In this workshop, you will practice a short, useful exchange at street level: getting someone's attention, asking where the tourist office is, understanding a simple answer, and checking what services are available there. You will hear the same key lines in different ways, then speak them yourself in guided and recall tasks. The goal is not to memorize a long script, but to become comfortable with a few polite, high-frequency questions and replies. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer keys and self-checks to judge your own speaking.
Getting attention and asking the main question
Start by getting the other person's attention politely. A short excuse me is enough, and then you can ask your question. Two useful versions appear in the recordings. «¿Dónde está la oficina de turismo?» is a direct question: it means you are asking where the tourist office is. «Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la oficina de turismo?» is a slightly fuller version with the same purpose: you still ask where the tourist office is located, but the wording is a little more complete. «Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la oficina de turismo?» shows the same polite opening in a short dialogue, where speaker A begins the exchange. Practice saying each line slowly, then at a natural speed. Keep your voice calm and friendly. If you are the person answering, you can use a simple location reply such as «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.», which tells the listener that the place is two blocks away and next to the park. Notice that the reply gives both distance and a nearby landmark, which is common in everyday directions.
Checking for maps and guided tours
After you know where the office is, you may want to check what is available there. «¿Hay mapas de la ciudad?» asks whether there are maps of the city. This is a yes-or-no question, so listen for a short answer. «¿Ofrecen tours guiados?» asks whether guided tours are offered. Again, this is a yes-or-no question, and it is useful when you want to join an organized visit. In the dialogue, speaker A asks a follow-up question after thanking the other person: «Gracias. ¿Hay mapas de la ciudad allí?» means the speaker is asking whether city maps are available there. Speaker B answers with «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.», which confirms that maps are available and adds that guided tours are also offered there. When you practice, keep the two topics separate: first ask about maps, then ask about tours. Do not combine them into one long sentence until each question feels easy on its own.
Understanding the reply and keeping the exchange going
A short reply can contain two important pieces of information. «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» gives a distance and a landmark, so you can picture the route. «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.» gives a yes answer and adds an extra service. When you hear a reply, do not try to translate every word in your head. Instead, listen for the key words: the place, the distance, the landmark, and the service. Then respond with a simple thank you and, if you need more information, ask one clear follow-up question. «Gracias. ¿Hay mapas de la ciudad allí?» is a good model for a follow-up because it stays on the same topic and uses a short, polite question. If you are the person giving directions, keep your answer simple and use a landmark when you can. You can practice both roles: first as the visitor asking questions, then as the local person answering with «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» or «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.».
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Dónde está la oficina de turismo?
Where is the tourist office?
DON-deh es-TAH la oh-fee-SEE-nah deh too-REES-moh
Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la oficina de turismo?
Excuse me, where is the tourist office located?
dees-KOOL-peh, DON-deh KEH-dah la oh-fee-SEE-nah deh too-REES-moh
¿Hay mapas de la ciudad?
Are there maps of the city?
eye MAH-pahs deh la syoo-DAHD
¿Ofrecen tours guiados?
Do you offer guided tours?
oh-FREH-sehn toors gee-AH-dohs
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la oficina de turismo?
Excuse me, where is the tourist office?Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.
It's two blocks away, next to the park.Gracias. ¿Hay mapas de la ciudad allí?
Thank you. Are there city maps there?Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.
Yes, and they also offer guided tours.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You are a visitor in a new city. You see a friendly local person on the street. You want to find the tourist office and then check what is available there. Use the recorded lines as your model.
Your task: Play the role of the visitor. First, get attention and ask where the tourist office is. Use «Disculpe, ¿dónde queda la oficina de turismo?» as your model. Then, after you hear a location reply, thank the person and ask whether there are city maps there. Use «Gracias. ¿Hay mapas de la ciudad allí?» as your model. Say each line out loud twice: once slowly, once at a natural speed. If you are practicing with a partner, switch roles and let your partner answer with «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» and «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.».
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
You will hear or read two short replies. Your job is to understand what each reply tells you. This is a listening and comprehension task, not a speaking task yet.
Your task: Read or listen to «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» and «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.». For each one, choose the best description. Reply A: «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» — does it (a) give a distance and a landmark, or (b) ask a question about maps? Reply B: «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.» — does it (a) say no to maps and tours, or (b) confirm maps and mention guided tours? Say your answers out loud in English, then repeat the recorded line in Spanish.
Recall with correct roles
You have practiced the visitor's questions and the local person's answers. Now test your memory without looking at the lines. Imagine the same street scene, but this time you must remember who says what.
Your task: Cover the text. Say the visitor's opening question from memory. Then say the local person's location reply from memory. Next, say the visitor's follow-up question about maps. Finally, say the local person's reply about maps and tours. If you forget a line, uncover it, read it once, cover it again, and repeat. Do this until you can say all four lines without help.
Common questions
Do I need to understand every word in the reply?
No. For everyday directions, listen for the key information: the place, the distance, the landmark, and any service mentioned. «Está a dos cuadras, al lado del parque.» gives a distance and a landmark, and «Sí, y también ofrecen tours guiados.» confirms maps and mentions tours. If you catch those key points, you can respond politely and ask a short follow-up if you need more detail.
Can I practice both the visitor and the local person?
Yes. The recordings include both roles, so you can play the visitor asking questions and the local person answering. Start with the visitor's lines, then switch to the local person's lines. This helps you understand the whole exchange and makes it easier to respond naturally when someone speaks to you.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for a tourist information centerChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Spanish into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr