Chapter 3: WALKING AROUND / SIGHTSEEING

Whenever I travel, one of the first things I prepare would be a map of the places I want to visit. In doing so, I have been able to avoid stressful situations or getting lost in areas where I might not be able to easily find my way around. However, no matter how much I prepare or how well I put together a plan, there will always be instances where I needed the help of a local.

Now, such a thing should be easy enough to do if you’re in a mostly English-speaking country. The same cannot be said in places where most locals on speak their native tongue. Of course, as a visitor, you shouldn’t expect to be catered to when it comes to language. There will be barriers but knowing a few key phrases can help you easily ask for help whenever needed.

When approaching someone, remember to begin with “Mi scusi” before jumping into the question itself. It will get their attention in a polite manner and make them more willing to help you out. After all, whilst you’re on vacation, many of the locals will be headed to somewhere themselves. So if they happen to skip out on lending you a hand, just try a different person and don’t take it personally.

All that aside, to help you get started, here are some easy pocket phrases to remember!

-          Dove? – Where? (As in, “Dov’è il museo?” which means, “Where is the museum?”)

1. DIFFERENT NAMES FOR PLACES:

-          Il teatro – The theater

-          La stazione – The train station

-          Il supermercato – The supermarket

-          L’aeroporto – The airport

-          Il parco – The park

-          L’ospedale – The hospital

-          Il centro –The town center

You might be familiar with just how fast some native speakers can talk. Not only do you have to listen well to the directions, but you might also want to make use of earlier phrases such as “Lentamente, per favore” in order to get them to speak a little slower. Don’t forget “Ripeta, per favore” if you need them to repeat something for you!

2. GETTING AND GIVING DIRECTION

-          Gira a destra – Turn right

-          Gira a sinistra – Turn left

-          Vai in quella direzione – Go that way

-          Vai diritto – Go straight ahead

-          Vai indietro – Go back

-          Vicino – Near

-          Lontano – Far

Tips: If the person you’re asking directions from tells you that a place is “Lontano”, it is likely too far for you to walk and you should think about getting a cab to get there.

It also helps (a lot!) if you know the specific names of the places you wish to go to. Instead of simply asking for a museum, make sure you give them a specific name. That way, you’ll be able to get better instructions and they know where exactly to point you to.

Lastly, remember this phrase for when you’re getting off of the cab:

-          Fermi qui, per favore – Please stop here.

Since we’re on the topic of transportation, you must also know a few phrases related to these places in order to find your way around much easier. Here are some to keep in mind:

-          Il biglietto – The ticket

-          La partenza – The departure

-          L’orario – The timetable

-          Il treno – The train

-          Il bagaglio – The baggage / luggage

-          Il volo – The flight

-          L’ufficio informazioni – the information office

-          Quanto dura il viaggio ? – How long does it take to get there?

-          Quando arriva li ? – When does it arrive?

If you’re not walking around the city, you are likely using the local public transportation. Whilst most of these are pretty easy to navigate, there are certain words or phrases you might need to use whilst riding them. Keep these in mind:

-          Mi serve un taxi – I need a taxi

-          Quanto costa la corsa ? – How much is the fare?

-          Mi piacerebbe andare a Firenze - I would like to go to Florence

-          Fermata dell’autobus – Bus stop

Aside from public transportation, you would also want to acquaint yourself with the correct vocabulary for common locations in Italy.

-          La banca – the bank

-          Il consolato Americano – The American Consulate

-          La città – The city

-          In campagna – In the country

-          Il ristorante – The restaurant

-          L’albergo – The hotel

-          La montagna – The mountain

-          La casa – The house

-          La spiaggia – The beach

To see how these can be used in everyday conversation, below are a few examples:

-          Quanto dista la spiaggia? - How far is the beach?

-          Come si arriva al consolato Americano? – How do you get to the American Consulate?

3. DRIVING AROUND THE CITY

If you aren’t the type to take the public transportation or simply want to see the city at your own pace whilst leisurely driving around, you’ll need to be familiar with the basic directional words. Sure, having a map with you would be of great help—but your trip would go smoother and worry-free if you’re also able to read the different road signs you might encounter.

Below are some directional words and phrases to help you navigate the streets of Italy better.

1. DIRECTIONAL WORDS

-          Destra – Right

-          Sinistra – Left

-          Nord – North

-          Sud – South

-          Est – East

-          Ovest – West

2. ROAD SIGNS

-          Entrata – Entrance

-          Uscita - Exit

-          Centro – Center of Town

-          Zona Pedonale – Pedestrian Zone

-          Rallentare – Slow Down

-          Senso Unico – One Way Street

-          Lavori in Corso – Road Work Ahead

-          Attenzione – Caution

-          Deviazione – Detour

-          Parcheggio – Parking

-          Entrata vietata – No Entry

-          Parcheggio vietato – No Parking

-          Vietato l’accesso – Keep Out

3. AT THE GAS STATION

-          Benzinaio – Gas Station

-          Il pieno – Fill the tank

-          Servizio – Service

-          Benzina – Gas

-          Super – Super

-          Normale – Regular

-          Gasolio – Diesel

4. IF YOU GET PULLED OVER

-          Che problema c’ è agente? – Is there an issue, officer?

-         Su questa strada c’è il limite dei cinquanta chilometri orari. Lei stava guidando a settantacinque chilometri all’ora. Favorisca libretto e patente. – We have a speed limit of 50 km/h in this area. You were going at 75 km/h. Please show your car documents and driving license.

-         Cosa? Mi scusi, non lo sapevo. La mia patente è in albergo. – Was I? I apologize sincerely. I was not aware. My driving license is back at the hotel.

-         Esca dalla macchina. Le facciamo il palloncino. – Step out of the car. We will perform a breathalyzer on you.

-          Capisco, che ne dice. Cento euro sono sufficienti? – Officer, I understand. Here. Is 100 euros enough?

-         Metta le mani dietro la schiena. La porto al commissariato.   – Put your arms behind your back. We are bringing you to the police station.

PRO-TIP: Never try bribing any police officer if you even get pulled over. Just avoid the whole situation and pay attention to traffic rules, making sure that you abide by them properly.

DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES

If the idea of shopping hasn’t quite crossed your mind yet, then Italy has got plenty to offer in terms of activities to fill your time. They are also well-known for beautiful cinematic offerings, something that film buffs would certainly enjoy. Nature welcomes guests as well and the cities you’ll visit will likely have great outdoor activities you can partake in. While you’re at it, why not bring a local along with you? With some of these useful phrases, you’ll be able to communicate with them and see a side of the country few tourists ever do.

1. CINEMA AND THEATRE

-          Cosa ne dici di andare al cinema? – Want to go to the cinema?

-          Cosa danno? – What’s currently showing?

-          Mi piacerebbe vedere un film di horror – I want to watch a horror movie

-          Io l’ho gia’ visto – I’ve already seen it

-          E’ sottotitolato in Inglese? – Is it English subtitled?

-          A che ora finisce il film? – When does the movie end?

-          Dove si comprano i biglietti? – Where do we get tickets?

-          Paghero’ io i biglietti – I’ll pay for the tickets

-          Si possono prenotare i posti? – Can I book seats in advance?

-          Quanto costa in galleria? – How much are balcony seats?

-          Quanto dura? – How long does it last?

-          Quando comincia l’ultimo spettacolo? – When does the last performance begin?

-          C’è un intervallo? – Is there an interval?

-          Cosa ne pensi dello spettacolo? – What did you think of the play?

2. SPORTS AND OUTDOORS

-          Vuoi giocare a calcio? – Want to play soccer?

-          Preferisco giocare a tennis – I prefer to play tennis

-          Ci piacerebbe andare ad una partita di calcio – We would like to attend a football match

-          Forse ci potremmo andare la settimana prossima – Perhaps we could go next week

-          Ti piace andare in barca a vela? – Do you like to go sailing?

-          Sarebbe molto bello! – That would be great!

-          Quando chiude la pista di pattinaggio – What time does the ice rink close?

-          A che ora apre la piscina? –What time does the swimming pool open?

3. VISITING MUSEUMS

Among the many things you shouldn’t miss whilst in Italy would be to view some of their spectacular artworks. Created by some of the world’s most beloved artists, the collections in their museums is certainly a sight to behold. To help you enjoy it even more, I have collected a few key phrases that you can use whilst visiting a museum.

-          La galleria – The gallery (can either be for older or more contemporary art)

-          Il rinascimento – The renaissance

-          Le prenotazione – The reservation

When it comes to buying tickets, I suggest getting yours online for a specific time before you even arrive. This way, you’ll be able to avoid long queues and have more time to spend inside the museum.

-          Il biglietto – The ticket

-          La biglietteria – The ticket office

-          La coda / La fila – The queue

-          Gratis – Free

-          Le audioguide – The audioguides

-          Il capolavoro – The masterpiece

-          L’opera – The artwork

-          La scultura – The sculpture

-          Il quadro – The painting

-          La cornice – The frame

-          I santi – The saints

-          Santa Maria – The Virgin Mary

-          Il dipino – The paint

-          Il disegno – The drawing

-          I colori – The colors

Once you get to the museum, you might find yourself needing to communicate with those in line and those facilitating the tickets. To help with that, keep some of these phrases in mind:

-          Vado al museo – I am going to the museum

-         Quanto tempo ci vuole per visitare questo museo? – How long does it take to see the entire museum?

-          Che museo preferisci? – Which museum do you prefer?

-          Ho già fatto una prenotazione – I already made a reservation

-          Vorrei due biglietti per il museo, per favore – I would like two tickets to the museum, please

-          Dov’ è la fine della fila? – Where is the end of the line?

-         Dentro questo museo ci sono dei disegni o delle sculture di Michelangelo? – Are there sculptures or drawings by Michelangelo in this museum?

-          Mi piace la cornice di questo quadro – I like the frame of this painting

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

1. TRAVEL BY TRAIN

Above, we have tackled all the basic phrases you’ll need to get around, including the different places you might visit during your trip. This time, we’ll get a bit more specific. You’ll find these phrases useful as you switch from one mode of transportation to another during your stay.

-          Dov’è la stazione piu vicina? – Where is the nearest railway station?

-          Da quale binario parte il treno? – Which platform does the train leave from?

-          Quando arriva li? – When does it arrive there?

-          Quando parte il prossimo treno per Milano? – What time does the train for Milan leave?

-          Quando arriva il treno da Roma? – What time does the train from Rome arrive?

-          Devo cambiare? – Do I have to change?

-          Un biglietto di sola andata per Napoli, per favore – A single ticket to Napoli, please

-          Un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Venezia, per favore – A return ticket for Venice, please

-          Quanto dura il viaggio? – How long does the trip take?

-         Quanto costa un biglietto di andata e ritorno in seconda classe per Firenze? – How much is a second-class return ticket for Florence?

-          C’è un vagone ristorante nel treno? – Does the train have a dining car?

-          C’è un posto per non fumatori? – Is there a non-smoking seat?

-          E’ partito il treno delle 11? – Has the 11 train departed?

2. TRAVEL BY PLANCE

-          C’è un autobus per l’aeroporto? – Is there a coach going to the airport?

-          C’è un volo per Londra questa sera? – Is there a flight to London this evening?

-          Quando parte il prossimo aereo per New York? – When does the next plane to New York leave?

-          Vorrei un posto non fumatori – I would like a seat in the non-smoking section

-          E’ partito in orario l’aereo? – Will the plane leave on time?

-         Puo confermarmi l’orario di partenza dell’aereo per Roma? – Can you confirm the departure time for the plane to Roma?

-         Puo confermarmi l’orario di arrivo dell’aereo proveniente da Sydney? – Can you confirm the arrival time for the plane from Sydney?

-          Vorrei cambiare volo – I would like to change flights

-          Dov’è il duty free? – Where is the duty free?

-          Allacciate le cinture, per favore – Fasten your seatbelts, please

3. TRAVEL BY BUS

-          Si può andare in autobus? – Can you get there by bus?

-          Dove la fermata dell’ autobus piu vicina? – Where is the nearest bus stop?

-         Quale autobus devo prendere per raggiungere l’ aereoporto? – Which bus do I take to get to the airport?

-          E’ un diretto? – Is it direct?

-          Quanto frequenti sono gli autobus? – How frequent are the buses?

-          Quando c’e il primo autobus? – When is the first bus?

-          Ho perso l’ultimo autobus? – Did I miss the last bus?

-          Quando c’è l’ ultimo autobus? – When is the last bus?

-          Questo posto è occupato – This seat is taken

-          Ci sono posti liberi? – Are there free seats?

-          Mi scusi, questa è la mia fermata – Excuse me, this is my stop

-          Scendo qui per il cinema? – Is this the stop for the cinema?

4. TRAVEL BY CAR

-          Dove posso prendere un taxi? – Where can I get a taxi?

-          Avanti – Go forward

-          Vietato entrare – No entrance / entry

-          Segua la strada – Follow this road / street

-          Il pieno, grazie – Fill up the tank, thank you

-          Venti litri senza piombo, grazie – Twenty litres of unleaded, thank you

-          Controlli il livello dell’acqua, grazie – Please check the water level

-          Controlli il livello dell’olio, grazie – Please check the oil level

-          Controlli la batteria, per favore – Please check the battery

-          Controlli le gomme, per favore – Please check the tyres

-          Spenga il motore,per favore – Please switch the engine off

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET LOST

Should you find yourself in an unfamiliar part of the city, just keep these key phrases in mind to get help and directions. Remember, locals would be more than happy to help you out so try your best to express situation to them as best as you can.

-          Mi scusi, posso farle una domanda? – Excuse me, can I ask you something?

-          Mi sono perso / persa – I’m lost

-          Vorrei andare a via Garibaldi – I want to go to via Garibaldi

-         Vorrei andare qui – I want to go here (if you’re using a map to point out a destination)

-          Come posso arrivarci? – How do I get there?

-          E’ di qua? – Is this the right way?

-          Potrebbe indicarmelo sulla carta? – Can you show me using the map?

-         C’è qualche posto interessante da visitare qui in zona? – Is there any places of interest in this area?

-          Grazie comunque – Thank you anyway (if they’re unable to help)

TRAVEL TIPS

Now that you’re armed with some very useful phrases to help you get around Italy much easier, I’ll give you a few more tips you should keep in mind during your travels. We’ve talked around avoiding social taboos and its important communicating well in the native language; so here are a few more to make sure you get to enjoy your trip like a local.

-         Greet everyone with two kisses. Italians are, generally, very affectionate people so this is something that you can use regardless of a person’s age, gender, and even your familiarity with them. Pair it with your usual greetings such as buongiorno! To express your happiness at seeing and spending time with this person. Remember, two kisses on each cheek are common greetings in Italy and anything less might make you look awkward.

-         Pay attention to the way Italians speak with their hands. We’ve been discussing the different ways you can verbally communicate with locals, but did you know that they also express themselves through gestures? It is useful to pay attention to this, especially when asking for directions. Give it a try yourself when you visit; throw in a few hand gestures when in conversation and not only will this make the interaction more animated, you might find that they understand you much easier as well!

-         Don’t order cappuccino past 11am. I’m sure one of the first things you plan on doing, when you get to Italy, is order a nice up of coffee using your newfound skills. Whilst that’s well and good, make sure you don’t ask the barista for a cappuccino if it’s past 11am! This is because it’s strictly a breakfast drink and people might find you strange if you order one with your lunchtime meal.

-         Don’t add ketchup to your pizza or pasta. Let’s just put it this way, each time you ask for some ketchup in an Italian restaurant, you are breaking the chef’s heart. Whilst ketchup is acceptable as an addition to your fries or your burger, refrain from adding it to your pasta or pizza—doing so will garner strange looks and disapproving nods. Take it from my experience!

-         When in Italy, do as the Italians would. This means enjoying a classic Italian breakfast which is mostly sweet instead of savory. Have some pastry and a classic cup of cappuccino. In fact, you’ll soon find that many hotels and even restaurants rarely offer a savory breakfast. So, why not embrace the local culture and head to the local restaurant for a croissant and get yourself un caffé to get the day started.

-         Enjoy the aperitivo lifestyle. Whilst we’re on the topic of food, here’s a fact: Italians love food. Three meals a day isn’t quite enough to satiate that so they have what’s called the “aperitivo” which is basically a meal between lunch and dinner. It can turn into an actual dinner depending on where you are.

Most bars will actually bring you pizzas, some crisps, and all sorts of delicious nibbles if you get a table in between the hours of 5pm and 8pm. You’ll also be served an Aperol Spritz, which is the aperitivo drink as touted by locals. Keep an eye out for the “aperi-cena” where for a set price, usually around 10 EUR, you get to enjoy a drink and an eat all-you-can buffet. It’s a great experience if you want to immerse yourself in local culture and practice some of what you have learned.

So there you have it, just a few of the ways you can make use of what you have learned in this chapter. Remember, never be too shy or afraid to try any of the phrases you have picked-up. If you happen to pronounce something wrong, just practice again. The trial and error is all part of the fun when learning a new language. Besides, when in Italy, you might find some very helpful locals who will teach you the right way of saying things!