Finding a Train Station in Europe
Many backpackers have in their mind to go backpack around Europe for a summer and use the trains. European travel becomes (rightfully) associated with trains. They are usually reliable, if not always punctual. If you plan ahead, they are not dreadfully expensive.
Sometimes the problem can be as simple as finding the train station in a foreign language, so here is a short guide. Instead of going for automated translations online, I reached out to friends on Twitter for a more personal touch. Much thanks to everyone.
English
So, reading this, I assume English is not a problem, so the easy one out of the way early.
French
TrainTrain
Train StationGare
Where is the train station?Où est la gare?
How do I get to the train station?Comment arriver à la gare? (Literally, how to arrive at the station)
Translation Credit: Christine at Why Go France
German
TrainZug
Train StationBahnhof
Where is the train station?Wo ist der Bahnhof?
How do I get to a train station?Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof?
Translation Credit: Andrew at Grounded Traveler
Spanish
TrainTren
Train StationEstacion de Tren
Where is the train station?Donde esta la estacion de tren?
How do I get to a train station?Como llego a la estacion de tren?
Translation Credit: Jaime at Breakaway Backpacker
Italian
Traintreno
Train Stationstazione
Where is the train station?Dov’é la stazione?
How do I get to the train station?Mi scusi, per la stazione? (it literally means “excuse me, to the station?”)
Translation Credit: Guilia at Travel Reportage
Czech
Trainvlak ( pronounced ‘vlak’)
Train stationnadrazi vlak (nadraji vlak)
Where is the train station?kdeje vlakove nadrazi (dayee vlakovoo nadraji)
How do I get to the train station?jak se dostanu na vlakove nadrazi ( yak say dostanoo na vlakovoo nadraji
Translation Credit: Tereza Konasova.
September 13, 2013 @ 5:55 am
Forgot the accents in Spanish, brah.
February 26, 2012 @ 6:13 am
Glad to see the post come together Andrew and what a useful one it is too!
February 26, 2012 @ 7:12 pm
Thanks so much for the help and Czech contact. It took me a while to get back to it, but I like how it turned out.
February 25, 2012 @ 3:16 pm
Very useful!
Thanks for including me in the post and I hope my translation helped you during your stay in Italy 🙂
(Thanks for the Czech part, I found it very hard to get directions in Prague! Next time I know where to look for useful phrases)
February 26, 2012 @ 7:10 pm
Thanks for the help with the translations. The only place we got lost was in Venice looking for our hotel. This has nothing to do with language, just that Venice is pretty confusing.
February 24, 2012 @ 10:43 pm
This is extremely helpful! I’m a big fan of trains in Europe, ! I’ve also been to the station in Karlsruhe! Nice pic!
February 25, 2012 @ 12:49 am
Thanks, I’m glad it helps. Karlsruhe is a funny place for me. I am often there just trying to get home.
February 24, 2012 @ 2:50 pm
When I see translations… I always wonder. Why is it we use the same letters, but when put in an other order we don’t understand a single thing? Does that make since… Maybe it doesn’t but lol I know what I am trying to say, but don’t think I can write it…lol!!!
February 24, 2012 @ 4:39 pm
Jaime, you are so silly!
February 25, 2012 @ 12:31 am
Hilarious and I think similar things sometimes. Especially things about how the same letter can sound different in different languages and sometimes even in different words.
February 24, 2012 @ 1:29 pm
I like the German expression when you want to say you didn’t understand a thing: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof!
February 24, 2012 @ 10:31 pm
YES! It’s German sarcasm because the joke is that no one can understand the person over the intercom. Except for when they announce when a train will be fünf Minuten verspätet!
PS- I love Hamburg! I will hopefully be moving over later this year 🙂
February 25, 2012 @ 12:48 am
As mentioned I love that phrase too. I talked about it a while back here:https://groundedtraveler.com/2011/01/03/fun-with-translation/ Check down in the comments. One mentions that the phrase comes from soldiers only interested in going home and nothing else. I like the intercom explanation too.
Hamburg is really cool. There are a number of great English speaking bloggers in Germany. Look up WEBMU if you do end up over here.
February 25, 2012 @ 12:30 am
Yeah, one of my favorite phrases too.
February 24, 2012 @ 5:12 am
These are fantastic! Very simple and easy and no long phrases. Really helps with basic navigation without needing a phrasebook. More phrases would be handy for getting specific details on trains but I like this simple approach to help people with some basic language understand for trains.
February 25, 2012 @ 12:29 am
Thanks. If it ends up being popular maybe I’ll do another for “riding the rails”. One problem at a time.