How to Ask When a Bus or Train Arrives in Italian
Learn to ask what time a bus or train arrives in Italian, use the verb arrivare, and talk about how long a journey takes.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If you already know how to ask when a bus or train leaves, the next useful skill is asking when it arrives. In Italian, this usually means using the verb arrivare (to arrive) with a time expression. You will also learn to ask how long a trip takes, because arrival and duration often appear together in real conversations. The phrases below are standard contemporary Italian and work at stations, bus stops, hotels, and ticket offices.
By the end, you can…
- ask what time a bus or train arrives in Italian.
- understand and give a simple answer about arrival time.
- ask how long a journey takes using quanto tempo.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
A che ora arriva il treno?
What time does the train arrive?
ah keh OH-rah ar-REE-vah eel TREH-noh
Standard question for a specific train. Use a che ora for 'at what time'.
A che ora arriva l'autobus?
What time does the bus arrive?
ah keh OH-rah ar-REE-vah LOW-toh-booss
L'autobus is common for city or regional bus. In northern Italy you may also hear il bus.
Quando arriva?
When does it arrive?
KWAHN-doh ar-REE-vah
Short and natural when the vehicle is already clear from context.
Quanto tempo ci vuole?
How long does it take?
KWAHN-toh TEM-poh chee VWOH-leh
Use this to ask about duration, not clock time. Ci vuole is a fixed expression meaning 'it takes'.
Arriva alle otto e mezza.
It arrives at eight thirty.
ar-REE-vah AL-leh OHT-toh eh MED-dzah
Use alle before a clock time. Mezza means half past.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is A che ora + arriva + subject. Examples: A che ora arriva il treno? A che ora arriva l'autobus? You can also ask A che ora arrivano i treni? for plural. The answer normally uses alle plus a time: Arriva alle nove. Arriva alle sette e un quarto. For duration, use Quanto tempo ci vuole? and answer with ci vuole or ci vogliono: Ci vuole un'ora. Ci vogliono due ore.
When to use it
Use A che ora arriva...? when you want the clock time of arrival. Use Quando arriva? when you simply want to know if it is soon or late. Use Quanto tempo ci vuole? when you want the length of the journey. At a ticket office you can combine them: A che ora arriva a Firenze? Quanto tempo ci vuole? If you are asking about a bus in a city, l'autobus is clear; in some regions people say il bus, especially in the north. Both are understood.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, a che ora arriva il treno per Roma?
Excuse me, what time does the train to Rome arrive?SKOO-zee, ah keh OH-rah ar-REE-vah eel TREH-noh per ROH-mahArriva alle dieci e venti.
It arrives at ten twenty.ar-REE-vah AL-leh DYEH-chee eh VEN-teeQuanto tempo ci vuole da qui?
How long does it take from here?KWAHN-toh TEM-poh chee VWOH-leh dah kweeCi vuole circa un'ora.
It takes about an hour.chee VWOH-leh CHEER-kah oo-NOH-rahA little context goes a long way
Italians often use scusi or mi scusi to open a question to a stranger, especially in a station or ticket office. With friends or family, scusa is normal. Regional usage matters: l'autobus is standard, but il bus is very common in northern Italy. At smaller stations, announcements may be only in Italian, so recognizing arriva and alle is practical.
One thing to watch for
Using a che ora for duration, as in A che ora ci vuole?
Try this instead: A che ora asks for a clock time, so it goes with arriva: A che ora arriva il treno? For duration, use Quanto tempo ci vuole? Example: Quanto tempo ci vuole per Milano?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What time does the bus arrive?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
A che ora arriva l'autobus?
This uses a che ora for clock time and arriva for 'arrives'. A che ora arriva il bus? is also acceptable, especially in northern Italy.
2Someone says: Arriva alle sette e mezza. What time is that?
Show a sample answer
7:30.
Sette e mezza means seven and a half, so 7:30. In Italian, mezza means half past the hour.
3How do you ask 'How long does it take?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Quanto tempo ci vuole?
Quanto tempo asks about duration, and ci vuole is the fixed expression for 'it takes'. For plural subjects, use ci vogliono.
Use A che ora arriva...? for arrival clock time and Quanto tempo ci vuole? for duration. Answer with alle plus the time, and remember that l'autobus and il bus are both understood.
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