German

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100 German Phrases for Travellers

travel

Do you want to travel to Germany? How will you deal with this? Let’s take a flight today to learn German phrases for travel.

German is one of the main languages in Europe. Considering how the German-speaking countries have positioned themselves in the past years, it becomes more important to know this language, whether for business travel or leisure purposes.

Native Germans will appreciate when you speak to them in their language & will tend to be more welcoming & helpful. Do you want to make your travel more fun & full of excitement? Then take a deep dive into these phrases for travel in German.

Let’s begin with the basic vocabulary:

Essential German Vocabulary For Travel

  • 🇩🇪 der Flughafen – 🇺🇸 airport
  • 🇩🇪 der Flug – 🇺🇸 flight
  • 🇩🇪 die Bordkarte – 🇺🇸 boarding pass
  • 🇩🇪 die Anreise – 🇺🇸 arrival
  • 🇩🇪 der Abflug – 🇺🇸 departure
  • 🇩🇪 die Passkontrolle – 🇺🇸 passport control
  • 🇩🇪 die Zwischenlandung – 🇺🇸 stopover
  • 🇩🇪 das Terminal – 🇺🇸 terminal
  • 🇩🇪 der Koffer – 🇺🇸 suitcase
  • 🇩🇪 der Flugbegleiter – 🇺🇸 flight attendant
  • 🇩🇪 abheben – 🇺🇸 to take off
  • 🇩🇪 das Gate – 🇺🇸 gate
  • 🇩🇪 die Verspätung – 🇺🇸 delay
  • 🇩🇪 der Reiseführer – 🇺🇸 tourist guide
  • 🇩🇪 das Hotelzimmer – 🇺🇸 hotel room

At the Airport

With just some basic German language knowledge, you can have a wordplay & build some simple but useful sentences with which I will get your travel started. So be at ease & begin your journey with a blast!

🇩🇪 Wo ist der Flughafen?
🇺🇸 Where is the airport?

🇩🇪 Von welchem Gate startet dieser Flug?
🇺🇸 From which gate does this flight depart?

🇩🇪 Ich habe eine Reservierung.
🇺🇸 I have a reservation. 

🇩🇪 Ich habe meine Bordkarte verloren.
🇺🇸 I’ve lost my boarding pass. 

🇩🇪 Ich habe zwei Koffer.
🇺🇸 I have two suitcases. 

🇩🇪 Wann landen wir?
🇺🇸 What time are we landing?

🇩🇪 Warum hat mein Flug Verspätung?
🇺🇸 Why is my flight delayed? 

🇩🇪 Wie komme ich zum Terminal 3?
🇺🇸 How do I get to terminal 3?

Yup, you have cleared some of the roadblocks already. Not as tricky as you thought it might be, right? 

In the next step, we will make some more progress on your tour of language exploration. Let’s order a taxi in German for you & get into more details of German traveling phrases.

Departure

Ordered a taxi & reached the airport? Now it’s time to check in.

🇩🇪 Wo kann ich für den Lufthansa-Flug nach Berlin einchecken?
🇺🇸 Where do I check in for the Lufthansa flight to Berlin?

🇩🇪 Wie viel Gepäck haben Sie?
🇺🇸 How much luggage do you have?

🇩🇪 Ihr Koffer ist zu schwer. Sie müssen 50 Euro bezahlen.
🇺🇸 Your suitcase is overweight. You need to pay 50 Euros.

🇩🇪 Ich hätte gerne einen Gangplatz, keinen Fensterplatz bitte.
🇺🇸 I would like an aisle seat, not a window seat, please.

This is so tiring, right? Passing through all the procedures at the airport is very time-consuming. But you won’t have to waste your time searching for the correct sentences or words in the German language.

Have you completed your onboarding? Shall we fly high? Let’s take a seat on the plane & converse more in the German language confidently.

Onboard

🇩🇪 Willkommen an Bord.
🇺🇸 Welcome on board.

🇩🇪 Verstauen Sie Ihr Handgepäck bitte. 
🇺🇸 Please stow away your hand luggage.

🇩🇪 Bitte schnallen Sie sich jetzt an.
🇺🇸 Please fasten your seat belt now.

🇩🇪 Ich möchte bitte ein vegetarisches Essen und einen Rotwein.
🇺🇸 I want vegetarian food and red wine, please.

🇩🇪 Stilles Wasser, bitte.
🇺🇸 Still water, please.

🇩🇪 Ich möchte gerne einen Orangen- / Apfelsaft.
🇺🇸 I would like to have orange/apple juice, please.

🇩🇪 Könnte ich ein anderes Kissen / eine andere Decke haben?
🇺🇸 Could I have another pillow/blanket?

🇩🇪 Wann kommen wir in Berlin an?
🇺🇸 When do we arrive in Berlin?

To understand the answer to this question, you need to comprehend & communicate the time precisely in the German language.

Arrival

After an exhausting journey, I am sure you are just waiting to take your luggage & get out for fresh air. But first, you have to go through some formalities, which is an essential part of your journey at passport control.

But don’t get tense looking at the authorities. Here are just the correct expressions for you to make your arrival stress-free.

PasskontrollePassport Control

🇩🇪 Reisen Sie geschäftlich oder privat?
🇺🇸 Are you traveling for business or pleasure?

🇩🇪 Waren Sie schon mal in Deutschland oder ist das zum ersten mal?
🇺🇸 Have you been to Germany before, or is it your first time?

🇩🇪 Wie lange bleiben Sie in Deutschland?
🇺🇸 How long are you going to stay in Germany?

🇩🇪 Könnten Sie mir bitte Ihren Pass zeigen?
🇺🇸 Could you please show me your passport?

🇩🇪 Ich muss Ihre Fingerabdrücke überprüfen.
🇺🇸 I need to check your fingerprints.

🇩🇪 Ich muss Ihre Zimmerbuchung sehen.
🇺🇸 I need to see your room booking.

Zoll Customs

🇩🇪 Füllen Sie bitte dieses Formular aus.
🇺🇸 Please fill out this form. 

🇩🇪 Haben Sie etwas zu verzollen?
🇺🇸 Do you have anything to declare?

🇩🇪 Bringen Sie tierische oder pflanzliche Produkte mit?
🇺🇸 Are you bringing any animal or vegetable products?

🇩🇪 Ich muss Ihr Gepäck prüfen.
🇺🇸 I need to check your luggage. 

I hope you don’t have to engage in conversation with the customs. However, it is evident that you will inform yourself regarding the duty-free items and what is allowed to carry in the German-speaking country you are visiting. 

After customs, you must be in a hurry to pick up your luggage & proceed to your hotel:

AusgangExit

🇩🇪 Holen Sie Ihr Gepäck bei der Gepäckausgabe ab.
🇺🇸 Pick up your luggage at Baggage Claim. 

🇩🇪 Bitte wenden Sie sich an den Kundenservice im zweiten Stock.
🇺🇸 Please approach the customer service on the second floor. 

🇩🇪 Wo ist die Bushaltestelle?
🇺🇸 Where is the bus stop?

🇩🇪 Ich brauche ein Taxi.
🇺🇸 I need a taxi.

🇩🇪 Zum Berliner Hotel, bitte. Hier die Adresse.
🇺🇸 To the Berlin Hotel, please. Here is the address. 

All said & done; I am glad you have collected your baggage & got to the hotel! It is so relaxing to set foot in the accommodation after countless hours of travel.

Hotel – Useful Expressions

You will have an easy time asking all the relevant questions to the hotel staff, thereby getting into relaxation mode. 

🇩🇪 Bitte lassen Sie das Gepäck auf mein Zimmer bringen.
🇺🇸 Please have the luggage taken up to my room. 

🇩🇪 Ich habe ein Zimmer reserviert.
🇺🇸 I have booked a room.

🇩🇪 Wo ist der Speisesaal bitte?
🇺🇸 Where is the dining room?

🇩🇪 Um wie viel Uhr gibt es Frühstück?
🇺🇸 What time is breakfast?

🇩🇪 Ich brauche den Zimmerdienst bitte.
🇺🇸 I need room service, please.

Get ready! After a good sleep, it’s now time to go sightseeing & explore new places. These German traveling phrases below will surely come in handy:

Must-Know Phrases in German to Go Sightseeing

🇩🇪 Wo befindet sich das Tourismusbüro?
🇺🇸 Where is the tourist office?

🇩🇪 Welche Sehenswürdigkeiten gibt es in der Stadt?
🇺🇸 What sights are there to visit in the city?

🇩🇪 Wie viel kostet ein Ticket für die Museumsinsel?
🇺🇸 How much is a ticket to Museum Island?

🇩🇪 Wir haben eine Führung gebucht.
🇺🇸 We have booked a guided tour. 

🇩🇪 Kann ich dorthin zu Fuß laufen?
🇺🇸 Can I get there on foot?

🇩🇪 Wo kann ich Souvenirs kaufen?
🇺🇸 Where can I buy souvenirs?

🇩🇪 Kann ich in Dollar bezahlen? 
🇺🇸 Can I pay in dollars?

🇩🇪 Wo kann ich Geld abheben?
🇺🇸 Where can I withdraw money?

I am sure you have enjoyed sightseeing & have traversed into a lot of different shades of the city.

Practical Phrases to Talk about Problems

But in the whole journey, some unfortunate or problematic situations may happen. Though these are very unwelcoming, you have to deal with them appropriately to get out of such circumstances.

Don’t feel uncomfortable or stuck at any point. I am here to help!

I have prepared a list so that you can express your problem & get it solved immediately.

🇩🇪 Alle Flüge werden aufgrund schlechter Wetterbedingungen abgesagt.
🇺🇸 All flights have been canceled due to bad weather conditions. 

🇩🇪 Ich habe meinen Flug verpasst.
🇺🇸 I’ve missed my flight.

🇩🇪 Ihr Visum ist abgelaufen.
🇺🇸 Your visa has expired.

🇩🇪 Mein Gepäck ist beschädigt worden.
🇺🇸 My luggage is damaged.

🇩🇪 Ich kann meinen Koffer nicht finden.
🇺🇸 I can’t find my suitcase. 

🇩🇪 Ich habe ein Doppelzimmer gebucht, kein Einzelzimmer.
🇺🇸 I’ve booked a double room, not a single one.

🇩🇪 Meine Rechnung ist falsch.
🇺🇸 My invoice/bill is wrong.

🇩🇪 Die Klimaanlage in meinem Zimmer funktioniert nicht.
🇺🇸 The air-conditioning in my room is not working.

🇩🇪 Ich habe meinen Pass verloren.
🇺🇸 I’ve lost my passport.

🇩🇪 Meine Geldbörse / mein Handy / meine Kamera wurde gestohlen.
🇺🇸 My wallet / my cell phone / my camera has been stolen.

🇩🇪 Ich habe mich verlaufen. Könnten Sie mir bitte mit den Richtungen helfen?
🇺🇸 I am lost. Could you please help me with the directions?

With that, I think I will stop my language travel for today.

Gute Reise! 

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Zygmunt Biela

Zygmunt Biela

Fluent in Polish, English, German, and a hardcore Spanish learner. A regular guy with a passion for the internet. Langbox founder and a cryptocurrency lover.

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