#5 Asking About Hotel Facilities｜Swedish Travel Expressions
Haruno NAVIA
#3 Taking a Taxi｜Swedish Daily Life Phrases
Haruno
When using a taxi in Sweden, it is important to clearly communicate your destination.
During a taxi ride, you may need to confirm the route or specify a drop-off point depending on the situation. Having a good grasp of the basic expressions will make the process much smoother.
In this article, I introduce useful Swedish expressions for taking a taxi, along with sample dialogues.
Contents
Dialogue
Hej! Kan du köra mig till Centralstationen?
（Hello. Could you take me to the central station?）
Självklart. Föredrar du att vi tar motorvägen eller vägen genom centrum?
（Of course. Would you prefer the motorway route or the route through the city center?）
Motorvägen blir bra. Hur lång tid tar det ungefär?
（The motorway is fine. How long will it take approximately?）
Ungefär tio minuter, beroende på trafiken.
（Around ten minutes, depending on the traffic.）
Okej. Kan du säga till när vi är nära stationen?
（Alright. Could you let me know when we are close to the station?）
Absolut.
（Certainly.）
1. Stating Your Destination
When getting into a taxi, the first thing to do is inform the driver of your destination.
- Kan du köra mig till Centralstationen?
（Could you take me to the central station?）
The phrase “Kan du köra mig … ?” literally means “Can you drive me to … ?” and is a polite way to make a request.
- Kan du köra mig till hotellet?
(Could you take me to the hotel?) - Kan du köra mig till flygplatsen?
(Please take me to the airport.) - Kan du köra mig till Universitetet?
(Please take me to the university.)
This expression is useful in both travel and business settings.
2. Confirming the Route
Drivers may sometimes confirm the preferred route, especially in cities like Stockholm where traffic or construction may affect the way.
- Föredrar du att vi tar motorvägen eller vägen genom centrum?
(Would you prefer the motorway route or the route through the city center?)
Here, “föredrar du … ?” is a polite expression meaning “Do you prefer … ?”
Possible responses:
- Motorvägen blir bra.
(The motorway is fine.) - Vi kan ta vägen genom centrum.
(We can take the route through the city center.)
“The phrase “blir bra” conveys a soft, agreeable tone similar to “That works for me.”
3. Asking About Travel Time
If you are unfamiliar with the area or are on a tight schedule, it is a good idea to ask about the approximate travel time.
- Hur lång tid tar det ungefär?
(How long will it take approximately?)
Using “ungefär” (about/approximately) allows the driver to answer with some flexibility.
Example answer:
- Ungefär tio minuter, beroende på trafiken.
(Around ten minutes, depending on the traffic.)
The phrase “beroende på trafiken” indicates that the time may vary according to traffic conditions.
4. Asking the Driver to Notify You Before Arrival
In an unfamiliar city, it can be difficult to know exactly when to get off. For peace of mind, you can ask the driver to let you know when you are close.
- Kan du säga till när vi är nära stationen?
(Could you let me know when we are close to the station?)
The expression “säga till” means “to call out” or “to notify,” and in this context it means “please let me know.”
Other useful variations:
- Kan du säga till när vi är framme?
(Please let me know when we arrive.) - Kan du säga till när vi är nära hotellet?
(Please let me know when we are close to the hotel.)
Summary
- Kan du köra mig till 〜 ?
→ A basic phrase for giving your destination in a taxi. - Motorvägen blir bra. / Vi kan ta vägen genom centrum.
→ Useful expressions for indicating your preferred route. - Hur lång tid tar det ungefär?
→ A polite way to ask about the expected travel time. - Kan du säga till när vi är nära stationen?
→ A request to notify you when nearing your destination.
