German Travel Phrases

What's included here

A practical collection of German words and phrases for travelling in Germany, Austria and other German-speaking regions. Start with greetings, restaurants, hotels and transport, then explore ten more expressive German phrases and idioms for talking about your travels.

Planning a trip to Germany? Perhaps you're heading to Berlin for a weekend, hiking in the Bavarian Alps or spending a few days in Vienna.

You don't need to speak fluent German to enjoy your trip. But knowing a handful of useful expressions can make everyday situations much easier, from ordering your morning coffee to asking someone where the nearest train station is.

We've divided this guide into two parts. First, we'll cover the essential German travel phrases that beginners can start using straight away. Then we'll look at some more expressive vocabulary and idioms for intermediate learners who want to talk about their travels in a little more detail.

The vocabulary lists include audio where available, so you can practise the pronunciation before your trip!

Essential German Travel Phrases for Beginners

Let's start with the basics :)

If you're leaving for Germany tomorrow and haven't learned a single word yet, these are the expressions worth remembering first.

1. Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

These are some of the most useful German words and expressions for everyday interactions.

Danke and Bitte are particularly useful, of course. You'll hear them in cafés, shops, restaurants and countless other situations.

And remember that Bitte can mean both "please" and "you're welcome", depending on the context.

Another useful word is Entschuldigung, which you can use to apologise, get someone's attention or politely interrupt them to ask a question.

Notice the formal Sie in this sentence. When speaking to strangers, hotel staff or people you don't know, using Sie is generally a good choice.

For more everyday expressions, have a look at our guide to German greetings.

2. Introducing Yourself in German

If you're meeting someone on your travels, you might want to introduce yourself or have a little conversation.

One particularly useful expression for travellers is Ich spreche nicht so gut Deutsch. 😅

You can use it when you want to explain that you're still learning German.

And if someone starts speaking a little too quickly, try this:

Or, if you don't understand something:

For more practice, have a look at our guides to introducing yourself in German and German small talk.

And if you're completely new to the language, our free online German lessons are a good place to start.

3. Useful Places and Locations in German

When travelling somewhere new, it's helpful to know the German words for common places.

The most useful question to remember is:

You can adapt this sentence by replacing Bahnhof with another place.

For example:

If you want to learn how to understand the answer, our German directions vocabulary covers expressions like "left", "right" and "straight ahead".

4. German Phrases for the Airport

Airports can be stressful enough without having to navigate an unfamiliar language.

Here are some useful German words you might encounter at the airport.

And here are two useful questions:

You'll also see plenty of English words used at German airports, particularly terms like Check-in and Gate.

So you might already understand more than you expect!

5. Ordering Food and Drinks in German

Whether you're ordering a coffee, buying a pretzel or sitting down for dinner, a few simple phrases will go a long way.

And if you're wondering whether you can pay by card, Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen? is a useful question to remember.

For more food-related vocabulary, explore our German food vocabulary guide.

6. German Phrases for Hotels

Checking into a hotel is another situation where a few basic expressions can be useful.

First, some common hotel vocabulary:

When you arrive, you might say:

And if you want to know when breakfast is served:

Or perhaps you've discovered that your room doesn't have enough towels.

These are useful examples of polite German requests using könnte.

7. Getting Around by Public Transport

Germany has a large network of trains, buses, trams and underground services.

If you're travelling around a city, you'll probably encounter words like U-Bahn, S-Bahn and Fahrkarte.

Here are some useful expressions for getting around.

One particularly useful question is:

And if you're unsure which platform you need:

For more vocabulary relating to buses, trams, trains and tickets, see our German public transport vocabulary guide.

10 Useful German Travel Expressions and Idioms

Now that we've covered the essentials, let's move on to some more interesting expressions.

If you're an intermediate learner, you might already be comfortable ordering a coffee or asking for directions.

But what if you want to ask a friend for local recommendations? Complain about a tourist trap? Or explain that you've planned your entire holiday down to the last detail?

The following ten expressions are useful for talking about travel in a more natural and expressive way.

1. Der Geheimtipp – Hidden Gem / Insider Tip

A Geheimtipp is an insider recommendation for something that isn't widely known.

It could be a little restaurant, a beautiful hiking route, a quiet swimming spot or a museum that most visitors overlook.

The word combines geheim ("secret") and der Tipp ("tip").

2. Die Touristenfalle – Tourist Trap

Die Touristenfalle means "tourist trap".

Of course, what counts as a tourist trap is subjective.

One person's overpriced tourist attraction is another person's favourite holiday memory!

But if you prefer exploring less obvious places, Touristenfalle is a useful word to know.

3. In der Umgebung – In the Surrounding Area / Nearby

Die Umgebung refers to the area around a particular place.

You can use in der Umgebung when asking about restaurants, attractions or activities close to where you're staying.

For example:

4. Sich nach etwas erkundigen – To Enquire About Something

Sich nach etwas erkundigen means "to enquire about something" or "to ask for information about something".

It's a useful expression when you want to sound polite and a little more formal.

For example, you might use it when contacting a hotel, restaurant or tour operator.

5. Keine Sekunde vergeuden – Not to Waste a Second

Keine Sekunde vergeuden means "not to waste a second".

The verb vergeuden means "to waste" or "to squander", particularly in relation to time, money or opportunities.

It's a useful expression when you want to describe making the most of a trip.

6. Etwas bis ins letzte Detail planen – To Plan Something Down to the Last Detail

Etwas bis ins letzte Detail planen means "to plan something down to the last detail".

It's useful when talking about a carefully organised trip, event or activity.

You might also hear the verb durchplanen, meaning "to plan something thoroughly".

For example:

Whether this sounds reassuring or slightly terrifying probably depends on how you like to travel!

7. Es sich gut gehen lassen – To Treat Yourself / Enjoy Yourself

Es sich gut gehen lassen is a lovely German expression. It means to enjoy yourself, take care of yourself or have a pleasant, comfortable time.

It's often used when talking about holidays, relaxation or treating yourself to something nice.

For example:

8. Auf gut Glück – On the Off Chance / Without Knowing the Outcome

Auf gut Glück describes doing something without knowing whether it will work out.

It often suggests relying on luck rather than careful planning.

For example:

9. Jemanden auf die Folter spannen – To Keep Someone in Suspense

Jemanden auf die Folter spannen means "to keep someone in suspense".

It's often used when someone deliberately delays revealing information that another person is eager to know.

For example, perhaps you've booked a surprise holiday for your partner but refuse to tell them where you're going.

Or you've organised a special evening and won't reveal the destination.

Eventually, you might hear:

10. Urlaub auf Balkonien machen – To Spend Your Holiday at Home

Sometimes the most appealing destination for a holiday is your own home!

Urlaub auf Balkonien machen is a humorous German expression for spending your holiday at home rather than travelling somewhere else.

Balkonien is a playful invented place name based on der Balkon ("balcony"), made to sound like a holiday destination.

For example:

More Useful German Phrases

If you'd like to prepare a little more before your trip, these guides are worth a look:

• German greetings – learn how to say hello, good morning and goodbye in German.
• How to say thank you in German – from a simple Danke to more heartfelt expressions of gratitude.
• German phrase books – useful resources for learning practical German expressions.

Enjoy your holiday, and have fun putting your German into practice!