CEFR A1-A2
Spanish Transport Phrases: Tickets, Directions, Taxis and Public Transport
Public transport in major Spanish-speaking cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Mexico City, Buenos Aires) is well-signposted and easy to use without speaking Spanish, but the regional cities and the inter-city bus network reward being able to ask. These phrases cover the situations apps cannot.
How do I get to [place]?
[]?
IPA /ˈkomo ˈʝeɣo a/
KO-mo YEH-go ah ...
Default for asking directions. 'Como voy a' (how do I go to) also works and sounds slightly more casual.
Is it far from here?
?
IPA /esˈta ˈlexos de aˈki/
es-TAH LEH-hos deh ah-KEE
Can I walk there?
? / ?
IPA /ˈpweðo ˈiɾ anˈdando / ˈpweðo ˈiɾ kamiˈnando/
PWEH-do eer an-DAN-do / PWEH-do eer ka-mi-NAN-do
Spain: 'andando' is the default. Latin America: 'caminando' is more common.
How long does it take?
tarda?
IPA /ˈkwanto ˈtaɾða/
KWAN-to TAR-da
I would like a ticket to [destination].
billete [].
IPA /kiˈsjeɾa un biˈʝete ˈpaɾa/
kee-see-EH-ra oon bee-YEH-teh PA-ra ...
Spain uses 'billete'; Latin America uses 'boleto' for buses and metros and 'pasaje' for long-distance and air. Defaulting to your variety's word is fine.
A single, please. / A return, please.
ida, . / ida , .
IPA /ˈsolo de ˈiða poɾ faˈβoɾ / de ˈiða i ˈbwelta poɾ faˈβoɾ/
SO-lo deh EE-da por fah-VOR / deh EE-da ee VWEHL-ta por fah-VOR
Latin America sometimes uses 'redondo' for return: 'un viaje redondo'.
What time is the next bus?
autobus?
IPA /a ˈke ˈoɾa es el ˈpɾoksimo awtoˈβus/
ah keh OR-ah es el PROK-see-mo ow-toh-BOOS
Spain: 'autobus'. Mexico and Central America: 'camion'. Argentina and Uruguay: 'colectivo'. All understood across the region; the local term lands better.
Where does the bus stop?
autobus?
IPA /ˈdonde ˈpaɾa el awtoˈβus/
DON-deh PA-ra el ow-toh-BOOS
Does this bus go to [destination]?
autobus []?
IPA /ˈeste awtoˈβus ˈba a/
ES-teh ow-toh-BOOS vah ah ...
I would like to go to [address].
[].
IPA /keˈria ˈiɾ a/
keh-REE-ah eer ah ...
Standard opener for a taxi. Have the address written down; pronouncing street names can be the hardest part.
How much will it cost approximately?
costar aproximadamente?
IPA /ˈkwanto me ˈba a kosˈtaɾ apɾoksimaðaˈmente/
KWAN-to meh vah ah kos-TAR ah-prox-ee-mah-da-MEN-teh
Get a price estimate before getting in if the taxi is not metered. Mexico City, Bogota and Buenos Aires all have taxi scams aimed at tourists; agreeing the rough fare protects you.
Please take me to [hotel].
Lleveme [], .
IPA /ˈʝeβeme a ... poɾ faˈβoɾ/
YEH-veh-meh ah ... por fah-VOR
'Lleveme' is the formal imperative; use this with taxi drivers as the default register.
Stop here, please.
, .
IPA /ˈpaɾe aˈki poɾ faˈβoɾ/
PA-reh ah-KEE por fah-VOR
Can I pay by card?
?
IPA /ˈpweðo paˈɣaɾ kon taɾˈxeta/
PWEH-do pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-ta
Increasingly common in taxis across Spain and Mexico City; less so in smaller cities. Ask before getting in if you have no cash.
Regional notes
Spain
The Renfe rail network is the inter-city backbone; the AVE high-speed services are excellent. Book in advance for the AVE; prices rise sharply at the gate. Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants are the two main hub stations.
Mexico
Mexico City's metro is the cheapest in the region and runs from 05:00 to midnight. The Metrobus and Trolebus systems handle surface routes. Uber and DiDi are the safer taxi alternatives for tourists.
Argentina
Buenos Aires uses the SUBE card for metro (subte) and bus. Pre-load it at any kiosk. The taxi network is metered but tourist scams exist; the BA Taxi app is the safer route.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
How do I ask for directions politely?
Perdone, como llego a [place]? (Excuse me, how do I get to [place]?) Always open with 'perdone' or 'disculpe'; jumping straight to the question sounds abrupt.
What is the difference between 'autobus' and 'bus'?
'Autobus' is the formal Spanish word; 'bus' is the shortened spoken version that is widely understood. Both work. Regional variants (camion in Mexico, colectivo in Argentina) are more idiomatic but the standard 'autobus' is always clear.
Is it rude to tip a taxi driver?
Not rude; not expected. Rounding up the fare to the nearest convenient amount is common; large percentage tips are not. In Mexico City, where the meter is used, a small tip (5-10 pesos) is appreciated.