German for travel: café, trains, and shopping phrases that actually help
2026-08-01
Tourist phrasebooks dump hundreds of lines on you. You need a short set you can say under pressure—in a café queue, on a platform, or at a till in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
Below are high-value patterns. Practise them out loud (and with a tutor) until they feel automatic.
Café and restaurants
Ordering
- Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte. — I’d like a coffee, please.
- Für mich einen Tee, bitte. — A tea for me, please.
- Haben Sie auch Kuchen? — Do you also have cake?
During the visit
- Die Speisekarte, bitte. — The menu, please.
- Noch ein Wasser, bitte. — Another water, please.
- Das war alles, danke. — That’s all, thanks.
Paying
- Die Rechnung, bitte. — The bill, please.
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card?
- Stimmt so. — Keep the change.
Tip: hätte gern sounds more polite than blunt ich will.
Travel and transport
Finding your way
- Wo ist der Bahnhof, bitte? — Where is the station?
- Ist das hier der Zug nach …? — Is this the train to …?
- Wann fährt der nächste Bus? — When does the next bus leave?
Tickets
- Eine Fahrkarte nach Wien, bitte. — A ticket to Vienna, please.
- Einfach oder hin und zurück? — One-way or return? (you may hear this)
- Welches Gleis, bitte? — Which platform, please?
Hotels
- Ich habe eine Reservierung. — I have a reservation.
- Haben Sie ein Zimmer frei? — Do you have a room available?
Shopping
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much does that cost?
- Haben Sie das in Größe M? — Do you have that in size M?
- Ich schaue nur, danke. — I’m just looking, thanks.
- Kann ich das anprobieren? — Can I try this on?
- Nehmen Sie EC-Karte / Kreditkarte? — Do you take debit / credit cards?
Survival politeness (use constantly)
- Entschuldigung — Excuse me / sorry
- Bitte — Please / you’re welcome
- Danke schön — Thank you
- Sprechen Sie Englisch? — Do you speak English?
- Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? — Could you repeat that, please?
Most people will help if you start in German—even imperfect German.
How to practise so it sticks
- Pick one scenario (café, travel, or shopping).
- Speak for two minutes with Blebber’s Conversation topics for that setting.
- After each reply, notice one correction and reuse it in your next turn.
- Add related nouns to gender practice (der Bahnhof, die Fahrkarte, das Zimmer).
Travel German is not about knowing every word. It is about owning twenty phrases well enough that your brain finds them when the queue is moving.