You will use these rarely and then need them badly. Worth twenty minutes of preparation.

Asking

  • "Excuse me, how do I get to the station?"
  • "Is this the right way to the museum?"
  • "Could you point me towards the nearest ATM?"
  • "How far is it from here?"
  • "Is it walkable?"

Understanding the answer

These are the phrases you will hear back:

  • "Go straight on / keep going straight."
  • "Take the second left."
  • "It's on your right, just past the bank."
  • "Turn left at the traffic lights."
  • "It's opposite the post office."
  • "You'll see it on the corner."

Useful position words

  • next to — directly beside
  • opposite — across from
  • between — with something on each side
  • past — beyond it
  • around the corner — very close, just out of sight

Public transport

  • "Which platform for Churchgate?"
  • "Does this bus go to the airport?"
  • "How many stops is it?"
  • "Do I need to change trains?"
  • "Could you tell me when we get there?"

If you did not follow

Repeat back the part you did catch. It is faster than starting over.

"So, second left and then straight on?"

Ask two different people if the route matters. Confident wrong directions are given in every language.