Learning to ask for and give directions is an essential skill for anyone navigating a French-speaking area. Whether you’re a tourist exploring France or a language student looking to practice your French, knowing these phrases will prove invaluable.

Où est – “Where is”
This is the perfect starting point to ask for the location of a place or object.
Excusez-moi, où est la gare, s’il vous plaît?

Comment aller à – “How to go to”
Use this phrase when you want to know the route or method to reach a certain place.
Pouvez-vous me dire comment aller à l’hôtel?

Tout droit – “Straight ahead”
This term is useful to indicate that one should go directly forward.
Continuez tout droit jusqu’au feu rouge.

Tournez – “Turn”
When giving or receiving directions, knowing how to indicate a turn is essential.
Tournez à la première rue à votre droite.

À gauche – “To the left”
This indicates a turn or direction towards the left.
C’est juste là, à gauche du supermarché.

À droite – “To the right”
Instructing to go or turn to the right.
Après le café, prenez à droite.

Prenez – “Take”
This verb is utilized when instructing someone to take a certain street or mode of transportation.
Prenez le bus numéro 5.

Continuez – “Continue”
Use this when you should proceed in a given direction or on a certain route.
Continuez pour deux pâtés de maisons.

Le carrefour – “The crossroads/intersection”
When describing a specific intersection where one might need to make a turn or choice of direction.
Au carrefour, vous verrez une pharmacie.

Le rond-point – “The roundabout”
This term is vital when navigating roundabouts, which are common in France.
Au rond-point, prenez la troisième sortie.

Le panneau – “The sign/signpost”
This noun is essential for following directions based on signage.
Suivez les panneaux pour le centre-ville.

La rue – “The street”
Discussing locations often involves naming streets, so knowing this word is key.
La boulangerie est rue de Rivoli.

L’avenue – “The avenue”
A wider type of street or road which is often a main thoroughfare.
L’avenue des Champs-Élysées est très connue.

Le boulevard – “The boulevard”
A large, multi-lane road, typically with trees lining the sides.
Le boulevard Saint-Michel est tout près d’ici.

La place – “The square”
An open, typically four-sided, space in a town, which is an important landmark.
Retrouvez-moi à la place de la Concorde.

À côté de – “Next to/Beside”
For articulating that a location is immediately adjacent to another.
La banque est à côté de l’épicerie.

En face de – “Opposite/Across from”
To indicate that something lies directly across from another location.
Le cinéma est en face de la poste.

Entre – “Between”
Useful for specifying that a place is situated between two other points.
Le café se trouve entre la librairie et la banque.

Près de/Proche de – “Near/Close to”
Both phrases can be used interchangeably to indicate proximity to a location.
Je cherche un restaurant qui est près du musée.

Using these phrases and terms combined with a polite “s’il vous plaît” (please) and a grateful “merci” (thank you) will make navigating the French-speaking world much smoother. Remembering these basics can take your travel or communication in a French environment from confusing to confident. Keep practicing, and soon, giving and understanding directions in French will be like second nature!