travel phrasebook

Our Free Travel Language Phrasebooks

We offer 7 different language phrasebooks:

• Free French Travel Phrasebook
• Free Spanish Travel Phrasebook
• Free Italian Travel Phrasebook
• Free German Travel Phrasebook
• Free Brazilian Portuguese Travel Phrasebook
• Free Chinese Travel Phrasebook
• Free Russian Travel Phrasebook

Get Your Free Travel Language Phrasebooks Sent Right to Your Inbox

To  get your free phrasebook PDFs and start learning essential vocabulary for travel and other common scenarios, please enter your info below and  be sure to click “I want my free kit.” (Why a kit? Our conversation guides are just some of the resources in the free MosaLingua Language Learning Kit, a complete set of goodies for independent learners. You’ll love the rest of the resources in the kit, too, and it’s all free of charge! 😉):

What’s Inside Your Free Travel Guide?

Each eBook contains 45 pages  and  10 00+ words and phrases , with English translations of course. It is organized by travel-related   themes  and ordered according to frequency of use (from the most commonly used vocabulary to more specialized terms).

If you’re planning a trip abroad, or if you simply want to improve your conversational language skills, you’ll want to have these phrasebooks by your side!

All of the content above and more is available to you for free! To download your phrasebooks, just click the “I want my free kit” button below. Then, keep an eye on your inbox for your free Travel Language Phrasebook PDF  (we promise not to send you any spam, you have our word!):

If you want to learn more about language, vocabulary, grammar, culture, and more, have a look around our blog .

Phrasebooks

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 Choosing a suitable phrasebook
• 2.2 Practice makes perfect
• 3.5 North America
• 3.6 Oceania
• 3.7 South America
• 4.1 Special purpose
• 4.2 Scriptbooks

Phrasebooks are works compiling a list of useful words and phrases in a foreign language alongside their translation, used mainly by people travelling abroad. They also provide useful information about the language and culture of the destination area, in order to allow the reader to get by easier in situations that could arise in the destination.

Wikivoyage has dozens of digital phrasebooks that you can use on the internet, download to your favourite device for offline use, or print onto paper.

Understand [ edit ]

Learning a language can take months or years, but real-world travel plans for leisure or business often don't allow you the necessary time. That's where a phrasebook becomes useful.

Phrasebooks are not grammar guides, dictionaries nor language courses. Rather, they are an aid to help you understand and say specific words and phrases, with a focus on everyday conversation and on scenarios that typically occur during a temporary stay in another country or region. They are usually divided into thematic chapters according to the purpose of communication, such as how to greet someone, how to ask for food, how to buy something, and how to ask for help. Sometimes they can be accompanied by a digital support with audio files to practise pronunciation and ease listening comprehension.

Most phrasebooks include an explanatory guide to the language's writing system, phonology and pronunciation. Some also touch on aspects of the native culture, or include an elementary grammar guide or reference index. A good phrasebook will thus allow you to deal with most common situations that arise during temporary travel, without needing to have an interpreter escort you. Electronic phrasebooks have the additional virtue of being as light and easy to carry as your device.

But if your reason for travelling is for longer-term purposes such as studying , working or retiring abroad , your phrasebook will only get you so far. In these situations, it is best to properly learn the local language.

Prepare [ edit ]

Choosing a suitable phrasebook [ edit ].

First, you have to determine which language you'll be focusing on for your trip; check out the 'Talk' section of the article for your destination country or region. Most likely, the language you'll want a phrasebook for will be the local language (or a variety of that language) spoken in the destination. However, some places have a dominant language that may be non-native or with colonial origins that a large percentage of the local population understands as a second language. Examples of these include Hindi in India, or French in parts of Africa. Such languages are often easier to find complete and useful phrasebooks for, whereas the true native language may be considered "obscure" in your home country. Yet, for a more authentic travel experience, to truly understand the local culture, or if you simply want to leave your comfort zone, it may be better to choose a phrasebook for the local language.

Once you’ve chosen a language, you have to find the most suitable storage format for your phrasebook, according to your trip and destination.

If the place you’re visiting is somewhere a high-speed internet connection is practically taken for granted, it is a good idea to choose the digital format . As long as you have internet, you can access an unlimited number of phrasebooks you want through the device and keep them updated. By contrast, paper books are static and can only become outdated. Digital phrasebooks can even include audio files to practise your listening and speaking skills.

When travelling in countries where the connection is poor, you can still use your device, although it's advisable to download an offline copy of the target phrasebook beforehand. The Kiwix project , a static version of Wikivoyage that can be used offline, is one option.

In very remote destinations without reliable access to power sockets, it is better to bring a phrasebook in paperback format or to print out your digital phrasebook ahead of time.

Practice makes perfect [ edit ]

Before you even leave home, it’s a great idea to read through the phrasebook of your target language. This will allow you to become familiar with its contents and layout, to memorise the most important phrases and to start practising and assimilating the pronunciation, if possible with the help of an audiobook. You’ll also get advance warning of what useful words and phrases are not in the phrasebook, while you still have the opportunity to source additional material.

The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to learn at an effective pace. It’s much easier to memorise five new words a day for a month than it is to learn a whole phrasebook while sitting in departures. The more prepared you are before you arrive in your destination, the lower the chances you’ll find yourself desperately rummaging through your phrasebook while a local impatiently waits for you to say something intelligible.

Language phrasebooks [ edit ]

The following sections list the foreign language phrasebooks that are available on Wikivoyage. For more general information on language and travel, including tips for where few locals speak your language, see Talk .

A few languages are very widely used throughout the world and are listed first. All other languages are listed under the continent where they are most closely identified. If you are not sure which languages are spoken in the country you plan to visit, see the "Talk" section of the article for that country.

Phrasebooks are coded according to their level of completion and overall quality­ as outlined at Phrasebook status :

World [ edit ]

Africa [ edit ], asia [ edit ], europe [ edit ], north america [ edit ], oceania [ edit ], south america [ edit ], other phrasebooks [ edit ], special purpose [ edit ].

Some special purpose lists of phrases are also available.

• Hitchhiking phrasebook

Scriptbooks [ edit ]

These special "phrasebooks" are for people interested in learning to read or write a complex script.

• Learning Devanagari

See also [ edit ]

• Talk : about language and travel
• English language varieties
• Australian slang
• Requests for phrasebooks : if you need a phrasebook for a language not listed here that still does not have its own article. You can also start the book yourself if you speak the language in question, but make sure to base it on our Phrasebook article template
• On Wikibooks there could be textbooks and grammar guides
• On Wiktionary there could be definitions, explanations or examples of usage of words, or also lists of related words
• On Wikiversity there could be courses or researches about the language
• On Wikipedia there could be encyclopedic articles about the language, its history and spread, and other related topics.

• Has custom banner
• Title articles

Navigation menu

Turn your smartphone into a personal interpreter. The "Travel Interpreter" is a talking, illustrated phrasebook which translates English words and phrases into 33 languages and offers you the unique opportunity to communicate abroad without any special language skills, as it can simply speak the translation as required.

German, French, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America), Italian, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Bulgarian, Greek, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hebrew, Thai, Hindi, Vietnamese, Farsi, Catalan, Romanian, Croatioan and Ukrainian.

You can use the "Travel Interpreter" to order plane tickets, book hotel rooms, take a car to be repaired or order a meal in a restaurant without any language skills at all. More than 2,000 phrases and words are included for each language, all of which are clearly categorised according to the respective topic, such as customs, hotel, service, driving, car services, sightseeing, entertainment, eating and drinking, sport and leisure.

Easily understandable illustrations for each entry make communication even easier.

The integrated search function makes it even easier to find what you need. If, for example, you want to book a single room in a hotel, simply key in "single" and the phrase "I would like to book a single room" already appears on the screen.

All content stored on your device. Once you download necessery content you can use the app without offline, which is great if you are in a foreign country and need to use this app without internet connection.

Jourist Verlags GmbH

[email protected]

Diagonalstraße 41, 20537 Hamburg

Tel.: +49 (0)40-210 98 290, Fax: +49 (0)40-210 98 293

eMail: [email protected], Web: www.jourist.com

Geschäftsführer: Igor Jourist

Ust-IdNr.: DE 201975776, HRB: 71336, Gerichtsstand: Hamburg

Privacy Policy

Tap & Say - Travel Phrasebook 4+

Speak phrasebook world travel, appoxis pte. ltd., designed for ipad.

• 3.9 • 23 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

We just added Spanish Latin, Arabic, Brazilian, Portuguese, Russian to make up 17 languages in the app!! Upgrade to all languages for more than 50% discount! ++ Ranked No.1 in Travel Category in 14 countries ++ ++The app has been featured 86 times in iTunes++ If you're an avid traveller or a keen language learner this is the perfect app! Travel the world and never be unable to communicate. Tap & Say is an all in one world phrasebook covering 17 languages. Each language has over 600 essential phrases categorised and translated with accompanying spoken audio pronunciation by a native speaker. Knowing how to speak a few phrases in a foreign language can make a big difference to your travels. People love it when you make the effort to speak their language. You will make more friends, have more fun on your travels, and be prepared for emergency. LANGUAGES • Chinese • Japanese • Korean • Thai • Vietnamese • Indonesian • French • German • Spanish • Italian • English • Cantonese • Spanish (Latin) • Arabic • Portuguese (Brazil) • Portuguese • Russian We have included useful FREE phrases for every language. Enough to learn the basics and have a simple conversation. When you are ready to learn more there is an upgrade available to download more phrases. FEATURES • Universal app, works on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad! • All in one app with 17 languages • Essential phrases included for FREE • Spoken audio recordings by native speakers • Text translation and romanization (e.g. Pinyin) • Fully localised. e.g. Korean --> English, German --> Japanese • No internet connection required for use. Ideal for travel • Star your favourite phrases for quick access • Search for phrases by keyword, copy text to clipboard • More content available for download CATEGORIES • Greetings • Essentials • Numbers • Time & Date • Out & About • Lodging • Eat & Drink • Shopping • Countries • Family • Dating • Emergency • Feeling sick BENEFITS • Make new friends and have fun chatting with locals • Expand your vocabulary, sharpen your listening skills, perfect your pronunciation! • Avoid getting ripped off by being misunderstood • World of dating possibilities :) • Be prepared for emergency. Police, doctor, hospital, etc. Download this free app today and start learning a new language. Have it installed on your phone for when you need it. You never know when it might come in handy :) SUPPORT If you need support please email: [email protected] Like this app? Please rate!

Version 3.7

Minor issue fix

Ratings and Reviews

Can you add norwegian?

Not functioning

Have tried to download the Pro items and every time an error pops up and says try later. Is three months long enough for this app to download the language files??

Add more languages please

Please add more languages thank you so much

App Privacy

The developer, APPOXIS PTE. LTD. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese

• Speak Japanese for travel in Japan $2.99
• Speak French for Travel in France $2.99
• Speak Spanish for Travel in Spain $2.99
• Speak Italian for Travel in Italy $2.99
• Speak Korean for Travel in Korea $2.99
• Speak Vietnamese for Travel in Vietnam $2.99
• Speak Chinese Mandarin for Travel in China $2.99
• All languages pack $24.99
• Speak Thai for Travel in Thailand $2.99
• Speak German for Travel in Germany $2.99
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Learn French -Travel in France

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73+ Essential Travel Phrases and Words You Should Know

Disclosure: This essential travel phrases article may contain affiliate links. If you click it and buy something you like, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Read more in  Disclaimer .

How do you say “ You have a nice smile ” in Samoan? How to say “ You have beautiful eyes ” in Fijian? Those might not be the essential travel phrases , like Hello or Thank you. But we can all agree that (mis)communication is part of traveling. And language barriers are real. That is why I always find it extremely useful to learn words and phrases in the language of a country I am visiting. Why? It shows respect. People will be nicer to you. A new language will enhance local experiences and understanding of the culture . IT will make traveling easier and it is a great way to make new friends. So what are those common travel phrases ?

🔢 If you have been wondering “In how many languages does Anja know how to count to 10?”, you will find the answer hidden in the blog.

Traveling to 40+ countries I’ve learned that only knowing Slovenian will not help me. Shocking right! I was also wrong to assume that everyone speaks English . Knowing KiSwahili gave me a better starting point when bargaining for the prices in Zanzibar . Knowing essential phrases in French helped me in Vanuatu , and knowing how to ask for directions helped me in Japan . And learning Samoan and Fiji helped me when buying fruits in local markets. So next time, when planning your trip, don’t just search for the best things to do in Zanzibar, Japan itinerary , or about Dubai hotels . You should also learn useful phrases for traveling. What are those phrases? Let’s have a look at some useful phrases for traveling .

for ESSENTIAL TRAVEL PHRASES: • 73+ Essential ENGLISH Travel Phrases and Words You Should Know • 73+ Essential ARABIC Travel Phrases for Tourists in Arab Countries & Free PDF • 73+ Essential GREEK Travel Phrases for Tourists on a Greek Holiday & Download • 73+ Essential JAPANESE Travel Phrases for Tourists Visiting Japan & Free cheat sheet • 73+ Essential SLOVENIAN Travel Phrases for your trip to Slovenia & Free Download • 73+ Essential SWAHILI Travel Phrases for Travelers to East Africa + Free Download for WORDS & PHRASES in 101 different languages: • How to say You have beautiful eyes in 101 different languages • How to say What is the WiFi password in 101 different languages • How to say Hello in 101 different languages spoken around the World • How to say Love in 101 different languages spoken around the World • How to say I love you in 101 different languages spoken around the World • How to say Thank you in 101 different languages spoken around the World • How to say Happy Birthday in 101 different languages spoken In the World • How to say Happy New Year in 101 different languages spoken around the World • How to say Friend in 101 different languages spoken around the World with Pronunciation

and ALSO READ: • WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO VISIT HORSESHOE BEND • HOW TO SPEND A HALF DAY AT GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM • WHICH GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER TOUR IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOU • WHERE TO STAY NEAR ANTELOPE CANYON: THE BEST 10 PICKS • 10 BEST PLACES TO STAY NEAR HORSESHOE BEND YOU WILL LOVE • HOW TO GET FROM LAS VEGAS TO GRAND CANYON BY CAR – FANTASTIC ROAD TRIP GUIDE • BEST PLACES TO STAY NEAR GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM – 31 AWESOME AND UNIQUE HOTELS

Table of Contents

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1. What are Travel Phrases?

Travel phrases are useful phrases to know when traveling abroad. They are a collection of the most common and frequently used words and expressions we use when visiting foreign countries.  From basic greetings to phrases for seeking directions , ordering food , and engaging in cultural exchanges. From a simple ‘’hello’’ and ‘’thank you’’ to longer phrases like ‘’where is the bathroom” and “what is the WiFi password”. Travel phrases equip you with the confidence and ability to connect with locals , by speaking their language , and immerse yourself in authentic experiences .

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2. How to learn short Travel Phrases and Travel Terms

Before we find out what those useful travel phrases are, let’s talk about how to learn them . It might seem daunting but it is actually fun. The reality is, if you will be traveling for at least a couple of days, you will pick up the basic words while abroad . And if you will be spending some time with locals, they will teach you the bad words first anyway. Which you will remember the fastest. 🙂 Now, depending on your destination country, some travel words and phrases will be easier for you to remember than others. People who know these things say that a person can memorize 50 new words per day . My humble estimation would be 10 . This would potentially mean, you can learn all the essential travel phrases in a day or two . I am a realistic optimist and would say to start learning sooner. Like a week before or more.

2.1. Duolingo

I love using Duolingo . It is a free app, where you choose how many minutes you can invest in learning a language and the purpose of your learning (travel). You can choose from more than 30+ languages and I love that lessons are bite-sized . Currently learning Italian for my Tuscany trip but love Polynesian languages – like Hawaiian and Samoan. Duolingo makes learning a language easy . It uses text, speech and is showing cards. So you can hear the pronunciation, see how the word is written and the translation of it plus a visual representation of the words. A great way to learn no matter where you are. Language: Italian, Hawaiian, Swahili  (40+ languages) Download: iOS | Android | Website Price: Free & In App purchases

There are other apps, that have a free trial and then offer paid memberships. Among those, I tried and loved Babbel and Innovative languages . When I was using those two, I was more invested in actually learning the language and not just common travel phrases. Feel free to test out a few and find which one works best for your learning style.

Pinning is winning and sharing is caring! What are you choosing?

3. Essential travel phrases

3.1. basic travel phrases.

Those travelling words in English combine expressions that showcase politeness and cultural respect, encouraging positive interactions with locals and serving as a basis for every communication.

• I don’t understand
• Do you speak [language]?
• What is the WiFi password?
• Could you take my picture?
• Where is the bathroom?

ALSO READ: • How to say What is the WiFi password in 101 different languages

3.2. Common travel phrases for greetings and introductions

Below you will find what are some basic greetings tourists should know. Travel greetings lay the foundation for any interaction, allowing you to initiate conversations and make a positive first impression.

• Good morning
• Good evening
• Nice to meet you
• How are you?
• My name is …
• How do you say […] in [language]?
• Speak slowly, please

3.3. Essential travel phrases for directions and getting around

Basic phrases for asking for directions will enable you to navigate unfamiliar streets and find your way around.

• What time is …
• How do I get to …
• How far away is …
• Do you have a map?
• When does the next … arrive?
• How long does it take to get to….?
• Spatial demonstratives: here / there
• Cardinal Directions: North / South / East / West
• Directions: left / right / straight / back / up / down
• Mode of transport: car / bus / train / taxi / metro / plane
• Buildings and places: bathroom / restaurant / hotel / bank / pharmacy / hospital

ALSO READ: • 73+ Essential Greek Travel Phrases for Tourists on a Greek Holiday

3.4. Useful phrases for traveling when ordering food and drinks

Useful phrases when travelling for ordering meals, asking for recommendations, and specifying dietary preferences ensure enjoyable dining experiences and help you explore local cuisines.

• I’m allergic to …
• The bill, please.
• I would like to have …
• May I see the menu?
• What are the specials? 
• What do you recommend?
• Types of diets: Vegetarian / vegan / gluten free
• Food flavors: sweet / bitter / sour / salty / spicy
• Drinks: coffee / tea / water / juice / wine / beer
• Food allergens: milk / eggs / fish / peanuts / shellfish / wheat / soybeans

3.5. Practical travel terms for shopping

Essential phrases for inquiring about prices, negotiating, and asking for sizes or colors are handy when exploring markets and boutiques.

• Could I try this on?
• Do you have this in …
• Excuse me, I’m looking for… 
• Is this on sale?
• When do you open/close? 
• Do you accept credit cards?
• Size: bigger / smaller
• Numbers: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
• Larger numbers: 50 / 100 / 1000
• Colors: white / yellow / orange/ red / blue / green / pink / purple / grey / brown / black

🔢 “In how many languages does Anja know how to count to 10?” right now probably in around 7 or 8, but when living abroad this number was between 13-15 languages.

ALSO READ: • 73+ Essential Japanese Travel Phrases for Tourists Visiting Japan

3.6. Useful phrases for travelling when checking in a hotel

Phrases you will need when checking in a hotel, asking for towels, fixing air conditioning, enquiring what time is breakfast, and what is included in your room rate.

• … is not working.
• Do you have WiFi?
• Can I drink the tap water?
• Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
• Essentials: toilet paper / key / towel
• Amenities: air conditioning / fan / heater / hairdryer

3.7. Helpful travel terms in case of emergencies

Here you will find helpful important phrases to know when traveling in case of emergencies, natural disasters or if you will be needing assistance in difficult or dangerous situations.

• There is a …
• Please call the …
• I lost my passport
• My money was stolen
• Natural hazards: fire / flood / earthquake
• First responders: police / firemen / ambulance

3.8. Beyond essential travel phrases to compliment someone

If you’re like me and really love learning a few phrases in new languages, expand your study beyond the essential travel phrases. I always learn how to say please and thank you, never visit without knowing the local word for “coffee” and never leave without knowing how to say;

• You have beautiful eyes
• You have a beautiful smile

4. Best language Apps for traveling abroad

When it comes to language learning , the options are diverse. You can choose from apps, traditional textbooks, and language courses to podcasts and YouTube videos. I would recommend the previously mentioned Duolingo . In case you fell short and can’t learn the essential travel phrases, or if the situations come your way when those phrases won’t be enough , below you will find language apps I use for you to download before your next trip.

4.1. Google Translate

Google Translate is the most popular language travel app that can be used everywhere. I personally use it on all my travels, when going to Tanzania to learn what some Swahili words mean, when in Mexico to help with my not-the-best Spanish, when in Italy, in Japan and other places. I’m sure you are already familiar with this best language app for travel. The most obvious feature is it will help you translate the destination language into your own one. But the absolute best feature is that it can translate the text using ‘ camera translation ’. All you have to do is open the app, point your camera toward the text in a foreign language and Google Translate will do the rest. Perfect for menus! It also translates text from the photos on your camera roll. And it also works offline, when you download the language pair on your phone. Language: 133 languages Download: iOS | Android | Website Price: Free

4.2. VoiceTra

VoiceTra is a language translation app that translates speech into another language . It is a perfect app for all travelers, supports 31 languages and can be used for free . Although, to make VoiceTra work you will need an Internet connection . The app translates in both ways. From English to foreign language and vice versa . It also offers text input. VoiceTra is great for simple, everyday conversations that you may encounter. Perfect to conquer the language barrier and even more amazing since it allows instant switching between two languages. Use it when buying admission tickets, asking for directions, when on a train or bus, while shopping, or when checking in at a hotel. Language: English, French, Spanish (32 altogether) Download: iOS | Android | Website Price: Free

4.3. SayHi Translate

SayHi Translate language app is an easy-to-use app, designed to be quick, and simple. All you have to do is press a button and start speaking. The app will transcribe your speech quickly and accurately. It supports 101 languages and dialects. It is a free app without any advertisements or hidden fees. In order for the app to work, you will need an internet connection . As soon as you speak, the app will return text and audio in another language. It super easy to change languages quickly and you can even speed up or slow down your speech and choose between male and female voice. Use it on your travels when in an UBER or taxi in a foreign land, when buying local souvenirs from a local lady or when checking in a lovely and unique homestay. Language: English, Arabic, Polish (101 altogether) Download: iOS | Android | Website Price: Free

5. Final thoughts on Essential Travel Phrases and Words

Whether it’s a warm greeting, ordering a meal, or expressing gratitude, are only a few useful phrases when traveling that not only open doors to easier communication but also show respect and help you to understand the destination in a different way. Before traveling abroad, learn at least a couple of common travel phrases that will help you navigate through various situations abroad. Travel terms for greetings and introductions and words showcasing politeness. Basic phrases for asking for directions, ordering food, and checking in a hotel. 

Learn useful phrases for traveling with the help of a language app like Duolingo, learn words when on a destination, or combine both with a language translation app like Google Translate. Find what works best for you and overcome language barriers. What travelling phrases do you think are essential? Bon voyage, Anja

➤ What you should read next …

• How to say You have beautiful eyes in 101 different languages • How to say Happy Birthday in 101 different languages • How to say Happy New Year in 100+ different languages spoken around the World • How to say I love you in 101 different languages • How to say Hello in 101 different languages

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What are essential travel phrases?

Travel phrases are useful phrases to know when traveling abroad. They are a collection of the most common and frequently used words and expressions we use when visiting foreign countries. From basic greetings to phrases for seeking directions, ordering food, and engaging in cultural exchanges.

What are some basic travel phrases for greetings and introductions?

Hello | Goodbye | Nice to meet you Phrases for greetings lay the foundation for any interaction, allowing you to initiate conversations and make a positive first impression. Find more essential travel phrases on Anja On Adventure blog.

What are some common English travel phrases?

Thank you | Please | Excuse me These common travel phrases showcase politeness and cultural respect, fostering positive interactions with locals. Find more common travel phrases on Anja On Adventure blog.

What are some useful travel phrases for directions and getting around?

Where is … | How do I get to … ? | How long …? Useful expressions for travelling for directions enable you to navigate unfamiliar streets and find your way around. Find more useful sentences for travelling and common travel language phrases on Anja On Adventure blog.

What are essential travel phrases when ordering food and drinks?

May I see the menu? | What do you recommend? | Is this … | I’m allergic to … Those are useful travel phrases in English for ordering meals, asking for recommendations, and specifying dietary preferences to ensure enjoyable dining experiences and help you explore local cuisines. Find more English travel expressions on Anja On Adventure blog.

What are practical travel terms for shopping?

How much does it cost? | Could I try this on? | Do you accept credit cards? Practical travel words in English for inquiring about prices, negotiating, and asking for sizes or colors are handy when exploring markets and boutiques. Find more useful English phrases for travelling on Anja On Adventure blog.

What are helpful travel terms in case of emergencies?

Help | I am lost | Please call the … Helpful travel English phrases to learn when traveling are great to know in case of emergencies, natural disasters or if you will be needing assistance in difficult or dangerous situations. Find more English travel terms and phrases on Anja On Adventure blog.

❥ About Anja On Adventure

Anja On Adventure is a travel blog, a collection of insider tips and information on destinations, that I visited as a solo female traveler, tour guide, teacher, yacht stewardess, and Survivor challenge tester. Anja, is a thirty-something adventure-seeking, sun chasing, beach hopping, gin-loving, tropics enthusiast with a creative mind and sarcastic spirit, who loves coconut and mango but doesn’t like chocolate and sweets. I am passionate about all things travel, maps, and puzzles. Click here to learn more About me .

About the author: Anja

2 thoughts on “73+ Essential Travel Phrases and Words You Should Know”

I love languages and love this idea. I always try to learn a little of the local language when travelling – I find it so much fun. Love this post!

Thank you so much Maryanne! There is more of those coming … Planning to post one for the language of each country I have visited…

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6 Best French Phrasebooks to Make Traveling Easy and Fun

After you’ve folded and stacked your clothes, grabbed your toothbrush and scrambled around for your passport and travel documents, there’s only one thing left that you need to take along:

A reliable French phrasebook that’s easy to use on the spot.

The French phrasebook world is very rich—whatever type of language help you’re looking for, you’re covered and then some.

No matter your proficiency level, taking along a French phrasebook can really help in sticky situations when you’re visiting a French-speaking country . So, check out six of the best French phrasebooks below!

1. “Collins French Phrasebook”

• 2. Lonely Planet French Phrasebook

3. “French Phrases For Dummies”

4. “the penguin french phrasebook”, 5. “rick steves’ french phrase book and dictionary”, 6. “eyewitness travel guides french phrase book”, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Contains a pronunciation guide

The “Collins French Phrasebook” is a renowned French guide and dictionary, and for good reason. Packed with pages of useful information, the guide will see you through any sort of stay in France.

One of its best features is its pronunciation guide. Getting your tongue around new sounds is a very tricky thing, but by taking a little time to focus on the phonetics of new words, you’ll stand yourself in good stead down the line.

Focuses on comprehension in French

Where many other guides merely feed you new information, the “Collins French Phrasebook” is created with user comprehension in mind. While the pronunciation guide will help you to get to grips with speaking in French, the basic grammar lessons will make structuring sentences very simple.

You can pick up many language tips through the book, and you might just come back from your trip more fluent!

Helps to build confidence through rigorous vocabulary tables

Speaking a new language requires confidence and, no matter how good you feel talking French at home, doing it in France can be a whole other story. The vocabulary tables in this phrasebook are packed full of thousands of new words to cover any type of travel scenario.

If you find yourself doing something new, you can rest assured that there will be a few phrases and words to help you out.

2.  Lonely Planet French Phrasebook

Comes with a menu decoder

One of the most popular travel book series, Lonely Planet books really know what they’re talking about. Its language guides are as rigorous as you would expect, and contain great tidbits to take along on your travels.

For example, if you’re going to be eating out—which I certainly hope you will be doing  while in France—you’ll know the struggle of ordering something you don’t recognize in another language.

Getting to grips with all food types is essential and, with this phrasebook’s in-depth menu decoder, you’ll never have to face an unknown plate again!

Contains a 3,500-word dictionary

Having access to a great French dictionary is really important when learning, but most books are much too big to take along with you on your travels.

The Lonely Planet French phrasebook’s 3,500-word dictionary is the perfect compact companion to take along, and will make translation and comprehension a walk in the park.

Links to essential travel tips and etiquette

France is notorious for its etiquette rules and, if you’re not aware of them, you could find yourself in a very tight spot. Helping you to separate your tu  from your vous, and to spot the correct greeting for any situation, the Lonely Planet guide can be an invaluable tool to use. Saying “hello” and “goodbye” to people in official settings is essential in France, and something that you might not naturally do.

By adhering to French cultural rules, you’ll enjoy a much easier stay in the country.

Guide to basic grammar

Don’t let its title fool you: “French Phrases For Dummies” is actually one of the best French phrasebook options due to its comprehensive, intelligent and accessible language guide.

While many language points are covered, it’s the book’s approach to grammar which is really worth knowing about. A more complex lesson to get your head around, grammar can seem too tricky to learn, especially if you’re only going on a brief holiday.

This French phrasebook will teach you all the essential grammar tips you need, making sentence structures and genders a real breeze without you even realizing!

Information on transportation and getting around

While France has very good public transport links, getting your head around them when abroad can be a real challenge. As well as containing all of the appropriate information related to transportation in France, “French Phrases For Dummies” offers practical information on the way that transportation operates in the country; essential if you’re trying to get around a new place.

Essential guide to emergencies

Nobody wants to face an emergency but if you do, you want to make sure you have all of the right information to hand. The phrasebook will link you to all of the emergency services, including embassies, on the rare occasion that you need to use them. You can rest assured in your travels; the phrasebook will do all of the hard work for you!

Key French words and phrases

One of the most popular publishers in the world, Penguin has a great hold on the foreign language market and has produced a guide with everything you need! If you’re a real beginner and are traveling to a French-speaking country for the first time, it’s likely that you’ll want to focus on the basics first.

This French phrasebook contains information on all of the keywords you’d ever need when abroad, including greetings, phrases for ordering food and linking you to transportation.

Useful words specifically for travelers

When you’re a traveler there might be specific information you need to get your hands on in a hurry and, if this is the case, you need look no further than Penguin.

The phrases in the book relate to traveling abroad, finding a hotel or hostel and exchanging currencies and are sure to make your travel time a breeze!

Any good phrasebook comes with a great pronunciation guide, and “The Penguin French Phrasebook” is no exception. Translating words and presenting them in their phonetic form, the phrasebook makes comprehension of the language genuinely easy. Even if it takes you a while to figure out the language, you’ll have soon learned more than you ever realized.

Comes with a dictionary attached

There’s plenty of material out there that’s not produced by the major publishers, and much of it’s really worth paying attention to! “Rick Steves’ French Phrase Book and Dictionary” is one such title, and will really give you a great foundation for your French.

As well as linking you to great vocabulary tips, the book comes with a dictionary included, which is bound to come in handy throughout your trip. Due to its pocket size, it can also be taken wherever you’re going!

Complete with phonetic spellings

Phonetic spellings are a big deal in the French language. Getting to grips with the different sounds of the alphabet does take a little time. The phrasebook understands this very well, and will load you with all of the language essentials you could need.

A great tip is to try and memorize a few essential words before you go, such as bonjour (hello), merci (thank you) and s’il vous plaît (please). Getting these under your belt will also help with pronunciation down the road.

Tear-away sheets for takeaway lessons

If you want to go through a few lessons but don’t want to take the book with you, then you’re taken care of just as well! Rick Steves’ book contains tear-away lesson sheets which are filled with French language tips and pointers. You can cover your back without even having to travel with the book in your pocket!

Organized by subject

The DK travel guides are some of the most popular in the world, so when they release a phrasebook, you know it’s going to be good. True to form, the “Eyewitness Travel Guides French Phrase Book” is organized and color-coded according to subject, making navigating the pages a real breeze! Finding what you need in a hurry can be stressful, but with this phrasebook you can breathe a little easier.

Mini-dictionary included

Covering all bases, it also comes with a handy mini-dictionary. Listing more than 2,000 words, the dictionary gives you a great insight into the French language and might even inspire you to take your learning a little further.

As the book is so compact, it can be easily transported wherever you go, meaning that you’ll always have a helping hand.

New editions contain currency changes

While currency changes are constantly on the move, it’s useful to have a rough idea of the exchange rates. Each new edition of the book is updated with essential currency information, meaning that you’ll always be able to make an instant, accurate calculation in your head.

This is one of the best French phrasebook features if you’re traveling for a significant amount of time.

And if you’re looking for more ways to brush up on your French skills before or during your trip, you could try a language learning platform such as FluentU.

Traversing new countries is a real thrill, but it can also be a little scary.

Backing yourself up with all of the insight you’d need beforehand is a great way to go about picking up a language with confidence.

A French phrasebook is always a good reference to have and can easily be paired with digital resources to fill in any gaps. For example, French Dictionary + is handy if your phrasebook doesn’t come with a dictionary already.

So pack a French phrasebook and you might just come back a little more fluent in French—there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Berlitz talk&travel Phrasebook

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List of phrasebooks

World [ edit ].

Africa [ edit ]

Asia [ edit ], europe [ edit ], north america [ edit ], oceania [ edit ], south america [ edit ], special purpose [ edit ].

Some special purpose lists of phrases are also available.

• Hitchhiking phrasebook

Scriptbooks [ edit ]

These special "phrasebooks" are for people interested in learning to read or write a complex script.

• Learning Devanagari

In other languages [ edit ]

Some phrasebooks are also available in French. These may help the adventurous traveler if a phrasebook for English speakers is not available. If you speak French, help other travelers by plunging forward and translate them!

• Phrasebooks for French speakers

See also [ edit ]

• Australian slang
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• Usable articles

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Chinese Phrasebook

The following table contains some of the most important basic Chinese words and phrases. The English meaning,intuitive English pronunciation, pinyin and the Chinese characters are included. Some entries have audio files in the right column to click and play.

There are some words and sentences that can be pronounced by the phonetic English. Although there are some differences between the pronunciations, most Chinese people can still understand what you mean.

• Listen to the Chinese Phrase Book in MP3 Format
• Download the Chinese Phrase Book

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Where is the travel phrasebook (and what’s in it) print.

Modified on: Tue, Jun 13, 2023 at 8:17 PM

You’ll find the Travel Phrasebook in the “directory” of language courses. 

You can go to the "course directory" in one of two ways:

1. Go to the home screen of the ‘LEARN’ tab 

   and click the ‘Menu’ icon at the top left hand corner; 

2. Go to the ‘ME’ tab and click on ‘Language learning’

Now you’re in the directory! Select your language, and choose ‘Travel Phrasebook’.

The Travel Phrasebook is a collection of words, phrases and sentences that you’ll find useful when you visit the country of your chosen language. It’s sorted by topic, and has everything from dating to useful words for emergency situations (not just travel – so don’t be misled by the name!) Each entry is read out to you by a native speaker, and you can repeat and record yourself for practice. 

Entries that you’ve listened to become Flashcards in the ‘REVIEW’ tab so that it’s easy to do revision. You can also “star” your favorite entries for extra practice — they’ll appear in the ‘Favorite’ section of the ‘REVIEW’ tab

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80+ Travel Quotes to Inspire Your Next Adventure

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Jun 29, 2023

Between vacations, many daydream about what adventures the next trip holds. You can spend your days switching back and forth from looking at your favorite travel photos to trying to go about your day to day life. But a few friendly reminders that the next adventure is closer than you think can help you put your wanderlust to rest. And one of the best distractions comes with this list of travel quotes. Pick your favorite from the collection below and use it to inspire your next trip!

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Where to use the best travel quotes, funny travel quotes, inspirational travel quotes, short travel quotes, famous travel quotes, travel alone quotes, travel together quotes, travel captions for instagram.

Once you find your top picks from the quotes listed below, make sure to put them to use. Consider creating something special that will help you keep your favorite travel memories alive with the project ideas below:

• Luggage Tag : Make custom luggage tags for you and the family that highlight exactly how much you’re ready to hop on a plane.
• Travel Gifts : Personalized gifts and keepsakes make perfect opportunities to highlight your favorite travel quotes.
• Travel Photo Books : Once you’re ready to fill the pages of a photo book with all your favorite vacation photos, consider adding a few of your top quote picks for captions!
• Kids Travel Essentials : Check out our kids travel essentials and customize your favorites with fun family photos from your last vacation.

These travel quotes are as hilarious as they are true. Pick your favorite to send to a friend or to use in your next Instagram caption.

• “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
• “Work, Travel, Save, Repeat.” – Unknown
• “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller
• “Can we just skip to the part of my life where I travel the world?” – Unknown
• “Vacation calories don’t count. Right?” – Unknown
• “I want someone to look at me the way I look at a travel magazine.” – Unknown
• “I need six months of vacation, twice a year.” – Unknown
• “The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.” – Russell Baker
• “I’ve been to almost as many places as my luggage.” – Bob Hope
• “Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs.” – Susan Sontag

These inspirational travel quotes will remind you of the transformational experience traveling can be. They also look great on a travel mug .

• “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
• “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
• The most beautiful in the world is, of course, the world itself.” – Wallace Stevens
• “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
• “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru
• “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
• “A person susceptible to ‘wanderlust’ is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.”  – Pico Iyer
• “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin
• “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

They’re short, they’re sweet, and they’re oh-so-true. These short travel quotes will have you wanting to be back on a beach in no time.

• “Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” – Jamie Lyn Beatty
• “To Travel is to Live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
• “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
• “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman
• “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle
• “Live your life by a compass not a clock.” – Stephen Covey
• “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
• “Oh the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
• “Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aesop
• “Life is short and the world is wide.” – Unknown
• “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

These famous minds knew exactly how addicting travel can be, and we want to share their insights with you.

• “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville
• “I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met.” – John Green
• “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Augustine of Hippo
• “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret.” – Oscar Wilde
• “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Dalai Lama
• “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
• “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
• “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

Mark Twain Travel Quotes

• “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
• “Travel is  fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain
• “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain
• “It liberates the vandal to travel — you never saw a bigoted, opinionated, stubborn, narrow-minded, self-conceited, almighty mean man in your life but he had stuck in one place since he was born and thought God made the world and dyspepsia and bile for his especial comfort and satisfaction.” – Mark Twain

Anthony Bourdain Travel Quotes

• “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
• “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.” – Anthony Bourdain
• “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain
• “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” – Anthony Bourdain

Do you love solo travel? If so, these adventure quotes were made just for you. And don’t be afraid to share them with other fellow travelers who don’t mind the occasional solo adventure.

• “A ship in a harbor is safe, but it not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
• “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustav Flaubert
• “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell
• “Adventure is a path. Real adventure, self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world.” – Mark Jenkins
• “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things: air, sleep, dreams, sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese
• “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark
• “Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” – The Dhammapada

Whether it’s with your Dad, your sister, your friend, or your significant other– these travel together quotes are sure to remind you of all the wonderful memories you shared together.

Couple Travel Quotes

• “I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once to see the world. Twice, to see the way you see the world.” – Anonymous
• “It doesn’t matter where you are going. It matters who is beside you.” – Anonymous
• “Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” – Walt Whitman
• “What we find in a soul mate is not something to tame, but something wild to run with.” – Robert Brault
• “Go the distance, couples who travel together are more likely to stay together and feel more connected.” – Anonymous
• “Here’s to all the places we went. And here’s to all the places we ‘ll go. And here’s to me, whispering again and again and again and again: I love you.” – Anonymous

Family Travel Quotes

• “When traveling with someone, take large doses of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee.” – Helen Hayes
• “As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was about to happen.” – A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
• “Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures” – Lewis Carroll
• “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy… Let’s go exploring!” – Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes
• “The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories” – Og Mandino

Travel With Friends Quotes

• “A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
• “Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” – Izaak Walton
• “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine
• “I get a friend to travel with me… I need somebody to bring me back to who I am. It’s hard to be alone.” – Leonardo DiCaprio
• “Sharing adventures means enjoying them 100% more.” – Anonymous
• “Friends that travel together, stay together.” – Anonymous

If you want to document your travel experiences on social media, we have the Instagram captions for you. Use these short and fun travel captions for Instagram to share how you spent your vacation.

• An adventure a day keeps the doctor away.
• Left my heart in [insert city here].
• Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.
• I have not been everywhere yet, but it’s on my list.
• The tan will fade, but the memories will last forever.
• “Jet lag is for amateurs.” – Dick Clark
• I follow my heart … and it usually leads me to the airport.
• Life is not meant to be lived in one place.
• Always say yes to new adventures.
• BBN: Be back never.
• Always take the scenic route.
• Eating my way through [or insert city or country here]
• “One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” – Henry Miller

Resources Related to Travel Quotes

Looking for additional resources related to our travel quotes? If so, make sure to visit the following resources:

• Capture Travel Memories
• Travel Photography Tips
• Travel Souvenir Ideas
• Family Trip Ideas
• Travel Photo Book Ideas
• Life Quotes

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

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The views of St. Petersburg from the TV tower >>

Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

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Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission