Spanish for Taxis, Buses and the Metro
Get around in Spanish: taxi and ride-hailing phrases, buying tickets, bus and metro vocabulary, and the Mexico vs Spain word differences.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Getting around is where you'll speak Spanish most while traveling. Here's what to say in taxis, buses and the metro.
Taxis and ride-hailing
- ¿Me lleva a esta dirección, por favor? — Can you take me to this address?
- Al aeropuerto, por favor. — To the airport, please.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta ir al centro? — How much is it to downtown?
- ¿Usa taxímetro? — Do you use the meter?
- Aquí está bien, gracias. — Here is fine, thanks.
- ¿Puede esperar un momento? — Can you wait a moment?
- Pare aquí, por favor. — Stop here, please.
Tip: in many cities, agree on the price before you get in if there's no meter.
Buses
- ¿Este autobús va a…? — Does this bus go to…?
- ¿Dónde está la parada? — Where's the stop?
- ¿Me avisa cuando lleguemos a…? — Can you tell me when we get to…?
- Bajo en la próxima. — I'm getting off at the next one.
- ¡Bajan! — Getting off! (shout it in a Mexico City microbus)
Metro
- Un boleto / billete, por favor. — A ticket, please.
- ¿Qué línea va a…? — Which line goes to…?
- ¿Dónde hago transbordo? — Where do I change lines?
- ¿Cuál es la salida para…? — Which exit for…?
Words that change by country
| English | Mexico | Spain | Argentina |
|---|---|---|---|
| bus | camión / autobús | autobús | colectivo |
| ticket | boleto | billete | boleto |
| car | carro / coche | coche | auto |
| to take | tomar | coger | tomar |
| card to recharge | tarjeta | abono / tarjeta | SUBE |
Directions in transit
- Voy a… — I'm going to…
- ¿Cuántas paradas faltan? — How many stops left?
- Me equivoqué de línea. — I took the wrong line.
Dialogue: taxi
- You: Buenas tardes. ¿Me lleva a la Plaza Mayor?
- Taxista: Claro, suba.
- You: ¿Más o menos cuánto cuesta?
- Taxista: Unos quince euros.
- You: Vale, perfecto.
Safety phrases
- ¿Este taxi es seguro / de sitio? — Is this taxi safe / from a taxi stand?
- Por favor, vaya por la ruta principal. — Please take the main route.
- ¿Me da un recibo? — Can I have a receipt?
Practice
Lolo's Madrid directions call has you find the metro and confirm the route out loud. It's the perfect warm-up before your first real ride. See Madrid travel Spanish and travel Spanish phrases.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "bus" in Mexico?
Autobús, or camión for city buses.
Is it okay to say "coger el autobús"?
In Spain, yes. In Latin America use tomar instead.
How do I tell a driver to stop?
Aquí está bien or Pare aquí, por favor.
