Asking for directions is easy. Understanding the answer is the hard part — it comes back fast, with distances in metres, and it's usually accurate to the nearest traffic light.
So this page is weighted towards listening. The questions take one table; the answers take three.
Asking for Directions
Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Bahnhof?
Where is the nearest pharmacy
Wo ist die nächste Apotheke?
Is there a supermarket near here?
Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Supermarkt?
Is it far?
Ist es weit?
Can I walk there?
Kann man zu Fuß gehen?
How long does it take?
Wie lange dauert das?
Could you show me on the map?
Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen?
I'm looking for this address.
Ich suche diese Adresse.
Practice these words
Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Bahnhof?
Quick note: open with Entschuldigung and use Sie. Stopping a stranger in the street without it comes across as abrupt.
Zum or Zur? "To the" changes with the gender of the place. It's the one bit of grammar in this lesson, and it's small.
| Gender | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
masculine (der) | zum | zum Bahnhof, zum Flughafen |
neuter (das) | zum | zum Rathaus, zum Krankenhaus |
feminine (die) | zur | zur Post, zur Apotheke |
towns and countries | nach | nach München, nach Österreich |
Quick note: zum is zu dem squeezed together; zur is zu der. If you've learned the place with its article — as the city places lesson suggests — this takes care of itself.
The Words in the Answer
straight on
geradeaus
left
links
right
rechts
the first street on the left
die erste Straße links
the second on the right
die zweite rechts
at the traffic lights
an der Ampel
at the crossroads
an der Kreuzung
across the bridge
über die Brücke
as far as the church
bis zur Kirche
round the corner
um die Ecke
on the left-hand side
auf der linken Seite
keep going straight
immer geradeaus
Practice these words
geradeaus
Quick notes:
- Geradeaus is the one that trips people up — it's one word, said fast, and it means straight ahead.
- Germans often give directions as a chain: Geradeaus, an der zweiten Ampel links, dann die erste rechts. Count the turns as you listen.
Where It Is
opposite
gegenüber
next to
neben
behind
hinter
in front of
vor
between
zwischen
near
in der Nähe von
on the corner
an der Ecke
200 metres from here
200 Meter von hier
five minutes on foot
fünf Minuten zu Fuß
right here
gleich hier
Practice these words
gegenüber
Quick note: distances are given in metres, and usually precisely. Ungefähr 300 Meter means about 300 metres, not "a few blocks." German towns mostly aren't on a grid, so "blocks" isn't a concept.
Public Transport
Which line goes to the centre?
Welche Linie fährt ins Zentrum?
Does this bus go to the station?
Fährt dieser Bus zum Bahnhof?
Where do I have to change?
Wo muss ich umsteigen?
Where do I get off?
Wo muss ich aussteigen?
Is this the right direction?
Ist das die richtige Richtung?
Where is the stop?
Wo ist die Haltestelle?
When is the next one?
Wann fährt der nächste?
Which platform?
Von welchem Gleis?
Practice these words
Welche Linie fährt ins Zentrum?
Quick note: buses and trams are identified by their final stop. The display reads Richtung Hauptbahnhof — "towards the main station" — so check the direction, not just the line number.
When You're Lost
I'm lost. (on foot)
Ich habe mich verlaufen.
I'm lost. (driving)
Ich habe mich verfahren.
I'm not from here.
Ich bin nicht von hier.
I don't know my way around here.
Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus.
Could you say that again, please?
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
A bit slower, please.
Etwas langsamer, bitte.
I'm sorry, I don't know.
Tut mir leid, das weiß ich nicht.
Practice these words
Ich habe mich verlaufen.
Quick notes:
- German has two words for getting lost: sich verlaufen on foot and sich verfahren in a vehicle. The prefix ver- often means doing something wrongly.
- If you ask someone and they say Ich bin auch nicht von hier, they're telling you they can't help — it's not a brush-off.
What to Know About Directions in Germany
The answer will be exact. Ask a German the way and you'll get the actual route: metres, turns, landmarks. If they don't know, they'll say so rather than guess, which is worth more than a confident wrong answer.
Wait for the green man. Germans don't cross on red, even on an empty street at night, and they especially don't when children are around. It's partly law — you can be fined — and partly a shared belief that adults should set the example. Cross on red next to a parent with a small child and someone may well say something.
Stay off the cycle path. Half of every directions conversation in a German city takes place while standing on one. Step off it first.
Three Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing zum and zur. Zur Bahnhof is wrong. It's der Bahnhof, so zum Bahnhof.
Using gehen for a bus journey. Gehen is on foot. For transport it's fahren: Ich fahre zum Bahnhof.
Writing down only the line number. Note the direction too — the same line runs both ways.