Unless you’re planning on constantly using a GPS to find your way in a French-speaking country, you will have aucun autre choix (no other choice) but to learn how to ask people for directions in French—and, equally as important, be able to understand them!

You can randomly choose un passant (a passerby), preferably one who doesn’t look to be in a particular hurry, politely apologize for stopping him or her by saying something like: “Je vous demande pardon monsieur/madame.“

Once you’ve got their attention, you may continue by saying: “Puis-je vous demander mon chemin?” (“May I ask you for directions?”) Or you could be even more specific by saying: “Savez-vous où se trouve…?” (“Do you where… is located?”)

If the person you asked notices that you’re desperately lost, there is a chance that he or she may decide to go along with you and show you the way (Yes, even in Paris, it’s still possible!)

If you’re really having a hard time finding l’endroit (the place), you could ask the person to come with you and show you where it is: “Pouvez-vous me montrer où ça se trouve?” (“Could you show me where that is?”), or “Pouvez-vous m’y conduire s’il vous plait?” (“Could you please take me there?”)

Usually, when the hypothetical bon samaritain (the good samaritan) shows you the place, he or she would end up saying: “la voilà” or “le voilà” (“here it is”)!

The following list contains the street directions most frequently used in French-speaking countries:

• Direction nord (North direction)  
• Direction sud (South direction)
• Direction est (East direction)
  
• Direction ouest (West direction)
• La prochaine rue (The next street)

• Allez tout droit (Go straight ahead)
• Tournez à droite (Turn right)
• Tournez à gauche (Turn left)
• Allez à droite (Go on the right)
• Allez à gauche (Go on the left)  
• Au coin de… (At the corner of…)
• Au centre de… (At the center of…)
• Devant, or en face de…(In front of…)  
  
• Derrière (Behind) 
• Là-bas (Over there)
• Le centre-ville (The city center, downtown)
• À côté de… (Next to…)