Kinds of streets

Avenue — Also have trees or buildings on both sides.
Boulevard — A wide street in a city with trees or greenery on both sides. There’s generally a median in the middle of a boulevard.
Lane — A narrow road, often in a rural area.
Drive — A winding road that has its route shaped by natural features such as a lake or mountain.
Terrace — A road that runs along the top of a slope.
Place — A road with no throughway.
Court — A road with no throughway that ends in a loop or cul-de-sac.
Plaza or Square — An open public space that’s surrounded by businesses or streets.

When you’re in a country you don’t know, you can easily get lost at some point during the trip, even if you have a map. So it’s really useful to know how to ask for and understand directions in English so you can reach your destination. It’s also great to be able to give directions yourself to tourists or foreign colleagues.

So what words and phrases can help you give and ask for directions? Read on to find out!

It’s also helpful to know some common places people visit in a city, such as the following:

Here are some examples:

• Go along the street until you reach the traffic lights.
• You’ll see a bank on the left.
• It’s about two blocks from here.
• I prefer going to the airport on the highway because it’s faster.
• My office building is in front of the mall.
• Go straight on for about one kilometer.
• The cinema is next to the bank.

Asking for directions

When you ask for directions, remember, above all, to be polite. So start by saying one of the following phrases:

•  Hello, can you help me, please?
• Good morning. May I ask for some help?
• Excuse me, could you help?

Once you have someone’s attention, you can ask for help to reach your destination. You can do that by using one of these phrases:

• Could you tell me how to get to the bank?
• Do you know where the museum is?
• We can’t find the subway station. Is it near here?
• Where can we find a park near here?

If you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction, you can make sure by asking:

• Are we on the right road to the city center?
• Is this the right way to the mall?
• What’s the best way to get to the airport?