Directions in Spanish — How to Ask, Understand and Give Directions

Key takeaways

• The two most important direction phrases: "¿Dónde está...?" (Where is...?) and "¿Cómo llego a...?" (How do I get to...?)
• Core directions: siga recto (go straight), gire a la izquierda (turn left), gire a la derecha (turn right).
• Landmarks vocabulary is critical — Spanish directions rely heavily on landmarks: el semáforo (traffic light), la esquina (corner), la cuadra (block).
• Regional variation: "block" is la cuadra in most of Latin America, la manzana in Spain and Argentina.
• If you don't understand, ask: "¿Puede hablar más despacio?" (Can you speak more slowly?) or "¿Me lo puede escribir?" (Can you write it down for me?)

You're standing on a corner in a Spanish-speaking city, trying to find the museum. You know the street name but you're completely lost. You stop a local and ask for help — they answer fluently, with lefts and rights and blocks and landmarks flying past. You caught maybe half of it. You can study Spanish with Promova through step-by-step lessons built for real progress.

Directions are one of the most stressful real-life Spanish situations because they're time-sensitive, spatially demanding, and often delivered quickly. Knowing the vocabulary isn't enough — you also need to understand the structure of how directions are given, the key landmarks to listen for, and how to ask someone to slow down or repeat.

This guide covers how to ask for directions, how to understand them, key direction vocabulary, landmark words, useful expressions, and how to handle the moments when directions go too fast.

How to ask for directions in Spanish

Starting the conversation correctly is half the battle. Always open with a polite greeting or attention-getter before asking.

Getting someone's attention:

• Perdone — Excuse me (formal, Spain)
• Disculpe — Excuse me (Latin America, widely used)
• Perdona — Excuse me (informal)
• Oiga — Excuse me / Hey (literally "listen" — used to get attention)

Asking where something is:

• ¿Dónde está el museo? — Where is the museum?
• ¿Sabe dónde está la farmacia más cercana? — Do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?
• ¿Por dónde queda la estación de metro? — Which way is the metro station?

Asking how to get there:

• ¿Cómo llego al centro? — How do I get to the city center?
• ¿Me puede indicar cómo llegar a la catedral? — Can you tell me how to get to the cathedral?
• ¿Cómo se va a la plaza mayor? — How do you get to the main square?

Asking about distance and time:

• ¿Está lejos? — Is it far?
• ¿A qué distancia está? — How far is it?
• ¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda caminando? — How long does it take on foot?
• ¿Se puede ir a pie? — Can you walk there?

Core direction vocabulary

Regional note: Girar and doblar both mean "to turn" when giving directions. Girar is more common in Spain and some parts of Latin America; doblar is widespread across Mexico and Central America. In Mexico and Central America you'll also hear voltear. All three are understood everywhere.

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Position and location vocabulary

Landmark and street vocabulary

Spanish directions rely heavily on landmarks. Knowing these words helps you follow directions even when you don't understand every word.

Language note: "Block" is one of the most important words in directions, and it varies by region. In most of Latin America, the word is la cuadra: A tres cuadras de aquí (three blocks from here). In Spain and Argentina, you'll often hear la manzana: A dos manzanas (two blocks). Both are widely understood.

Compass directions in Spanish

Sample directions conversations

Conversation 1 — asking for a restaurant:

• A: Perdone, ¿sabe dónde hay un restaurante por aquí? — Excuse me, do you know if there's a restaurant around here?
• B: Sí, hay uno muy bueno. Siga recto hasta el semáforo, gire a la derecha y estará a dos cuadras a su izquierda. — Yes, there's a very good one. Go straight to the traffic light, turn right, and it'll be two blocks on your left.
• A: ¿Está lejos? — Is it far?
• B: No, está a unos cinco minutos a pie. — No, it's about five minutes on foot.

Conversation 2 — asking for the metro:

• A: Disculpe, ¿cómo llego a la estación de metro? — Excuse me, how do I get to the metro station?
• B: Tome esta calle hasta la tercera esquina, doble a la izquierda y está enfrente del banco. — Take this street to the third corner, turn left, and it's opposite the bank.
• A: ¿Puede repetirlo más despacio, por favor? — Can you repeat it more slowly, please?
• B: Claro. Esta calle... tercera esquina... izquierda... enfrente del banco. — Of course. This street... third corner... left... opposite the bank.

Survival phrases for direction situations

When you don't understand:

• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? — Can you speak more slowly, please?
• ¿Puede repetir, por favor? — Can you repeat that, please?
• No entendí bien. ¿Puede explicarlo de nuevo? — I didn't understand well. Can you explain it again?
• ¿Me lo puede escribir? — Can you write it down for me?
• ¿Puede señalar en el mapa? — Can you point to it on the map?

When you're lost:

• Estoy perdido/a. — I'm lost.
• No encuentro la dirección. — I can't find the address.
• ¿Puede ayudarme? — Can you help me?
• ¿Sabe si voy bien hacia...? — Do you know if I'm going the right way to...?

Confirming you understood:

• Entonces, ¿giro a la izquierda en el semáforo? — So, I turn left at the traffic light?
• Muchas gracias, ha sido muy amable. — Thank you very much, you've been very kind.

Transport and getting around

Directions often involve public transport. These phrases help when directions include buses, metro, or taxis.

• Tome el metro hasta la línea dos. — Take the metro to line two.
• Coja el autobús número quince. — Take bus number fifteen.
• Bájese en la tercera parada. — Get off at the third stop.
• Haga transbordo en la estación central. — Transfer at the central station.
• ¿Cuántas paradas hay hasta...? — How many stops is it to...?

How to practice directions in Spanish

• Study before you need it: Learn direction vocabulary before your trip, not when you're already lost on a street corner.
• Practice with maps: Open Google Maps for any Spanish city and narrate a route from point A to point B using Spanish direction vocabulary.
• Listen to Spanish GPS: Change your phone's navigation app to Spanish. Hearing Gire a la derecha en 200 metros repeatedly builds automatic recognition.
• Learn the five key words first: izquierda, derecha, recto, semáforo, esquina — these five words cover most directions situations.
• Practice asking to slow down: Role-play receiving fast directions and asking for repetition — ¿Puede repetir más despacio? — this is one of the most practical real-life skills.
• Use AI conversation practice: Apps like Promova offer conversation scenarios including asking for and giving directions, helping you practice both sides of the exchange with realistic vocabulary and feedback.

Summary

Direction vocabulary in Spanish centers on a few core verbs — siga recto (go straight), gire/doble (turn), cruce (cross) — and position words like a la izquierda (on the left), a la derecha (on the right), and enfrente de (opposite).

Landmark words are just as important as direction words — el semáforo (traffic light), la esquina (corner), and la cuadra (block) appear in almost every set of directions. Remember that "block" is cuadra in most of Latin America and manzana in Spain.

The most practical skill is knowing how to recover when directions go too fast — "¿Puede hablar más despacio?" and "¿Me lo puede escribir?" can save any navigation situation. Practice both asking for directions and asking for clarification, and you'll be well prepared for real travel situations in Spanish-speaking countries.