How to Ask for Transportation to the Airport in Spanish
Learn to ask 'What's the best way to the airport?' in Latin American Spanish and understand answers about trains, buses, and taxis.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need to get to the airport in a Spanish-speaking city, the most useful question you can ask is ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto? This lesson teaches you that question, the words for train, bus, and taxi, and how to understand a simple answer. You will practice polite, broadly useful Latin American Spanish that works in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and beyond.
By the end, you can…
- ask what the best way to the airport is.
- name and recognize train, bus, and taxi in Spanish.
- understand a short answer about which transport to take.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto?
What's the best way to get to the airport?
KWAHL es la meh-HOR ma-NEH-rah deh yeh-GAR al ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh
The main question of this lesson. Use it with hotel staff, a taxi driver, or anyone local.
¿Cómo puedo llegar al aeropuerto?
How can I get to the airport?
KOH-moh PWEH-doh yeh-GAR al ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh
A simpler, very common alternative to the main question.
¿Es mejor ir en tren o en autobús?
Is it better to go by train or by bus?
es meh-HOR eer en tren oh en ow-toh-BOOS
Use this when you already know two options and want a comparison.
¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi?
Where can I get a taxi?
DON-deh PWEH-doh toh-MAR oon TAHK-see
Tomar un taxi means to take or catch a taxi. Useful at a hotel or station.
¿Cuánto cuesta el boleto?
How much does the ticket cost?
KWAN-toh KWES-tah el boh-LEH-toh
Boleto is common in Mexico and much of Latin America. In Argentina and Chile you may hear pasaje.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de + infinitive? It means 'What's the best way to...?' You can swap the ending: ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al centro? (to get downtown) or ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de ir a la playa? (to go to the beach). For transport, add en + vehicle: en tren (by train), en autobús (by bus), en taxi (by taxi). Note that Spanish uses en where English often uses 'by'.
When to use it
Use these questions when you are planning a trip and want local advice. With hotel staff, ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto? is polite and clear. With a taxi driver, ¿Cuánto cuesta? is more direct. In casual conversation, ¿Cómo puedo llegar al aeropuerto? sounds natural. If someone answers 'Es mejor en tren', they mean the train is the better option. Listen for 'Es mejor...' to identify the recommendation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Disculpe, ¿cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto?
Excuse me, what's the best way to get to the airport?dees-KOOL-peh, KWAHL es la meh-HOR ma-NEH-rah deh yeh-GAR al ah-eh-roh-PWER-tohEs mejor ir en tren. Es rápido y barato.
It's better to go by train. It's fast and cheap.es meh-HOR eer en tren. es RAH-pee-doh ee bah-RAH-toh¿Dónde puedo tomar el tren?
Where can I catch the train?DON-deh PWEH-doh toh-MAR el trenEn la estación central. También hay autobuses y taxis.
At the central station. There are also buses and taxis.en la es-tah-SYON sen-TRAL. tam-BYEN eye ow-toh-BOO-ses ee TAHK-seesA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American cities, the airport bus is called autobús, but you may also hear colectivo (Argentina), camión (Mexico, for city buses), or guagua (Caribbean). Taxis are widely available, but agree on the fare or use an app before you get in. In formal situations, use usted forms like Disculpe and ¿Cuál es...? with strangers.
One thing to watch for
Saying ¿Cuál es la mejor manera a llegar al aeropuerto?
Try this instead: After manera de, use the infinitive without a: ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto? The preposition de is required before the verb. Also avoid 'por tren' for 'by train'; use en tren.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What's the best way to get to the airport?'
Show a sample answer
¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto?
This uses the pattern ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de + infinitive. ¿Cómo puedo llegar al aeropuerto? is also correct and slightly simpler.
2What does 'Es mejor ir en autobús' mean?
Show a sample answer
It's better to go by bus.
Es mejor means 'it's better', ir means 'to go', and en autobús means 'by bus'. The answer recommends the bus.
3How do you ask where to catch a taxi?
Show a sample answer
¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi?
¿Dónde puedo...? means 'Where can I...?' and tomar un taxi means 'to catch a taxi'. You could also say ¿Dónde hay taxis? (Where are there taxis?).
Ask ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de llegar al aeropuerto? and listen for en tren, en autobús, or en taxi. Use en for the vehicle, and remember boleto for your ticket.
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