You are at an Italian train station or bus stop, and you need to buy a ticket. The person behind the counter speaks quickly, and you want to make sure you get the right ticket at the right price. This page helps you practise the exact phrases for buying a single ticket, a return ticket, and asking how much it costs. You will rehearse three realistic scenarios: buying a one-way ticket to the city centre, buying a round-trip ticket to the airport with a specific return time, and asking for prices to compare destinations. Each exercise gives you a clear task and a follow-up question so you can practise responding naturally, not just repeating memorised lines.
Specific useful preparation
Before you speak, decide exactly what you need: one ticket or two, one-way or return, and your destination. The core phrase for a single ticket is 'Un biglietto per il centro, per favore.' For a return ticket, say 'Un biglietto andata e ritorno per l'aeroporto, per favore.' If you need two tickets, change to 'Due biglietti' and use the plural 'biglietti'. To ask the price, use 'Quanto costa?' for one ticket or 'Quanto costano?' for more than one. If you want to be more polite, start with 'Vorrei' instead of 'Voglio': 'Vorrei un biglietto per la stazione.' Practise saying these phrases aloud until the rhythm feels natural. Pay attention to the pronunciation of 'biglietto' (bee-LYET-toh) and 'andata e ritorno' (ahn-DAH-tah eh ree-TOR-noh). Knowing these chunks by heart frees your attention for the clerk's reply.
A specific way to handle the harder turn
The hardest moment is when the clerk asks a follow-up question you did not expect, such as 'Solo andata o andata e ritorno?' or 'Quando vuole tornare?' If you only catch part of it, do not panic. You can ask for repetition with 'Scusi, può ripetere?' or 'Come, per favore?' If the question is about the return time, you can answer with a day and time using the pattern 'Vorrei tornare + day + alle + time': 'Vorrei tornare domenica alle sei di sera.' If you are not sure yet, say 'Non lo so ancora' (I don't know yet). Another common follow-up is the price confirmation: 'Sono venti euro.' If you did not catch the number, ask 'Quanto costa?' again or 'Può ripetere il prezzo, per favore?' Rehearse these repair phrases as thoroughly as the main request, because they keep the conversation moving even when your listening is incomplete.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Un biglietto per il centro, per favore.
One ticket to the city centre, please.
oon bee-LYET-toh pehr eel CHEN-troh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Solo andata, per favore.
One way, please.
SOH-loh ahn-DAH-tah, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Vorrei un biglietto per la stazione.
I would like a ticket to the station.
vor-RAY oon bee-LYET-toh pehr lah stah-TSYOH-neh
Quanto costa?
How much does it cost?
KWAHN-toh KOH-stah
Un biglietto andata e ritorno per l'aeroporto, per favore.
A round-trip ticket to the airport, please.
oon bee-LYET-toh an-DA-ta eh ree-TOR-no per leh-roh-POR-toh, per fah-VOH-reh
Vorrei un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Roma.
I would like a round-trip ticket to Rome.
vor-RAY oon bee-LYET-toh dee an-DA-ta eh ree-TOR-no per ROH-mah
Quando vuole tornare?
When would you like to return?
KWAN-doh VWOH-leh tor-NAH-reh
Vorrei tornare domenica alle sei di sera.
I would like to return on Sunday at six in the evening.
vor-RAY tor-NAH-reh doh-meh-NEE-kah AL-leh SAY dee SEH-rah
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buongiorno, vorrei un biglietto per il centro, per favore.
Good morning, I would like one ticket to the city centre, please.Solo andata o andata e ritorno?
One way or return?Solo andata. Quanto costa?
One way. How much does it cost?Un euro e cinquanta. Ecco il biglietto.
One euro fifty. Here is the ticket.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Buying a one-way ticket to the city centre
You are at a ticket window in an Italian city. You need one ticket to the city centre. The clerk greets you with 'Buongiorno, mi dica.'
Your task: Say aloud: 'Buongiorno, vorrei un biglietto per il centro, per favore.' Then, when the clerk asks 'Solo andata o andata e ritorno?', answer 'Solo andata, per favore.' Finally, ask 'Quanto costa?' and listen for the price.
Buying a round-trip ticket to the airport with a return time
You are at an airport ticket counter. You need a round-trip ticket to the airport. The clerk asks: 'Buongiorno, come posso aiutarla?'
Your task: Say: 'Vorrei un biglietto andata e ritorno per l'aeroporto, per favore.' When the clerk asks 'Quando vuole tornare?', answer with a specific day and time: 'Vorrei tornare domenica alle sei di sera.' Then ask 'Quanto costa?' to confirm the price.
Asking prices to compare two destinations
You are at a tourist information desk. You want to know how much a ticket costs to two different places: the centre and the airport. You have not decided which to buy yet.
Your task: Ask: 'Quanto costa un biglietto per il centro?' Listen to the answer. Then ask: 'E per l'aeroporto?' Listen again. If you did not catch a price, say 'Scusi, può ripetere?'
Common questions
What if the clerk speaks too fast and I only catch the price?
Focus on the number and the word 'euro'. If you miss it, say 'Scusi, può ripetere?' or 'Può ripetere il prezzo, per favore?' You can also repeat the price back as a question: 'Due euro e cinquanta?' The clerk will confirm or correct you.
Do I need to say 'per favore' every time?
It is not mandatory, but it makes your request sound polite. Adding 'per favore' at the end of a request is a simple habit that works in almost any situation. For a softer tone, start with 'Vorrei' instead of 'Voglio'.
Sources and further reading
- italian: buy a single ticketChecked September 2026
- italian: buy a return ticketChecked September 2026
- italian: ask for the price of a ticketChecked September 2026
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