Travel & Transport
The short answer
Key Spanish transport vocabulary includes el billete / el boleto (ticket), el andén (platform), la parada (stop), el vuelo (flight), and facturar el equipaje (to check in luggage). To buy a ticket, say "Quisiera un billete de ida y vuelta a [destination]" (I'd like a return ticket to [destination]). To ask about departure times, say "¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren/autobús hacia [destination]?"
Travel vocabulary is high-priority for most learners because real-world situations — missed trains, delayed flights, confusing metro maps — arise suddenly and require fast, confident communication. Knowing the right phrases can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one.
What you'll practise
14 practice scenes · CEFR B1 · Intermediate
Key phrases
Quisiera un billete de ida a Barcelona, por favor.
I'd like a one-way ticket to Barcelona, please.
¿De qué andén sale el tren para Sevilla?
Which platform does the Seville train leave from?
Mi vuelo está retrasado. ¿Qué hago?
My flight is delayed. What should I do?
¿Cuántas paradas son hasta la Puerta del Sol?
How many stops to Puerta del Sol?
¿Tengo que hacer transbordo?
Do I need to change (lines/trains)?
Essential on any metro or long-distance rail journey
Common questions
How do I buy a train ticket in Spanish?
Say "Quisiera un billete/boleto de ida a [destination]" (one-way) or "de ida y vuelta" (return). Specify the travel date: "Para el jueves, 15 de marzo." Ask about seats: "¿Hay plazas en primera clase?" Billete is standard in Spain; boleto is used across most of Latin America.
How do I ask which platform my train leaves from?
Ask "¿De qué andén/vía sale el tren para [destination]?" In airports use puerta (gate): "¿Cuál es la puerta de embarque?" At bus stations, ask for the "dársena" (bay) or "andén" depending on the country.
How do I ask about departure and arrival times?
Say "¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren/autobús hacia [destination]?" (What time does the next train/bus to [destination] leave?) and "¿A qué hora llega?" (What time does it arrive?). For flights: "¿A qué hora embarca el vuelo [number]?" Use salir for departure and llegar for arrival.
What should I do if my train or bus is delayed?
Approach the information desk and say "Mi tren está retrasado — ¿puede decirme cuánto tiempo de retraso hay?" (My train is delayed — can you tell me how long the delay is?). To rebook: "¿Puedo cambiar mi billete para el próximo servicio?" For compensation: "¿Tengo derecho a compensación?"
How do I navigate the metro in a Spanish-speaking city?
Buy a ticket at the "taquilla" (ticket office) or a "máquina expendedora" (machine). Ask "¿Cuántas paradas son hasta [station]?" or "¿Tengo que hacer algún transbordo?" (Do I need to change lines?). "Correspondencia" signs mark interchange stations. Validate your ticket before boarding to avoid fines.
Related vocabulary topics
Grammar that supports this vocabulary
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