spanish tourist phrases

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

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:

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.

Language Courses

Language Blog
Testimonials
Meet Our Team
Media & Press

Download this article as a FREE PDF ?

What is your current level in Swedish?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Swedish tips…

Where shall I send the tips and your PDF?

We will protect your data in accordance with our data policy.

What is your current level in Danish?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Danish tips…

NOT INTERESTED?

What can we do better? If I could make something to help you right now, w hat would it be?

Which language are you learning?

What is your current level in [language] ?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] [language] tips, PLUS your free StoryLearning Kit…

Where shall I send them?

Download this article as a FREE PDF?

Great! Where shall I send my best online teaching tips and your PDF?

Download this article as a FREE PDF ?

What is your current level in Arabic?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Arabic tips…

FREE StoryLearning Kit!

Join my email newsletter and get FREE access to your StoryLearning Kit — discover how to learn languages through the power of story!

Download a FREE Story in Japanese!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in Japanese and start learning Japanese quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

What is your current level in Japanese?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Japanese StoryLearning® Pack …

Where shall I send your download link?

Download Your FREE Natural Japanese Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural Japanese Grammar Pack and learn to internalise Japanese grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural Japanese Grammar Pack …

What is your current level in Portuguese?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural Portuguese Grammar Pack …

What is your current level in German?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural German Grammar Pack …

Train as an Online Language Teacher and Earn from Home

The next cohort of my Certificate of Online Language Teaching will open soon. Join the waiting list, and we’ll notify you as soon as enrolment is open!

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Portuguese tips…

What is your current level in Turkish?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Turkish tips…

What is your current level in French?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the French Vocab Power Pack …

What is your current level in Italian?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Italian Vocab Power Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the German Vocab Power Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Japanese Vocab Power Pack …

Download Your FREE Japanese Vocab Power Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Japanese Vocab Power Pack and learn essential Japanese words and phrases quickly and naturally. (ALL levels!)

Download Your FREE German Vocab Power Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my German Vocab Power Pack and learn essential German words and phrases quickly and naturally. (ALL levels!)

Download Your FREE Italian Vocab Power Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Italian Vocab Power Pack and learn essential Italian words and phrases quickly and naturally. (ALL levels!)

Download Your FREE French Vocab Power Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my French Vocab Power Pack and learn essential French words and phrases quickly and naturally. (ALL levels!)

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Portuguese StoryLearning® Pack …

What is your current level in Russian?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural Russian Grammar Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Russian StoryLearning® Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Italian StoryLearning® Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural Italian Grammar Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the French StoryLearning® Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural French Grammar Pack …

What is your current level in Spanish?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Spanish Vocab Power Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Natural Spanish Grammar Pack …

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the Spanish StoryLearning® Pack …

Where shall I send them?

What is your current level in Korean?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Korean tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Russian tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Japanese tips…

What is your current level in Chinese?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Chinese tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Spanish tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Italian tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] French tips…

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] German tips…

Download Your FREE Natural Portuguese Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural Portuguese Grammar Pack and learn to internalise Portuguese grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Download Your FREE Natural Russian Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural Russian Grammar Pack and learn to internalise Russian grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Download Your FREE Natural German Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural German Grammar Pack and learn to internalise German grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Download Your FREE Natural French Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural French Grammar Pack and learn to internalise French grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Download Your FREE Natural Italian Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural Italian Grammar Pack and learn to internalise Italian grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Download a FREE Story in Portuguese!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in Brazilian Portuguese and start learning Portuguese quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

Download a FREE Story in Russian!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in Russian and start learning Russian quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

Download a FREE Story in German!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in German and start learning German quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

Perfect! You’ve now got access to the German StoryLearning® Pack …

Download a FREE Story in Italian!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in Italian and start learning Italian quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

Download a FREE Story in French!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in French and start learning French quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

Download a FREE Story in Spanish!

Enter your email address below to get a FREE short story in Spanish and start learning Spanish quickly and naturally with my StoryLearning® method!

FREE Download:

The rules of language learning.

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Rules of Language Learning and discover 25 “rules” to learn a new language quickly and naturally through stories.

What can we do better ? If I could make something to help you right now, w hat would it be?

What is your current level in [language]?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] [language] tips…

Download Your FREE Spanish Vocab Power Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Spanish Vocab Power Pack and learn essential Spanish words and phrases quickly and naturally. (ALL levels!)

Download Your FREE Natural Spanish Grammar Pack

Enter your email address below to get free access to my Natural Spanish Grammar Pack and learn to internalise Spanish grammar quickly and naturally through stories.

Free Step-By-Step Guide:

How to generate a full-time income from home with your English… even with ZERO previous teaching experience.

What is your current level in Thai?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Thai tips…

What is your current level in Cantonese?

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] Cantonese tips…

Steal My Method?

I’ve written some simple emails explaining the techniques I’ve used to learn 8 languages…

I want to be skipped!

I’m the lead capture, man!

Join 84,574 other language learners getting StoryLearning tips by email…

“After I started to use your ideas, I learn better, for longer, with more passion. Thanks for the life-change!” – Dallas Nesbit

Perfect! You’ve now got access to my most effective [level] [language] tips…

Join 122,238 other language learners getting StoryLearning tips by email…

Find the perfect language course for you.

Looking for world-class training material to help you make a breakthrough in your language learning?

Click ‘start now’ and complete this short survey to find the perfect course for you!

Do you like the idea of learning through story?

Do you want…?

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

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!

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)

Try FluentU for FREE!

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.

learn-spanish-with-interactive-subtitled-videos

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.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

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

Learn Essential Spanish Phrases in Group Classes

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.

About Author
Latest Posts

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
Luxury Spain Holidays – The Ultimate Bucket List Travel Guide - March 9, 2024
Easter in Spain – Semana Santa Holy Week Traditions - March 7, 2024

4 Days in Valencia – The Ultimate Bucket List Itinerary

Luxury Spain Holidays – The Ultimate Bucket List Travel Guide

Easter in Spain – Semana Santa Holy Week Traditions

Barcelona Nightlife – Best Discos & Nightclubs Not To Be Missed

Making The Most Of Shore Sightseeing Excursions In Spain Whilst Cruising The Med

The Ultimate Spain Bucket List – 300+ Spanish Experiences

9 Great Cultural Sites to Visit in Madrid

16 Christmas Traditions in Spain You Should Know About

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links included in the above content may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only recommend products and services that we personally use or have used and are happy to recommend. Any commission we earn helps toward the site's running costs.

Travel Smarter - Not Harder

Download free e-guides and travel tips.

Start your Journey today and get access to exclusive FREE content.

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

WHY VISIT SPAIN?
TRAVELLING TO SPAIN
SPAIN ON A BUDGET
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS – ETIAS
SPAIN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
SPANISH CUISINE
SPANISH FOOD
HOLIDAY IDEAS
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
TOURISM BOARDS
AIRPORT GUIDE
DRIVING IN SPAIN
WEATHER IN SPAIN
FREE WEB CAMS
BEST BEACHES SPAIN
FESTIVALS & FIESTAS
MUSEUMS IN SPAIN
CAMPING IN SPAIN
MARINAS IN SPAIN
SKIING IN SPAIN
WATER PARKS
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
80 BEST ATTRACTIONS
71 BEST PLACES TO VISIT
REGIONS OF SPAIN
COSTA DEL SOL
CANARY ISLANDS
SAN SEBASTIAN
Complete List:
SAGRADA FAMILIA BARCELONA
BARCELONA FC STADIUM TOUR
BARCELONA FLAMENCO SHOW
SEVILLE FLAMENCO SHOW
SEVILLE CATHEDRAL
GAUDI`S CASA BATLLO
THE ALHAMBRA GRANADA
SANTIAGO CATHEDRAL
CITY OF ARTS & SCIENCE VALENCIA
MOSQUE-CATHEDRAL CORDOBA
CAMINITO DEL REY
PRADO MUSEUM MADRID
REINA SOFIA ART MUSEUM
SCUBA DIVING
BEST TAPAS TOURS
BEST WINE TASTING TOURS
TOUR GUIDES
HOTELS IN SPAIN
LUXURY HOTELS
LUXURY BEACH HOTELS
HOLIDAY RENTALS
PARADOR HOTELS
CHEAP FLIGHTS
TRAVEL INSURANCE
FREE TRAVEL BROCHURES
WIN FREE HOLIDAYS

70+ Spanish Phrases for Travel You NEED to Know (PLUS Free Printable)

Take your Spanish vacation experience to the next level with these common Spanish phrases for travellers.

Whether you’re heading to Spain or the Americas, Spanish is one of the best and most useful languages to learn. Once you learn a few phrases, can make use of your Spanish skills in over 11 countries around the world.

Why else should you learn Spanish? Well, it makes learning other languages, especially Romance languages like Portuguese , Italian , French and Romanian much easier.

Want to have fun whilst learning European Spanish, Latin American Spanish or Argentinian Spanish? Struggling to find decent Spanish language resources available? I recommend getting uTalk . Available as a desktop site and app, uTalk is awesome for learning key words and phrases in Spanish (either in European , Latin American, or Argentinian Spanish), especially if you want to use it for travel purposes. It’s great for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation.

What I love most about uTalk is that you can jump around their extensive library of topics and choose what you want to learn, when you want, and at your own pace. Because I believe in uTalk so much, I reached out to them and we’ve teamed up to offer you an exclusive 30% OFF reader discount across all of uTalk’s 140 languages! This offer isn’t available anywhere else! Click here to claim your exclusive 30% discount in European Spanish , Latin American Spanish here, and Argentinian Spanish here.

Have a laugh with these hilarious Spanish expressions

Let’s take a quick look at the Spanish language so you’re a bit more clued up on its origin, use, and vocabulary.

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed bringing it together. If you have any requests for other languages, let me know in the comments section!

Where is Spanish spoken?

Being the official or national language in Spain, Equatorial Guinea, and 19 countries in the Americas, Spanish is one a great language to have under your belt as you travel.

There are some 418 million speakers in Americas alone. Instituto Cervantes claims that there are around 477 million Spanish speakers with native competence, 572 million who speak Spanish as a first or second language and more than 21 million students who are learning Spanish.

Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is an official lang u age of the European Union.

A brief history of Spanish

Originating in the Castile region of Spain, Spanish ( español ) is also known as Castilian ( castellano ).

Spanish evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in Iberia after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.

Spanish began to spread beyond mainland Europe in the early 16th century when the Spanish Empire established colonies in the Americas, as well as territories in Africa, Oceania and the Philippines.

Ancient Greek contributed substantially to Spanish vocabulary, in addition, up to 75% of modern Spanish is derived from Latin.

What’s not well-known is that Arabic has also left a substantial mark on Spanish vocabulary having been in contact with the language very early on. Around 8% of Spanish vocabulary is of Arabic origin, making it the second most important influence after Latin.

Pronunciation

Spanish spelling is very phonetic with only a few exceptions. This means that if you know how to pronounce the letters of a word, it’s relatively easy to sound out the word itself. A bonus characteristic for new learners.

Accents and Stress

In Spanish, where you place the stress in a word can alter its meaning. Here are some general rules to follow:

If a word is marked with an accent, then that syllable receives the stress.
if the word ends in a consonant other than N or S , the stress occurs on the last syllable (eg. hospital = “os-pee-TAL”)>
if the word ends in a vowel, N or S , the stress occurs on the next to last syllable (eg. muchacho = “mu-CHA-cho”)
In Spain (Except in some parts of Andalusia, and in the Canary Islands) a English ci/ce or z sound makes a English “TH”. In Latin America, it makes the “S” sound.

Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel with Pronunciation

Want the infographic to take with you? Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Greetings Essentials Questions Eating Out Getting Around Numbers Days Emergencies

Learn Spanish with my 80/20 method, with Intrepid Spanish!

Travelling to Spain or Latin America? Don’t be treated like a tourist! Live your best travel experiences and learn Spanish for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant or a taxi driver who has “taken you for a ride”. In addition to my free Spanish travel phrase guide , I’ve made it even easier for you to master the Spanish language so you can create lifelong memories as you mingle with locals , get local tips , avoid tourist traps , and make new friends . Join my popular Spanish course here.

Here’s what my students are saying:

Testimonial - How to Learn Italian for Travel FAST! - Roma Small

I really enjoyed the Master Italian for Travel FAST course, it certainly exceeded my expectations. The learning methodology is great, and easy to follow and found that I progressed much faster in the last 4 weeks than I ever did on my own or using other language apps. Grazie mille Michele, I can’t wait until I can put my new skills into action! – Roma Small

Click here for instant access!

Like it? Pin it!

Interested in learning Spanish? Don’t miss these!

70+ Essential Latin American Spanish Phrases for Travellers
7 Top Differences Between Spain Spanish and Latin American Spanish You Didn’t Know
17 Embarrassingly Funny False Friends in Spanish to Avoid
25 Hilarious Spanish Idioms You Won’t Learn in School
Is Spanish Hard to Learn? [7 Common Mistakes and Top Grammar Tips]

Heading to Spain?

13 Free things to do in Barcelona
19 Reasons You’ll Want to Visit Costa Brava Immediately
23 Beautiful Must-See Places in Madrid, Spain
Costa Brava – Get my Ultimate 5-Day Costa Brava Itinerary
19 Absolute Best Things to Do in Bilbao, Spain
19 Absolute Best Things to do in San Sebástian, Spain’s Basque Country

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

12 Simple Tips to Improve Your Listening Comprehension in a Foreign Language
Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Language App is Best For You?
How to Learn Languages Like Crazy, Even If You Have a Crazy Life [3-Step Method]
22 Top Language Learning Resources You Should Use
10 Proven Memory Hacks: How to Remember New Vocabulary Faster
How to Get Fluent: 9 Reasons You’re Not Fluent…YET! [& What To Do Instead]
How long does it REALLY take to learn a language? [A Practical Guide]
18 Unexpected Advantages & Health Benefits of Learning A Foreign Language
23 Cool Gift for Language Learners They Will Actually Use and Love
Mondly Review: 10 Ways Mondly Drastically Improved My Language Learning
italki Review: Is italki A Language Learner’s Best Friend? [Prices, Tips, Pros & Cons]
203 Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words [The Ultimate List: A-Z]
6 Language Learning Tips: How to Learn a Language from Home
What Type of Language Learner Are You? Your 4-Step Personalised Learning Plan
44 Best Movies on Disney Plus for Learning Languages
13 Ways to Seamlessly Integrate Language Learning into Your Daily Life
10 Pro Tips: How to Learn a Language with a Full-Time Job
7 Reasons Why You Should Go on a Language Holiday
Essential Travel Phrases: How to be Travel Fluent in 10 Simple Steps
How to Learn Your First Foreign Language in 8 Simple Steps: A Beginner’s Guide
11 Life-Changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a Language
42 beautiful Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners
Language learning tips: 11 Polyglots Reveal The Secrets of Their Success
Top 10 Best Ways to Learn a Language Better and Faster

Over to you!

Which of these common Spanish phrases do you find most useful? Which other phrases would you like to know? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Like what you see? Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Get my best language and travel tips FREE by email...

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive detailed travel guides, exclusive travel and language learning tips, priority access to giveaways and more!

I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. Get her free guide 9 reasons you’re not fluent…YET & how to fix it! Planning a trip? Learn the local language with her 80/20 method for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant Start learning today!

Sydney Itinerary: 25 Fun Things to do in Sydney on a Budget

42 awesome inspirational quotes for language learners, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

If you don't know where you are , how do you know where you're going? Find out how well you know Italian grammar today!

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
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. 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 .

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.

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

Pin It on Pinterest

101 Common Spanish Phrases for Travel

It’s time to travel! Are you going to a Spanish speaking country? These 101 common Spanish phrases for Travel will help your trip go smoothly, and your journey will be much more enjoyable. If you can memorize these phrases before your trip, that’ll be ideal.

But let’s face it, you are busy. Most likely, you’ll be even busier as your departure date gets closer. But don’t worry, I have created this common Spanish phrases for travel pdf for you! It contains all the travel phrases and words that appear in this post.

Get Your Free Copy of the Survival Spanish Phrases for Travel!

Signup to receive our freebies and newsletter!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Please check your email.

101 Common Travel Phrases in Spanish PDF

Be sure to download it right now so you’ll have it on your cell phone, tablet, or laptop when you are abroad. It’s always a good idea to have it saved on your device, just in case you don’t have access to the Internet when you need it. You can sign up below to get a link to download the basic common Spanish phrases for the travel pdf file sent to you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See our disclosure here .

What are the Common Spanish Phrases for Travel?

Here, we’ll cover 101 common Spanish phrases for travel that you will definitely want to know.

First, let’s start with basic greetings and pleasantries, and move on to some of the very common and super useful Spanish verbs. Then we’ll talk about some Spanish travel phrases for getting around and shopping.

Also, you’ll learn common Spanish phrases and words you will need at restaurants or hotels, and tourist activities.

Lastly, we finish up with the important Spanish phrases for emergencies, just in case. So, let’s begin!

What are the Spanish words for travel?

First, what are the words for travel in Spanish? Below are the words that mean travel or a trip.

To travel – Viajar

To go on a trip – Ir de viaje

A trip – un viaje

Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel: Greetings and Pleasantries

When you are traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, learning some basic Spanish phrases goes a long way. Even if you don’t pronounce them correctly or make mistakes, most people would appreciate the time and effort you put into learning their language. So let’s start with some very basic Spanish phrases for travelers.

Hi – Hola

You can use this any time of the day as it means “Hi” or “Hello”, but people usually say this and then say one of the other greeting phrases below depending on the time of the day. So, for example, you might say, “Hola, Buenos días.”

Good morning

Buenos días

This is normally used in the morning hours before 12 noon.

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

Then you would switch to “ buenas tardes ” in the afternoon until it gets dark outside.

Buenas noches

People would start saying “buenas noches” when it’s dark outside…maybe around 6pm-ish.

Good Bye – Adiós

A typical goodbye in any Spanish-speaking country in the world.

See you later.

Hasta luego.

Even though you may not be seeing each other for a long time or ever like a store clerk, it is common to say “hasta luego ” especially in Spain.

Excuse me (Can I have your attention?) / (Can I pass by?)

Discúlpe / Con permiso

So “ Discúlpe” is used to get someone’s attention. “ Con permiso ” basically means “with your permission.” You would say this when you walk in front of someone or need to pass by people in a crowded place because they are blocking your way. It’s like saying, “Excuse me, I’m passing by you.”

It’s always polite and good etiquette to say “please” in any country, right?

Don’t forget to show your gratitude and appreciation when someone did something nice for you.

No thank you

If you are not interested, you can politely decline by saying, “no gracias.”

What is your name? – ¿ C ó mo se llama usted?

This is a formal version and an informal version is “ ¿C ómo te llamas?” In Mexico or Latin America, it would be better to use the formal version. In Spain, the informal version is pretty common unless you are speaking to someone who is much older than you or a government official, doctor, police officer, etc., you get the idea. A general rule of thumb is if your conversation partner looks about your age or younger, then it’s safe to use the informal version.

My name is ________. – Me llamo ______.

This means literally, “I call myself _______.” You can also say “Soy + your name.”

Nice to meet you. – Mucho gusto (Mexico), Encantado/a (Spain)

In most Latin American countries, “mucho gusto” is the most common way to say “nice to meet you.” In Spain, if you are female, you would say “encantada” ; and if you are male, you would say “encantado.”

How are you? – ¿ C ó mo est á usted?

This is a formal way to ask how a person is. If you are talking to a friend or someone about your age or younger, you can say, “ ¿C ómo est ás?”

I’m good. – Estoy bien.

Just a simple “bien” would work as well. However, to be more polite, you can add “gracias,” so it’ll be “estoy bien, gracias” or “bien, gracias.”

Do you speak English? – ¿Habla inglés?

If you are asking this question to someone, you probably don’t know this person. So it would be appropriate to use this formal form. If you are asking a child or someone who is about your own age or younger, you can use an informal form and say, “ Hablas inglés? “

I don’t speak Spanish. – No hablo espa ñ ol.

Yes / No – Sí / No

I’m sure you’ve heard of these before. Yes!

Traveling soon? Don’t forget to check out this list of 75 Best Travel Accessories to see if you already have them! Many of them are Anti-Theft Products to help protect you and your belongings!

Can you speak slowly? – ¿ Puede hablar m á s despacio?

Natives seem to speak really fast when you first start learning a new language. So you can ask them to speak slowly.

Can you repeat it? – ¿Puede repetirlo?

You can also ask them to repeat what they have just said by saying this phrase.

I understand – Entiendo.

If you understand what they are saying, you can say “entiendo.” If not, you can say the following…

I don’t understand – No entiendo.

Well, if you don’t understand what they are saying, don’t just agree. Make sure you understand what they are saying by asking them to write it down. Once it’s written down, you can use Google to translate it!

Can you write it down, please? – ¿Puede escribirlo?

Yup, ask them to write it down or at least confirm by repeating what was said. You might want to keep a pen in your purse when traveling.

A little – un poco

You may hear other versions like “un poquito” or “un poquit ín” meaning a little tiny bit.

A lot – mucho

Also, you can use “un montón” meaning “A LOT!”

Nothing – Nada

Well, I have nothing to add…ha ha ha, sorry… (by the way, in Spanish, ha ha ha is written “ja ja ja”)

What time is it? – ¿Qu é hora son? (Mexico), ¿ Qu é hora es? (Spain)

For some reason, in Mexico, hora (hour) is used as a plural form, that’s why “son” is used instead of “es.”

Common Spanish Verbs for Travel: Need, Want, and Have

I need ________.

Necesito ________.

I don’t need _____.

No necesito _______.

I want ________.

Quiero_________.

I don’t want _______.

No quiero ________.

Do you have ______?

Tiene ______?

I have _______.

Tengo ________.

I don’t have _______.

No tengo ______.

Spanish Phrases for Transportation and Getting Around

Where is the bus stop? – ¿D ónde est á la parada de autob ús?

If you are looking for a bus station/terminal where many buses meet, you can use “Central de autobuses”, “Terminal de autobuses”, or “Estaci ón de Autobuses.” The last one is more common in Spain.

Do you go to downtown? – ¿Va al centro?

If you are unsure about which bus to take, you can always ask the bus driver if his/her bus goes to where you intend to go before you get on.

How do I get to the Museum of Natural History? – ¿C ómo llego al museo de histor ia natural?

You can use this phrase to ask for directions to some place.

Is it close? – ¿Est á cerca?

This is a bit tricky one because in most Spanish-speaking countries, people often tell you “it’s close,” but that doesn’t really mean it’s close! It could be, but you just never know how a person feels about a distance.

Is it far? – ¿Est á lejos?

If it’s far, you can also ask “ ¿Cu ánto tiempo se tarda en llegar allí?” – How long does it take to get there? to clarify how far it is.

What time does the train leave? – ¿A qu é hora sale el tren?

Whether it’s your train, bus, or flight, you can use this phrase to ask its departure time. The bus is “el autob ús” and the flight is “el vuelo.”

It leaves at 8:30 in the morning. – Sale a las ocho y media de la mañana.

More about the numbers a little bit further down. If it’s in the morning, “ de la mañana” and in the afternoon and early evening, “de la tarde.” And at night, “de la noche” and in the really early morning would be “de la madrugada.”

What time does it arrive? – ¿A qu é hora llega?

So this is referring to the transportation or a third person (he/she/it). What time do we arrive? Would be “ ¿A qu é hora llegamos?”

It arrives at 3 in the afternoon. – Llega a las tres de la tarde.

If you want to say “We arrive” then use “Llegamos.”

Where can I buy tickets? – ¿ D ó nde puedo comprar boletos? (Mexico), ¿ D ó nde puedo comprar billetes?

In Mexico, tickets are called “boletos” ; but in Spain, they are called “billetes.” “Billetes” also meansbills in both countries. For example, “un billete de d ólar” means a dollar bill.

Round trip/one way – Viaje redondo / viaje sencillo (Mexico), ida y vuelta / S ó lo ida (Spain)

I would like 2 tickets. – Me gustar ía dos boletos. (First class, Economy class – premera clase, clase econ ómica )

Again, tickets are “billetes” in Spain. One ticket would be “un boleto” or “un billete.”

I missed my flight. – Perd í mi vuelo.

Literally, it means “I lost my flight.” So, you can swap the noun and say “Perd í mi maleta” – “I lost my suitcase” as well.

Here’s my passport. – Aqu í est á mi pasaporte.

Another similar phrase is “ Aqu í lo tiene,” basically meaning “here you have it” or “here it is.”

I’m here on vacation/on holiday. – Estoy aqu í de vacaciones.

In Spanish, vacation is usually plural “vacaciones.”

I’m going to stay for one week. – Me voy a quedar una semana (two weeks – dos semanas).

Staying only for a few days? Then you can say, “Me voy a quedar unos d í as.” “ Day” in Spanish is “d ía” (singular) and “d ías” (plural) and month in Spanish is “mes” (singular) and “meses” (Plural).

Where is the baggage claim? – ¿ D ónde está el reclamo de equipaje?

There are several different words for baggage claim: la cinta de maletas, la cinta de equipaje, la cinta de recogida de equipaje , etc. “Equipaje” means luggage.

I can’t find my suitcase. – No encuentro mi maleta.

If you can’t find a person, then you would add “a” in front of the person’s name. For instance, “No encuentro a Maria.”

How much does it cost to take me to________? (Taxi) – Cuanto por lleverme a _______?

Ask a cab driver how much it costs to take you to your destination before getting on the cab to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Researching how much a taxi to your destination should cost beforehand can give you a general idea.

Stop here, please. – Pare aqu í, por favor.

Wait a moment, please. – Espere un momento, por favor.

Is it free? (open/available) – ¿Est á libre?

Common Spanish Travel Phrases and Words for Shopping

I need to exchange dollars for pesos. – Necesito cambiar d ólares por pesos.

Banks in other countries tend to close earlier than the ones in the U.S. So if you think you might need to get some cash out, don’t forget to plan ahead.

Is there______? – ¿Hay _____?

This one is very easy but useful at stores, restaurants, and many other places.

What is that? – ¿Qué es eso?

You can point something and ask “ ¿Qué es eso?” If it’s right by you, then “ ¿Qu é es esto?” (What is this?).

Can I see it? – ¿Puedo verlo?

“ ¿Puedo?” means “Can I?” A very useful phrase. Definitely, it’s helpful to memorize this one.

I’m just looking. – Solo estoy mirando.

When you walk into a store and a store clerk asks you if they can help you find something. You can say , “ Solo estoy mirando. Gracias.” if you don’t intend to buy anything. At most department stores, store clerks work on commission, so they tend to be very eager to help you.

Can I try it on? – ¿Me lo puedo probar?

“El probador” means the fitting room.

Do you have size 40? – ¿Tiene talla cuarenta?

Clothing and shoe sizes are quite a bit different in each country, so be sure to check online before you go and get a general idea.

Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100

– N ú meros: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez, veinte, treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta, setenta, ochenta, noventa, cien

This quick study guide is packed with useful information and has a section on numbers as well. It is a perfect reference flip chart for beginners.

You can also learn how to pronounce Numbers in Spanish in this post .

t’s too big/small – Es demasiado grande/chico (or chica).

“Grande” means big or large, and “chico(a)” means small (you can also use “peque ño(a)” ). I wouldn’t worry too much about whether the object you are referring to is a feminine or masculine noun at this point. People will understand you even if you don’t match the genders.

“Demasiado” means “too” something (adjective). So you can use it to say so many other things. For instance, “Es demasiado largo” (it’s too long), “Es demasiado corto” (It’s too short.).

How much is it? – ¿Cu ánto cuesta?

You can just point at something and say, “ ¿Cu ánto cuesta?” And if you are buying multiple ítems and want to know how much the total cost is, you can say, “ ¿Cu ánto cuesta en total?” or ¿Cu ánto es?

It’s too expensive. – Es demasiado caro.

Similar to the phrase above. “Caro(a)” means expensive, and “barato(a)” means cheap.

Can you give me a discount? – ¿ Me puede dar un descuento?

In Mexico and Latin America, if you are shopping at a local market, you can almost always get a discount. So it’s worth asking so you don’t end up paying tourist’s prices.

Do you have anything cheaper? – ¿Tiene algo m ás barato?

This is kind of similar to the one above. “Algo” means something or anything, and “m ás” means “more” and makes an adjective comparative when you put it before the adjective. Less is “menos.”

I’ll take it. – Me lo llevo.

If you like it and you’re going to buy it, then you’ll say “me lo llevo.” If you’re buying multiple items, a plural form of “ lo” which is “los” should be used. So you’ll say “me los llevo.” If you want to be super correct, select one of the followings “lo, la, los, or las” to match the gender of the item(s) you are purchasing…but that’s not crucial at all, so no worries.

Do you accept credit card? – ¿ Aceptan tarjeta de cr é dito?

Cash is “efectivo” and debit card is “tarjeta de d ébito” although most U.S. debit cards are not accepted at stores in foreign countries.

Check out these 75 Cool and Useful Travel Accessories You Can’t Leave without!

What time does it open? – ¿A qu é hora cierran?

In mid-to small-sized cities in Spain, many stores close for lunch for a few hours, then reopen after lunch. Their lunch is from about 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm.

What time does it close? – ¿A qu é hora abren?

Banks tend to close earlier than the ones in the U.S., and they often have different (shorter) business hours for Fridays and Summer months as well.

Useful Spanish at a Restaurant or Hotel

While traveling, these Spanish phrases will definitely come in handy. At a bar or café, you can just pick any available table, but I would recommend making a reservation if you are going to a restaurant.

I have a reservation. – Tengo una reservaci ón.

You can use this phrase at a restaurant or at a hotel when you check in.

Is there free wifi? – ¿Hay wifi grat ís?

“El Usuario” is the user name and “la contraseña” is the password.

I lost the key to my room. (at a hotel) – Perd í la llave de mi habitaci ó n.

It doesn’t work. – No funciona.

If something in your hotel room doesn’t work, you can say, “ No funciona + the thing that’s not working. ”

I would like _______. – Me gustar ía _______.

You can also say, “Quisiera______” “Quisiera” is a more polite form of “quiero” – I want.

I would not like_______. – No me gustar ía _______.

Is this spicy? – ¿Esto pica? or “Es picante?”

Mexican salsas can be super spicy, so I always ask before trying them…although they often say, “no, no pica nada!” – “no, it’s not spicy at all!” Spanish food is generally not spicy, though.

Is it sweet or salty? – ¿Est á dulce o salado?

If you are like me and enjoy trying new foods, you’ll need this phrase.

Gluten free – Sin gluten, Libre de gluten

Gluten-free products are not as common in Spain or Latin American countries as they are in the U.S. Or I should say most products are not labeled “gluten-free” as they are in the U.S.

The bill, please. – La cuenta, por favor.

You will need this phrase at restaurants.

Is tip included? – ¿ Est á incluído la propina?

In Spain, tipping is not customary at Tapas bars although appreciated. However, when dining at a restaurant in both Spain and Mexico, 10-15% of the bill is common if the service fee is not included.

Where is the bathroom? – ¿ D ó nde est á el ba ñ o? or “ ¿ D ó nde est án los ba ñ os? (plural)

Another word for the restroom is “ el servicio )” in Spain.

Occupied/busy – Ocupado

For example, “El ba ño est á ocupado.” – The bathroom is occupied.

“Estoy ocupado(a)” – I’m busy.

Vacant – Libre (bathroom), Vacante (hotel rooms)

“Libre” also means available or free.

Essential Spanish Phrases for Tourist Activities

Is it free? (no cost) – ¿Es grat ís?

Can I enter? (is it allowed to enter?) – ¿Se puede entrar?

If you are not sure if it’s okay to enter, it’s good to ask first, especially at religious places or semi-private tourist spots.

Is it safe? – ¿Es Seguro?

Is it dangerous? – ¿Es peligroso?

No smoking – No fumar.

Smoking is prohibited in enclosed public places in at least Spain and Mexico. So, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. are non-smoking.

Do not touch – No tocar.

You’ll often see a sign with this phrase and an image of a hand crossed out at museums, historical buildings, etc.

I want to go to _______. – Quiero ir ______.

You can use this phrase for a taxi driver, a bus driver, someone when you are asking for a direction, etc.

Important Spanish Phrases for Emergencies

Can you help me? – ¿Me puede ayudar?

If you need help with your luggage or you are lost, this phrase will come in handy.

My wallet was stolen. – Me robaron mi caretera.

“Me robaron” + whatever the item that was robbed. Be extra careful of pickpockets, especially in big cities or in crowded places.

I don’t feel well. – No me siento bien.

When you feel better, you can say, “me siento mejor.” “Mejor” means better, and “peor” means worse.

My stomach hurts – Me duele el est ómago.

The basic structure of this sentence is “Me duele” + the part of your body that is hurting. You can also find more phrases and vocabulary about your physical conditions on this post.

I need to go to hospital. – Necesito ir al hospital.

Remember the “H” is silent. So, you would pronounce “hospital” as though it’s “ospital” with an accent on the “a”.

Help! – ¡Socorro!

Hopefully, you won’t need to use this one or any of these phrases in this emergency section while traveling, but it’s better to be prepared. So, don’t forget to memorize this word just in case.

Are You Ready to Use These Spanish Phrases for Travel?

I’m so excited for you that you are going to Spanish-speaking countries soon or planning a trip in the future. Hope you have a super fun adventure wherever and whenever you go! I hope these Spanish travel phrases help your trip be trouble-free and filled with wonderful, lasting memories.

Oh, did you download our free basic Spanish phrases pdf ? You can print it out and tuck it in your backpack pocket or save it on your digital devices. Here’s where you can download it.

Oh, one last thing…

How to say be safe in Spanish?

In Spanish, “Be safe!” can be translated as either one of these four phrases.

¡Que vuelvas sano y salvo! (Hope you return safe and sound)

¡Que regreses sano y salvo! (Hope you return safe and sound)

¡Que te vaya bien en tu viaje! (Hope everything goes well with your trip)

¡Que te salga bien en tu viaje! (Hope everything turns out well for your trip).

As you have noticed that their literal translations are a bit different, but these are the closest phrases in Spanish that there are to “be safe” in English.

Don’t forget to check out this post: How to say Airport in Spanish: Spanish words and phrases you need at the airport.

Have an amazing trip and Happy Spanish-ing!

Interested in Learning Conversational Spanish?

Try these posts and unlock your Spanish superpower!

30 Spanish Conversation Starters Every Spanish Learner Should know
15 Fun and Easy Spanish Learning Hacks I Used to Become F luent Fast
Spain vs Mexico: What Are the Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish?
20 Popular Songs in Spanish: Latin Music for Learning Spanish Fast!
101 Survival Spanish Phrases for Travel Every Traveler Needs to Know
How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish
Easy Spanish Greetings: How to Greet in Spanish

Pin it for Later!

Click here to see “75 Super Useful Travel Essentials Every Traveler Needs!”

Nice job! You got the basic Spanish phrases for greetings down. Now a little bit longer phrases, but don’t worry, they are not too complicated. Trust me, it’s worth learning these Spanish phrases.

Conversations
Food & Drinks
Privacy Policy

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 city of Santiago de Chile South America

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

hospital waiting room in spanish-speaking country

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!

Not sure which program to pick? Compare programs

105 Spanish Travel Phrases To Know For Your Next Trip

Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

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.

You can download the entire guide, for free, right below

Get our FREE 7-day email course, Shortcut to Conversational

The exact strategies you need to become conversational in Spanish this year. Join the course now, before we come to our senses and charge for it!

Break-up lines in Spanish: 20 phrases for ending a relationship

Camping in Spanish: Essential vocab for your outdoor adventure

Spanish Captions for Instagram: Level up your content en español

This blog is presented by BaseLang: Unlimited Spanish Tutoring for $179 a Month. Learn more here.

Your First Week Is Just $1.

After that, it’s just $179/mo for unlimited one-on-one tutoring.

Remember, the worst case scenario is you get a few free classes, don’t like it, and end up with an extra $20 in the bank.

Subscribe to BaseLang Bites

Supercharge your Spanish with our short weekly email, with bite-sized lessons and tips 🚀

BIENVIENDOS A BASELANG BITES!

Keep an eye out for the first lesson coming to your inbox shortly 🙌

Download BaseLang's Ultimate Guide to Spanish!

Get Access Now!

The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases: 95 Expressions You Need to Learn

If you’re looking to learn some basic Spanish for a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, going the whole “grammar and word list” route is a bit complex and time-consuming.

Good news: learning Spanish travel phrases instead won’t only help you learn Spanish you can use right away in conversations…

Contrary to what many people think, such phrases aren’t even just a quick “hack” but a valid long-term strategy to learn Spanish and other languages (as I outline in my article about Spanish for beginners ).

Anyway, more on that in a bit. First, let’s teach you some Spanish travel phrases!

1. Spanish Travel Phrases to Use Upon Arrival

First things first. If you’re planning to go to a Spanish-speaking country, learning how to greet people and be polite is a must. Otherwise, starting a Spanish conversation can be difficult.

No matter what kind of transportation you use to get to a Spanish-speaking place, you probably will have to deal with different kinds of workers.

Travel Spanish: Visit a beautiful country!

The best thing you can do if you want to ask for information, or just catch some worker’s attention, is to be polite and show respect.

Keep in mind that if you want to be formal, you’ll say and conjugate verbs using “ usted ”. If you’re just talking with friends or someone you know, it’s enough to use “ tú ”.

Now, let’s see some chunks that will help you be ready on Arrival at your destination.

Spanish phrases to use upon arrival

Since you’re trying to improve your Spanish, we would recommend not to use “¿Habla ingles?” as the first alternative. If you do it, natives will try to find someone that could speak with you in English.

Yet, if you find that communicating becomes complicated, it may save your day.

On the other hand, using “ ¿Me puede ayudar? ” is among the best alternatives if you need help when arriving at the airport or any place. People will know immediately that you require assistance to do or get something.

If you use transportation like Taxis or Buses, dealing with luggage isn’t a challenge. But, if you take an airplane, and finding your luggage isn’t that easy, you can take advantage of the last phrase above.

No matter what your needs are, you should always use the following chunks if someone helps you or you ask for help.

Ask for help with these chunks

Saying “ Por favo r” and “ Gracias ” will not only help you to show respect. Also, they will indeed help you to “open” doors as people will always be willing to help you one more time.

For more airport Spanish, watch this video by Paulisima from Spring Spanish (a YouTube channel I co-founded):

2. Spanish Travel Phrases When You Need or Want Something

When traveling, Necesitar and Querer are two Spanish verbs that will help you in several situations.

There are plenty of Spanish chunks you can learn and use with Necesitar and Querer . However, we will stick to the most important.

Travel vocabulary in Spanish: Necesitar and Querer

With these Spanish travel phrases, you’ll get any problem solved. From your basic needs to things on your bucket list like going partying in a Spanish-speaking country.

3. Spanish Travel Phrases for Partying

Latin American people are among the most cheerful people all over the world, and hanging out with them is an unforgettable activity.

You could learn the following Spanish phrases when you’re out having the best time of your life! 😉

Spanish Phrases for When You’re Partying

There are plenty of other Spanish phrases for travel you could learn… and in general, learning as many fixed phrases as possible (or chunks, as we call them) will help you speak Spanish more effortlessly in all kinds of situations.

You can learn them through actual conversation, but also through Spanish podcasts, Spanish YouTube channels , or check out the best Spanish shows on Netflix.

If you’d like to learn more about learning Spanish through chunks, go ahead and request your free Spanish Chunking Starter Pack.

4. Spanish Travel Phrases When Asking for Directions

Although most Spanish speakers are quite friendly because of their culture and way of living, getting along with them on the streets may not be as simple as that. It’s because some people feel that talking to strangers isn’t appropriate or just “not safe”.

When approaching someone you don’t know on the streets, you must keep your distance and use some of the following Spanish phrases.

Approach someone with these chunks

The approach is the most important step. After, it’s time to ask or request what you need. If you’re lost and you need an address or need help, the following chunks will help you get the job done.

Travel tips: Get help with these Spanish chunks

After you get all you need and it’s time to move forward, saying “ Gracias ” to the ones who helped you is essential.

It’s always important to say thanks. It will help you end the conversation and leave an “ open door ” to ask for help again if necessary.

Time to see some of these phrases/chunks in action! Here’s Maria Fernanda, one of the Spring Spanish teachers:

5. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hotel

If you’re a traveler there’s no doubt that you’ll face some challenges when looking for accommodation. Let’s imagine you need to get a room and you have to talk to the staff of a hotel. Depending on your needs, there are several things you’ll have to ask.

For example, room type, if the price includes breakfast, or other things like if you have access to the pool.

Solve challenges at a hotel with these Spanish phrases

Please note that if you have made a reservation, you’ll need either your name or a reservation number. If you get a reservation number, you would say “ Hice una reserva con número…. ” instead of “ Tengo una reserva a nombre de… ”. Learn all the Spanish numbers .

Getting a room with breakfast included is generally a great option. In that scenario, you could say “ Quiero el servicio de desayuno incluido ” (I want breakfast included). No matter what you ask or need, remember to use formal language and make use of “ usted ”.

Here’s a good video about checking into a hotel, brought to you by Paulisima from Spring Spanish :

6. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Restaurant

After you managed to pack out everything in your hotel, you might want to grab something at the restaurant. Learning the basic travel phrases to order food will definitely help you when you’re hungry!

Spanish travel phrases paella in a pan in a restaurant

Useful travel phrases in a restaurant

7. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hospital

Smart travelers always keep some medical supplies in their bags to face any kind of emergency. However, sometimes taking some pills won’t solve the problem, and learning Spanish travel phrases to deal with these situations is essential.

Spanish travel phrases ambulance in madrid

The following Spanish travel phrases will help you with your health-related concerns.

Spanish travel phrases: Health-related concerns

Although the Spanish chunks above will help you deal with most medical situations, sometimes, it’s necessary to explain any symptoms you might have. You can use “ Yo tengo ” before any of the Spanish words for travel shown below.

They’ll help you explain your symptoms and any Spanish-speaking doctor will have no problem at the moment of giving you the right prescription.

Explain symptoms with Spanish chunks

Tip: To make yourself understood to native speakers, especially in more complex situations like this, this article on Spanish connectors will come in handy. It’s an often-overlooked part of language learning but it can help you a lot.

Another tip: Want to see (and hear) all those phrases in action? Watch this video by Spring Spanish teacher Maura:

8. Spanish Travel Phrases for Everyday Situations

Although we provided you with the most important phrases for every possible situation, there are still some useful phrases left. Check out the following table to learn some of the most used Spanish travel phrases for everyday situations.

Spanish travel phrases, a traditional Andalusian street with flowers

Use these phrases in everyday situations

9. Spanish Travel Phrases: Your Key to Effortless Conversations in Any Spanish-Speaking Country

No matter what Spanish-speaking country you visit, keeping these Spanish phrases for travel will indeed help you deal with any scenario.

Let’s check out a Spanish conversation with some basic Spanish travel phrases:

Ana : Hola, disculpe… (Hello, excuse me…) Berta : ¡Hola! ¿En qué puedo ayudarte? (Hello! How can I help you?) Ana : ¿Sabe cómo llegar a esta dirección? (Do you know how to get to this address?) Berta : Sí, claro. ¿A qué dirección necesitas ir? (Yes, of course. What address do you need to go to?) Ana : Un hotel en la Calle Principal. (A hotel on Main Street.) Berta : Está cerca. Camina dos cuadras hacia el oeste. (It’s nearby. Walk two blocks west.) Ana : Hice una reserva con número 16. (I made a reservation with the number 16.) Berta : Perfecto. Disfruta tu estadía. (Perfect. Enjoy your stay.) Ana : ¡Gracias! (Thank you!) Berta : De nada. ¡Que tengas un buen día! (You’re welcome. Have a nice day!)

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE CONVERSATION :

Of course, if communicating becomes too complex, don’t hesitate to use the old life-saving phrase “ ¿Habla ingles? ”.

Requesting your free Spanish Chunking Starter Pack from Effortless Conversation is the best you can do if you’re planning to visit a Spanish-speaking destination. You’ll build your confidence and will feel much more comfortable when speaking Spanish.

Lukas is the founder of Effortless Conversations and the creator of the Conversation Based Chunking™ method for learning languages. He's a linguist and wrote a popular book about learning languages through "chunks". He also co-founded the language education company Spring Languages, which creates online language courses and YouTube content.

Vegetables in Spanish: 100+ Words for Vegetables & Healthy Life

Whether you’re a foodie, a Spanish learner, or planning to travel to a Spanish-speaking country, knowing the words for fruits and vegetables in Spanish can…

5 TED talks in Spanish to learn Spanish: for beginner and intermediate learners

Are you looking for an entertaining and enriching way to learn Spanish? TED Talks (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in Spanish are an excellent option. These shot…

Complete guide to the Spanish alphabet: Pronunciation of 27 letters

¡Hola! Are you ready to learn Spanish? Well, what better way to start this journey than to learn the ABC (el abecedario) of the Spanish…

6 Best Ways to Learn Spanish While Driving: Radio, Podcasts, Audiobooks & More!

Do you want to make the most of your time in the car and learn Spanish while driving? In this blog post, we will share…

Easy Spanish sentences: your beginner’s guide to effortless language learning and speaking Spanish

Welcome to Easy Spanish Sentences, your beginner’s guide to effortless language learning! Whether you’re a traveler, student, or someone looking to brush up on Spanish,…

The Ultimate Guide To The Spanish Verb Estar: Conjugation + Examples

When studying Spanish, one of the trickiest topics that shows up in your way is the use of two verbs ser vs estar, instead of…

50 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Tourists

Traveling can be one of life’s most enriching experiences, especially when you venture into lands where the culture, traditions, and language differ from your own. If your next destination is a Spanish-speaking country, knowing a few handy phrases can not only ease your journey but also enrich your experience. Let’s dive into some essential Spanish travel phrases that every savvy tourist should have in their toolkit.

Greetings and Basic Politeness

1. hola – hello.

Simple and universal, “Hola” is your go-to greeting at any time of the day.

2. Buenos días – Good morning

Start your day the right way by greeting people with “Buenos días” in the morning.

3. Buenas tardes – Good afternoon

From noon until dusk, “Buenas tardes” is your afternoon greeting.

4. Buenas noches – Good evening/night

Use this phrase in the evening and at night, whether you’re saying hello or goodbye.

5. Por favor – Please

Manners matter! “Por favor” is an easy way to be polite.

6. Gracias – Thank you

Never forget to say “Gracias” – it goes a long way in showing appreciation.

7. De nada – You’re welcome

A polite response to a thank you.

8. Lo siento – I’m sorry

Whether you’re apologizing or expressing sympathy, “Lo siento” is what you need.

Getting Around

9. ¿dónde está… – where is….

A must-know phrase for finding places. Follow it with the location you’re looking for.

10. ¿Cómo llego a…? – How do I get to…?

Getting directions is crucial. Use this phrase to start your query.

11. Izquierda/derecha – Left/right

Useful for understanding directions.

12. Recto – Straight ahead

Often, you’ll just need to go straight on!

13. Estación de tren/autobús – Train/bus station

Knowing how to ask for these transport hubs can save you a lot of time.

14. Parada de taxi – Taxi stand

Need a cab? This is how you ask where to find one.

15. Horario de trenes/autobuses – Train/bus schedule

Keep on track with the schedules of public transport.

Accommodation

16. ¿tiene habitaciones libres – do you have any rooms available.

A vital question for walk-in accommodation.

17. Reservé una habitación – I have a reservation

Let the reception know you’ve booked in advance.

18. ¿A qué hora es el check-out? – What time is check-out?

Avoid any confusion about departure times with this question.

19. ¿Tiene Wi-Fi? – Do you have Wi-Fi?

Stay connected by asking about internet availability.

20. ¿Puede despertarme a las…? – Can you wake me up at…?

Set a wake-up call if you need to be up early.

Dining and Food

21. una mesa para dos, por favor – a table for two, please.

Perfect for securing a spot in a restaurant.

22. El menú, por favor – The menu, please

Get ready to choose your meal with this phrase.

23. ¿Qué recomienda? – What do you recommend?

Ask for the server’s recommendations when unsure.

24. Una cerveza/vino, por favor – A beer/wine, please

Quench your thirst and enjoy local beverages.

25. La cuenta, por favor – The bill, please

Use this when you’re ready to pay and leave.

26. ¿Dónde hay un buen restaurante? – Where is a good restaurant?

Find out where the locals eat.

27. Soy alérgico/a a… – I am allergic to…

An important phrase for anyone with food allergies.

Emergencies and Health

28. ayuda – help.

A universal cry for assistance in urgent situations.

29. Necesito un médico – I need a doctor

Use this in case of a medical emergency.

30. ¿Dónde está el hospital? – Where is the hospital?

Knowing how to ask for the hospital is crucial in emergencies.

31. He perdido mi… – I have lost my…

Use this when you’ve misplaced something, like “He perdido mi pasaporte” (I have lost my passport).

32. Llame a la policía – Call the police

If you find yourself in a situation requiring law enforcement.

33. ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana? – Where is the nearest pharmacy?

For when you need medication or first-aid items.

34. Me siento mal – I feel sick

Let people know if you’re feeling unwell.

Shopping and Transactions

35. ¿cuánto cuesta – how much does it cost.

A must-ask question when shopping.

36. ¿Puede bajar el precio? – Can you lower the price?

Try your hand at bargaining with this phrase.

37. Aceptan tarjetas? – Do you accept cards?

Good to know in a largely cash-based economy.

38. ¿Dónde está el cajero automático? – Where is the ATM?

Locate an ATM for cash withdrawals.

39. Estoy buscando… – I am looking for…

Useful when searching for a specific item.

40. Quisiera devolver esto – I would like to return this

In case you need to return a purchase.

Cultural Interaction

41. ¿puede tomar una foto – can you take a picture.

Don’t be shy to ask someone to snap a photo of you.

42. Me encanta su país – I love your country

A little compliment goes a long way in making connections.

43. ¿Qué lugares de interés me recomienda? – What places of interest do you recommend?

Locals can give you the best tips on where to go.

44. ¿Hay algún festival o evento local? – Is there any festival or local event?

Experience the culture to its fullest by participating in local events.

45. ¿Podría hablarme sobre…? – Could you tell me about…?

Learn about historical sites, customs, and more from those who know best.

Miscellaneous Phrases

46. no entiendo – i don’t understand.

If you’re lost in conversation, it’s okay to let people know.

47. ¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

Sometimes, finding an English speaker can be helpful.

48. ¿Podría hablar más despacio, por favor? – Could you speak slower, please?

Useful for when you’re struggling to keep up with the pace of the conversation.

49. Repita, por favor – Repeat, please

If you need something to be said again.

50. Estoy aprendiendo español – I am learning Spanish

This phrase can explain your language skills and usually earns you some patience and support.

Venturing into a new country where Spanish is the spoken language can be a thrilling and fulfilling experience. Armed with these essential travel phrases, you’re not just a tourist; you’re a savvy traveler who can navigate, interact, and immerse themselves in the local culture with a bit more confidence and ease. Remember, every attempt you make at speaking the local language is appreciated and often reciprocated with warmth and helpfulness. So, pack your bags, charge your spirit of adventure, and prep your Spanish phrases – your next memorable journey awaits!

With these phrases in your pocket, you’re well on your way to having a more authentic and engaging travel experience. Remember, language is not just about words; it’s about connection, culture, and community. ¡Buen viaje! (Have a good trip!)

Get a 40% off forever discount with the ready, set, speak sale! Ends soon!

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!

Or sign up using Facebook

Got an account? Sign in here

How To Say ‘Thank you’ in Spanish

How to Say “Hello” in Spanish

How to Say I Love You in Spanish – Romantic Word List

Top 4 Ways That Peninsular Spanish And Mexican Spanish Are Different

Advanced Spanish Phrases for Studying and Working

Intermediate Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations

How to celebrate april fools’ day in spanish.

Forum Spotlight
Scheduled Maintenance
Memoirs from Xalapa Mexico
Advanced Spanish
Spanish Alphabet
Spanish Grammar
Spanish Lessons
Spanish Online
Spanish Phrases
Spanish Podcasts
Spanish Words
Media Coverage
Feature Spotlight
Spanish Holidays
Spanish Translation
Success Stories
Teaching Spanish
Team SpanishPod101
Word of the Day
Immigration, Visas

Copyright © 2024 Innovative Language Learning. All rights reserved. SpanishPod101.com Privacy Policy | Terms of Use . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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!

Discover a better way to learn Spanish online.

Regular conversation practice is the key to fluency. There's no better way to build confidence, develop comprehension skills and an authentic accent. It's fun, effective and guaranteed to get you talking.

Start for free today. We've helped thousands of students learn a new language online and we can help you too.

Ayami Hamakawa

Radu Titirca

David Askill

John Barton

Sharyn Doherty

Daniel Moore

Get Started Today Bring Learning Spanish to Life

Native teachers, great pricing, ultimate flexibility.

SPANISH TOPICS

Success stories, learning spanish.

Get a free trial lesson with a native speaking online Spanish tutor today.

855-997-4652 Login Try a Free Class

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 !

If you still need a reason on why to learn Spanish besides being able to talk to more than 53 million people solely in the U.S. you might earn extra money at the end of the month by speaking Spanish. Sign up today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“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!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“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!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies? Check these out!

Turn Your Life Around: From Passive Bilingualism to Fluency!
How to Talk About the Temperature in Spanish: Fahrenheit, Celcius, and Descriptions
Car Parts Spanish Vocabulary List: Learn Using Pictures
Top 15 New Year’s Resolutions in Spanish
Talk About Hurricanes And The Weather in Spanish
Spanish Words with Multiple Meanings in Latin America
The Beauty of Spanish Sign Language
World Mental Health Day: A Vocabulary Guide for Mental Health Workers
Recent Posts
9 Tips for Learning How to Learn Two or More Languages at Once - January 20, 2023
The History and Tradition of Las Cabañuelas - December 26, 2022
10 Ways to Learn How to Think in Spanish - December 25, 2022

45+ mission trip spanish phrases you need to know, 44 essential spanish quotes and proverbs to fuel your motivation, spanish body parts: vocabulary, idioms, and culture, spanish 101: greetings and farewells, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Master Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Your Next Adventure Before Going to Latin America

Basic SPANISH for TRAVEL: All you need to know when traveling to Latin-America 🏜️

If you are planning on travelling to a Spanish-speaking country any time soon and want to learn words and Spanish travel phrases that will help you survive during your stay, this is a must-read article !! I’ll give you a language survival kit that will certainly make your life easier, así que ¡vamos a darle!

1. Starting a conversation with these Spanish phrases

So, let’s imagine you are on the plane to Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, Oaxaca, Montevideo, you name it… and let’s say you want to chat with the person sitting next to you because the flight will last five hours and it might be somewhat boring and even awkward to spend it in complete silence, right?

As an icebreaker you may say:

¡Hola! Soy Mariana . ¿Cómo te llamas? (Hi! I’m Mariana. What’s your name?)

You could also say:

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Mariana. ¿Cómo te llamas? (Hi! My name is Mariana. What’s your name)

The other person might respond: “ Mucho gusto . Me llamo Elena ”. (Nice to meet you. My name is Elena or whatever their name is).

So, Spanish allows you to introduce yourself in three different ways. Let’s go over them once again:

Soy Mariana. (I’m Mariana.)
Mi nombre es Mariana . (My name is Mariana.)
Me llamo Mariana . (My name is Mariana.)

In addition to hola , which means “hi”, you could also say “ buenos días ”, “ buenas tardes ”, or “ buenas noches ” depending on the time of day. We cannot delve into the details right now, but if you want to know more about these other ways of greeting people, you should not miss out on our video about greetings in Spanish.

2. Keep the conversation going with basic Spanish phrases

Okay, once you know the other person’s name, you might want to know how old they are. You have two options here:

¿Cuántos años tienes?
¿Qué edad tienes?

They both mean “how old are you?”.

The other person will say: “ Tengo 28 años ”. (I’m 28 years old). Once they’ve told you their age, the person will certainly ask you: “ ¿Y tú? ” (And you?) or “ Y tú, ¿qué edad tienes? ” (Literally, this would translate into “what age do you have?”. Since that obviously makes no sense in English, this chunk is the equivalent of “how old are you?”) You may respond: “ Tengo 30 años .” (I’m thirty).

Another thing that people usually ask to try to get to know someone, even if it’s just briefly, is what they do for a living, right? Once again, Spanish gives you two options:

¿A qué te dedicas? (Literally, what do you dedicate yourself to?)
¿En qué trabajas? (Literally, what do you work in?)

Since the word-for-word translation into English of these two chunks in Spanish makes no sense, you should learn the way it’s said in Spanish by heart as the equivalent of “what do you do for a living?”.

✔️ Cheat Sheet with 54 essential Spanish Chunks you’ll hear and use yourself in ANY Spanish conversation (and example sentences). Taken from our YouTube Teacher’s most popular videos!

✔️ 2 Bonus Cheat Sheets with Travel Chunks and Dating/Relationship Chunks

✔️ A Spanish Chunking Tutorial showing you the 1 technique that’ll help you make 100% of the Spanish from our videos roll off the tongue i n just 5 minutes a day (you’re probably only using 50% of our lessons’ potential right now…)

3. Switching a conversation into English

Now, let’s say this person turns out to be very chatty and they start conversing non-stop about their family, their job, what have you. If you have trouble understanding them, you may say: “ Disculpa, no hablo mucho español ” (Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish very well).

If you want to switch into English, you may ask them: “ ¿Hablas inglés? ” (Do you speak English?). If they do, you may suggest: “ ¿Podemos continuar en inglés? ” (Could we speak in English now?)

Or let’s say you want to challenge yourself in trying to understand most of what the other person is saying but you need them to slow down. Then, you should say: “ ¿Pudieras hablar más despacio, por favor ? ” (Could you speak more slowly, please?)

Additionally, if you didn’t understand a specific bit and you want them to repeat it, you should say: “ Disculpa, no entendí . ¿Puedes repetirlo? ” (Sorry, I didn’t get that. Could you repeat it?)

You may obviously use all the phrases we’ve learned so far in any conversation, not just to chat with the person next to you on a plane.

4. Asking for information with Spanish travel phrases

Now, let’s imagine the plane has landed. You get off it, but you’re not quite sure where to collect your luggage. Then, you could ask a flight attendant or airport staff: “ Disculpe, ¿dónde recojo mi equipaje? ” (Sorry, where should I collect my luggage?)

Once they’ve provided you with the information you should always say “ Gracias ” (Thanks!). If you truly appreciate the help or the information, you may say “ Muchas gracias ” (Thank you very much!) and if you want to acknowledge how helpful the other person was, you may say “ Muy amable ” (Very kind of you!).

So, you’ve got your luggage with you. Now you need a taxi to go to your hotel, but you also need cash to pay for the taxi. What now? Well, you may ask:

Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un cajero automático? (Sorry, where can I find an ATM?)
Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un banco? (Sorry, where can I find a bank?)
Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un centro cambiario? (Sorry, where can I find a money exchange center?)

Notice that I’ve used the word “ disculpe ” several times before asking a question. This word may be translated as “sorry” or “excuse me” and we use it to get someone’s attention in a polite manner.

Now, if you say “ disculpe ” you will be addressing the other person with deference, but if you say “ disculpa ” you will be addressing them informally.

Okay, you’ve got cash on you. Now you need a taxi, right? So, the question goes: “ Disculpe, ¿dónde puedo tomar un taxi? ” (Sorry, where can I get a taxi?)

You’ve been told where to get a taxi. You’ve said “ gracias ” to thank the other person for the information and you are now walking towards the taxi rank. Someone gets on your way because they’re carelessly looking at the arrivals board (I absolutely hate it when people do that!). Anyway, what’s the equivalent of “excuse me” in Spanish? “ Con permiso ” or, simply, “ Permiso ”.

5. Useful Spanish phrases when asking for recommendations

Okay, now you’re on the taxi. Since taxi drivers usually know their way around cities very well, you might want to ask them something like, “ ¿Qué me recomienda visitar? ” (What would you recommend that I visit?)

In my experience, taxi drivers are very good at telling you where to eat amazing local food. To get this sort of information from them, you may ask: “ ¿Qué restaurante me recomienda? ” (Which restaurant would you recommend?)

Now, you’re at your hotel. You’ve checked in, you’ve left your luggage in your room, and you are starving. Maybe it’s time to look for the restaurant that the taxi driver recommended, right? You may ask hotel staff, “ Disculpe, ¿dónde queda este restaurante ” (Sorry, where is this restaurant?) They will surely give you directions; some hotels might even offer you to get you a cab that can take you there.

6. Spanish words to use in a restaurant

Let’s say the restaurant is right around the corner. You get there and you want to tell the waiter or waitress that you are vegetarian.

So, to order food, you may say: “ Soy vegetariana ” (if you are a woman) or “ Soy vegetariano ” (if you’re a man) (I’m vegetarian).

If there’s something you don’t want in your food, you should say “ sin ”, which is the equivalent of “without”, plus whatever it is you don’t want to eat. For example: “ Quisiera una ensalada sin queso, por favor .” (I’d like to have a salad without cheese, please).

7. Basic Spanish words when talking about allergies

If you are allergic to something, you should definitely learn how to say it.

If you are a guy, you should say “ Soy alérgico ” and, if you are a woman, “ Soy alérgica ” and then you add whatever it is you are allergic to. For instance, “ Soy alérgica a las nueces ” (I’m allergic to nuts). I once travelled with a friend who has a massive allergy to nuts and it was nuts!!

Now, to order your drink, you may say: “ De tomar, quisiera una limonada ” (To drink, I’ll have a lemonade, please). And we all know that the saddest thing about travelling abroad is spending money. So, how do you ask the waiter or waitress for the bill? “ Disculpa, ¿me traes la cuenta, por favor? ”

There’s also a shorter way of saying it: “ La cuenta, por favor ” (The bill, please).

8. A basic Spanish for travelers: buying souvenirs

Okay, your holiday is over, you’ve had an amazing time in Mexico City eating tacos or drinking mate in Buenos Aires. It’s time to go back to your country, but you want to get a souvenir for your mom, your dad, your significant other, or even yourself.

You go into a souvenir shop, you like something, and you want to know how much it costs. What should you say? Once again, you have two options:

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
¿Esto qué precio tiene?

9. Learn Spanish with FREE Spanish Training

Muy bien , you’ve got your language survival kit! You are ready to travel to any Spanish-speaking country and you will certainly rock it! If you need ayuda (help) and want to learn more, feel free to check out our Spring Spanish Travel videos on our channel!

Now, if you’re ready to take it a step beyond this survival Spanish lesson and get serious about learning the language, we have a free Spanish training on our website where you’ll discover the method we use in our Spring Spanish Academy to teach students to speak fluent Spanish. You also get some free sample Spanish lessons there that come straight from our Academy! If you’re interested, just click on the link in the description box below to sign up!

Mariana has always been passionate about languages, so much so that she speaks English, Italian, and French; additionally, she is currently learning German and is eager to learn one or more Mexican indigenous languages. Given her love for languages, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and a Master’s degree in Communication and Language Studies. In addition to being a teacher at Spring Spanish, Mariana works as a legal translator (in fact, she’s a sworn translator in Mexico). She’s also a singer who loves travelling with friends and family and whenever she has a bit of free time, she enjoys reading a book or watching a movie.

STOP ENDING your CONVERSATIONS Awkwardly: How to end a conversation in Spanish

You don’t want your conversations to end as awkwardly as in this example: ACTOR 1¡Genial! Entonces, ¿está todo listo para la presentación?(Great! So, everything is ready for the presentation?) ACTOR 2Sí, todo listo. (Yes, everything is ready.) ACTOR 1Bien. ¿Algo más?(Good. Anything else?) ACTOR 2No.(No.) ACTOR 1Vale. (Ok.) ACTOR 2Vale.(Ok.) ACTOR 1Hasta luego, entonces.(See you later, then.)…

Vivir Conjugation in Spanish: 4 audio examples to conjugate the verb ‘to live’

¿Por dónde vives?(Whereabouts do you live?) Por el metro Patriotismo, ¿y tú?(Near metro Patriotismo, and you?) Yo vivo bien lejos, por Santa Fe.(I live very far away, near Santa Fe.) I’m Paulisima from Spring Spanish. Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most important verbs in Spanish: vivir. I’ll show you the vivir…

How to make small talk in Spanish – Spanish conversation phrases

This article is all about small talk in Spanish! So, if you want to get rid of those awkward silences and master what I call El arte de la charla casual (the Art of Small Talk in Spanish), you should definitely keep reading! 1. Small Talk in Spanish (Latin America) Small talk is a very…

How to Speak About the WEATHER in Spanish and IMPRESS the Locals 🌤️

One topic that is very safe to talk about is el clima (the weather). It’s the best icebreaker and everybody has an opinion about it. Additionally, it’s important that you know how to talk about the weather if you are going on a holiday. In this article, you will find out how to talk about…

Do you need TALENT to learn Spanish?

¿Cómo te está yendo con el español?(How’s it going with Spanish?) ¡Súper bien! Mis amigos mexicanos dicen que cada vez hablo mejor. Ya puedo expresar opiniones complejas y cada vez batallo menos con el subjuntivo.(Super well! My Mexican friends say that I speak better every time. I can now express complex opinions and I struggle…

Omit personal pronouns Spanish: Don’t overuse personal in real-life conversations

ALEXMaura, ¿tú crees que yo uso muchos pronombres personales?(Maura, do you think I use a lot of personal pronouns?)MAURAUn poco, sí.(A little bit, yes.)ALEX¿Y cómo hago para quitarlos?(And how do I get rid of them?) Have you ever wondered the same as Alex? Pronouns in Spanish can get crazy for sure. Luckily for you personal…

Request Your Essential Spanish Chunking Kit Here!

54 Essential Spanish Chunks, Bonus Cheat Sheets and a Bonus Spanish Class waiting for you 👇

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Request Your Essential German Chunking Kit Here!

Cheat Sheets with essential German chunks waiting for you👇

¡Vamos! Start now

¡Vamos! I’m a Serious Spanish Student

Unlock the Conversation Based Chunking Demo Walkthrough With Spanish Dialogue Now 🙂 👇

I want to learn…

Request your free workshop materials here, privacy overview.

50 Phrases You Need to Know for Traveling in Spain

50 useful spanish phrases for traveling.

Learning some basic phrases in Spanish is incredibly useful when you are planning a trip to Spain. It is a good idea to learn Spanish phrases that can help you in different situations as you travel. Learning even just a few phrases before your trip can not only make your trip more enjoyable, but it can increase your confidence when talking to native Spanish-speakers. Even if you can only say a few words, the Spanish will appreciate your efforts to communicate in Spanish.

Spanish Phrases for Traveling

Here are some useful Spanish phrases to have at hand for your upcoming trip to Spain. You can memorize them, print them out, or save them on your phone to take with you!

👋 Basic Spanish Phrases

These are the basic phrases that you need to know in Spain. They are important for interacting with people and being polite. Good manners can take you a long way!

🗺 Arriving in Spain

These Spanish phrases are helpful to have at hand when you first arrive in Spain and are looking to make your way around as smoothly as possible.

These Spanish phrases are good to know for getting yourself situated and arranging your stay in Spain. They can also help you make last minute arrangements if you need to.

🚏 Transportation

Whether you plan to get around Spain by bus, train, or taxi, here are some Spanish phrases that will make it easier to navigate.

📸 Sightseeing

Here are some Spanish phrases that will help you talk to people when strolling through the streets of Spain and exploring what it has to offer.

🗣Be Understood

Sometimes when you are trying to talk in a foreign language, it can be difficult to get your point across. It can also be hard to catch every word that a native Spanish-speaker is saying when you are not used to the language. Here are some Spanish phrases that can help you understand others and be understood yourself.

🍽 Eating Out

Whether you choose to try a restaurant in Madrid, a café in Barcelona, or enjoy some Spanish street food, these phrases can help you when grabbing a bite to eat.

🛍Going Shopping

These Spanish phrases can help you when you go shopping in Spain and are looking to buy gifts for your friends back home, or if you want to splurge a bit on yourself.

🛫 Departure

When your trip to Spain finally comes to an end, here are some phrases to help you conclude your visit.

Finally, with these 50 Spanish phrases, it will be easier for you to make the most of your trip to Spain and all that the country has to offer. Enjoy your visit!

🇪🇸 Learn to Speak Spanish Better and Faster

If you are up for more challenges, train with Glossika before you leave for your trip. And have no problem holding conversations with the locals during your stay.

Subscribe to The Glossika Blog

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox

Stay up to date! Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox

Skip to main content
Skip to header right navigation
Skip to site footer

Albom Adventures

Capturing the essence of travel through photography

Inspiring travel through photography

9 Best Spanish Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go

Using Spanish travel phrases at Isglsia De Sant Pere in Figueres, Spain

Embarking on a journey to a Spanish-speaking destination? Knowing some Spanish travel phrases will make your travels much easier and enjoyable. We asked traveller Kayla Gollacher which are the most commonly used Spanish phrases for travel.

If you’re heading to Spain or a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to make sure you know a few key Spanish travel phrases to help you get around. While there will be other English-speaking people, it never hurts to know a bit of the local language.

Speaking in a different language can be stressful which is why we recommend learning a few phrases. Don’t worry too much about your accent or grammar, but just focus on learning these key phrases.

9 Best Spanish travel phrases

Hi! How are you?
I’m fine, thanks
I don’t speak Spanish
Asking for directions
Help, I need…
Ordering food
How much does this cost?
Can you recommend…

Using Spanish travel phrases to get information at Park Guell by Gaudi in Barcelona Spain

1. Hi! How are you?

Step one of useful Spanish travel phrases is knowing how to greet people. Most people know that “Hola” is Spanish for hello, which is a good start.

If you want to ask how someone is, you need to know the difference between formal and informal. If you are speaking to a stranger and want to say “Hello! How are you?” you would say “¡Hola! ¿Cómo está usted?”, the formal phrase.

But if you were speaking to someone you know, you could instead say “¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?”. Always do your best to be polite, but people will be more understanding if you are a tourist.

2. I’m fine, thanks

When you ask someone how they are, you need to be prepared for them to ask you back. To say you are fine, you would say “Bien, gracias”. It’s important to remember to be polite and say “por favour” (please) and “gracias” (thank you).

On the other hand, if you are not doing well, you can let the other person know by saying “No tan bien”, meaning “Not so well”.

3. I don’t speak Spanish

When travelling, you need to be able to flag that you don’t speak the language, which is why “No hablo español” (I don’t speak Spanish) is one of the best Spanish travel phrases.

Another useful phrase is “¿Habla inglés?” for when you need to ask if someone speaks English to help you be understood.

A useful word to know is “entiendo”, which means “understand”. You can say “Yo entiendo”, meaning “I understand” or “No entiendo” meaning “I don’t understand”.

These few key phrases can get you very far when it comes to communicating on your trip. However, to truly level up your Spanish, check out this comprehensive list of useful Spanish travel phrases to get you through any situation.

Discussing price by using Spanish phrases for travel at the fish market attached to the fish auction in Palamos, Spain

4. My name is

You also want to be able to introduce yourself by saying, “Hello, my name is…”. The correct phrase is “¡Hola! Me llamo…”.

And to ask someone what their name is, you can say “Cómo te llamas?”. Being able to greet and start a conversation in Spanish is a very smart idea. Locals will appreciate that you are trying to speak the language.

During our home exchange in Spain , we discovered that having a grasp of basic phrases was extremely beneficial. However, learning Spanish in real time presented a significant challenge.

5. Asking for directions

Knowing how to ask for basic directions is essential for any tourist because getting a little bit lost while travelling is unavoidable.

You want to be able to politely ask for directions, so start with “Disculpe, ¿puede ayudarme a encontrar…?” which means “Excuse me, can you help me find…?.

Then you can learn a few nouns, like “esta dirección” (this address), “a la estación de tren” (the train station), and “un baño” (a bathroom).

If you want to soak up the gorgeous Spanish culture, you could ask about the “ el Museo” for museum, or “la Catedral” to see some breathtaking architecture.

6. Help, I need…

No one wants to have to deal with an emergency while travelling, but it’s always best to be prepared. You want to be able to ask for help and things like a doctor or the police.

To say “Help! I need a doctor.” you would say “¡Ayuda! Necesito un médico.”. And if you needed the police, you could replace “un medico” with “a la policia”.

7. Ordering food

When you go to a restaurant, you can ask, “Can I see the menu?” by saying “¿Puedo ver el menú?”.

When ordering, you can say “Me gustaría…” meaning “I would like”. If you don’t eat meat, an essential phrase is “¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas?”, meaning “Do you have any vegetarian options?”.

8. How much does this cost?

Shopping in a foreign country can be stressful, especially if you are at a market instead of a mall. To make your market experiences far smoother, learn the phrase “¿Cuánto cuesta esto?”.

This means “How much does this cost?” and asking in Spanish will set you apart from some other tourists and might even seal you a better deal at the market. In some areas, like Valencia, you might find that there are few English speakers, so knowing some Spanish phrases is essential.

9. Can you recommend…

Asking for recommendations from locals is a great way to experience real Spanish culture and see sights that tourists normally miss.

But you need to be able to ask in Spanish, so learn the phrase “¿Puede recomendarme alguna atracción turística?” meaning “Can you recommend any tourist attractions?”. By asking around, you can find some incredible free activities to do in Spain.

You can modify this to ask for specific things like “un buen restaurante” – a good restaurant. To really get off the beaten path, try asking “¿Dónde van los locales para divertirse?”, which translates to “Where do the locals go to have fun?”.

Jeff getting a Super Pancho hotdog in the park in Argentina

Save on your trip with these resources

These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
Motorcycles : we have heard good things about BikesBooking .
Campervans or Motorhomes : we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
Private guides : we love the private guides at Tours by Locals .
Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.

Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

Which of the Spanish phrases for travel do you think you will use?

17 Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama Desert

Traditional Argentinian Food You Need to Try

Getting to Isla Damas – Seeing Penguins in Chile

Palacio Salvo in Plaza Independencia in Montevideo Uruguay

22 Captivating Things to Do in Montevideo – Discover Uruguay

About the author

Kayla is a Content Marketing and SEO Manager with a passion for helping clients achieve their marketing goals. She manages a team of marketers who are pros at both on-screen and off-screen SEO. As they’re a fully-remote team, they can work from anywhere in the world. Kayla recently visited Spain, where she used many of the Spanish travel phrases she shared on this page.

About Albom Adventures Editorial Team

Albom Adventures’ editorial team consists of travel bloggers and other travel writers who periodically provide content to this blog. If would like to join our editorial team, please send us an email via the information on our contact page .

Reader Interactions

Alex+J.+Cavanaugh

December 6, 2023 at 12:17 pm

Getting directions and knowing the cost are really important!

Privacy Overview

IMAGES

50 Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
The Tourist's Pocket Guide to Spanish Phrases #infographic
91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers
101 Common Spanish Phrases to Start Speaking Spanish Right Now
101 TRAVEL SPANISH PHRASES
Simple Spanish Words, Common Spanish Phrases, Spanish Help, Learn

VIDEO

The Spanish Phrase They Teach, but Native Speakers Avoid
Spanish Tourist Couple Shares a Video Expressing about the Jharkhand Incident
Beginner Spanish Phrases Every Traveler Needs to Know! ☀️
Spanish tourist incident🥲
Learn 40 Spanish Phrases for Everyday life in 8 minutes
15 Useful Spanish phrases & expressions for intermediate & advanced students Gcse/A level SPANISH

COMMENTS

67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know
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. #1 ¡Hola! - Hello. (O-la) #2 ¡Buenos días! - Good morning! ( BWAY-nos DEE-as) #3 ¡Buenas tardes! - Good afternoon/good evening!
The Ultimate Guide: 100+ Useful Spanish Phrases For Travel That You
Understanding responses is just as important; learn key words like "izquierda" (left), "derecha" (right), "recto" (straight), and "cerca" (near). Equip yourself with a list of useful Spanish travel phrases specifically for medical situations before your trip. It enhances your preparedness in foreign countries.
131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn
Un balcón — A balcony. La terraza — The rooftop / terrace. El gimnasio — The gym. La playa — The beach. El vestíbulo — The lobby. 5. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Restaurant. Probably the most useful travel phrases you will need are the ones you would use in a restaurant.
99 Common Spanish Phrases That Every Traveller Should Know
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.
70+ Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel with Pronunciation
A brief history of Spanish. Originating in the Castile region of Spain, Spanish (español) is also known as Castilian (castellano). Spanish evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in Iberia after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. Spanish began to spread beyond mainland Europe in the early 16th century when the ...
91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers
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.
101 Common Spanish Phrases for Travel
Hi - Hola. You can use this any time of the day as it means "Hi" or "Hello", but people usually say this and then say one of the other greeting phrases below depending on the time of the day. So, for example, you might say, "Hola, Buenos días.". Good morning. Buenos días. This is normally used in the morning hours before 12 noon.
Travel Spanish: 70+ Essential Phrases for Your Trip
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.
57 Spanish travel phrases for 19 different situations
57 Spanish travel phrases for 19 different situations | Audio + Quiz! Unlock the world with our essential Spanish travel phrases! Whether you're exploring vibrant markets or conversing with locals, our guide will help you navigate any Spanish-speaking destination with confidence. Start your journey now!"
A Useful Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases
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….
105 Common Spanish Travel Phrases To Learn Before Your Trip
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 ...
95 Spanish Travel Phrases To Learn Before Your Trip
9. Spanish Travel Phrases: Your Key to Effortless Conversations in Any Spanish-Speaking Country. 1. Spanish Travel Phrases to Use Upon Arrival. First things first. If you're planning to go to a Spanish-speaking country, learning how to greet people and be polite is a must. Otherwise, starting a Spanish conversation can be difficult.
93 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases For Your Next Vacation
sin productos animales - without animal products. sin azúcar - without sugar. 6. Spanish for travelers who want to have fun. The final - and probably most important - travel phrases in a Spanish-speaking country are those related to fun. The holiday is not over until you go to a fiesta and drink a few sangrias.
60+ of the Most Useful Spanish Travel Phrases for Your Next Trip
If so, learning some basic Spanish travel phrases may be helpful. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, with approximately 500 million native speakers globally. It is the official language of 20 countries, the largest of which are Mexico, Columbia, and Spain. Let's explore some of the most useful Spanish phrases when traveling.
50 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Tourists
Venturing into a new country where Spanish is the spoken language can be a thrilling and fulfilling experience. Armed with these essential travel phrases, you're not just a tourist; you're a savvy traveler who can navigate, interact, and immerse themselves in the local culture with a bit more confidence and ease.
100+ Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Travelers
Basic Spanish for Travelers: Accommodations. Spanish for tourists must include necessary words and phrases useful for checking in somewhere. Whether you choose a big hotel or an Airbnb apartment, the following basic Spanish words will come in handy: Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Medical Emergencies. While we hope that your vacation goes ...
SpanishPod101's Essential Spanish Travel Phrase Guide
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.
Top 50 Spanish Phrases for Tourism and Travel
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. Top 50 Spanish Phrases for Tourism and Travel. 1. Hello/Hi - Hola; 2. Good morning - Buenos días; 3. Good afternoon - Buenas tardes
Useful Travel Phrases in Spanish: Listen and Practice!
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 ...
Master Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Next Adventure
There's also a shorter way of saying it: " La cuenta, por favor " (The bill, please). 8. A basic Spanish for travelers: buying souvenirs. Okay, your holiday is over, you've had an amazing time in Mexico City eating tacos or drinking mate in Buenos Aires.
35+ Spanish Travel Phrases You Need to Know l Learn Spanish for
Learn Spanish travel phrases and more in one of our FREE online classes: http://bit.ly/2Y2Kg6cWatch next for help finding your way around during your travels...
50 Phrases You Need to Know for Traveling in Spain
When your trip to Spain finally comes to an end, here are some phrases to help you conclude your visit. English. Spanish. 48. Goodbye! ¡Adiós! 49. My flight is at X o'clock. Mi vuelo sale es a las X en punto.
9 Best Spanish Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go
To say you are fine, you would say "Bien, gracias". It's important to remember to be polite and say "por favour" (please) and "gracias" (thank you). On the other hand, if you are not doing well, you can let the other person know by saying "No tan bien", meaning "Not so well". 3. I don't speak Spanish.

67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know

Table of Contents

First Things First: Greetings To Use On Arrival

Get What You Want On Your Trip With The Verb Querer

Asking For & Understanding Directions On Your Trip

Getting Around Spanish-Speaking Countries

At A Restaurant On Your Travels

Key Spanish Question Words For Your Trip

Get Ready For Adventure With These Spanish Travel Phrases!

Language Courses

Download this article as a FREE PDF ?

NOT INTERESTED?

Download this article as a FREE PDF?

Download this article as a FREE PDF ?

FREE StoryLearning Kit!

Download a FREE Story in Japanese!

Download Your FREE Natural Japanese Grammar Pack

Train as an Online Language Teacher and Earn from Home

Download Your FREE Japanese Vocab Power Pack

Download Your FREE German Vocab Power Pack

Download Your FREE Italian Vocab Power Pack

Download Your FREE French Vocab Power Pack

Download Your FREE Natural Portuguese Grammar Pack

Download Your FREE Natural Russian Grammar Pack

Download Your FREE Natural German Grammar Pack

Download Your FREE Natural French Grammar Pack

Download Your FREE Natural Italian Grammar Pack

Download a FREE Story in Portuguese!

Download a FREE Story in Russian!

Download a FREE Story in German!

Download a FREE Story in Italian!

Download a FREE Story in French!

Download a FREE Story in Spanish!

FREE Download:

Download Your FREE Spanish Vocab Power Pack

Download Your FREE Natural Spanish Grammar Pack

Free Step-By-Step Guide:

Steal My Method?

Join 84,574 other language learners getting StoryLearning tips by email…

Join 122,238 other language learners getting StoryLearning tips by email…

131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn

1. Basic Spanish Greetings and Phrases

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

Enhance Your Travel Experience

Bridge the Communication Gap:

Connect on a Deeper Level:

Navigate with Confidence:

Discover Hidden Gems:

Show Cultural Respect:

99 Essential Spanish Phrases

Essential Spanish Phrases

10 Reasons why you should learn Spanish in Spain

Cultural Immersion:

Enhanced Travel Experience:

Authentic Interactions:

Expanded Opportunities:

Cultural Understanding:

Language Skills Development:

Personal Growth:

Travel Flexibility:

Language Diversity:

Lifelong Skill:

Best Places To Learn Spanish in Spain

Latest posts from Matt

Recent Posts

4 Days in Valencia – The Ultimate Bucket List Itinerary

Luxury Spain Holidays – The Ultimate Bucket List Travel Guide

Easter in Spain – Semana Santa Holy Week Traditions

Barcelona Nightlife – Best Discos & Nightclubs Not To Be Missed

Making The Most Of Shore Sightseeing Excursions In Spain Whilst Cruising The Med

The Ultimate Spain Bucket List – 300+ Spanish Experiences

9 Great Cultural Sites to Visit in Madrid

16 Christmas Traditions in Spain You Should Know About

Travel Smarter - Not Harder

70+ Spanish Phrases for Travel You NEED to Know (PLUS Free Printable)

Take your Spanish vacation experience to the next level with these common Spanish phrases for travellers.

Have a laugh with these hilarious Spanish expressions

Where is Spanish spoken?

A brief history of Spanish

Pronunciation