100+ Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Travelers

Ready to boost your Spanish skills before your next trip to a Spanish-speaking country with this list of essential Spanish words and phrases? No matter where you’re going, from Cancun to Madrid, we’ve got you covered.

Learning some basic Spanish words and phrases will come in super handy during your travels. Don’t worry if you still need to improve your Spanish—you can brush up before your trip and get some practice during your stay. Trust us, you’ll come back feeling motivated to take more Spanish classes!

Keep reading to learn the most common Spanish travel phrases. Read them, practice them, download them in the free PDF we’ve included below, and take them with you on your next vacation!

Now, just choose the category that interests you most (listed in the Table of Contents), or learn them all.

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Let’s go!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Basic Spanish Greetings for Travelers
2. Basic Spanish Phrases To Ask for Directions
3. Basic Spanish for Travelers: Accommodations
4. Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Medical Emergencies
5. Spanish Vocabulary for Dining Out
6. Spanish Transportation for Your Vacation
7. Basic Spanish Survival Phrases

Basic Spanish Greetings for Travelers 

Get ready for friendly Spanish speakers. You’ll see strangers greeting you, and they will expect the same in return. So here are some useful words and phrases in Spanish for tourists to use on a more local level.

1. Hola – Hello
2. Buenos días – Good morning
3. Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
4. Buenas noches – Good evening / Good night
5. ¡Mucho gusto! – Pleased to meet you!
6. Encantado/encantada – Nice to meet you
7. ¿Qué tal? – What’s up?
8. ¿Qué onda? – What’s up?
9. ¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name? (Informal)
10. ¿Cómo se llama? – What’s your name? (Formal)
11. Me llamo… – My name is…
12. ¿Cómo está? – How are you? (Formal)
13. ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (Informal)
14. Muy bien, gracias – Very well, thank you.

You might like:

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Basic Spanish Phrases To Ask for Directions

Not everything can be found on Google Maps! That’s why a necessary part of Spanish phrases for travel must include asking for directions. Here’s a quick and easy list to get started with:

15. ¿Dónde está…? – Where is…?
16. ¿Dónde hay…? – Where is there…?
17. Un banco – a bank
18. El sanitario – the bathroom
19. Busco… – I’m looking for…
20. Necesito un cuarto para ___ personas – I need a room for ___ people.
21. A la derecha – On the right
22. A la izquierda  – On the left
23. Todo recto – Straight ahead
24. Derecho – Straight ahead
25. En la esquina – On the corner
26. A una cuadra, a dos cuadras – One block away, two blocks away

You might like:

• A Vocabulary Guide to Giving Directions in Spanish
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Basic Spanish for Travelers: Accommodations

Spanish for tourists must include necessary words and phrases useful for checking in somewhere.  

Whether you choose a big hotel or an Airbnb apartment, the following basic Spanish words will come in handy: 

27. Tengo una reserva a nombre de… – I have a reservation under the name of…
28. Estancia de tres noches – Three-night stay
29. Una habitación para dos personas – A room for three people
30. Una habitación con… – A room with…
    1. Cama matrimonial – a double bed
    2. Un balcón – A balcony
    3. Una terraza – a terrace 
    4. Vista al mar / al jardín / a la ciudad – A view over the sea/the garden/to the city
31. La alberca – The swimming pool
32. ¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno? – What time do you serve breakfast?
33. ¿Puedo pedir un check-out tardío? – Can I have a late check-out?
34. ¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi? – What ‘s the Wifi password?
35. ¿Tienen servicio de habitación? – Do you have room service?
36. Necesito una cama extra – I need an extra bed
37. El gimnasio – The gym
38. El restaurant – The restaurant
39. La playa – The beach
40. El vestíbulo – The hall

You might like:

• A Traveler’s Guide to Hotel Vocabulary in Spanish
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Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Medical Emergencies

While we hope that your vacation goes smoothly, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected. Practice some of the following words and expressions just in case. 

It’s better to be safe than sorry!

41. ¿Dónde hay un hospital? – Where’s a hospital?
42. ¿Dónde hay una farmacia? – Where’s a pharmacy?
43. Necesito un doctor – I need a doctor.
44. No me siento bien – I’m not feeling well.
45. Tengo un seguro – I have insurance.
46. ¿Habla inglés el doctor? – Does the doctor speak English?
47. Me puede dar una receta para… – Can you give me a prescription for…
48. ¿Pueden darme una inyección? – Can you give me an injection?
49. La cita médica – Doctor’s appointment
50. La cita de seguimiento – Follow-up appointment
51. Rayos-X – X-ray
52. Toma de sangre – Blood collection
53. El yeso – Cast
54. La tos – Cough
55. La fiebre – Fever
56. Me duele… – I have a sore… / It hurts.
    1. La garganta – Throat
    2. El estómago – Stomach 
    3. La espalda – Back
    4. La cabeza – Head

You might like: 

• Vocabulary Guide: At the Hospital in Spanish
• How to Go to the Doctor in Spanish: Vocabulary and Dialogues
• 50 Essential Medical Phrases for Your Upcoming Physical

Spanish Vocabulary for Dining Out

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know basic Spanish words and phrases that you may use in restaurants. By learning these terms, you’ll be able to confidently navigate menu items and communicate your food preferences. So why wait?

¡Aprende estas palabras y disfruta de tu comida!
Learn these words and enjoy your food!

57. Quisiera… – I would like… 
58. Una mesa para… – A table for (number of people)… 
59. Un menú – A menu
60. Un menú de bebidas – A beverage menu
61. Una sopa – A soup
62. Una ensalada – A salad
63. Una hamburguesa – A hamburger
64. Un plato principal – A main dish
65. Una entrada – A starter
66. Un postre – A dessert
67. Un vaso de agua – A glass of water
68. Una copa de vino – A glass of wine
69. Una cerveza – One beer
70. Un café – One coffee
71. Un té – One tea

El camarero is the term for “waiter” in Spain, whereas el mesero is more frequently used in Latin America. To go beyond the basics, try using one of these phrases:

72. ¡Amigo!/¡Amiga! – Waiter! /  Waitress! (In Lat. América)
73. ¡Señor! / ¡Señora! – Waiter! /  Waitress! (In Spain)
74. ¿Qué me recomienda? – What would you recommend?
75. La cuenta, por favor – The bill, please
76. ¿Aceptan las tarjetas? – Do you accept credit cards? 
77. ¿Puedo pagar con la tarjeta? – Can I pay by card?

You might like:

• The Ultimate Vocabulary Guide to Restaurants in Spanish
• For Here or to Go? How to Order Food in Spanish
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Spanish Transportation for Your Vacation

Here is a detailed travel vocabulary that will make moving around easier for you. Use the following words while going by plane, bus, train, or any other mode of transportation:

78. Un trén – A train
79. Un camión/Un bus – A bus
80. Un avión – A plane
81. Un carro de alquiler – A rental car
82. Su pasaporte, por favor – Your passport, please.
83. Quisiera cambiar mi reserva – I would like to change my reservation.
84. Equipaje de mano – Hand luggage
85. ¿ A qué hora es el embarque? – What time is boarding?
86. Un boleto de ida – One way ticket
87. Un boleto de ida y vuelta – Round trip ticket
88. ¿Tienen pases de un día, de una semana o de un mes? – Do you have one-day, one-week, or one month passes?
89. ¿De que plataforma sale? – What platform does it depart from?
90. ¿Cuál es la puerta de embarque? – What is the boarding gate?
91. El asiento de pasillo – The aisle seat
92. El asiento de ventanilla – The window seat

You might like:

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Basic Spanish Survival Phrases

Naturally, it’s impossible to predict all the situations for which you may need to pre-learn some words. So, here are some expressions that are useful in different contexts.

If you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country and want to feel more confident communicating with locals, consider signing up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy. Our native Spanish-speaking instructors provide high-quality instruction from anywhere in the world, and you’ll be able to practice the most important Spanish words and phrases before your trip. Plus, you’ll receive free lesson materials that you can take with you on your journey. Give it a try and see how HSA can support your language learning goals!

93. Por favor – Please
94. Gracias – Thank you
95. Perdón – I’m sorry
96. Disculpe – Excuse me
97. ¿Hablá Inglés? – Do you speak English?
98. No hablo español – I don’t speak Spanish
99. Quisiera…/Me gustaría – I would like to…
100. Quiero/No quiero – I want to/I don’t want to
101. ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much is it?
102. ¿Qué hora son? – What time is it?
103. ¿Tiene…? – Do you have…. 
104. Tengo/No tengo – I have/I don’t have
105. No entiendo – I don’t understand.
106. Dinero – Money
107. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez – One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
108. Veinte, treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta, setenta, ochenta, noventa, cien – Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred

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Your Spanish Adventure Starts Here!

Ready to put your Spanish skills to the test? Consider downloading the free PDF of this article to take with you on your trip or using it during a free Spanish class to practice your pronunciation. Who knows? You may get so excited about your vacation that you decide to take more Spanish lessons.

Regardless of how you choose to practice, we hope you feel more prepared for your travels. Have a great trip!

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.

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