Español para viajar a España: frases esenciales para tu viaje
Travelling to Spain soon? You don’t need to be fluent to enjoy your trip, but a few key phrases make a huge difference. Spaniards really appreciate it when visitors make the effort, and you’ll get better service, better recommendations and much more fun.
Here are the essential Spanish phrases for travelling to Spain, organised by situation, with the cultural tips I share with my own students before their trips.
Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hola | Hello |
| Buenos días | Good morning (in Spain, until lunchtime, around 2 pm) |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon / good evening |
| Buenas noches | Good night (also used as a greeting late in the evening) |
| Por favor / Gracias | Please / Thank you |
| Perdone / Disculpe | Excuse me (to get someone’s attention) |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| No entiendo. ¿Puede repetir, por favor? | I don’t understand. Can you repeat, please? |
| Más despacio, por favor | More slowly, please |
Tip: use usted forms (¿Puede…?, Perdone) with staff and people you don’t know. With younger people in informal places, tú is very common in Spain.
At the Airport and Train Station
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque? | Where is the boarding gate? |
| Un billete de ida y vuelta a Sevilla, por favor | A return ticket to Seville, please |
| ¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren? | What time does the next train leave? |
| ¿De qué andén sale? | Which platform does it leave from? |
| He perdido mi maleta | I’ve lost my suitcase |
| ¿Dónde puedo coger un taxi? | Where can I get a taxi? |
At the Hotel
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under the name… |
| ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? | What time is breakfast? |
| ¿Cuál es la contraseña del wifi? | What’s the wifi password? |
| El aire acondicionado no funciona | The air conditioning doesn’t work |
| ¿Puedo dejar la maleta aquí? | Can I leave my suitcase here? |
| ¿A qué hora hay que dejar la habitación? | What time is check-out? |
Asking for Directions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Perdone, ¿dónde está la estación? | Excuse me, where is the station? |
| ¿Está lejos? | Is it far? |
| ¿Cómo llego al centro? | How do I get to the city centre? |
| Todo recto | Straight ahead |
| A la derecha / a la izquierda | To the right / to the left |
| Está a cinco minutos andando | It’s a five-minute walk |
At the Restaurant and Bar
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Una mesa para dos, por favor | A table for two, please |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| Para mí, la tortilla | The tortilla for me |
| Una caña, por favor | A small draught beer, please |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? |
For many more phrases, read my guide on how to order food in Spanish in restaurants in Spain.
Shopping
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| Solo estoy mirando, gracias | I’m just looking, thanks |
| ¿Tiene una talla más grande? | Do you have a bigger size? |
| ¿Me lo puede envolver para regalo? | Can you gift-wrap it for me? |
Emergencies and Health
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Ayuda! | Help! |
| Necesito un médico | I need a doctor |
| ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana? | Where is the nearest pharmacy? |
| Me duele la cabeza | I have a headache |
| Soy alérgico / alérgica a… | I’m allergic to… |
The emergency number in Spain (and the rest of the EU) is 112.
Cultural Tips for Your Trip to Spain
- Meal times are late: lunch is usually between 2 and 4 pm and dinner from around 9 pm.
- “Vale” means “OK” and you’ll hear it constantly.
- Two kisses (one on each cheek) are a common greeting between friends and when you’re introduced informally.
- Tapas culture: in many bars you share small dishes standing at the bar. It’s the best place to practise your Spanish!
- Tipping isn’t compulsory; leaving some small change is a nice gesture.
Travelling in spring? Don’t miss my guides to Holy Week in Spain and the Feria de Abril.
Mini Dialogue: At a Café
- Camarero: ¡Buenos días! ¿Qué le pongo? (Good morning! What can I get you?)
- Turista: Un café con leche y una tostada con tomate, por favor. (A white coffee and toast with tomato, please.)
- Camarero: ¿Algo más? (Anything else?)
- Turista: No, gracias. ¿Cuánto es? (No, thanks. How much is it?)
- Camarero: Son tres euros con cincuenta. (That’s three euros fifty.)
- Turista: Aquí tiene. ¡Gracias! (Here you are. Thank you!)
Quick Practice: What Do You Say?
- You want the bill.
- You don’t understand what someone said.
- You’re looking for the station.
- You want to know the price of something.
- You need a pharmacy.
Answers: 1. La cuenta, por favor. · 2. No entiendo. ¿Puede repetir, por favor? · 3. Perdone, ¿dónde está la estación? · 4. ¿Cuánto cuesta? · 5. ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana?
The best way to feel confident before your trip is to practise these phrases out loud in real situations. In my Spanish conversation classes we role-play the moments you’ll live in Spain. Book your free trial class and travel with confidence.
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