Spanish - Asking for Directions

Lesson 159 of 159

Traveler asking for directions in Spanish at a bus stop — learning travel phrases in Spanish.

Goal: Short, useful Spanish phrases for travel in Latin America

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

Welcome — ready to find your way? This short lesson helps you ask where things are and how to get there, with phrases you'll use on buses, in taxis, and on the street.

Level A1: In this lesson (159) you'll practice nine everyday travel questions and responses common in Latin America: asking where a place is, how to get there, if it's near or far, and what to say on buses or in taxis. CEFR-aligned and focused on real situations — listen, repeat, and try them out loud.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say common A1 travel phrases for asking directions and stops.
  • Ask where a place is and how to get there; ask if it's near or far.
  • Use phrases in taxis and on buses to ask to be dropped off or where to get off.
A person speaking with a taxi driver using Latin America Spanish travel phrases.

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.

¿Por dónde queda ___?

Around where is ___?

Meaning: Around where is ___?

When to use: Ask this when you want a general idea of the location or neighborhood for a place.

Tip: Avoid mixing with '¿Dónde queda...?' — '¿Por dónde queda...?' focuses on direction/area.

¿Por dónde queda la plaza?
Around where is the plaza?
¿Por dónde queda mi hotel?
Around where is my hotel?

¿Cómo llego a ___?

How do I get to ___?

Meaning: How do I get to ___?

When to use: Use this to ask for step-by-step directions for walking, driving, or transit.

¿Cómo llego a la estación?
How do I get to the station?
¿Cómo llego al museo desde aquí?
How do I get to the museum from here?

¿Qué tan lejos está?

How far is it?

Meaning: How far is it?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the distance before deciding to walk or take transport.

¿Qué tan lejos está la playa?
How far is the beach?
¿Qué tan lejos está el centro?
How far is downtown?

¿Está cerca?

Is it nearby?

Meaning: Is it nearby?

When to use: Use this quick question when deciding if you can walk to a place.

¿Está cerca la estación de metro?
Is the metro station nearby?
¿Está cerca el mercado?
Is the market nearby?

¿Está lejos?

Is it far?

Meaning: Is it far?

When to use: Ask this as a follow-up if someone says it's not very close.

¿Está lejos el aeropuerto?
Is the airport far?
¿Está lejos la playa desde aquí?
Is the beach far from here?

¿Me deja en ___?

Can you drop me off at ___?

Meaning: Can you drop me off at ___?

When to use: Say this to a taxi driver or rideshare when you want to be left at a specific spot.

Tip: Don't forget to say 'por favor' for politeness in a service context.

¿Me deja en la entrada del hotel?
Can you drop me off at the hotel entrance?
¿Me deja en la esquina, por favor?
Can you drop me off at the corner, please?

¿Va para ___?

Does this go toward ___?

Meaning: Does this go toward ___?

When to use: Ask this on buses, shared vans, or taxis to check the vehicle's direction.

Tip: Be careful not to say '¿Va a ___?' which is also used but may sound less natural in some regions.

¿Va para el centro?
Does this go toward downtown?
¿Va para el aeropuerto este bus?
Does this bus go toward the airport?

¿Dónde me bajo?

Where do I get off?

Meaning: Where do I get off?

When to use: Use this on buses, metro, or shared transport when you need to know your stop.

Disculpe, ¿dónde me bajo para el museo?
Excuse me, where do I get off for the museum?
¿Me puede decir dónde me bajo para la playa?
Can you tell me where to get off for the beach?

Me bajo aquí.

I’m getting off here.

Meaning: I’m getting off here.

When to use: Tell the driver or a companion when this is your stop.

Me bajo aquí, gracias.
I'm getting off here, thanks.
Me bajo aquí, ¿puede esperar un momento?
I'm getting off here, can you wait a moment?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna asks a local for help to reach the bus stop and where to get off.

Two travelers asking about where to get off and whether a place is nearby — listening practice for travel.

What are Anna and David talking about?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Por dónde queda la estación de buses?

Around where is the bus station?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Va para el centro. ¿Está cerca caminando?

It goes toward downtown. Is it nearby walking?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

No sé. ¿Qué tan lejos está?

I don't know. How far is it?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Unos diez minutos. Si tomas este bus, pregúntale al conductor: ¿Dónde me bajo?

About ten minutes. If you take this bus, ask the driver: Where do I get off?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Gracias. Si voy en taxi, ¿me deja en la entrada?

Thanks. If I go by taxi, can you drop me off at the entrance?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí — me bajo aquí cuando llegues.

Yes — I'm getting off here when you arrive.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

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

Which phrase would you use to check if a bus goes toward downtown?

Which phrase politely asks a driver to drop you at a specific place?

You want to know the distance to a museum. Which question fits?

Does this go toward downtown?

I'm on a shared bus and want to know if it goes to downtown. I ask: ___

I'm getting off here.

Before you leave the taxi, you tell the driver: ___

How far is it?

You don't want to walk if it's far, so you ask: ___

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:

¿Por dónde queda ___?

Around where is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cómo llego a ___?

How do I get to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué tan lejos está?

How far is it?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Está cerca?

Is it nearby?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Está lejos?

Is it far?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me deja en ___?

Can you drop me off at ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Va para ___?

Does this go toward ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Dónde me bajo?

Where do I get off?

Say this phrase out loud:

Me bajo aquí.

I'm getting off here.