How to Ask About Distance in Italian: 'Is It Far From Here?'
Learn to ask 'È lontano da qui?' in Italian, understand time estimates like 'a piedi' and 'in macchina', and ask how long it takes to get somewhere.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you ask for directions in Italian, the answer often includes distance and time: 'È lontano?' (Is it far?) or 'Quanto tempo ci vuole?' (How long does it take?). This lesson teaches you to ask whether a place is far from where you are, to understand common time estimates, and to clarify whether someone means walking or driving. You will practise the key question 'È lontano da qui?' and the answers Italians actually give, such as 'Sono dieci minuti a piedi' (It's ten minutes on foot). The focus stays on distance and travel time, so you can judge whether to walk or take transport.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a place is far from here using 'È lontano da qui?'
- understand and give simple time estimates such as 'Sono dieci minuti a piedi' or 'Ci vogliono venti minuti in autobus'
- ask how long it takes to get somewhere with 'Quanto tempo ci vuole?'
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
È lontano da qui?
Is it far from here?
eh lon-TAH-noh dah kwee
Use for a place that is grammatically masculine, such as il centro, il museo, il duomo. The final -o in lontano matches masculine nouns. Note that lontano here describes the place, not the speaker, so the ending follows the noun's gender.
È lontana da qui?
Is it far from here?
eh lon-TAH-nah dah kwee
Use when the place is feminine, such as la stazione, la spiaggia, la piazza. The final -a in lontana matches feminine nouns.
Quanto tempo ci vuole?
How long does it take?
KWAHN-toh TEHM-poh chee VWOH-leh
A very common fixed question. Use it after asking about distance to get a time estimate.
Sono dieci minuti a piedi.
It's ten minutes on foot.
SOH-noh DYEH-chee mee-NOO-tee ah PYEH-dee
A typical answer. Change dieci to another number as needed. 'A piedi' means on foot and is the standard phrase. Note that the verb is plural (sono) because minuti is plural.
Ci vogliono venti minuti in autobus.
It takes twenty minutes by bus.
chee VOHL-yoh-noh VEN-tee mee-NOO-tee een OW-toh-boos
Use 'ci vogliono' with a plural time expression like venti minuti. For a singular expression, use 'ci vuole': Ci vuole un'ora. The verb agrees with the time expression, not with the destination.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'È lontano da qui?' or 'È lontana da qui?' The word lontano behaves like an adjective, so it changes to match the noun you are asking about: il centro è lontano, la stazione è lontana. If you are not sure of the gender, you can use the neutral question 'È lontano?' and point, but 'da qui' makes the meaning 'from here' explicit. To ask about time, use 'Quanto tempo ci vuole?' The answer often uses 'ci vuole' with a singular time unit, for example 'Ci vuole un'ora' (It takes an hour), and 'ci vogliono' with a plural time unit, for example 'Ci vogliono quindici minuti' (It takes fifteen minutes). Here the verb agrees with the time expression, not with the destination.
When to use it
Use these questions when you are deciding whether to walk or take transport. 'È lontano da qui?' is perfect at a hotel desk, in a shop, or on the street. If the answer is 'No, è vicino' (No, it's close), you can follow with 'Quanto tempo ci vuole a piedi?' (How long does it take on foot?). If the answer is 'Sì, è lontano' (Yes, it's far), ask 'Quanto tempo ci vuole in autobus?' or 'in macchina?' (by car). In many Italian cities, people also say 'a piedi' for walking and 'in autobus' or 'in tram' for public transport. Regional note: in some northern areas you may hear 'in corriera' for a regional bus, while 'in pullman' often refers to a coach.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, il Duomo è lontano da qui?
Excuse me, is the Duomo far from here?SKOO-zee, eel DWOH-moh eh lon-TAH-noh dah kweeNo, non è lontano. Sono quindici minuti a piedi.
No, it's not far. It's fifteen minutes on foot.noh, nohn eh lon-TAH-noh. SOH-noh kween-DEE-chee mee-NOO-tee ah PYEH-deeQuanto tempo ci vuole in autobus?
How long does it take by bus?KWAHN-toh TEHM-poh chee VWOH-leh een OW-toh-boosCi vogliono cinque minuti, ma l'autobus passa ogni venti minuti.
It takes five minutes, but the bus comes every twenty minutes.chee VOHL-yoh-noh CHEEN-kweh mee-NOO-tee, mah LOW-toh-boos PAHS-sah OHN-yee VEN-tee mee-NOO-teeA little context goes a long way
Italians often answer a distance question with a time estimate rather than kilometres, especially in cities. 'È lontano?' may get 'Sono dieci minuti a piedi' rather than a number of metres. Politeness matters: start with 'Scusi' (Excuse me) when approaching a stranger, and use 'per favore' if you need to ask a follow-up. In tourist areas, English is common, but trying Italian first is usually appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'È lontano da qui?' for a feminine place like la stazione, or using 'ci vuole' with a plural time expression.
Try this instead: Match the adjective to the noun: 'La stazione è lontana da qui?' Use 'ci vuole' with singular time units and 'ci vogliono' with plural ones: 'Ci vuole un'ora' but 'Ci vogliono due ore'. If you are unsure of the gender, you can ask 'È lontano?' while pointing, but the more precise form is better.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Ask whether the station (la stazione) is far from here.
Show a sample answer
La stazione è lontana da qui?
Stazione is feminine, so lontano becomes lontana. 'Da qui' means from here. You could also ask 'È lontana la stazione?' with the same meaning.
2You hear 'Ci vogliono venti minuti a piedi.' What does it mean, and is the place close or far?
Show a sample answer
It means 'It takes twenty minutes on foot.' Twenty minutes on foot is usually considered close enough to walk, though it depends on the person and the weather.
'Ci vogliono' is used because venti minuti is plural. 'A piedi' means on foot. The answer gives a time estimate rather than a distance in kilometres.
3How would you ask 'How long does it take by bus?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Quanto tempo ci vuole in autobus?
'Quanto tempo ci vuole?' is the fixed question for how long something takes. 'In autobus' specifies the means of transport. You can replace autobus with macchina, tram, or treno.
Ask 'È lontano da qui?' or 'È lontana da qui?' to check distance, then use 'Quanto tempo ci vuole?' to get a time estimate. Remember 'ci vuole' with singular time and 'ci vogliono' with plural time.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Italian into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr