Spanish - Public Transport

Lesson 108 of 159

People at a train station buying tickets and checking departure boards — Spanish public transport phrases for learners.

Goal: Useful questions and phrases for buses, trains, tickets

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to get around? This short lesson helps you ask the right questions at stations and on the bus. Say each phrase out loud and imagine using it right away.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice common travel phrases for public transport: asking which bus or train goes to a place, where to get off, times, prices, transfers, platforms, and reporting delays. It's CEFR-aligned and focused on real things you'll say at a station or ticket counter — quick and practical.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask which bus or train goes to a destination and confirm routes.
  • Buy tickets and ask about price, departure and arrival times.
  • Ask where to get off, how many stops, and whether you must transfer.
  • Use polite phrases (Quisiera...) and basic travel vocabulary at A2 level.
A traveler asks for directions at a bus stop — practicing questions like which bus and where to get off in Spanish.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

¿Qué camión va a ___?

Which bus goes to ___?

Meaning: Which bus goes to ___?

When to use: Use this to ask which city bus (camión/autobús) will take you to a specific destination.

Tip: Some learners mix 'qué' and 'cuál' here. Use '¿Qué camión...?' to ask which bus number or route.

¿Qué camión va al centro?
Which bus goes to downtown?
¿Qué camión va a la estación de tren?
Which bus goes to the train station?

¿Este tren va a ___?

Does this train go to ___?

Meaning: Does this train go to ___?

When to use: Ask this when you're already at the platform or on a train and want to confirm the destination.

¿Este tren va a Barcelona?
Does this train go to Barcelona?
¿Este tren va a la Universidad?
Does this train go to the university?

¿Dónde me bajo?

Where should I get off?

Meaning: Where do I get off?

When to use: Ask the driver or a fellow passenger when you're unsure of your stop.

Disculpe, ¿dónde me bajo para el museo?
Excuse me, where do I get off for the museum?
¿Dónde me bajo si quiero ir al centro comercial?
Where do I get off if I want to go to the mall?

¿Cuál es la siguiente parada?

What is the next stop?

Meaning: What's the next stop?

When to use: Use this on a bus, metro, or train to check the upcoming stop.

Perdón, ¿cuál es la siguiente parada?
Excuse me, what's the next stop?
¿Cuál es la siguiente parada después de esta?
What's the next stop after this one?

¿A qué hora sale el ___?

What time does the ___ leave?

Meaning: What time does the ___ leave?

When to use: Ask departure time for trains, buses, or other vehicles; fill the blank with the vehicle (tren, camión, autobús).

Tip: Remember to match the article: 'el tren' (masculine) but 'la' for feminine nouns.

¿A qué hora sale el tren hacia Madrid?
What time does the train to Madrid leave?
¿A qué hora sale el autobús a las 9?
What time does the bus leave at 9?

¿Cuándo llega?

When does it arrive?

Meaning: When does it arrive?

When to use: Ask about arrival time when you want an approximate or exact arrival.

¿Cuándo llega el próximo tren?
When does the next train arrive?
Disculpe, ¿cuándo llega a la estación central?
Excuse me, when does it arrive at the central station?

¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto a ___?

How much is a ticket to ___?

Meaning: How much is a ticket to ___?

When to use: Ask at the ticket booth or machine to find the price to a specific destination.

¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto a la playa?
How much is a ticket to the beach?
¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto a la ciudad?
How much is a ticket to the city?

Quisiera un boleto a ___, por favor.

I'd like a ticket to ___, please.

Meaning: I'd like a ticket to ___, please.

When to use: Use this polite request at a ticket counter or kiosk.

Quisiera un boleto a Oaxaca, por favor.
I'd like a ticket to Oaxaca, please.
Quisiera un boleto a la estación central, por favor.
I'd like a ticket to the central station, please.

¿Tengo que cambiar de tren?

Do I need to change trains?

Meaning: Do I have to change trains?

When to use: Ask if your route requires a transfer to another train.

¿Tengo que cambiar de tren para llegar al aeropuerto?
Do I have to change trains to get to the airport?
Si voy a Valencia, ¿tengo que cambiar de tren?
If I go to Valencia, do I have to change trains?

El camión viene tarde.

The bus is late.

Meaning: The bus is running late.

When to use: Report or comment when a bus is delayed.

Tip: In some countries people say 'autobús' instead of 'camión'; both are understood.

El camión viene tarde, debemos esperar.
The bus is running late, we must wait.
Hoy el camión viene tarde por el tráfico.
Today the bus is late because of traffic.

¿Este autobús va a ___?

Is this the right bus for ___?

Meaning: Is this bus going to ___?

When to use: Confirm the bus route or your stop when boarding or waiting.

¿Este autobús va a la playa?
Is this bus going to the beach?
¿Este autobús va al centro histórico?
Is this bus going to the historic center?

¿Qué andén necesito para ___?

Which platform do I need for ___?

Meaning: Which platform do I need for ___?

When to use: Ask at the station to find the correct platform or track for a train or bus.

¿Qué andén necesito para el tren a Sevilla?
Which platform do I need for the train to Seville?
Disculpe, ¿qué andén necesito para la línea 2?
Excuse me, which platform do I need for line 2?

¿Cuántas paradas son hasta ___?

How many stops is it to ___?

Meaning: How many stops is it to ___?

When to use: Ask to estimate the distance by number of stops on buses, metro, or tram.

¿Cuántas paradas son hasta el estadio?
How many stops is it to the stadium?
¿Cuántas paradas son hasta el centro?
How many stops until downtown?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a bus stop, asking how to reach the station

What place are they trying to reach?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Qué camión va a la estación?

Which bus goes to the station?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

No sé. ¿Este autobús va a la estación?

I'm not sure. Does this bus go to the station?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Gracias. ¿Dónde me bajo?

Thanks. Where do I get off?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

En la segunda parada. ¿Cuál es la siguiente parada?

At the second stop. What's the next stop?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Perfecto. ¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto a la estación?

Perfect. How much is a ticket to the station?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase means 'Where do I get off?'

How do you ask 'Does this train go to ___?' in Spanish?

Which phrase is a polite request for a ticket?

Which question asks about transfers?

To ask the departure time at the counter I say: '¿A qué hora sale el ___?'

To ask the departure time at the counter I say: ___.

While on the bus I ask the driver: '¿Dónde me bajo?'

While on the bus I ask the driver: ___.

If the bus is delayed I might say: 'El camión viene tarde.'

If the bus is delayed I might say: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué camión va a ___?

Which bus goes to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Este tren va a ___?

Does this train go to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Dónde me bajo?

Where do I get off?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuál es la siguiente parada?

What's the next stop?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿A qué hora sale el ___?

What time does the ___ leave?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuándo llega?

When does it arrive?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto a ___?

How much is a ticket to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Quisiera un boleto a ___, por favor.

I'd like a ticket to ___, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Tengo que cambiar de tren?

Do I have to change trains?

Say this phrase out loud:

El camión viene tarde.

The bus is running late.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Este autobús va a ___?

Is this bus going to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué andén necesito para ___?

Which platform do I need for ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuántas paradas son hasta ___?

How many stops is it to ___?