Prepare for likely moments
Learn travel Greek by situation
A short phrase is most useful when you can retrieve it at the right moment and understand the likely response. Organise your practice around arrival, transport, accommodation, food, directions, payment, and safety. Choose a few lines from each section rather than trying to memorise the entire page at once.
Pronunciation cues are temporary support. Listen to native Modern Greek, follow the written stress mark, and keep the Greek text visible. Polite forms are a safe default with staff and people you do not know.
Travel situation
Airport
Πού είναι οι αναχωρήσεις;
Poú íne i anahorísis?Where are departures?Ask after entering the terminal.Πού είναι η πύλη δώδεκα;
Poú íne i píli dódeka?Where is gate twelve?Change the number as needed.Πού είναι η παραλαβή αποσκευών;
Poú íne i paralaví aposkevón?Where is baggage reclaim?After landing.Έχασα την πτήση μου.
Éhasa tin ptísi mou.I missed my flight.Useful at an airline desk.
Travel situation
Taxi
Στο ξενοδοχείο, παρακαλώ.
Sto xenodohío, parakaló.To the hotel, please.Add the hotel name after ξενοδοχείο.Πόσο θα κοστίσει περίπου;
Póso tha kostísi perípou?How much will it cost approximately?Ask before setting off when helpful.Μπορείτε να με αφήσετε εδώ;
Boríte na me afísete edó?Can you drop me here?A polite request.Έχετε απόδειξη;
Éhete apódixi?Do you have a receipt?Ask at the end of the journey.
Travel situation
Hotel
Έχω κράτηση στο όνομα…
Ého krátisi sto ónoma…I have a booking under the name…Give your surname after όνομα.Τι ώρα είναι το πρωινό;
Ti óra íne to proinó?What time is breakfast?A useful check-in question.Πού είναι το δωμάτιό μου;
Poú íne to domátió mou?Where is my room?Ask after receiving the key.Δεν λειτουργεί το κλιματιστικό.
Den liturgí to klimatistikó.The air conditioning isn’t working.A clear way to report the problem.
Travel situation
Restaurant
Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ.
Éna trapézi ya dío, parakaló.A table for two, please.Change the number for your group.Τι προτείνετε;
Ti protínete?What do you recommend?Polite or plural form.Θα ήθελα αυτό, παρακαλώ.
Tha íthela aftó, parakaló.I would like this, please.Pointing can supply the missing dish name.Χωρίς κρέας, παρακαλώ.
Horís kréas, parakaló.Without meat, please.State a simple dietary preference.Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.
Ton logariasmó, parakaló.The bill, please.Use when you are ready to pay.
Travel situation
Coffee shop
Έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ.
Énan kafé, parakaló.A coffee, please.A simple order using the form έναν with καφέ.Έναν καφέ χωρίς ζάχαρη.
Énan kafé horís záhari.A coffee without sugar.Add παρακαλώ to make the request warmer.Για εδώ ή για πακέτο;
Ya edó i ya pakéto?For here or to take away?A question you may hear from the server.Ένα μπουκάλι νερό, παρακαλώ.
Éna boukáli neró, parakaló.A bottle of water, please.A complete practical request.
Travel situation
Directions
Πού είναι…;
Poú íne…?Where is…?Add a place, such as το μουσείο.Πώς πάω στο κέντρο;
Pos páo sto kéndro?How do I get to the centre?Useful when walking or taking public transport.Είναι μακριά;
Íne makriá?Is it far?A short follow-up question.Αριστερά ή δεξιά;
Aristerá i dexiá?Left or right?Confirm the direction.
Travel situation
Shopping
Πόσο κάνει;
Póso káni?How much is it?For one item.Έχετε μικρότερο μέγεθος;
Éhete mikrótero méyethos?Do you have a smaller size?Polite or plural form.Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;
Boró na pliróso me kárta?Can I pay by card?Ask before paying.Θα πάρω αυτό.
Tha páro aftó.I’ll take this.A clear way to finish choosing.
Travel situation
Emergencies
Βοήθεια!
Voíthia!Help!Use when you need immediate attention.Χρειάζομαι γιατρό.
Hriázome yatró.I need a doctor.A direct emergency request.Καλέστε την αστυνομία.
Kaléste tin astinomía.Call the police.Polite command used in an emergency.Έχασα το διαβατήριό μου.
Éhasa to diavatírió mou.I lost my passport.Useful at a police station or consulate.Πού είναι το φαρμακείο;
Poú íne to farmakío?Where is the pharmacy?For non-life-threatening health needs.
Three patterns to reuse
Carry flexible sentence frames
Πού είναι…; asks where something is. Έχετε…; asks whether someone has something. Μπορώ να…; asks whether you can do something. Learn each as a whole opening, then add a place, item, or action you need.
Also learn repair phrases such as Δεν καταλαβαίνω and Πιο αργά, παρακαλώ. They are not signs that the conversation failed. They are tools for keeping it going.
Before you leave
Practise both sides of the exchange
- Choose one situation, such as checking into a hotel.
- Say your opening line without reading.
- Listen to or imagine the most likely reply.
- Prepare one follow-up question.
- Repeat at a natural, comfortable pace.
- Save emergency phrases somewhere available offline.
Understanding a likely answer is as important as delivering your first sentence. Build small dialogues, not just isolated requests.
Arrive with useful Greek
Practise real-life travel situations with GreekMate
Move from phrase recognition into guided listening and speaking for cafés, transport, hotels, and everyday encounters.
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