entiendo — I understand, I don’t understand
• ¿Entiende? — Do you understand?
• Quiero, no quiero — I want…, I don’t want… E.g. quiero un boleto, un taxi, un hotel — I want a ticket, a taxi, a hotel…
• Me gustaría, no me gustaría… — I would like…, I wouldn’t like… (This one is more polite)
• ¿Dónde está…? — Where is… ?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
• ¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?

How to Ask for Directions in Spanish

Learning how to ask for directions is perhaps not as essential as it was twenty years ago, before the development of the internet and Google Maps.

However, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t use your cellphone (which can easily happen!), you should know the basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary for finding your way around.

• ¿Dónde está…? — Where is the…?
• ¿ Cómo llego al centro? — How do I get to the centre/downtown?
• ¿Hay un restaurante bueno por aquí? — Is there a good restaurant around here?
• Busco un hotel/hostal — I’m looking for a hotel/hostal

With the phrases above you can ask for directions to other places, such as the bank, a bathroom etc. Here is some useful vocabulary to substitute into these phrases:

• El baño — the bathroom
• Un tren — a train
• La calle — the street
• Un cajero automático — an ATM

And lastly some practical vocab to help you understand the helpful directions people give you:

• A la derecha — to the right
• A la izquierda — to the left
• Derecho — straight ahead
• Una cuadra — a block
• Sigue… — keep going…

How to Ask for Help in Spanish

While there are many things you must learn if you want to speak Spanish, knowing how to ask for help is key to surviving in a Spanish-speaking country.

A few phrases or words will make things much easier if an emergency occurs or you are in trouble, including the following:

Note: These examples use the “formal” way of speaking to people.

• ¿Puede ayudarme? — Can you help me?
• ¡Ayuda! — Help!
• Necesito ayuda — I need help
• ¡Llame a la policía! — Call the police!
• ¡Llame a la ambulancia! — Call the ambulance!
• Ayúdeme, por favor . — Help me, please
• ¿Podría ayudarme, por favor? — Could you help me, please?
• ¿Podría explicarlo, por favor? — Can you explain it to me, please?
• ¿Cómo se escribe…? — How do you write…?
• ¿Cómo se dice…? — How do you say…?

Spanish for Medical Emergencies

It’s also important to know words in Spanish that can help us deal with a medical emergency.

• No me siento bien — I don’t feel well
• ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? — Where is the nearest hospital?
• ¿Puede llamar a la ambulancia? — Can you call the ambulance?
• ¿Dónde está la farmacia? — Where is the drugstore/pharmacy?
• ¿El doctor habla inglés? — Does the doctor speak English?
• ¿Necesito medicinas? — Do I need medication?
• ¿Qué medicina necesito? — What medicine do I need?
• Tengo un seguro de salud internacional — I have international health insurance

Navigating Your Accommodation in Spanish

Once you’ve found the perfect place to stay, here’s how to get yourself checked in and comfortable:

• Tengo una reserva a nombre de Harry Potter — I have a reservation under the name Harry Potter
• Necesito un hotel / un cuarto / un cuarto con baño — I need a hotel / a room / a room with a bathroom
• Me gustaría quedarme por dos noches — I would like to stay for two nights
• ¿Tiene una habitación doble? — Do you have a double room?
• ¿Dónde está la piscina / gimnasio? — Where is the pool/gym?
• ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? — What time is breakfast?
• ¿Cuál es la contraseña de WiFi? — What is the WiFi password?

Essential Spanish for Eating Out

The most important travel Spanish phrases to add to your mental toolbox are those surrounding eating out—either because we are hungry (obviously) or we want to experience the wonderful local gastronomy.

This list of expressions and words could save your life (well, your stomach) on your next adventure in a Spanish-speaking country.

In addition to the vocabulary below, a useful resource are these scenario podcast episodes we did about ordering vegetarian food in Spanish , and ordering coffee in Spanish .

To make things easier, we have divided these restaurant-related words and phrases into several categories. Check them out below:

When Arriving or Booking a Table

• Quisiera reservar una mesa — I would like to book a table
• Quisiera reservar una mesa para dos — I would like to book a table for two
• ¿Tiene alguna mesa disponible? — Is there any available table?
• Tengo una mesa reservada a nombre de Hermione Granger — I have booked a table under the name of Hermione Granger

When Ordering

• ¡Camarero / garzón! — Waiter !
• ¿Podría traerme el menú, por favor? — Could you bring me the menu, please?
• ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
• ¿Podría recomendarme un plato local, por favor? — Can you recommend me a local dish, please?
• Para beber, me gustaría… — To drink, I would like…
• Como entrada, me gustaría.. . — As a starter, I would like …
• Como plato principal, me gustaría… — For the main course, I would like…
• De postre, me gustaría… — For dessert, I would like…

During the Meal

• Perdone, ¿podría traerme…? — Excuse me, could you bring me…?
• Perdone, ¿podría traerme más servilletas? — Excuse me, could you bring me some more napkins?
• Perdone, ¿podría traerme otra copa de vino ? Excuse me, could you bring me another glass of wine? (learn this one by heart 🍷)
• La comida está muy rica . — The food is delicious
• La carne está demasiado hecha — The meat is overcooked
• La carne está poco hecha — The meat is undercooked

When Paying and Leaving

• La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please
• Estaba todo muy rico, gracias — Everything was very tasty, thanks
• Quisiera pagar con tarjeta — I’d like to pay by card
• Quisiera pagar en efectivo — I’d like to pay in cash
• Creo que hay un error — I think there’s a mistake

Lastly, if you’re a foodie like me, you might want to know some food recommendations. Click here to learn about the different foods you must try if you’re visiting Chile!

Resources to Learn More Travel Spanish

If you’ve decided you want to know a bit more than just the survival Spanish, here are a few resources to kick-start your Spanish journey.

• Seeing in Spanish Podcast. Our own language learning and travel podcast aims at helping you self-learn Spanish to make your travels unforgettable. To start, check out this episode on how to learn Spanish on your own .
• Duolingo. I think it’s safe to assume you know what Duolingo is! While it often gets a bad rap, it’s all about how you use Duolingo which makes the difference!
• YouTube Videos. Videos such as this video on top 20 travel Spanish phrases you should know are a great way to hear how phrases we learnt in this article are actually pronounced.

It’s also worth remembering that Spanish changes depending on what country you’re in, so you might also want to consider learning a specific Spanish dialect.

With these survival Spanish words and phrases, your next trip will be much easier and more memorable.

Now you can move on to getting excited for your adventure!

Enhance Your Travel Experience

While it's true that many people in popular tourist areas in Spain speak English, venturing beyond the beaten path and immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Spanish culture can be greatly enhanced by speaking a few key phrases in the local language.

Whether you're ordering tapas at a lively bar in Barcelona , exploring the stunning Alhambra in Granada , or strolling through the charming streets of Seville, knowing some basic Spanish phrases will not only make your trip more enjoyable but also show respect for the local culture and its people.

Here are a few reasons why it's important to learn some essential Spanish phrases when travelling to Spain:

Bridge the Communication Gap:

Even though English is widely spoken in some areas, there are still many instances where locals may not be fluent in English or feel more comfortable conversing in their native language.

By learning essential Spanish phrases, you'll bridge the communication gap and be able to express your needs, ask for directions, or engage in simple conversations with ease.

Connect on a Deeper Level:

Speaking a few words in Spanish goes beyond mere communication—it shows a genuine interest in the local culture and a willingness to connect with the people you meet.

When you make an effort to speak Spanish , even if it's just a few phrases, locals will appreciate your gesture and often respond with warmth, friendliness, and a desire to share their culture with you.

Navigate with Confidence:

Travelling in a foreign country can sometimes be challenging, especially when it comes to navigating transportation systems, asking for help, or understanding important signs and announcements.

By familiarising yourself with some basic but essential Spanish phrases, you'll navigate with confidence, whether it's ordering a ticket at the train station, checking into your accommodation, or seeking assistance from locals.

Discover Hidden Gems:

Knowing basic Spanish phrases can unlock doors to hidden gems that may not be on the typical tourist radar.

When you engage in conversations with locals, they may recommend off-the-beaten-path attractions, recommend authentic local eateries, or provide insider tips for a truly immersive experience.

By tapping into the local language, you'll uncover the true essence of Spain.

Show Cultural Respect:

Learning essential Spanish phrases showcases respect for the local culture and demonstrates your willingness to adapt to your surroundings.

The effort you put into learning a few basic phrases shows that you value the local language and customs, and it helps create a positive impression among the locals you encounter.

99 Essential Spanish Phrases

• Hello/Hi - Hola
• Goodbye - Adiós
• Please - Por favor
• Thank you - Gracias
• You're welcome - De nada
• Excuse me - Perdón/Disculpe
• I'm sorry - Lo siento
• Do you speak English? - ¿Habla inglés?
• I don't understand - No entiendo
• Could you please repeat that? - ¿Podría repetirlo, por favor?
• Where is...? - ¿Dónde está...?
• How much does it cost? - ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Can you help me? - ¿Puede ayudarme?
• I need a doctor - Necesito un médico
• Where is the restroom? - ¿Dónde está el baño?
• Can I have the menu, please? - ¿Puede darme la carta, por favor?
• I would like... - Me gustaría...
• Cheers! - ¡Salud!
• Where can I find a taxi? - ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi?
• What time is it? - ¿Qué hora es?
• I'm lost - Estoy perdido/a
• Can you help me with directions? - ¿Puede ayudarme con las indicaciones?
• I would like to make a reservation - Me gustaría hacer una reserva
• Is there free Wi-Fi here? - ¿Hay Wi-Fi gratis aquí?
• How do I get to...? - ¿Cómo llego a...?
• Can I pay with credit card? - ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?
• What is your name? - ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
• Where can I buy tickets? - ¿Dónde puedo comprar boletos?
• Is there a pharmacy nearby? - ¿Hay una farmacia cerca?
• Could you take a picture of me, please? - ¿Puedes tomar una foto de mí, por favor?
• I'm allergic to... - Soy alérgico/a a...
• What is the weather like today? - ¿Cómo está el clima hoy?
• Can I try this on? - ¿Puedo probármelo?
• Is there a public restroom here? - ¿Hay un baño público aquí?
• Do you have any vegetarian options? - ¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas?
• Can you recommend a good place to visit? - ¿Puede recomendarme un buen lugar para visitar?
• Have a nice day! - ¡Que tenga un buen día!
• Is there a bank nearby? - ¿Hay un banco cerca?
• What is the best way to get to...? - ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar a...?
• Can you recommend a good hotel? - ¿Puede recomendarme un buen hotel?
• Are there any discounts available? - ¿Hay algún descuento disponible?
• Can you speak slower, please? - ¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?
• I would like a coffee, please - Me gustaría un café, por favor
• Can you help me find my hotel? - ¿Puede ayudarme a encontrar mi hotel?
• Where is the nearest ATM? - ¿Dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?
• I'm looking for a souvenir - Estoy buscando un recuerdo
• Is there a tourist information center nearby? - ¿Hay un centro de información turística cerca?
• What is the best time to visit? - ¿Cuál es la mejor época para visitar?
• I have a reservation - Tengo una reserva
• Is there a public transportation system? - ¿Hay un sistema de transporte público?
• Can I have the bill, please? - ¿Puede traerme la cuenta, por favor?
• Thank you for your help - Gracias por tu ayuda
• Where can I find a pharmacy? - ¿Dónde puedo encontrar una farmacia?
• Can you recommend a good restaurant? - ¿Puede recomendarme un buen restaurante?
• What time does the museum open? - ¿A qué hora abre el museo?
• Could you please take a photo of us? - ¿Podrías hacernos una foto, por favor?
• Can you show me on the map? - ¿Puedes enseñarme en el mapa?
• How far is it to the beach? - ¿A qué distancia está la playa?
• I have a food allergy - Tengo alergia a ciertos alimentos
• What is the weather forecast for today? - ¿Cuál es el pronóstico del tiempo para hoy?
• Is this seat taken? - ¿Está ocupado este asiento?
• Do you have a menu in English? - ¿Tienes un menú en inglés?
• Can you recommend any local specialties? - ¿Puedes recomendarme alguna especialidad local?
• How do I get to the train station? - ¿Cómo llego a la estación de tren?
• Can you call a taxi for me, please? - ¿Puedes llamar un taxi para mí, por favor?
• Where is the nearest bathroom? - ¿Dónde está el baño más cercano?
• I would like to try this dish, please - Me gustaría probar este plato, por favor
• Can you help me, please? - ¿Me puedes ayudar, por favor?
• What time is check-in/check-out? - ¿A qué hora es el check-in/check-out?
• Is there a public transportation system here? - ¿Hay un sistema de transporte público aquí?
• Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM? - Disculpa, ¿dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?
• What is the best way to get to the city center? - ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al centro de la ciudad?
• Do you accept credit cards? - ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
• Can you recommend a good place to stay? - ¿Puedes recomendarme un buen lugar para hospedarme?
• I need a doctor - Necesito un médico.
• What is the Wi-Fi password? - ¿Cuál es la contraseña del Wi-Fi?
• Can I have the bill, please? - ¿Me puedes traer la cuenta, por favor?
• Is there a nearby supermarket? - ¿Hay un supermercado cercano?
• What is your name? - ¿Cómo te llamas?
• I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish well - Lo siento, no hablo bien español.
• Could you repeat that, please? - ¿Podrías repetirlo, por favor?
• Is there a vegetarian option? - ¿Hay una opción vegetariana?
• Where is the nearest tourist information office? - ¿Dónde está la oficina de información turística más cercana?
• Can I have a glass of water, please? - ¿Me puedes dar un vaso de agua, por favor?
• What is the best time to visit this attraction? - ¿Cuál es el mejor momento para visitar esta atracción?
• Can you recommend a good local wine? - ¿Puedes recomendarme un buen vino local?
• Can you recommend a traditional Spanish dish? - ¿Puedes recomendarme un plato tradicional español?
• Is breakfast included? - ¿Está incluido el desayuno?
• Can I have an extra pillow, please? - ¿Puedo tener una almohada adicional, por favor?
• Is there a safe in the room? - ¿Hay una caja fuerte en la habitación?

Essential Spanish Phrases

Buenos días   - Good morning Buenas tardes  - Good afternoon Buenas noches   - Good evening Como estas?  - How are you.

Que hora es? - What time is it?

10 Reasons why you should learn Spanish in Spain

Learning Spanish while staying in Spain is not only a great idea but also an enriching experience that can enhance your travel adventures in countless ways.

Here are ten reasons why learning Spanish in Spain is highly recommended:

Cultural Immersion:

When you learn Spanish in Spain, you immerse yourself in the local culture and gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

By communicating in the local language, you can connect with locals on a more personal level, participate in cultural activities, and appreciate the nuances of daily life.

Enhanced Travel Experience:

Knowing the local language allows you to navigate your way around Spain more confidently.

OYou can interact with locals, ask for directions, order food at local restaurants, and engage in conversations with ease. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities and enhances your overall travel experience.

Authentic Interactions:

Speaking at least the essential Spanish phrases enables you to engage in authentic interactions with locals, who will often appreciate your efforts to communicate in their native tongue.

Whether it's striking up conversations with shopkeepers, chatting with fellow travellers, or making friends with locals, your ability to communicate in Spanish will create more meaningful connections and memorable experiences.

Expanded Opportunities:

Learning Spanish in Spain can open doors to a variety of opportunities. If you plan to work or study in Spain, knowing the language will significantly increase your prospects.

Many employers and educational institutions value bilingualism and consider Spanish language skills a valuable asset.

Cultural Understanding:

Language is a gateway to understanding a culture on a deeper level. By learning Spanish, you gain insights into the customs, traditions, and values of the Spanish-speaking world.

You can appreciate literature, music, and art more profoundly and understand the historical and social context behind them.

Language Skills Development:

Immersing yourself in a Spanish-speaking environment is one of the most effective ways to develop your language skills.

You'll have the opportunity to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing in real-life situations.

Native speakers can provide valuable feedback, helping you improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Personal Growth:

Learning a new language challenges your brain and fosters personal growth.

It improves cognitive skills, enhances memory, and boosts problem-solving abilities. Additionally, it builds resilience, adaptability, and self-confidence as you navigate through the ups and downs of language learning.

Travel Flexibility:

Knowing Spanish allows you to explore beyond the popular Spanish tourist destinations . You can venture into smaller towns, rural areas, and off-the-beaten-path locations with greater ease.

You'll have the freedom to interact with locals, discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in the true essence of Spain.

Language Diversity:

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

By learning Spanish, you gain access to a vast network of Spanish-speaking countries and communities across the globe.

It opens up opportunities for travel, work, and cultural exchange in various Spanish-speaking countries beyond Spain itself.

Lifelong Skill:

Finally, learning Spanish is a lifelong skill that will continue to benefit you long after your visit to Spain.

Spanish is spoken by millions of people worldwide, and your language skills can be used in various personal and professional contexts for years to come.

Best Places To Learn Spanish in Spain

As the capital of Spain, Madrid boasts numerous language schools and universities that provide comprehensive Spanish language courses.

The city offers a vibrant atmosphere, rich cultural heritage, and a diverse range of activities to immerse yourself in the language.

Located in Catalonia, Barcelona is another fantastic destination to learn Spanish . The city offers a blend of Spanish and Catalan culture, making it an exciting and unique learning environment.

Barcelona is home to renowned language schools and offers a lively atmosphere with stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, and vibrant nightlife.

Known as the "City of Spanish," Salamanca is famous for its prestigious University of Salamanca and its language schools.

The city has a strong reputation for providing high-quality Spanish language programs, attracting students from around the world.

Salamanca's well-preserved historic center and vibrant student life create an ideal environment for language learning.

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada offers a captivating setting for learning Spanish.

The city's historic architecture, including the iconic Alhambra Palace , provides a unique backdrop for language immersion.

Granada is known for its warm and friendly atmosphere, making it an excellent choice for language learners.

Situated on the eastern coast of Spain, Valencia combines beautiful beaches with a rich cultural heritage.

The city offers a range of language schools that cater to international students.

Learning Spanish in Valencia allows you to practice the language while enjoying the city's Mediterranean climate, delicious cuisine, and vibrant festivals.

With its picturesque streets, vibrant flamenco scene, and stunning architecture, Seville Spain is an enchanting city to learn Spanish.

It boasts renowned language schools and a welcoming atmosphere. Immersing yourself in Seville's rich Andalusian culture provides an authentic and memorable language-learning experience.

Located on the Costa del Sol , Malaga offers a sunny and relaxed environment for learning Spanish.

The city combines beautiful beaches, a rich cultural heritage, and a thriving art scene. Malaga's language schools provide a range of programs suitable for all levels of Spanish learners.

Situated on the southeastern coast of Spain, Alicante is a popular destination for Spanish language learning.

The city offers a mix of traditional Spanish charm and modern amenities.

Its Mediterranean climate, stunning beaches, and vibrant nightlife make it an attractive choice for students.

As the largest of the Canary Islands , Tenerife provides a unique environment for learning Spanish.

The island's pleasant climate, beautiful landscapes, and laid-back lifestyle create an ideal setting for language immersion.

Tenerife is home to reputable language schools that offer Spanish courses for international students.

Known for the famous Running of the Bulls festival, Pamplona is also a great place to learn Spanish.

The city's historic charm, friendly locals, and rich cultural heritage make it a captivating destination for language learners.

These popular destinations offer a combination of quality language programs, cultural immersion, and exciting experiences, making them top choices for learning Spanish in Spain.

Each city has its own unique charm and attractions, ensuring that your language-learning journey will be both educational, fun and enjoyable.

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Hey there! I'm Matt, your friendly neighbourhood explorer extraordinaire! For the past 15 years, I've been gallivanting around Spain, soaking up all its wonders and uncovering hidden gems like a modern-day Indiana Jones (minus the hat and whip, unfortunately). So, buckle up, amigos! It's time to dive straight into the heart and soul of Spain. Welcome to my world of Spanish wonders!

Latest posts from Matt

• 4 Days in Valencia – The Ultimate Bucket List Itinerary - March 17, 2024
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91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers

Are you planning a well-deserved vacation? Is your destination a Spanish-speaking country? If so, you may want to take the time to learn some essential Spanish travel phrases that can help you communicate. 

There’s no doubt that English is a widely spoken language . But if you travel to a Spanish-speaking country, your chances of randomly finding someone who speaks enough English to help you aren’t that high. Trust me, I have seen enough confused tourists to know.

To avoid any communication issues, I’ve built a list of 91 crucial Spanish travel phrases that will help you get by on your vacation. Are you wondering how on earth you are supposed to pronounce them if you don’t speak Spanish? Fear not! I’ve also included the audio recordings to help you overcome this issue.

Here is a quick overview of the situations we’ll cover and the resources you’ll find in this guide:

• Common verbs for travel
• Phrases & Vocabulary for the Airport
• Phrases to Use in a Restaurant
• Phrases & Words to Ask for Directions
• Phrases to Use at a Hotel
• Spanish Phrases for Shopping
• Downloadable PDF

Basic Spanish Travel Phrases, Questions & Words

When it comes to Spanish vocabulary for travelers, there are some essential words that you’ll use more frequently or that can help you sound more polite when addressing a native speaker. Let’s start with some greetings and expressions to catch a person’s attention.

As you’ll see in the examples I’ve provided, these words are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. 

• Hola – Hi / Hello 
• ¿Qué tal? – Hello / What’s up
• Buenos días – Good morning
• Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
• Buenas noches – Good evening / Good night 
• Disculpa / Disculpe – Excuse me / Sorry
• Perdón – Sorry / Excuse me 
• Señorita – Miss
• Joven – Young man / Mr. 

The following question words and expressions can also be useful when you travel:

• ¿Qué…? – What…?
• ¿ Cuál …? – Which…?
• ¿Dónde…? – Where…?
• ¿ A qué hora …? – What time does…?
• ¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
• ¿Cuándo…? – When…?
• ¿Cómo…? – How….?
• ¿Podría…? – Could you…?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta…? – How much…? 

Hola , ¿ cuánto cuesta el llavero? Hi , how much is the keychain?

Disculpe , ¿ dónde está la catedral? Excuse me , where is the cathedral?

Señorita, ¿ podría darme otro formulario? Miss, could you give me another form?

Buenos días , ¿ a qué hora abre el museo? Good morning, what time does the museum open?

Basic Spanish verbs for traveling

Many simple Spanish travel phrases are built with the verbs querer , gustar and poder , which we use to make requests. These are the most common forms that you’ll need:

• Quiero … – I want…
• Quisiera … – I would like…
• Me gustaría … I would like…
• ¿Puede…? – Can you…?
• Tiene / Tengo … – Has / Have

As you can imagine, these expressions are very versatile because they can be combined with different words for tourists:

Quiero dos boletos.  I want two tickets. 

No tengo cambio.  I don’t have change. 

Me gustaría una habitación con vistas al mar.  I would like a room with an ocean view. 

Quisiera visitar el museo de artes.  I would like to visit the art museum. 

¿ Puede decirme dónde está la parada? Can you tell me where the bus stop is?

Disculpe, ¿ podría ayudarme? Excuse me, could you help me?

Travel Phrases & Spanish Vocabulary for the Airport

You’re likely to find more than one person who speaks English at the airport. However, this is an excellent opportunity to start practicing your Spanish. Here are some common phrases that you’re probably going to encounter or use while at the airport:

• ¿Va a documentar su maleta? – Are you going to check your bag?
• ¿Me permite su pasaporte? – Can I have your passport? 
• Por favor, abroche su cinturón – Please, fasten your seatbelt
• ¿Desea algo de beber? – Would you like something to drink?
• Por favor, regrese a su asiento – Please, go back to your seat
• Llene este formulario, por favor – Please, fill in this form
• ¿Cuál es el motivo de su visita? – What’s the reason for your visit?
• ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? – Where can I exchange money?
• ¿Dónde están los baños? – Where are the restrooms? 

In addition to these phrases, here are some words that may be useful in this situation. Remember that you can combine the words below with the expressions and questions you learned in the previous section.

[Basic Spanish expression] + [airport vocabulary]

Quisiera un asiento en el pasillo .  I would like an aisle seat . 

Disculpe, ¿a qué hora aterrizamos ? Excuse me, what time do we land ?

¿Podría ayudarme? Mi equipaje está perdido .  Could you help me? My luggage is missing . 

¿Cuántas maletas va a documentar ? How many bags are you going to check ?

Buenos días, ¿tiene café ? Good morning, do you have coffee ?

Spanish Phrases for Tourists in a Restaurant

As a tourist, you’re probably going to spend some time trying different foods at restaurants. Here are some common phrases you can use and are likely to hear at a restaurant.

• ¿Qué desea ordenar? – What would you like to order?
• ¿Me puede dar unos minutos? – Could you give me a few more minutes?
• ¿Desea ordenar algún postre? – Would you like to order a dessert?
• ¿Qué lleva…? – What’s in the…? 
• ¿Qué platillo me recomienda? – What dish do you recommend? 
• ¿Todo bien? – Is everything okay?
• ¿Le hace falta algo? – Is there something you need?
• ¿Me puede traer la cuenta? – Could you bring me the bill?
• Soy alérgico a … – I’m allergic to…

Here are other terms that can be useful in this type of situations:

Joven, ¿cuál es la especialidad de la casa? Young man, what’s the specialty of the house?

Quisiera ordenar dos postres, por favor.  I would like to order two desserts, please. 

Disculpe, ¿qué platillo me recomienda? Excuse me, what dish would you recommend to me? 

¿Me podría traer un cuchillo y un vaso de agua? Could you bring me a knife and a glass of water?

Take Note: If you want to learn more about this topic, I recommend you check this guide on ordering food in Spanish . 

Spanish for Visiting the City & Asking for Directions

One of the biggest challenges you may face is communicating with native speakers when visiting the city or a tourist attraction. Here are some of the most common Spanish phrases for travel that you may need in this situation:

• Con permiso / Permiso – Excuse me
• ¿Dónde está el/la…? – Where is the…?
• ¿Cómo llego a…? – How do I get to…?
• Estoy buscando… – I’m looking for
• No hablo mucho español – I don’t speak Spanish very well
• ¿Hay algún/alguna… por aquí? – Is there…around here?
• ¿Hablas inglés? – Do you speak English?
• ¿ Puedes repetirlo? – Can you repeat that again?
• ¿Me podría ayudar? – Could you help me?
• ¿ Nos puedes tomar una foto? – Can you take a picture of us?
• ¿ Nos puedes tomar otra ? – Can you take another one of us?
• ¿ Dónde puedo tomar…? – Where can I take…?
• ¿Por aquí pasa el camión…? – Is this place on the bus route? / Does the bus come by here?  
• ¿ Cómo se llama este lugar? – What’s the name of this place?

Take Note: Con permiso is a polite way to ask people to let you through. So, we use this phrase in crowded places or when walking on the street.

On the other hand, people are likely to give you the following answers: 

• Está… – It’s…
• Siga caminando …- Keep walking…
• De vuelta a/en – Turn…
• Siga derecho –  Go straight…
• Camine – Walk…

Additionally, here are some basic words that you can use or might hear when visiting the city:

Here are some examples of how to use these Spanish words and expressions:

Disculpe, ¿ dónde está la estación de tren? Excuse me, where is the train station?

Buenas tardes, estoy buscando el museo.  Good afternoon, I’m looking for the museum. 

Camine dos cuadras y dé vuelta a la izquierda.  Walk two blocks and turn left. 

Perdón, ¿ hay algún restaurante por aquí? Excuse me, is there a restaurant around here?

Hola, ¿ me podría ayudar ? Quiero ir al museo.  Hi, could you help me ? I want to go to the museum.

Spanish Phrases for Hotels & Accommodations

Although nowadays it’s easier to make reservations before your trip, there may be some situations where you need to speak Spanish to communicate with staff and others in your hotel. Here are some essential phrases applicable to this context:

• Tengo una reservación a nombre de … – I have a reservation for…
• Quisiera hacer una reservación – I would like to make a reservation. 
• No funciona … – It doesn’t work…
• ¿Me puede mandar más toallas? – Could you send me more towels? 
• ¿Incluye desayuno? – Is breakfast included? 
• ¿ Cuenta con acceso a internet? – Is the internet included?
• ¿Cuál es la contraseña? – What’s the password?  
• ¿En qué piso está la habitación? – On what floor is the room? 
• ¿Me permite su tarjeta? – Can I have your card? 
• El cuarto se entrega a la … – The checkout time is…

As for vocabulary, these are some of the words that you may want to keep in mind:

Señorita, ¿dónde está el elevador ? Miss, where is the elevator ?

Buenos días, la regadera no funciona .  Good morning, the shower doesn’t work . 

¿A qué hora termina el servicio a la habitación ? What time does room service end? 

Spanish Expressions for Souvenir Shopping

Even if you’re not a big spender, it’s likely that at some point you may want to do some shopping. So, here are some Spanish phrases that you need to know when shopping during your trip. 

These are the key expressions that you need in this situation:

• ¿Cuánto cuesta…? – How much is..?
• ¿ Tiene otra talla? – Do you have another size?
• ¿Qué otros colores tiene? – Do you have other colors?
• Me queda grande – It’s too big for me.
• Me queda apretado – It doesn’t fit.
• No me queda – It doesn’t fit.
• ¿Cuánto va a ser? – How much will it be?
• No tengo cambio – I don’t have change. 
• ¿Acepta tarjeta? – Do you take cards? 

On the other hand, these are some of the expressions that the clerk may use with you:

• ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? – How can I help you?
• Pregunte/Vea sin compromiso – You can ask/see, without any obligation.
• ¿Buscaba algo en especial? – Are you looking for anything in particular?
• ¿En qué talla? – What size?
• ¿Cómo le quedó? – How does it fit? 
• ¿Buscaba algún color en especial? – Were you looking for a particular color?
• ¿Quiere que le muestre algo? – Would you like me to show you something? 
• Es el último que me queda – It’s the last one. 
• ¿Tiene un billete más pequeño? – Do you have a smaller bill? 
• ¿Qué tamaño buscaba? – What size were you looking for?
• Aquí tiene – Here you go. 

As for vocabulary, here are some common objects that you may find during your trip:

Check the examples below. Notice that you can combine this specific vocabulary with the basic words and questions you learned at the beginning of this article. 

¿Tiene dulces típicos ?  Do you have traditional candies ? 

¿Podría darme tres llaveros ? Can you give me three keychains ? 

Final Points: Spanish for Travelers

Many tourists visiting Spanish-speaking countries face communication difficulties. Let’s face it, there might be some people that speak English and will be able to help you. But chances are that, at some point, you’ll need to use some Spanish. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

To help you with this, I’ve prepared this guide for tourists with basic expressions, questions and words that you’ll use in most traveling situations. Just remember that:

• Many of these travel phrases are built with ‘ querer’, ‘gustar’, ‘poder’ and ‘tener’ . 
• Questioning words can take you pretty far if you combine them with the appropriate vocabulary. 
• You use greetings and words to address people to sound more polite.

Hopefully, this guide will help you keep basic conversations. ¡Buena suerte and (disfruta) enjoy your vacation!

Spanish Resources for Tourists & Travelers

To make your trip as enjoyable as possible and get the most out of speaking Spanish, I recommend checking out the free resources below. Here’s my pro tip: Quickly read them and write down a “script” of the most common Spanish phrases, words and expression you’ll need to use while you travel.

Download the PDF with Spanish Phrases & Vocabulary for Traveling

Learning Spanish can be an incredible experience. But it can also be challenging at times, especially when you’re visiting a new place. I’ve created a free PDF for this guide which you can download with the key Spanish phrases, expressions and words you need to start speaking the language while still enjoying your vacation.

Related Guides & Spanish Vocabulary

If you’re traveling to Mexico or another Latin American, Spanish-speaking country then this guide will show you all the vocabulary and phrases you need to interact and order your food at a restaurant .

One of the best ways to get ready for a day of speaking a foreign language is by achieving an easy win as soon as possible at the start of the day. Here are different expressions that native speakers use to say ‘good morning’ in Spanish , which is easy to incorporate into your conversations as well as common Spanish greetings and farewells .

Guide To Shopping Phrases and Vocab in Spanish : I don’t know about you, but when traveling I always like to buy souvenirs and other things. If this is your case, in this guide, you’ll find different expressions and vocabulary that will help you shop in different contexts and places. If you want to be more specific about the colors of the things you want to buy, this guide will help you learn basic colors in Spanish .  

How to Ask for & Reserve a Hotel Room in Spanish : In this article you’ll find different questions and phrases that you and the hotel staff are likely to use when booking a hotel room. 

Finally, when you’re out and about on your vacation, you’ll likely need to ask people to use the rest room. I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common ways to ask to use the bathroom in Spanish .

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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A Useful Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases

Written by Diana Luciana

August 25, 2022.

Are you planning a long-awaited trip to a Spanish-speaking country? 🌎

Your trip can be so much more fun and meaningful if you know how to say travel in Spanish, and communicate with the locals—how many times have you missed out on a secret spot because you didn’t speak the language?—and find your way around with this guide to Spanish travel phrases and words. From getting to the airport to ordering food in Spanish at the restaurant, we got you covered.

How do you say travel in Spanish?

We put together a list of essential Spanish travel phrases, need-to-know vocabulary, and tips for traveling in Spanish. Keep in mind that you don’t need to speak Spanish fluently to get the most out of your trip and have meaningful interactions. A basic travel Spanish vocabulary will get you a long way, and the locals would definitely appreciate the effort. And when you don’t understand or aren’t sure of what’s being said, simply ask ¿Habla inglés? (Do you speak English?)

Key phrases in Spanish for travelers

Here are some key Spanish phrases and greetings you should know. You can use them in any situation (asking for directions in Spanish, asking questions in Spanish, meeting new people in Spanish, and so on.) It’s a mini Spanish 101 lesson:

Spanish greetings

• Buenos días   — Good morning
• Buenas tardes   — Good afternoon
• Buenas noches   — Good evening
• ¿Cómo te llamas?  — What’s your name?
• Me llamo…   — My name is…
• Mucho gusto. Encantado — It’s a pleasure to meet you.
• ¿Cómo te va? / ¿Qué tal? / ¿Qué hay?  — How’s it going?
• ¿Cómo estás?   — How are you?
• Bien, gracias / Muy bien, gracia s — Good, thank you / Very well, thank you
• Por favor   — Please
• Perdón / Lo siento — Sorry
• ¿Habla inglés?   — Do you speak English?
• No hablo español.  — I don’t speak Spanish.
• No entiendo bien el español. — I don’t understand Spanish well. 
• ¿Tiene…?  — Do you have…?
• ¿Entiende?  — Do you understand?
• Yo entiendo / yo no entiendo  — I understand / I don’t understand
• Hágame el favor de hablar más despacio. — Speak more slowly, please. 
• Escríbalo, por favor. — Write it down, please.

Essential Spanish

• ¿Dónde está…? ¿Dónde están…? — Where is…? Where are…?
• ¿Por dónde se va a…? / ¿Cómo puedo llegar a…? — How do you go to…? 
• ¿Dónde estamos aquí en el mapa? — Where are we on the map?
• ¿Está lejos? ¿Está por aquí? — Is it far away? Is it near here?
• Busco… — I’m looking for…
• ¿Me podría ayudar?  — Can you help me?
• Estoy perdido  (for men) / perdida  (for women) . — I’m lost.
• ¿Hay alguien que hable inglés? — Is there anyone who speaks English? 
• Disculpe / Con permiso / Perdóname — Excuse me
• ¿Quién?   — Who?
• ¿Qué?   — What?
• ¿Cuándo?   — When?
• ¿Cómo?   — How?
• ¿Cuánto?   — How much?
• ¿Cuántos?   — How many?
• ¿Por qué?   — Why?
• ¿A qué hora?   — What time?
• ¿Por cuánto tiempo?   — How long?
• ¿Cada cuánto?   — How often?
• Yo quiero / yo no quiero  — I want / I don’t want
• Yo tengo / yo no tengo  — I have / I don’t have

How to say airport in Spanish

Imagine yourself getting off the plane ( el avión )—new place, new language, new everything—ready to start your vacation. Even though English is widely spoken, knowing the basic Spanish travel vocabulary for airports and planes will make your trip easier. And you will start your vacation on the right foot, confident that you can find your way in any situation.

Essential travel vocabulary in Spanish for when you are at the airport ( el aeropuerto ):

Spanish travel vocabulary

Airport-specific vocabulary in Spanish

• la aduana  — customs
• la aerolínea  / la linea aerea   — airline
• el asiento  — seat
• el auxiliar de vuelo, la azafata  — flight attendant
• el baño  — bathroom
• el boleto  — ticket
• confirmar una reservación   — to confirm a reservation
• el destino  —  destination
• el equipaje  — luggage
• el horario, el itinerario   — schedule
• la maleta  — suitcase
• el pasajero, la pasajera  —  passenger
• el pasaporte  —  passport
• el regreso  —  return
• la salida  —  departure, exit
• la tarifa  —  price
• la tienda libre de impuestos   — duty-free shop
• el viaje  — journey, trip
• el vuelo  —  flight, wing

Spanish travel phrases

Useful phrases at the airport in Spanish

• ¿Cuándo sale el avión?  — When does the plane leave?
• Mi vuelo es a las … en punto. — My flight is at … o’clock.
• ¿A qué hora es el embarque?  — What time is boarding?
• ¿Cuándo llega el avión?  — When does the plane arrive?
• Quisiera cambiar mi reserva / asiento.   — I would like to change my reservation / seat.
• Querría anular mi reserva.   — I would like to cancel my reservation.
• Necesitamos ayuda para subir al avión.   — We need help to get on the plane.
• ¿Podría elegir mi asiento?  — Could I choose my seat?
• Este es mi equipaje de mano . — This is my carry-on luggage.
• ¿Se ha cancelado el vuelo?   — Has the flight been canceled?
• ¿Dónde está la terminal internacional / a puerta de embarque ?  — Where is the international terminal / boarding gate?
• ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? — Where is there a currency exchange desk?
• ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?

How to ask for directions in Spanish

You are finally in the city, ready to explore! Next on the list is learning how to ask for directions in Spanish. In this section, we’ll also cover the topic of transportation and finding a hotel in Spanish, and show you the most common travel phrases. Let’s delve into it:

• ¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril?  — Where is the railway station?
• ¿A qué hora sale el tren?   — What time does the train leave?
• ¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren?  — What time does the next train leave?
• ¿De qué plataforma sale?  — Which platform does it leave from?
• ¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi / un autobús? (Latin America) /  ¿Dónde puedo coger un taxi / un autobús? (Spain) — Where can I catch a taxi / a bus?
• ¿Tiene un pase de un día?  — Do you have a one-day pass?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta un billete al aeropuerto?   — How much is a ticket to the airport?
• ¿Cómo llego a…?   — How do I get to … ?
• Gira a la izquierda/derecha.   — Turn left/right.
• ¿Dónde hay un supermercado?   — ¿Where is there a supermarket?
• ¿Dónde hay una casa de cambio?   — Where is the currency exchange?
• ¿Dónde está el banco?  — Where is the bank?
• ¡Disculpe! Soy turista y estoy perdido/a.  — Excuse me! I am a tourist and I am lost.
• ¿Dónde hay un restaurante?  — Where is a restaurant?
• Me podrías recomendar un restaurante?   — Do you have any restaurant recommendations?

12 Spanish travel phrases for the hotel

• Busco un hotel . — I’m looking for a hotel.
• Yo necesito un hotel / un cuarto / un cuarto con baño.  — I need a hotel / a room / a room with a bathroom.
• Una habitación para dos personas . — A room for two people.
• Yo tengo una reserva a nombre de…  — I have a reservation under the name of…
• He reservado una habitación.  — I have booked a room.
• ¿Puedes darme la llave de mi habitación?  — Can you give me the key to my room?
• ¿Cuándo es la hora límite de salida?   — When is check-out time?
• ¿Puedo solicitar una salida tardía?  — Can I request for late check-out?
• ¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi?  — What is the Wifi password?
• ¿Tiene servicio de habitaciones?  — Do you have room service?
• ¿A qué hora es el desayuno?  — What time is breakfast?
• Esta habitación es demasiado ruidosa.   — This room is too noisy.

How to order food in Spanish

After a long day of walking and exploring, it’s time to take a break and have a bite. Maybe try out the local Spanish cuisine. Whether you are ordering food or drinks, these phrases will come in handy. And if you want to learn more about how to say food in Spanish, check out this post . (You also have an entire section about ordering food in Spanish.) Start with these phrases:

• Una mesa para… dos, tres, cuatro . — A table for… two, three, four.
• ¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? — What is today’s menu?
• Me gustaría probar la especialidad del cocinero.  — I would like to try the chef’s specialty.
• ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
• Me gustaría algo de postre.   — I would like some dessert.
• La cuenta, por favor. – The check, please.
• ¿Acepta tarjeta de crédito? — Do you accept credit card?
• Tengo alergia a … — I am allergic to…
• Soy alérgico. — I’m allergic.
• Soy vegetariano/a. — I’m a vegetarian.

Now you’re all set for your Spanish travels! I hope this guide will enhance your travel experience, and that you will enjoy speaking Spanish—from asking for directions to ordering breakfast at the local cafe. If you want more free Spanish lessons , check out my YouTube channel and blog .

What’s your favorite travel destination? ✈️🧳 Drop your answer in the comments.

P.S. Do you know how to say safe travels in Spanish? Learn 3 ways you can say safe travels in Spanish: Te deseo que tengas un buen viaje (I wish you safe travels), Ojalá que tengas un buen viaje (I hope you have a good trip) and the formal option of Le deseo que tenga un buen viaje (I hope you have a good trip.) Now you know how to say safe travels in Spanish.

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74 Common Spanish Travel Phrases

One of the most common answers language learners give when we’re asked why we chose to learn that language is because we like the country or countries where it’s spoken. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that if you’re learning Spanish, you might like to visit Spain. So why not learn Spanish travel words and phrases?

Whether you choose to travel to Spain for a short holiday or for a longer time, here you’ll learn all the vocabulary you need to find your way in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, or any other city you want to visit. You probably already know that Spanish people aren’t that great at speaking English, especially in small towns, so if you want to avoid misunderstandings, this is the way to go.

Our purpose today is to teach you some common Spanish travel phrases that will help you be understood if you need help while you’re traveling in Spain—or if you want to order food, book a hotel room, get a cab, or take the bus. But even more importantly, we’re going to help you understand the answers you’ll receive!

Surely you don’t want to ask a local how to get to your hotel only to not understand the answer. That would make the whole process of learning the questions quite useless, wouldn’t it? Well, there’s no need to worry, because we’re making sure our guide of Spanish for travelers includes all of the Spanish phrases for travel you’ll need.

Without further ado, let’s delve into our list of useful Spanish words for tourists!

Table of Contents

• Ten Basic Expressions
• Nine Simple Conversation Phrases
• Nine Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel
• Seven Sentences You Might Need When Shopping
• Nine Sentences You Might Need in a Restaurant
• Nine Sentences to Ask for and Give Directions
• Six Expressions You Might Need in Case of an Emergency
• Five Flattery Phrases
• Ten Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems
• How SpanishPod101.com Can Help You Learn Spanish

1. Ten Basic Expressions

Let’s start from the beginning. It’s practically impossible to have a proper conversation without using any of these basic expressions, so you’re going to need them. If you already know them, don’t worry; you can skip this section! And keep in mind that to hear these Spanish travel phrases with pronunciation, as well as more Spanish words and phrases, you can visit our vocabulary lists on our website.

As most of you might already know, Hola means “Hello.” It’s by far the most commonly used greeting in Spanish and can be used at any time of the day.

If you would like to learn more ways of greeting someone, you can check out our article How to Say Hello in Spanish .

Once again, this is one of the most common Spanish words. It means “Thank you” and it’s obviously a basic word in many conversations. We would like our tourists to be polite, so we hope you use it a lot!

Now you know how to say “Thank you,” but do you know what to say after someone thanks you in Spanish? De nada literally means “Of nothing” and it translates to “You’re welcome.”

In our first list of basic expressions in Spanish, we can’t forget to include words like “Yes” and “ No .” Again, you probably already knew that sí means “yes,” but here it is just in case!

This is clearly one of the easiest travel phrases in Spanish for most of you. No in Spanish means “no.”

6- Lo siento

Lo siento is one of the most common ways of saying “I’m sorry” in Spanish and you can use it the majority of the time when you wish to apologize to someone. But if you would like to know what the most appropriate expression is for different situations, feel free to read our article on How to Say “Sorry” in Spanish .

7- No hablo español

If you don’t feel comfortable enough speaking Spanish yet, it might be useful for you to be able to say “I don’t speak Spanish.” If you want to apologize for not speaking Spanish, remember that you can combine it with the previous expression on the list: Lo siento, no hablo español .

8- Me gusta

Whenever you want to express that you like something, you can say Me gusta . If you want to be specific and say what it is that you like, you can add a verb in its infinitive form, a noun, or a pronoun.

Example: Me gusta bailar. Translation: “I like dancing.”

Example: Me gustan los helados. Translation: “I like ice cream.”

9- No me gusta

If you don’t like something, all you need to do is add no just before me gusta .

Example: No me gusta correr. Translation: “I don’t like running.”

10- Por supuesto

The last expression on this list might not be as important as the rest, but it’s still good to know. Por supuesto means “of course.”

2. Nine Simple Conversation Phrases

Besides the basic expressions we just saw, there are a few sentences you might need to know so that you can have a basic conversation when you meet someone for the first time. These are often included in some of the first lessons when you start learning a language, but they’re always good to review.

You might want to take a look at our Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners in case you’re not too familiar with them yet.

1- ¿Cómo te llamas?

One of the first questions you might ask someone you just met is “What’s your name?” This is one of the key Spanish travel phrases you should know, especially when it comes to forming relationships while in Spain.

2- Me llamo Ana / Soy Ana .

Obviously, if you learn how to ask what someone’s name is, you also need to know how to reply! Two of the most common ways of saying “My name is…” are Me llamo … or Soy … followed by your name. The last one only means “I’m…” but just like in English, it’s still an option.

3- ¿Cuántos años tienes?

This is another common question: “How old are you?” Interestingly, when we talk about our age in Spanish, we use the verb tener , which means “to have.” This means that the literal translation to this question is “How many years do you have?”

4- Tengo 25 (veinticinco) años.

As mentioned above, the literal translation to this answer is “I have 25 years.” Of course, it translates to “I am 25 years old.”

If you’re not yet comfortable with numbers in Spanish, we have you covered: check out our Numbers in Spanish article .

5- ¿De dónde eres?

This question means, “Where are you from?” Because people are normally curious when they hear a foreign accent or language, it tends to be heard quite frequently when someone’s traveling.

6- Soy de Australia / Soy australiano/a.

There are two different ways of replying to the previous question, and they’re very similar to what you would say in English. Soy de Australia means, “I am from Australia,” and Soy australiano (or australiana ) means “I’m Australian.”

To learn more nationalities in Spanish, take a look at our Spanish Vocabulary for Nationalities .

7- ¿Dónde vives?

And finally, here’s our last basic question. ¿Dónde vives? means “Where do you live?”

8- Vivo en Londres

As you might expect, this sentence is the answer to the previous question. Vivo en Londres means “I live in London.” We chose this city because its name is a bit different than it is in English.

Now you might be wondering if all cities have different names in Spanish. Well, luckily, this doesn’t always happen, but it does happen sometimes. Normally, when they’re not that easy to pronounce for Spanish speakers, the names will be changed. Here’s a list of Names of World Cities in Spanish that might help you.

9- ¿Me puedes sacar una foto?

This sentence isn’t as important as the rest, but it’s still really useful to know when you’re traveling. If you travel solo and your parents want to see how you’re doing on your travels, but you’re not a big fan of selfies, you’re going to have to ask someone to take a photo of you.

The way of asking “Could you take a photo of me?” in Spanish is ¿Me puedes sacar una foto?

Of course, if you’re traveling as a couple or even with a group, you might still want to ask a local to take a photo of you. You can ask this question in the plural by saying: ¿Nos puedes sacar una foto?

For a few more useful questions, take a look at our Top 15 Spanish Questions You Should Know for Conversations .

3. Nine Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel

Let’s get to more specific and useful Spanish travel phrases. Regardless of where you’re traveling, you’ll be taking cabs, trains, or buses. This is why we’ve listed a few sentences you might need if you take any of these means of transportation.

In each of these examples, we’ve marked in bold the most important part of the sentence. So, if you need to use any of these essential Spanish travel phrases for transportation, you’ll use the part in bold and change the rest of the sentence whenever you need to.

1- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Cab

• ¿ Dónde puedo coger un taxi? Translation: “ Where can I take a cab?”
• Me puedes llevar a la calle San Juan, ¿por favor? Translation: “ Could you take me to Saint John’s Street, please?”
• Al aeropuerto, por favor. Translation: “ To the airport, please.”

2- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Train

• Dos billetes para ir a Pamplona, por favor. Translation: “ Two tickets to go to Pamplona, please.”
• Un billete de ida y vuelta a Madrid, por favor. Translation: “ One round-trip ticket to Madrid, please.”
• ¿ En qué andén se coge el tren R5? Translation: “ On which platform can I take the R5 train?”

3- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Bus

• ¿ Me puedes avisar cuando lleguemos al Museo del Prado? Translation: “ Could you let me know when we arrive to the Museo del Prado?”
• ¿ Dónde me bajo para visitar la catedral? Translation: “ Where do I get off to visit the cathedral?”
• ¿ Qué autobús tengo que coger para ir a Valencia? Translation: “ What bus do I need to take to get to Valencia?”

4. Seven Sentences You Might Need When Shopping

No matter what kind of trip you’re on, you’ll need to buy something at some point. It could be food, clothes, medicine…who knows. We’ve put together a few sentences you might need in order to buy something in Spain. These may be more advanced Spanish phrases for travel, but you can definitely master these with enough practice!

1- ¿Cuánto cuesta?

When we’re shopping, we sometimes need to ask about the price of a product, more often than not due to misplaced price tags. This is why asking “How much does this cost?” is such an important question to know. Obviously, the answer to this question is even more important. Here’s an example of how a conversation might go:

Example: A: Perdona, ¿cuánto cuesta esta chaqueta? B: Cuesta 35 (treinta y cinco) euros.

Translation: A: “Excuse me, how much does this jacket cost?” B: “It costs 35 euros.”

In case you skipped the simple conversation section in this article, we’ll remind you once more that if you want to know more about numbers in Spanish, you can check out our Numbers in Spanish article .

2- ¿Qué me recomiendas?

This question means, “What’s your recommendation?” and you might need to use it when you’re not sure what to get.

For example, one thing we’re really proud of in Spain is our jamón . You might want to try it when you visit Spain, but when you come to our supermarkets or restaurants and see all the different kinds we have, you might be confused.

In our example, because we’re asking for a specific recommendation, we’ll add a noun—the thing we’re interested in—after qué . This is optional except when what you’re referring to isn’t that obvious.

Example: A: Qué jamón me recomiendas? B: Este es buenísimo y no es muy caro.

Translation: A: “What ham do you recommend?” B: “This one is really good and it’s not too expensive.”

3- Quiero cambiar dólares a euros.

When traveling, you might need to exchange your currency for the local one, which in this case is the Euro. Specifically, the translation of this sentence is, “I want to exchange dollars for euros.”

For more information on talking about money or currency in Spanish, you might find it useful to check this vocabulary list of Words Related to Trade .

4- ¿Cómo puedo conseguir un descuento?

You might not be able to use this one as often as the other sentences on this list, depending on where you are, but it’s still good to know how to ask the question, “How can I get a discount?”

5- ¿Tienes esta camisa en otro color?

In case you see a shirt you like, but you can’t stop thinking that it would look better in a darker color, you might want to know how to ask ¿Tienes esta camisa en otro color? which means “Do you have this shirt in a different color?”

Other similar questions you might need to ask include asking for a different size. Here’s an example:

Example: A: Perdona, ¿tienes estos pantalones en una talla más grande? B: Lo siento, solo tenemos esta talla o una más pequeña.

Translation: A: “Excuse me, do you have these trousers in a bigger size?” B: “I’m sorry, we only have this size or a smaller one.”

6- ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta?

You’ll never have to ask “Can I pay by card?” in a big supermarket, but it might be helpful if you’re buying something in a small store, or in a local market.

7- ¿Dónde hay un cajero?

In case the answer to the previous question is “No” and you currently don’t have any cash on you, you’re going to need to ask where the nearest ATM is. The way to ask this is ¿Dónde hay un cajero?

If you think you might have trouble understanding the possible answers to this question, keep reading this article!

5. Nine Sentences You Might Need in a Restaurant

When it comes to Spanish travel and tourism vocabulary, we think that restaurant words and phrases just about top the list.

In this section, we’ve included a few sentences you’ll need in a restaurant. However, if we started listing all the vocabulary you would need to order food, we would be here all night long, so this is why we recommend our video All Food and Restaurant Phrases You Need . In this video, Rosa will explain everything you need to know about food in general, and also about Spanish food.

1- Mesa para dos, por favor.

Unless you’re at a fast-food restaurant, normally one of the first things you’ll have to tell the waiter is how many people will be eating, so that they can pick the right table for you. This situation can take place in a few different ways.

For example, the waiter might ask you as soon as you walk in how many people there will be. There are a few ways they can ask you this question, but the one thing we know for sure is that it will include the word cuántos , which means “how many.” He could ask ¿Cuántos son? which means “How many are you?” or ¿Mesa para cuántos? which means “Table for how many?” among others. If you’re asked this question, you can just say the number, or the magic sentence in the title.

There’s a second way this could happen: the waiter might count how many people he sees before asking that question. For example, if he counts four people, he might directly ask: ¿Mesa para cuatro? , which means, “Table for four?” If he gets the number right, you can just reply Sí . If he gets it wrong, you can correct him with the right number.

Finally, the third way this situation could go. You could be faster than the waiter and say Mesa para dos, por favor , which means “Table for two, please.” We previously said this is a magic sentence; let us explain why. If you’re still nervous whenever you need to speak Spanish and you didn’t understand what the waiter said to you, they’ll completely understand if you just say these words. Just like that, you’re in! Now let’s get you ready for what comes right after that.

2- ¿Cuál es el menú del día?

It’s common for Spanish restaurants to have a special menu for each day . Before deciding what you want to order, you can ask them ¿Cuál es el menú del día? which means “What’s the menu of the day?”

If you don’t like the special menu, don’t worry, because they’ll always have more options on the regular menu.

3- Por favor, ¿me tomas nota?

It’s quite likely that the waiter will approach you after you’ve been deciding what to get for a while. But in case you’re getting hungry and the waiter hasn’t asked what you would like to eat yet, when you see him you can ask him Por favor, ¿me tomas nota? which translates to “Can you write down my order, please?”

4- ¿Qué van a tomar?

Once the waiter has approached your table, you’ll be asked what you would like to order. It’s common for waiters to use the formal usted instead of tú , so the sentence we’ve suggested, ¿Qué van a tomar? , uses that form.

Another similar question the waiter might ask you is: ¿Ya han decidido qué van a tomar? which means “Have you decided what you’re going to have?”

Notice that both examples are in the plural. If you were eating by yourself in the restaurant, the waiter would ask ¿Qué va a tomar? instead.

5- Yo tomaré…

Of course, if you’re eating in a restaurant, you need to know how to tell your waiter what you would like to eat. Here’s an example of how to order your food in Spanish.

Example: Yo tomaré las costillas de cerdo con ensalada. Translation: “I will have the pork ribs with salad.”

6- ¡Camarero/camarera!

If you need to call the waiter for any reason, unless you know his or her name, you’ll have to say “Waiter!” or “Waitress!” This is one of the many reasons why you should know how to say it in Spanish. If your server is a girl, you’ll have to say ¡camarera! , and if it’s a man, you’ll say ¡camarero! If you feel like that’s a bit too rude for you, you can also say Perdona , which means “Excuse me.” Here’s an example that we hope you won’t need:

Example: ¡Camarero! ¡Hay un pelo en mi sopa! Translation: “Waiter! There’s a hair in my soup!”

7- ¿Algo más?

This question means, “Anything else?” and might be asked after you’ve ordered your food and the waiter wants to make sure that you’ve finished.

The answer to this question, if you have in fact finished ordering, could be No, eso es todo , which means “No, that is all.” If you still want to order something else, you can of course say Sí , followed by your next order.

8- Tengo alergia a…

For people with allergies, it’s important to be able to let the waiter know about it. The way to say, “I’m allergic to…” is Tengo alergia a …

Example: Tengo alergia a los cacahuetes. Translation: “I’m allergic to peanuts.”

You might also want to ask if a specific dish contains an ingredient in particular.

Example: Perdona, ¿la crema de calabaza lleva lactosa? Translation: “Excuse me, does the pumpkin soup contain lactose?”

To be even safer, you can check Spanish Materials and Resources from Food Allergy Research & Education for some help.

9- La cuenta, ¿por favor?

The last sentence on this list is what you might need to say last, before you leave. As you might have guessed, this is how to ask for the bill. This sentence means “The bill, please?” and even though you could ask using a full sentence instead, this is all you’ll need.

6. Nine Sentences to Ask for and Give Directions

We’re sure you knew this section would come. After all, learning directions are some of the most essential travel phrases in learning Spanish and we don’t want you to get lost when you visit our beautiful country. But if you do, we want to help you find your way.

Here are some sentences you might need if you’re lost or can’t find your destination. Because these sentences have quite simple meanings, we don’t think you’re going to need anything but their translations.

1- Estoy perdido.

Translation: “I’m lost.”

2- ¿Dónde está la estación?

Translation: “Where is the station?”

3- ¿Cómo se va a la Plaza Mayor?

Translation: “How can I get to the Main Square?”

4- ¿Dónde está el baño?

Translation: “Where is the bathroom?”

5- Está aquí mismo

Translation: “It’s right here.”

6- Está detrás de este edificio

Translation: “It’s behind this building.”

7- Ve/gira hacia la derecha

Translation: “Go/turn to the right.”

8- Ve/gira hacia la izquierda

Translation: “Go/turn to the left.”

9- Ve recto

Translation: “Go straight.”

7. Six Expressions You Might Need in Case of an Emergency

We really hope you never need to use any of these expressions, but they’re important and need to be included in this article. Just in case, here are some emergency expressions.

Translation: “Help!”

2- ¡Necesito ayuda!

Translation: “I need help!”

3- Llama a una ambulancia.

Translation: “Call an ambulance.”

4- ¿Hay algún médico?

Translation: “Is there any doctor?”

5- Llama al 112 (cien doce)

Translation: “Call 112 [the emergency number].”

6- He perdido la cartera/pasaporte.

Translation: “I’ve lost my wallet/passport.”

8. Five Flattery Phrases

Whenever you travel to a different country, locals love hearing that you’re having a good time on your trip and that you’re enjoying the country. If you want to criticize something, be careful and gentle, because as they say, you can criticize your own country as much as you want, but if a foreigner does it, they’re wrong. So if anyone asks you, try to focus on the positive side!

Here’s a few basic phrases you could use to express what you like about your trip, as well as a couple more you might need when you meet a local.

1- Me gustan los españoles.

Translation: “I like Spaniards.”

2- Me gusta la comida española.

Translation: “I like Spanish food.”

3- Me encanta España.

Translation: “I love Spain.”

4- Muy amable, gracias.

Translation: “Very kind, thank you.”

5- ¿Tienes Facebook o Instagram?

Translation: “Do you have Facebook or Instagram?”

9. Ten Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems

Some of the most important Spanish travel phrases may be those that will help you overcome language barriers. So we want to have you covered in case you have trouble understanding someone or don’t feel too confident speaking Spanish. Just calm down and remember that you’re still learning and that we’re here to help you. The next few expressions are some of the most useful Spanish words for tourists, so pay attention.

1- ¿Hablas inglés?

Translation: “Do you speak English?”

2- No te entiendo.

Translation: “I can’t understand you.”

3- No lo sé.

Translation: “I don’t know.”

4- ¿Me lo puedes repetir?

Translation: “Could you repeat that?”

5- ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?

Translation: “Could you speak slower?”

6- No hablo español.

Translation: “I don’t speak Spanish.”

7- ¿Cómo se dice esto en español?

Translation: “How do you say this in Spanish?”

8- ¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra?

Translation: “How do you pronounce this word?”

9- Escríbelo, por favor.

Translation: “Write it down, please.”

10- ¿Lo puedes deletrear?

Translation: “Could you spell it?”

10. How SpanishPod101.com Can Help You Learn Spanish

Now that we’ve reached the end, we realize you’re probably thinking that these are too many expressions for you to learn straight away. We’re afraid you’re going to have to do some studying, but hey, we promise it’s going to be totally worth it! When you start learning a language, there’s nothing like the feeling of starting to understand and being understood. And we’re sure you see now that the travel phrases in Spanish language learning are so useful!

At SpanishPod101.com, there’s so much more you can learn, no matter what your level is. And now, with our guide of Spanish phrases for travelers and our Don’t Travel Without Knowing These Top 10 Verbs list , you can go anywhere in Spain. Be sure to check out all of our resources , so that you can master the language and culture while having fun!

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105 Spanish Travel Phrases To Know For Your Next Trip

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Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster.

Traveling to a Spanish speaking country without knowing at least a few Spanish travel phrases is a bad idea.

Even the simplest of situations can become an ordeal, whether it’s understanding directions, ordering food in a restaurant, or if worse comes to worst, handling an emergency situation.

That’s not to say that you won’t have a good trip – just that it’s more likely to come with added stress when you can’t speak the local language.

On the flip side, you don’t need to speak perfectly fluent Spanish in order to communicate.

Learning even a couple of basic Spanish travel phrases and words will go a long way in preparing you for most scenarios you’ll encounter when traveling.

Not to mention automatically be treated better by the locals who’ll appreciate the effort you’re making to speak their language.

Plus, nobody wants to be “that tourist ” who makes zero effort to speak Spanish, and is resigned to speaking painfully slow English and using excessive pointing as a last resort to be understood.

We put together a list of useful Spanish travel phrases and vocabulary for people who find themselves in a Spanish speaking environment and quickly need to learn survival Spanish.

Below, you’ll find vocab and native audio pronunciations for:

• Basic phrases

Getting around

• Understanding directions
• Ordering food in a restuarant
• Dealing with an emergency
• Question words
• Telling the time

Basic Spanish Phrases

Hola – Hello

Buenos días – Good day/Good morning

Buenas tardes – Good afternoon

Buenas noches – Goodnight

¿Cómo estás? – How are you?

Por favor – Please

Gracias – Thank you

Me llamo… – My name is…

¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

No hablo español – I don’t speak Spanish

¿Cómo se llama? – What is your name?

Disculpe – Excuse me/I’m sorry

No sé – I don’t know

¿Cómo se dice? – How do you say this?

No entiendo – I don’t understand

¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?

Hable más lento – Speak slowly

Download the expanded guide to read later

This page gives you a great overview of the most important concepts and strategies, but for the full, expanded guide, click the button below:

These are likely to be your go-to Spanish travel phrases when getting around. Even when you don’t know the Spanish for the subject, these phrases can be combined with gentle pointing, and still come across as very polite.

Me gustaría – I would like

Quiero – I want

Necesito – I need

¿Dónde queda? – Where is?

¿Cuánto cuesta?– How much does it cost?

¿Qué precio tiene? – How much does it cost?

¿Tiene..? – Do you have..?

Yo tengo- I have

Yo no tengo – I don’t have

Qué significa (subject)…? – What does…(subject).. mean?

¿Como llego a..? – How do I get to…?

You’ll want explore your new surroundings, so best to memorize the Spanish for some key places.

El aeropuerto – Airport

El banco – Bank

La biblioteca  – Library

La cafetería – Café

El hotel – Hotel

El terminal – Terminal

La estación de bomberos – Firestation

La estación de ferrocarril – Railway station

El estadio – stadium

La farmacia – Pharmacy

La gasolinera – Petrol station

El hospital – Hospital

La librería – Bookshop

El mercado – Market

El museo – Museum

La parada – Bus stop

La policía – Police station

El restaurante – Restaurant

La tienda – Shop, store.

El Centro Comercial – shopping centre

Understanding Directions in Spanish

Understanding directions in a different language is always a challenge, but knowing a couple of these key phrases will help you if the situation calls for it. Either that, or you’ll end up with a general idea of where you need to go.

¿Entiende? – Do you understand?

A la derecha – To the right

A la izquierda – To the left

Derecho – Straight ahead

En la esquina – At the corner

A una cuadra – One block away

Hacia el Norte/Sur/Este/Oeste – To the North/South/East/West

Small talk is an essential part of everyday life, and Spanish speaking countries are no different.

Use these Spanish phrases to break the ice when you meet a local.

¿Cómo te va? – How’s it going?

¿Cómo te ha ido? – How’ve you been?

Estoy bien ¡Gracias! – I’m fine, thanks

¿Y tú? – And you?

Bien/Más o menos. – Good/So-so

¿Qué tal? – How are you?

¿Qué pasa? – What’s happening?

¿Qué haces? – What are you doing?

Ordering Food In Spanish

For obvious reasons, it’s always a good idea to be polite to your waiter in a restaurant.

¿Me trae…? – Could I have …?

¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? – What is today’s menu?

¿Qué me recomienda? – What do you recommend?

¿Acepta tarjeta de crédito? – Do you accept credit card?

La cuenta, por favor – Check, please

Soy alérgico – I’m allergic

Soy vegetariano – I’m vegetarian

Emergency Spanish

Knowing a couple of key emergency phrases will make things much easier if worst case scenario happens, and you find yourself in trouble.

¿Puede ayudarme? – Can you help me?

Necesito ayuda – I need help

¡Ayuda! – Help!

Estoy perdido – I’m lost

¡Llame a la policia! – Call the police!

¡Llame una ambulancia!  – Call an ambulance!

Quiz: Places, Directions, and Emergency

Before we move on, why don’t you see how much you remember from these three sections by watching this quiz video. You’ll be shown a selection of Spanish travel phrases and given a few moments to think of its English equivalent before we reveal the translation. Good luck!

Question Words In Spanish

Just like the “Getting Around” phrases, these Spanish question words will be useful even when you don’t know how to say the subject of the sentence in Spanish.

¿Qué…? – what?

¿Cómo…? – how?

¿Cuándo…? – when?

¿Dónde…? – where?

¿Quién…? – who?

¿Por qué…? – why?

¿Cuál? – which?

¿Qué quieres hacer hoy? – What do you want to do today?

¿Como te sientes? – How are you feeling?

¿Cuándo vienes de nuevo? – When are you coming back?

¿Dónde está el museo? – Where is the museum?

¿Quién es? – Who is it?

¿Por qué quiere visitar este país? – Why do you want to visit this country?

¿Cuál prefieres? – Which one do you prefer?

Telling The Time

While almost everyone who travels has a smartphone these days, it’s still useful to know how to ask a stranger for the time, even if it’s only a tactic to break the ice and start a proper conversation.

¿Puede decirme la hora? – Can you tell me what time is it?

…En punto – O’ clock

…Y media/Y treinta –  …And a half

…Y un cuarto/Y quince – …Plus fifteen/quarter past

Faltan … para las … – It’s … until …

Medianoche – Midnight

Mediodía – Noon

Son las doce y treinta – It’s 12.30pm

Es la una y un cuarto – It’s 1.15pm

Faltan diez para las tres – It’s 2.50pm

Son las nueve de la mañana – It’s nine in the morning

Son las tres en punto – It’s three o’clock sharp.

Falta un cuarto para el mediodía – It’s quarter to midday

Related: If you want to learn more than these basics, then read our in-depth guide on how to tell the time in Spanish.

And that’s it.

Memorize these Spanish travel phrases before visiting a Spanish-speaking country for more comfortable, stress-free interactions in Spanish.

If you are serious about learning Spanish, then I recommend reading our 119-page Ultimate Guide to Spanish , which includes 10 principles behind learning Spanish fast, strategies to learn vocabulary and grammar, achieve perfect pronunciation and much more.

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Useful Travel Phrases in Spanish: Listen and Practice!

Sí, por favor, or no, gracias are two of the most famous Spanish travel phrases in the world, because they are so simple. 

When eating tacos in Mexico , hiking in Costa Rica , exploring Cuba , tasting coffee in Colombia , visiting the Maya ruins in Guatemala , admiring the Iguazu falls in Argentina , traveling through Spain , or stopping by Equatorial Guinea , it would be very wise to keep a few more Spanish travel phrases available in your head.

If you feel like learning a little bit more than some basic greetings and farewells in Spanish and adding an arsenal of phrases to your travel Spanish, lay back and get ready to start learning some travel Spanish by listening and reading some more Spanish phrases to become more fluent and sound more natural.

Why Is Listening Beneficial?

Before we start feeding your travel Spanish, it is important to understand why listening is beneficial when learning Spanish. 

As someone who has taught English mainly to Spanish-speaking students for a couple of years, I’ve noticed that those who limit themselves to only reading and solving grammar exercises tend to have a harder time with the language. 

On the other hand, those who take the listening exercises seriously and try to repeat as they listen tend to achieve fluency more quickly than their peers. While our level of mastery is directly linked to our specific set of abilities and how much we practice, listening to a native speaker in their language and trying to imitate them is one of the best pathways towards fluency.

Travel Spanish Conjugation

The first thing we need to know is our verb, the Spanish translation for “to travel” is viajar. In this section you’ll learn how to conjugate this verb in:

• Simple present – Presente del indicativo
• Simple past – Pretérito del indicativo
• Simple future – Futuro del indicativo 

Keep in mind that, ustedes and vosotros are both the second person of the plural form—however, Latin Americans use ustedes and Spaniards use vosotros . 

Presente del indicativo

Pretérito de indicativo, futuro del indicativo.

To keep this part simple practice one sentence with each tense:

Tú viajas hoy. You travel today.

Mis padres viajarán el sábado. My parents are going to travel on Saturday.

Mi vecina viajó el año pasado a Colombia. My neighbor traveled to Colombia last year.

PRO TIP: In Spanish, we use el presente del indicativo to talk about habits, but also to talk about something that is happening today.

Simple Spanish Travel Phrases

We’ll start off with some basic travel vocabulary in Spanish. 

In this section, I include 4 basic phrases to show where you’re from, what you will do on your travels when you’re going back, and how long you are staying in a country.

 Check out these useful Spanish travel phrases.

Where You’re From

Vengo de Inglaterra.  I come from England.

Soy jamaiquino(a). I am Jamaican .

Soy estadounidense; vengo de Pittsburgh. I am American, I come from Pittsburgh.

Talking About Your Plans

Haré un tour por Guatemala, El Salvador, Belice y Honduras durante dos semanas. I will make a tour through Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and Honduras for two weeks.

No iré a Nicaragua porque no es parte de mi plan. I won’t go to Nicaragua because it isn’t part of my plan.

Regresaré a Jamaica el 3 de Diciembre. I will go back to Jamaica on December 3rd.

Estaré tres días y dos noches en Guatemala. I’ll be in Guatemala for three days and two nights.

PRO TIP: Some South Americans use the verb devolverse instead of regresar when talking about going back to your country. In the sentence above, you can substitute the word regresaré for me devolveré too.

Travel Spanish To Use at the Airport:

For most of us, the airport is the first thing we see in a foreign country. Latin America has some awesome airports , where they probably speak English—but why take any chances, when you can learn some useful Spanish travel phrases.

Looking For a Place

¿Dónde está el baño? Where is the bathroom?

¿De qué terminal sale mi avión? From which terminal does my plane leave?

¿Cómo llego a la puerta 40F? How do I get to gate 40F?

Stating Your Business

Vengo a este país de visita. I’m visiting this country.

Venimos por motivos de negocios. We are coming for business.

Mi hermano viene a estudiar; yo solo vengo a dejarlo. My brother is coming here to study; I am just dropping him off.

Stating the Duration of Your Visit

Nos quedaremos aquí por dos semanas. We’ll be staying here for two weeks.

Regreso el 25 de Noviembre. I’m going back on November 25th.

Mi hermano se quedará hasta el próximo año; yo hasta la próxima semana. My brother will be staying until next year; I will (be staying) until next week.

Declaring Your Belongings

No traigo más de diez mil dólares en efectivo. I do not bring more than ten thousand dollars in cash.

Llevo cinco cajas de medicinas en mi maleta. I carry five boxes of medicine in my suitcase.

No tengo nada que declarar. I have nothing to declare.

Travel Spanish To Ask for Directions

One of the most important things when traveling is asking for directions, knowing where to go and where not to go and. If you’re in Latin America. 

Remember to use the usted when talking to people you don’t know and are (or seem to be) older than you, and tú or vos when talking to someone your age or younger.

Formal Ways To Ask for Directions:

Disculpe, caballero, ¿dónde se encuentra La Mano? Excuse me, Sir, where is La Mano ?

Perdone, señorita, ¿cómo podría llegar al Museo del Oro? Excuse me, Miss, how can I get to the Gold Museum ?

Señora, ¿me puede indicar cómo llego al Palacio de Bellas Artes? Madam, could you tell me how to get to Palacio de Bellas Artes ? 

Informal Ways To Ask for Directions:

¿Dónde está el volcán El Arenal? Where is El Arenal volcano?

¿Me decís cómo llegar a la Fortaleza del Cerro? Can you tell me how to get to Hill Fortress ?

Dime por dónde sigo para llegar al hotel. Tell me where to go to get to the hotel.

Following Directions in Spanish

After asking, most locals will try to help you and they will most likely combine the following verbs:

With some of these directions:

Practice Sentences

Siga derecho y al llegar a la esquina cruce a la derecha. Keep going straight and turn right when you get to the corner.

Regrese por donde vino y al terminar la cuadra camine 50 metros al oeste. Go back, all the way down the block, and walk 50 meters to the west.

Gire en la próxima avenida y llegue hasta el mercado; allí estará enfrente. Turn in the next avenue, reach the market; it’ll be there right in front.

Spanish Travel Phrases To Use at the Hotel

After finally arriving at your hotel and being about to reach some peace of mind, you’ll need to talk to the staff . Since they are people you do not know, I would recommend using formal Spanish in order to be more respectful.

Phrases To Use When Arriving

Reservé una habitación sencilla a nombre de… I booked a simple room under the name…

Es posible que me quede dos noches más en el hotel. It is possible that I will stay two more nights at the hotel.

¿En qué piso (o planta) se encuentra mi habitación? Which floor is my room?

Asking About Additional Services in the Hotel

¿El wi-fi está incluído en la tarifa? Is Wi-Fi included in the fee?

¿Hasta qué hora sirven el desayuno buffet? What time is the breakfast buffet served until?

¿Tengo acceso al spa y al jacuzzi con la habitación que renté? Do I have access to the spa and jacuzzi with the room I booked?

Asking About the City

¿Qué es lo mejor para ver en esta ciudad si solo tengo un día para visitarla? What’s the best thing to see in this city if I only have a day to visit it?

¿Se puede llamar a un taxi que me lleve, me espere y me traiga de vuelta al hotel? Is it possible to get a cab that takes me where I’m going, waits for me, and brings me back to the hotel?

¿Qué tan seguro es visitar ese barrio por la noche? How safe is it to visit that neighborhood at night?

FUN FACT: Many Spanish speakers don’t mind when a foreigner uses tú (the informal way) to talk to us, since some of us adopt a “forgiving” attitude towards this.

Talking About Currency

While the U.S. Dollar is widely accepted in many big cities, the deeper you adventure yourself into a country, the more difficult it gets to trade with a foreigner currency.

Solo tengo un billete de cien dólares, ¿me puede dar cambio? I only have a one-hundred-dollar bill, can you give me change?

¿Puedo pagar con dólares? Todavía no tengo la moneda local . Can I pay in dollars? I don’t have the local currency.

¿Cuánto es/son…en dólares? How much is… in dollars?

Getting Cash

¿Dónde hay un cajero automático por aquí cerca? Where can I find an ATM close by?

¿Cuánto me va a cobrar de comisión por hacer un retiro? What is the additional commission it will charge me to make a withdrawal?

Necesito que me dé el vuelto en billetes de a cincuenta quetzales, por favor. I need my change in fifty-quetzales bills, please.

Moving Around on Your Own

If you visit places out of walking range you are going to need to get a cab, a bus, a tram, or a metro, and it is useful to ask around for metro lines, times, and being safe on your trip.

¿Qué línea de metro debo tomar para llegar a Insurgentes? Which metro line do I have to take to get to Insurgentes?

¿Cuántas paradas faltan para llegar a…? How many stops to get to…?

¿A qué horas pasa el siguiente bus y a dónde va? What time does the next bus pass and where does it go?

¿Hay un tranvía en esta ciudad? Is there a tram in this city?

Quotes About Travelling in Spanish

For this last little section, I compiled four great quotes about travelling in Spanish to motivate you to travel, get to know magical places outside your country and see how beautiful Spanish can be.

“El mundo es un libro y quienes no viajan leen sólo una página”. “The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only one page.” —St. Agustine.

“Viajar es fatal para los prejuicios, la intolerancia, y la estrechez de miras”. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” —Mark Twain.

“Viajar es la única cosa que compras que te hace más rico”. “Travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” —Anonymous.

“Nadie se da cuenta de lo hermoso que es viajar hasta que llega a casa y descansa su cabeza sobre su vieja y conocida almohada”. “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow”. —Lin Yutang.

Unlock a Continent by Speaking Spanish

These Spanish travel phrases are great, and you should practice them before visiting Latin America, Spain, or Equatorial Guinea, but remember that they can only take you so far. If you want to up your Spanish game, master true fluency, and make any Spanish-speaking country feel like a second home try a free Spanish class today!

Homeschool Spanish Academy can help you in your listening, speaking, and reading abilities, not to mention the flexible scheduling in our classes, earned high school credit, live instruction and different payment options !

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“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

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Home » Articles » 60+ Really Useful Spanish Phrases for Conversation and Travel

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Benny Lewis

Language: Spanish

Reading time: 15 minutes

Published: Mar 18, 2022

60+ Really Useful Spanish Phrases for Conversation and Travel

Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country? Or prepping for a Spanish  conversation on Skype ? Then you need to get some simple, really useful Spanish phrases under your belt!

There are tons of benefits in learning to speak the local language when you travel, even if you just learn a few phrases. People really appreciate it when you speak to them in their own language, and there’s a good chance you’ll make  memories you can treasure for life .

I started out learning Peninsular Spanish (mainland Spain), but through my travels I’ve grown accustomed to  various dialects of Spanish . It always made these adventures much more enjoyable.

By learning a few basic Spanish phrases for travel, you can create lasting friendships all over the world. Making friends, enjoying the culture, and learning about the best spots only locals know – that’s the real dream of travelling, isn’t it?

So let’s get you prepared!

Table of contents

Basic spanish vocabulary for travel, “good morning” in spanish, “nice to meet you” in spanish, “my name is…” in spanish, “what’s your name” in spanish, “have a good day” in spanish, “see you soon” in spanish, “goodbye” in spanish, “please” in spanish, “thank you” in spanish, “you’re welcome” in spanish, “excuse me” in spanish, “i’m sorry” in spanish, “how are you” in spanish, “what’s up” in spanish, “what are your hobbies” in spanish, “i like…” and “i don’t like…” in spanish, “where are you from” in spanish, talking about the weather in spanish, “i would like…” in spanish, “can i see a menu, please” in spanish, “check/bill, please” in spanish, “cheers” in spanish, “how much does it cost” in spanish, “do you have…” in spanish, “i need…” in spanish, “i want…” and “i don’t want…” in spanish, “where is…” in spanish, direction words in spanish, “what time is it” in spanish, “what is this” in spanish, the 5 w’s in spanish, “how” in spanish, “can you help me” in spanish, “can you say that again” in spanish, the 5 best words and phrases to know when traveling to a spanish speaking country, speak. experience. enjoy. use the spanish travel phrases you know.

Before we jump onto the Spanish phrases you will need to use in your travels, you might want to learn a couple of basic Spanish words related to travel.

“Travel” in Spanish is  viaje , which is also used for “trip”. If you wanted to say “road trip”, for example, you could say  viaje  or  viaje de carretera .

The verb “to travel” is  viajar . Luckily, it’s one of the regular Spanish verbs, meaning that its conjugation follows the pattern of other verbs ending in  -ar . (You can read  this post on basic Spanish conjugation  if you want to learn how to conjugate  viajar .)

Now you’re ready to discover 60+ more Spanish phrases for travel.

How to Say “Hello!” in Spanish

Of course, you can’t start a conversation without knowing some Spanish greetings. So here are some common Spanish phrases to get started.

This is the most common greeting is  hola . You can use this one at any time of day, and it always sounds natural.

You can also try the following:

To greet someone in the morning ( la mañana ), you say  buenos días . During the afternoon ( la tarde ), you can switch to  buenas tardes  (“good afternoon”), which is also in the plural form.

Related Learning:  Hello in Spanish: “¡Hola!” and 70+ More Spanish Greetings for All Occasions

When you’re introduced to someone, you can say  mucho gusto . It translates as “pleasure”, like “It’s a pleasure”. But that’s a bit formal in English, so a more accurate translation would be “Nice to meet you”. In extra formal situations, you can say  un placer .

When you introduce yourself, you can start by saying  Me llamo  _____. My  favourite conversation starter  is  Hola, soy Benny  (“Hi, I’m Benny”). This version is a more conversational way to say your name, but  me llamo  is more straightforward.

Once you’ve introduced yourself, you should ask what the other person’s name is (if they don’t beat you to it). To ask someone else’s name, you say  ¿Cómo te llamas?

Say goodbye by saying  ¡Tenga un buen día!  to wish someone well with the rest of their day. If it’s someone you’re close to, you can say it more casually:  que tengas un buen dia .

If you’ve made plans to meet with someone again, throw in a friendlier phrase:  ¡Hasta luego!

You can say  adiós  for “goodbye”, or  cuídate  to say “take care”.

Related Learning:  65+ Ways to Say “Goodbye” in Spanish

Being Polite in Spanish as You Travel

Naturally, you want to make sure you can express yourself in a polite way so you don’t offend anyone. So memorize these important phrases to mind your manners.

When asking for something, make sure to include  por favor  to say “please”. It usually gets added on at the end of a sentence, much like in English.

Make sure to always say thank you! You can say  gracias , or  muchas gracias  if you want to say “thank you very much”.

If someone says thank you, you can reply with  de nada  which means “you’re welcome” or “no problem”. You could also use  mucho gusto  here to say “it was my pleasure”.

There are a few main ways to say this in Spanish, depending on how you use it. If you need a favour, you say  perdone . And if you need to get by someone, you would say  perdón ,  disculpe  or  con permiso  (this is a bit more polite, like “pardon me”).

Related Learning:  ¡Lo Siento! and 25 More Ways to Say “Sorry” in Spanish

If you did something wrong or need to apologise for something, say  lo siento . As in English, you can also use  disculpe  (“excuse me”) for an apology in some situations.

Chit Chat Phrases in Spanish

Now it’s time to start diving into useful Spanish phrases for conversation!

I’m covering some light small talk to get you going, but make sure to check out my  Spanish conversation starters  to get into deeper discussions.

There are several ways to ask how someone is doing, but the most common and direct translation is  ¿Cómo estás?  or  ¿Cómo está usted?  (which is more polite). If someone asks you this question, you can reply  bien  for “I’m well” or  así así  for “so-so”. Follow with  ¿Y tú?  (“And you?”) to keep the conversation going.

For a more casual greeting, you can use the expression  ¿Qué tal?  You’ll hear this one quite a bit, as it’s more natural in everyday conversation – like “what’s up” or “how’s it going?” When someone says this to you, you can answer the same way as above:  bien  (or  muy bien , meaning “very well”).

Start getting to know others by asking what they like to do in their spare time. You can ask  ¿Cuáles son tus aficiones?  for “What are your hobbies?”  Un hobby  and  un pasatiempo  are other common ways to say “hobby”. You can also ask  ¿Qué haces para divertirte?  which means “What do you like to do for fun?”

You asked them about their interests, and now they’ve asked you. So how do you express what you like? You say  me gusta  (“I like”) or  no me gusta  (“I don’t like”). For instance,  me gusta viajar  (“I like to travel”) or  No me gusta la pizza  (“I don’t like pizza”). Just kidding with that last one – who doesn’t like pizza?

Another small talk question that helps to keep the chit-chat going. You can ask someone where they’re from by saying  ¿De dónde eres?

Weather talk isn’t exactly what you would think of when learning Spanish phrases for travel. However, it’s always handy to know a few words or phrases about the weather, as it’s universal small talk.

The word for “weather” is  el clima  or  el tiempo , and you can say things like  ¡Buen clima hoy!  (“Nice weather today!”). Or, the opposite:  El mal tiempo hoy, eh  (“Bad weather today, huh”).

Other phrases you can use are  hace calor hoy  (“It’s hot today”) and  hace frío hoy  (“It’s cold today”).

Related Learning:  Talking About the Weather in Spanish: 77 Spanish Weather Words (and Phrases) that are Good to Know

Out on the Town & Getting Around: Key Spanish Phrases for Tourists

When you’re travelling, it helps to know how to express yourself when you’re out to eat, shopping, or trying to find your way around!

If you want to ask for something, use  me gustaría…  as the basic Spanish stem to get started. A few common things you might ask for: food, drinks, or to buy something.

If you want to ask for something to eat, say  me gustaría comer…  For something to drink, you say  me gustaría beber…  And to say what you would like to buy, you say  me gustaría comprar…

Add the word for what you’re trying to get at the end, like  Me gustaría comprar un periódico  (“I would like to buy a newspaper”).

To make it even easier, you could always point to what you want and say  esto  for “this.” So in that last example, you could hand the cashier the newspaper you want to buy and say  Me gustaría comprar esto  (“I’d like to buy this”).

If you’re out to eat and trying to figure out what you want to ask for, you can first ask to see the menu.  Un menú, por favor  (“A menu, please”) will do the trick.

Related Learning:  Spanish Food Vocabulary: A Guide to Spanish Cuisine and Spanish Eating Culture — with Lots of Spanish Vocab

When you’re finished with your meal, you’ll need to ask for the check/bill. You can ask for it by saying  La cuenta, por favor.

Of course, you need to know how to toast at happy hour! Whenever you meet with someone over drinks, say  ¡Salud!  for “Cheers!”

When you’re out shopping, you’ll likely want to know how much everything is. To ask the price, say  ¿Cuánto cuesta eso?  which is “How much does it cost?”

To ask if someone has something you need, you can say  ¿Tienes…?  followed by the word for what you need. Are you at the hotel and in need of toiletries, like toilet paper? Ask the receptionist  ¿Tienes papel higiénico?

Or, you could say “I need” to express what you’re looking for. You say  necesito…  and then whatever word you need. Like in the last example, you could say  Necesito papel higiénico  (“I need toilet paper”).

If you remember those  old Taco Bell commercials with the little Chihuahua , you probably already know this one:  Yo quiero Taco Bell . Any time you want something, you can say  yo quiero  and any time you don’t want something, you say  yo no quiero .

When you’re travelling, it’s easy to get a bit lost or unsure of where things are located. You can use the phrase  ¿Dónde está…?  to ask for directions or where something is. Some basic Spanish sentences that may be helpful:

• ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi?  (“Where can I find a taxi?”)
• ¿Dónde hay un banco?  (“Where is a bank?”)
• ¿Dónde está ____ hotel?  (“Where is (your hotel’s name) hotel?” )
• ¿Dónde está el baño?  (“Where is the bathroom?”)

If you’re going to ask where something is located, it’s helpful to know the words to understand the answer. Here are some basic direction words you should know:

• Izquierda  (“Left”)
• Derecha  (“Right”)
• Siga recto  (“Go straight ahead”)
• Gire  (“Turn”)
• Aquí  (“Here”)
• Allí  (“There”)
• Adelante  (“Up ahead”)
• Deténgase aquí  (“Stop here”)

Don’t have a watch? Ask someone for the time by saying  ¿Qué hora tienes?  You can also ask more casually with  ¿Qué hora es?

One of the most useful basic Spanish phrases you can know when learning the language:  ¿Qué es esto?

Anytime you don’t know the word for something, you can ask by saying “What is this?” Then you can keep expanding your Spanish vocab!

Ask the Important Questions

To really find your way around or continue a conversation, you need to know how to ask questions. From asking about a person to trying to understand what someone is saying, these words are crucial to communication, learning, and building your Spanish sentences.

Who, what, when, where, why. If you know these words, you can get the answers you need.

• ¿Quién…?  (“Who”)
• ¿Qué…?  (“What”)
• ¿Cuándo…?  (“When?”)
• ¿Dónde…?  (“Where?”)
• ¿Por qué…?  (“Why?”)

To ask “how,” you say  ¿Cómo…?  And to ask how many, you ask  ¿Cuántos?  Plus, if you need to know which things, you can ask  ¿Cuál?  means “Which?”

If you’re in need of help while out, you can ask  ¿Puede ayudarme?  This is a good one to remember, too, because if you’re lost or you’re shopping and have a question, you can get their attention with  Disculpe. ¿Puede ayudarme?

For an emergency, shout  ¡Auxilio!  (“Help!”)

When you’re starting out learning a language, it’s hard to keep up with native speakers sometimes. If you didn’t catch what they said, you can ask  ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?  (“Can you say that again, please?”).

If you still can’t understand, try asking them to say it slowly by asking  ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?  (“Can you speak more slowly?”)

If all else fails, you can ask  ¿Hablas inglés?  (“Do you speak English?”) Although, I believe  the smartest decision you can make to gain fluency  is to aim for full immersion and avoid English when possible.

If you’re already on a plane towards Cancún or Barcelona, you might not have the time to learn 60+ Spanish Phrases for travel.

Assuming that you know the basics ( hola ,  adiós ,  sí ,  no ,  por favor ,  gracias ), these are the five phrases I would recommend you learn before landing:

• ¿Cuánto cuesta?  – “How much is it?”
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio?  – “Can you speak more slowly?”
• _¿Dónde está ___ ?  – “Where is _____?”
• ¿Puede ayudarme?  – “Can you help me?”
• Me gustaría ______  – “I would like ______”

Now you’re ready for your travels and prepared to start having some basic Spanish conversations! The locals will appreciate your efforts, and you’ll have a more meaningful cultural experience.

If you need help with your pronunciation, check out this online pronunciation dictionary called  Forvo . And if you’d like more prep leading up to your travels (or for deeper studying!), check out my  tips for Spanish home immersion .

• The 10 Best Ways to Learn Spanish (Be Fluent Faster!)
• Spanish Uncovered Review — An Honest, Detailed Review on Learning Spanish with Story
• ¡Lo Siento! and 25 More Ways to Say “Sorry” in Spanish
• Best Podcast to Learn Spanish? SpanishPod101 In-depth Review With Pros and Cons
• Things in Spanish: 137 Spanish Words You Need to Know for Everyday Stuff

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Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

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50 Essential Spanish Phrases for Travelers

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January 10, 2018

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Your bags are packed and everything’s all set. But wait--before you leave for a Spanish-speaking destination, make sure you’re armed and ready with this list of the very basic Spanish travel phrases.

Just a few essential phrases are enough to tide you over during your trip, so make sure to have this list handy or better yet, memorize them! Don’t worry, it’s super easy, and the pronunciation won’t trip you up at all.

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You can also download this list in a printer-friendly PDF version. Simply click the download button below.

So are you ready?

Here is your list!

Common Spanish Travel Phrases

there you have it---your list of the most common Spanish travel phrases. 

You can also read some related articles here:

[Quiz] Do you know these common Spanish phrases?

50 Common Spanish Phrases

For a more complete list of Spanish phrases, grab your copy of the Spanish Phrasebook by My Daily Spanish! It’s got all the phrases you need to survive---and even thrive---in a Spanish-speaking environment.

Make your travel hassle-free with this e-book that covers all possible scenarios while traveling in a Spanish-speaking country. Check it out below!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

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Top 50 Spanish Phrases for Tourism and Travel

Discover the top 50 spanish phrases for tourism and travel. learn essential spanish expressions for your next trip. useful phrases for tourists in spanish., introduction.

Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country? Familiarizing yourself with some essential Spanish phrases can greatly enhance your travel experience. In this article, we have compiled the top 50 Spanish phrases for tourism and travel that will help you communicate effectively and navigate various situations during your trip.

• 1. Hello/Hi - Hola
• 2. Good morning - Buenos días
• 3. Good afternoon - Buenas tardes
• 4. Good evening - Buenas noches
• 5. Please - Por favor
• 6. Thank you - Gracias
• 7. You're welcome - De nada
• 8. Excuse me - Disculpe
• 9. I'm sorry - Lo siento
• 10. Yes - Sí
• 11. No - No
• 12. I don't understand - No entiendo
• 13. Do you speak English? - ¿Hablas inglés?
• 14. Could you help me, please? - ¿Podrías ayudarme, por favor?
• 15. Where is...? - ¿Dónde está...?
• 16. How much does it cost? - ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• 17. Can you recommend a good restaurant? - ¿Puedes recomendar un buen restaurante?
• 18. I would like... - Me gustaría...
• 19. Can I have the bill, please? - ¿Me puedes traer la cuenta, por favor?
• 20. I need a taxi - Necesito un taxi
• 21. Where is the bathroom? - ¿Dónde está el baño?
• 22. I'm lost - Estoy perdido/a
• 23. Is there a pharmacy nearby? - ¿Hay una farmacia cerca?
• 24. Can you show me on the map? - ¿Puedes mostrarme en el mapa?
• 25. What time is it? - ¿Qué hora es?
• 26. How do I get to...? - ¿Cómo llego a...?
• 27. Can I use your Wi-Fi? - ¿Puedo usar tu Wi-Fi?
• 28. Is it safe here? - ¿Es seguro aquí?
• 29. Can I try this on? - ¿Puedo probármelo?
• 30. Can you take a picture of me, please? - ¿Puedes tomarme una foto, por favor?
• 31. I'm allergic to... - Soy alérgico/a a...
• 32. Where can I buy tickets? - ¿Dónde puedo comprar boletos?
• 33. Do you accept credit cards? - ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
• 34. Is there a bank nearby? - ¿Hay un banco cerca?
• 35. Can you recommend a good hotel? - ¿Puedes recomendar un buen hotel?
• 36. What's the weather like today? - ¿Cómo está el clima hoy?
• 37. Can you speak slower, please? - ¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?
• 38. What is your name? - ¿Cómo te llamas?
• 39. Nice to meet you - Mucho gusto
• 40. Where are you from? - ¿De dónde eres?
• 41. I love this place - Me encanta este lugar
• 42. Can you help me with my bags? - ¿Puedes ayudarme con mis maletas?
• 43. Is there a tourist information center nearby? - ¿Hay un centro de información turística cerca?
• 44. Can you recommend any local attractions? - ¿Puedes recomendar alguna atracción local?
• 45. Is this seat taken? - ¿Está ocupado este asiento?
• 46. Can you call a taxi for me? - ¿Puedes llamar un taxi para mí?
• 47. Can you repeat that, please? - ¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor?
• 48. Can I have a menu, please? - ¿Puedo tener un menú, por favor?
• 49. What's your recommendation? - ¿Cuál es tu recomendación?
• 50. Have a nice day! - ¡Que tengas un buen día!

Learning a few key phrases in Spanish can make your travel experience more enjoyable and rewarding. With these top 50 Spanish phrases for tourism and travel, you'll be able to communicate effectively, ask for assistance, and engage with locals during your journey. Start practicing these phrases and embrace the rich culture and language of your destination!

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Spanish Phrases for Tourists

The Spanish Obsessive

So you’re off to a Spanish speaking country? Lucky you! Make sure you pack some sun-cream, plenty of towels, and our guide to Spanish phrases for tourists! We’ve no idea what you’ll be doing of course, but hopefully you can find a use for our fine collection of travel phrases below.

New to Spanish? Download our free beginner pack

Get your Spanish off to the best possible start with our  free starter pack , including:

• 95 first phrases  you need to know
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• PDF and MP3  downloads of all phrases

Introduction to travel Spanish

Gone are the days when you need to ask what time the swimming pool closes. With Google maps and wifi everywhere, the modern tourist’s demands have changed since you last studied Spanish at school! We’ve tried to keep our phrases for tourists up to date with today’s constantly connected World, and make them as useful as possible, as well as inject a little fun into your time abroad! We’ve roughly divided our Spanish phrases into 6 sections, which cover activities which you’ll most likely need Spanish for:

Asking permission to do stuff Saying sorry for your clumsy blunders Greetings and introducing yourself Keeping the wolf from the door – food phrases Charming the locals Telling people you don’t understand

We’re sure your needs will be answered somewhere within this collection! If you have any burning desires or think that we’re missing something obvious (could happen!), feel free to  get in touch .

Quick note Spanish has two types of “you” – the formal and informal ( tú  and  usted ). While you are unlikely to cause offence using the wrong pronoun, we’ve stuck with the formal version throughout most of these phrases. This means you’ll come across as more polite and formal than if you were to use the informal version – a safe bet when you’re not sure.

Asking permission to do stuff

A large amount of your time will be spent asking people if they’re open, whether you can sit there, if you can have this, that or the other, and so on. Fortunately, a couple of catch-all phrases will help you out here, which have quite a broad meaning, but will make sense in context.

¿Se puede? The mother of all permission-type phrases,  se puede  literally means “is it possible?”, or “can I?”. You can use it in all sorts of contexts – grabbing a spare seat, entering a bar, picking something up, whatever!

¿Le importa? Literally “do you mind”, this is another one that can be used in different contexts. “Do you mind if…” I smoke, I pick this up, I sit here, etc…

¿Me deja? Literally, “Do you let me”. Could you let me pass, will you let me in, will you let me out… Again, another phrase with multiple uses depending on the context.

¿Está libre? “Is it free?” Could be a chair, a table, a space, or whatever. Note that free refers to “available”, not price (that would be  gratis ).

Me permite, por favor “Will you allow me?” This phrase is a polite way of saying excuse me, and is most commonly used when trying to get past someone on a packed bus, for example.

Saying sorry for your clumsy blunders

You’ve just spilled your “jarra” (carafe) of oily Rioja over one of the locals’ crisp white linen suits. Or, you accidentally slammed a door in someone’s face. Or, you jumped queue without realising. Or maybe you’ve somehow offended the locals’ sensibilities with your crass cultural blunders. Either way, Spanish speakers are a pretty forgiving lot, so try out some of these phrases to get yourself out of any sticky situation:

¡Lo siento! “I’m sorry!”. This literally means “I feel it”, as in “I feel your pain”!

Perdóneme, no le ví For when  lo siento  seems overkill, try this one. It’s closer to “parden me”, and a little softer than  lo siento .

¡Discúlpe(me)! “Forgive/pardon me”. A good alternative for  lo siento .

Fue un accidente “It was an accident”. Useful to get you out of many a bind!

Greetings and introducing yourself

Clearly, a great way to strike up any conversation is to keep it simple and introduce yourself. Why bother with fancy chat up lines? In my experience, most Spanish people respond well to a simple introduction. So be brave, and strike up a few conversations with these phrases:

Buenos días/Buenas tardes/Buenas noches “Good morning/Good afternoon/Good night”. When in doubt about the time, you can just use  buenas .

Hola Perhaps the most famous of all the Spanish words? It means “hello”, but don’t pronounce the silent  h  at the start – it sounds more like  ola .

Me llamo … “My name is”. The double l is pronounced like the “y” from “yellow”.

Yo soy.. “I am”. You could say your name, or any sorts of adjectives! “I am happy”?

¿Cómo se llama? What’s your name?

Keeping the wolf from the door – food phrases

Depending on where you are, customs can vary in restaurants. However, one commonality is table service everywhere. Almost all bars and restaurants will have table service, so don’t feel awkward to just go and grab a spare seat. Of course, more formal places will have reservations, so we’ve included a few phrases for both of these scenarios. Once you’re in your eating establishment of choice, one of your first challenges will be to get the waiter’s attention. It doesn’t really matter what you say, but how you say it. Aim for loud and confident – Spanish waiters are very good at looking right through people.

Another challenge may be the lack of menus. Waiters will often reel off a long list of that day’s dishes, so be prepared to ask them for a menu or whether they will repeat themselves. Finally, getting the bill can be a bit of a drag too – you may find yourself asking several times in some of the sleepier restaurants! For more food based Spanish phrases and vocab, check  here  and  here .

¿Tienes una mesa para uno/dos/tres/cuatro? Do you have a table for 1/2/3/4?

Tengo una reserva para uno/dos/tres/cuatro I have a reservation for 1/2/3/4

¿Tiene una carta? Do you have a menu?

¿Disculpe, puede repetir, por favor? “Sorry, can you repeat, please?” Useful for when you can’t quite catch what the waiter’s saying, or he’s giving a long list of dishes at lightening speed.

La cuenta, por favor “The bill, please”. Be prepared to repeat this one a few times, as it can often be slow to arrive!

Charming the locals

To really make the most of your time abroad, it’s always fun to try and mix it up with the locals. This is also the best way to learn as well – genuine communication with native speakers. Nevermind that you won’t understand a lot, you’ll start flexing your communicative muscles, and will be surprised at the language you pick up. Try these phrases to create a few sparks in your conversations (you can also see our collection of  romantic Spanish phrases :

¿Me puedes enseñar a bailar? “Can you teach me to dance?” In Spain, this will be Flamenco, and throughout much of Latin America, Salsa. Always worth a try!

¿Qué piensas de los ingleses/americanos,etc? “What do you think of the English/Americans?” Whether the response is good or bad, this is sure to be a conversation starter!

¿Pór qué me estás mirando? Why are you looking/staring at me?

¡Me encantas! Literally “you charm me”, or “I think you’re great”! A cheesy  piropo  (compliment) can get you anywhere!

Telling people you don’t understand them

And finally, perhaps the most important section! There’ll be many times when you have to explain to someone that you can’t understand them, that you’re not from that country, or simply whether they could speak a little more slowly. These are all useful Spanish phrases which could help you out in that situation:

Perdona, no le entiendo. No soy de aquí “Sorry, I don’t understand you. I’m not from here.” Ok, a little bit of a mouthful, but this is well worth memorising.

¿Le importa hablar un poco mas despacio, por favor? “Do you mind talking a little slower, please?”. Spanish speakers often talk at a lightening pace, so use this phrase to keep them in check and stay on top of the situation.

Lo siento, no hablo español. ¿Hablas inglés? “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish. Do you speak English?”. I would encourage you to only use this phrase as a last resort, as it’s likely to kill any Spanish conversation dead. Use only in emergency!

Why not go a little deeper? As you’ve seen, Spanish is actually pretty easy. Why not check out our completely free  Spanish from Scratch audio course , which will take you through all of the basics, starting from zero!

5 Responses

Hola a todos . Gracias por hacer de este blog . Soy un estudiante de la SCSU y disfruto aprendiendo español . Voy a seguir este blog a través de mi clase.

Bueno, esperamos que te sirva!

Very nice post – very helpful. Thanks you both! But there is one thing I would do different. In almost all cases you use the formal way (Perdoneme, le importa etc), but some times you use informal one (Tienes una messa?). Why not use only one form? Or give both possibilities for each phrase?

Muchas gracias a Ustedes! Ernst

Tu blog es muy ayudar y informante. Yo puedo usar estos phrases cuando necesito. Me encanta la blog y encanta leer. Yo puedo usar a un restaurante de mexicano. Muchas gracias y estoy que no me aguanto por se ir leyendo!!

El blog es muy buena para leer y veer. Necesito un phrases para mi viaje de Mexico en el verano. Aqui tengo muchas phrases para mi viaje porque el blog. Tambien usar phrases en la clase de Espanol y un resturante de Mexicano. En conclusion, el blog es muy infromacional y buena!

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The Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel PDF

As I mentioned in my post on  the benefits of foreign language for travel , I think that learning the basics of the language to any country you visit is a great way to bettter experience the local culture. If you’ve read my post on Sagunto , you may know that I studied abroad there and speak it at about an intermediate (B2) level. I love this language, and seeing it’s popularity, I am glad that I spent time learning it.

As there are many countries around the world where Spanish is the primary language, it is pretty likely that you’ll hit one of these countries on your travels. This post will cover the basics of Spanish phrases for travel, which you can use as your pocket guide while traveling to any Spanish-speaking country!

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Spanish Language Overview

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin! There are 442 million speakers of Spanish around the globe, and it is the official languages of 21 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These specific countries and territories include:

• Puerto Rico 

It is a Romance language, meaning it comes from Latin. That means that learning Spanish will certainly help you with learning the other Romance languages. Particular in the areas of grammar and root words. 

get your free download!

Spanish phrases pdf.

This free download includes all the key Spanish phrases that you will need for your travels throughout Spain, Mexico and any Spanish-speaking country. In addition, get details on the best resources to improve your speaking and listening skills as well.

History of the Spanish Language

The history of the Spanish language is shaped by centuries of cultural, political, and linguistic influences. Its roots can be traced back to the Roman Empire, when Latin was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula around the 3rd century BCE. Over time, Latin evolved into various dialects, blending with local languages spoken by native Iberian populations. However, it was during the medieval period, particularly after the Moorish conquest of Spain, that the foundations of modern Spanish began to take shape. 

The influence of Arabic and other languages spoken by the Moors infused the evolving Romance dialects with new vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The gradual reconquest of Spain by Christian kingdoms led to the unification of the language, and by the 13th century, a standardized version of Spanish, known as Castilian, emerged as the dominant dialect. With the colonization of the Americas by the Spanish, the language spread across the globe, becoming one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. 

Spanish Pronunciation Tips

Spanish pronunciation can be a delightful challenge for language learners, but with a few key tips, mastering the sounds becomes more attainable:

• One important aspect is understanding that Spanish has a consistent sound-to-letter correspondence, meaning letters are usually pronounced the same way regardless of their position in a word. It is also crucial to pay attention to vowel sounds, as they are clear and distinct in Spanish. Mastering the five vowel sounds, namely “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” and “u,” will greatly enhance pronunciation accuracy. 
• Another tip is to focus on correctly pronouncing the rolled “r” sound, which is a unique feature of Spanish. Practicing tongue trills or tapping the tongue against the roof of the mouth can help achieve this sound. 
• Additionally, being aware of syllable stress is crucial since Spanish is a syllable-timed language. Recognizing which syllables are stressed can improve both comprehension and fluency. 
• Finally, listening to native Spanish speakers and immersing oneself in Spanish language media can greatly aid in developing an authentic and natural pronunciation. 

Your Spanish Phrases for Travel Cheatsheet

Spanish greetings.

Below are basic Spanish greetings you’d use to greet or say goodbye to locals:   

• Hello –  Hola
• Hello/Goodbye –  Chao
• How are you?  – ¿Cómo estás?
• Good morning –  Buenos días
• Good afternoon –  Buenas tardes
• Good night / Good evening –  Buenas noches
• Goodbye –  Adiós
• What is your name? –  ¿Cómo te llamas? / ¿Cómo se llama? (formal)
• My name is…  – Me llamo…
• My name is…  – Mi nombre es (less commonly used)
• Nice to meet you –  Mucho gusto / Encantado(a) a conocerle
• Have a great day! –  ¡Que tengas un buen dia!
• See you later –  Hasta luego
• How are you? –  ¿Como estás?
• What’s up?  – Qué pasa?
• Very well –  Muy bien
• I’m fine  – Estoy bien
• Okay / So-so –  Más o menos
• And you?  – ¿y tú?

Essential Phrases

Essential phrases are those you’d use most frequently, outside of greetings of course.

• Yes  – Sí
• No  – No
• Thank you  – Gracias
• Thanks a lot  – Muchas gracias
• You’re welcome  – De Nada
• Excuse me  – Perdón / Disculpe / Permiso / Con permiso 
• I’m sorry  – Lo siento
• Do you speak English?  – ¿Hablas inlgés?
• I don’t speak English  – No hablo inglés
• I don’t understand  – No entiendo
• Please  – Por favor
• Slowly  – Despacio
• Repeat  – Repita
• Where is the bathroom?  – ¿Dónde está el baño?

Days, Months, and Time

The days of the week and all other phrases related to telling time.

• Day  – Día
• Week  – Semana
• Sunday  – Domingo
• Monday  – Lunes
• Tuesday  – Martes
• Wednesday  – Miércoles
• Thursday  – Jueves
• Friday  – Viernes
• Saturday  – Sábado

Months/Year

• Month  – Mes
• Year  – Año
• January  – enero
• Februar y – febrero
• March  – marzo
• April  – abril
• May  – mayo
• June  – junio
• July  – julio
• August  – agosto
• September  – septiembre
• October  – octubre
• November  – noviembre
• December  – deciembre

Telling Time

• Minute  – Minuto
• Hour  – Hora
• Time  – Hora / Tiempo
• What time is it?  – ¿Qué hora es?
• It is 1:00  – Es la una
• It is 2:00 / 3:00  – Son las dos / tres
• What day is today? –  ¿Qué día es hoy?
• Tomorrow  – Mañana
• Yesterday  – Ayer
• Morning  – Mañana
• Midday  – Mediodía
• Midnight  – Medianoche
• Night  – Noche
• (Three weeks) ago  – Hace (tres semanas)
• Today  – Hoy
• Now  – Ahora

Phrases and words for getting around town.

• Where is…?  – Dónde está…
• The bus stop  – La parada de autobús 
• The bank  – El banco
• The museum  – El museo
• The park  – El parque
• The hospital  – El hospital
• The airport  – El aeropuerto
• The church  – La iglesia
• How do you get to…?  – ¿Cómo se va a…?
• Left  – Izquierda
• Right  – Derecha
• Straight  – Derecho
• Turn to the.. . – Gira a la…
• How far away is…?  – ¿Qué tan lejos está…?
• It is two blocks away  – Está a dos manzanas. 
• It is five minutes away  – Está a cinco minutos. 
• What is the address?  – Cuál es la direccion? 

Transportation

Phrases and words for traveling to further destinations. 

• By bus  – En autobús
• By train  – En tren
• By car  – En coche / en carro 
• By plane  – En avión
• By subway / metro  – En metro  
• Where is the train station?  – ¿Dónde está la estación de tren?  
• Where is the bus stop?  – ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús? 

Phrases and words to use when ordering food at a restaurant.

• Restaurant – El restaurante
• Breakfast – El desayuno
• Lunch – El almuerzo
• Dinner – La cena
• Appetizer – Entrada
• Main Course – Plato principal
• Desert – Postre
• What do you recommend?  – ¿Qué nos recomienda?
• I would like (to order) – Querría…
• The bill please – La cuenta por favor
• I’m vegetarian  – Soy vegetariano/a 
• I’m allergic  – Soy alérgica 
• Red wine  – Vino tinto
• White wine  – Vino blanco

Phrases and words to use when out shopping. 

• How much does it cost?  – ¿Cuánto cuesta? 
• Store  – La tienda 
• Price  – El precio 
• Money  – El dinero
• Credit card –  Tarjeta de crédito 
• Do you accept credit cards?  – Se acepta tarjetas de crédito? 
• Cash  – Dinero en efectivo
• Discount  – El descuento
• Shirt  – La camisa
• Blouse  – La blusa
• Pants  – Los pantalones
• Shoes  – Los zapatos
• Suit  – El traje 
• Swimsuit  – El traje de baño 

Regional Spanish Differences

From Latin America to Spain, Spanish does remain intelligible, but there are some particularities that may be useful to know: 

Spain Spanish

One of the most prominent differences lies in the pronunciation and accent. In Spain, the Spanish accent tends to be more sibilant and has a softer, lisping quality, particularly in regions like Andalusia. Latin American Spanish, on the other hand, often features a clearer pronunciation of consonants and is generally considered to have a more melodious cadence.

Vocabulary is another area where variations can be observed. While the core vocabulary remains largely the same, there are differences in terms of certain words and expressions used in Spain versus Latin America. For instance, words related to everyday objects, food, and slang can vary between the two regions. Moreover, grammatical variations exist as well. In particular, the “plural you” used in Spain is  vosotros , instead of  usted  like it is in most of Latin America. 

Rioplatense Spanish

Also known as River Plate Spanish, this term refers to the distinct variety of Spanish spoken in the areas surrounding the Río de la Plata region, which includes Argentina and Uruguay. This variant of Spanish exhibits several particularities that set it apart from other Spanish dialects. One notable feature is the pronunciation, characterized by a unique intonation and rhythm.

Rioplatense Spanish has a strong Italian influence, reflecting the significant Italian immigration to the region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result, speakers often pronounce “ll” and “y” as a “zh” sound, known as “yeísmo” or “sh” sound, which is distinct from the “y” sound in standard Spanish.

Additionally, the Rioplatense dialect includes a variety of local idioms, slang, and vocabulary that differ from other Spanish-speaking regions. Words borrowed from Italian, known as “lunfardo,” are prevalent in the dialect and contribute to its distinctive flavor. 

Cuban Spanish

Also known as “Cubano” or “Cubanismo,” this dialect possesses a distinct set of particularities that make it stand out within the Spanish-speaking world. One notable feature of Cuban Spanish is its pronunciation. The “s” sound at the end of words and syllables is often softened or omitted, a phenomenon known as “seseo.”

Additionally, the “r” sound is often rolled or trilled more prominently, giving Cuban Spanish a melodic and vibrant quality. Another characteristic of Cuban Spanish is the frequent use of augmentatives and diminutives to convey emphasis or affection. These suffixes, such as “-ito” and “-ote,” are commonly added to nouns and adjectives.

Cuban Spanish also showcases a rich vocabulary influenced by Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, and African linguistic elements, along with borrowings from English and French. Furthermore, the dialect features distinctive idiomatic expressions, humor, and wordplay that reflect the unique cultural identity and wit of the Cuban people. 

Mexican Spanish

This variety of Spanish is what is most often taught in the US, and is also known as “español mexicano” or “mexicanismo”. One notable feature of Mexican Spanish is its pronunciation. It is characterized by a softening or elision of certain consonants at the end of words, such as the “s” sound, a phenomenon known as “seseo” (like Cuba).

Another distinctive aspect is the pronunciation of the “x” sound, which is often pronounced as an “h” sound. Mexican Spanish also includes a vast array of unique vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and regional slang, known as “mexicanismos.” These linguistic elements are deeply rooted in the country’s history, indigenous cultures, and influences from Nahuatl, the Aztec language, as well as other indigenous languages.

Moreover, Mexican Spanish has borrowed extensively from English, particularly in the realm of technology and popular culture. 

Practicing Spanish

Here is a youtube video (and channel) that will be useful for practicing your Spanish:

The Spanish Travel Phrases PDF

Download this PDF so that you can have all the key Spanish phrases at your fingerprints. Practice will make you more confident, so here is your chance to start learning more now!

Spanish Phrases for Travel | Final Thoughts….

That completes my list of the basic Spanish phrases for travel! I hope that this list serves as a useful guide when you venture out to any of the 21 countries where Spanish is the official language! To get the most out of this list, you should practice often before taking your trip.

Even better than just using this list is practicing your new vocabulary with a real person! If this interests you, check out my favorite language resource,   iTalki .  You can use this site to practice with a tutor, formal teacher, or others just seeking to do a language exchange (for free!). The paid lessons have very cheap options, with some as low as $5 an hour.  Check it out!

Travel Guides for Spanish Speaking Countries:

• Barcelona in Four Days
• Two Days in Granada
• One Day in Málaga
• What to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
• Lima Travel Guide
• What to do in Cusco
• Climbing Machu Picchu Mountain

Additional Language Guides:

• Portuguese for Travel
• French for Travel
• Italian for Travel
• Greek for Travel
• Thai for Travel
• Japanese for Travel

Don’t forget to pin this for later!

Christen Thomas is the founder of TravelWanderGrow, established in 2018. She has lived abroad and traveled extensively to over 30 countries. In addition, she is a certified Travel Advisor and is an expert in planning trips focused on city history and culture. As a frequent traveler, she also shares tips on how to prepare to travel well and how to save money while doing so.

12 Comments

Handy – I have a son who lives in Spain – be good to throw a bit of Spanish at him next time we talk on the phone

Ha! I like that idea Ron 🙂

Thanks for a great article with some key phrases! There is enough here to help you get by when on holiday. I always try my best to communicate with the natives it only seems polite to do so as you are a guest in their country!

My thoughts exactly, Andy!

This is so much great information.

I took Spanish in high school.. a couple years ago at least and I still do remember some phrases.

A really helpful phrase I used frequently when I was in Mexico last November was – Hablas ingles? It saved me and my husband’s bums when we almost got stuck in a different place because our tour bus left without us.

Thanks! Kahlua

Yes, that phrase is one of the best ones to know – can certainly help get you out of a bind, Kahlua!

I’m definitely pinning this! Spain will be a trip we take at some point and this is so handy. My husband studied abroad in Spain in college. ☺️

Glad you found this useful Laura!

Oh this is interesting! I wish I had the money to go abroad but I really love your posts!

Thanks, Audrey. Hope you can travel soon!

This is such a useful little post! Wish I read it about 6 weeks ago before I went on holiday lol

Haha – I understand that! You can always just use it for your next trip though 🙂

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