✈️ Spanish for tourists: The complete guide to speak like a local 🏝️

Are you planning a trip to Spain or another Spanish-speaking country? 🇪🇸 Then this post is just for you! In this fun and easy Spanish for tourists guide, you’ll learn:

🟡 How to say tourist in Spanish.

🟡 The 10 essential holiday phrases you’ll need.

🟡 The famous nickname for tourists in Spain.

🟡 And you’ll get a FREE printable Spanish travel phrases PDF.

Plus, you’ll get extra tips and fun facts about Spanish culture to make your trip unforgettable ✨.

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🟢 What does 'tourist' mean in Spanish? 🤓

The Spanish word for tourist is turista (the same for both men and women! 💁‍♂️💁‍♀️).

✅ Real-life examples:

Soy turista, ¿me puede ayudar? ➤  I’m a tourist, can you help me?

Zona de información para turistas ➤  Tourist information area.

Muchos turistas visitan España cada año ➤  Many tourists visit Spain every year.

😂 Fun fact: In some regions of Spain, you may also hear 'forastero', but it’s quite old-fashioned and sounds like something out of a cowboy film 😅.

🟡 10 Golden holiday phrases 🏖️

Here are the TOP 10 phrases every tourist should carry in their suitcase 🧳:

Click on the 🔊 button to hear the pronunciation of each example.

Form Usage Example
¿Dónde está el baño? 🚻 To ask for the toilet ¿Dónde está el baño?
(Where is the toilet?)
¿Cuánto cuesta? 💸 To ask the price ¿Cuánto cuesta?
(How much does it cost?)
La cuenta, por favor 🧾 To ask for the bill La cuenta, por favor.
(The bill, please.)
Una cerveza, por favor 🍺 To order a beer Una cerveza, por favor.
(A beer, please.)
¿Hablas inglés? 🗣️ To ask if someone speaks English ¿Hablas inglés?
(Do you speak English?)
No entiendo 🤷 To say "I don't understand" No entiendo.
(I don't understand.)
Me gustaría reservar una mesa 🍽️ To book a table Me gustaría reservar una mesa.
(I'd like to book a table.)
¿Qué me recomiendas? 🤔 To ask for recommendations ¿Qué me recomiendas?
(What do you recommend?)
¡Gracias! 🙏 To say thank you ¡Gracias!
(Thank you!)
 

🎯 Pro tip: Learn to say “por favour” (please) as well – it will always be appreciated 😉

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🟠 What’s the Spanish nickname for tourists? 😎

In Spain, you’ll often hear the word guiri to refer to tourists, especially northern Europeans 🌍.

But don’t worry 🙈, although it sounds funny, it’s a friendly word:

Look at those guiris sunbathing at midday… 🌞

That terrace is full of guiris enjoying a paella 🥘

👉 Just be careful if you want to use it yourself – locals say it between themselves, but it might sound a bit odd coming from a visitor 😅.

🟢 Bonus: Useful phrases you won’t learn at school 🤫

If you want to sound like an advanced guiri (or almost a local), here are some extra phrases you’ll love:

¡Qué calor! 🔥 ➤ It’s so hot!

Una tapa, por favour 🍤 ➤ A tapa, please.

Estoy perdido/a 🧭 ➤ I’m lost.

¿Puedes ayudarme? 🙋 ➤ Can you help me?

Me encanta España ❤️ ➤ I love Spain.

¡Otra ronda! 🍻 ➤ Another round!

✅ Locals will love you if you make the effort – it’s guaranteed!

🟣 Spanish culture & travel tips 🇪🇸

Some things you might not know before arriving...

🕐 Different schedule ➤ Breakfast around 9am, lunch between 2pm-3pm, dinner from 9pm onwards.

😴 Siesta time ➤ In many small towns, shops close between 2pm and 5pm.

🥘 Paella ➤ It’s a lunch dish, not dinner! If you want to eat like a local, have it at midday.

🤝 Greetings matter ➤ Always say hola, gracias, por favour and adiós. It goes a long way!

🍞 Bread surprise ➤ Don’t be shocked if restaurants charge you for the bread, even if you didn’t ask for it 😄.

🎁 FREE Download! Spanish travel phrases PDF 🧳✨

👉 We’ve prepared a FREE PDF with all these phrases, extra tips and even a mini glossary.

Perfect to print or keep on your phone 📲.

⬇️ Get it here ⬇️

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Keep learning Spanish:

✍️ Do you know all these phrases, are there any new ones for you?

Leave us a comment and practice your Spanish!

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