Say where you are going, coming from and how far
A marks the destination. Remember the contraction: a + el = al.
Voy a Madrid. (I am going to Madrid.)
Vamos al cine. (We are going to the cinema.) — a + el = al
De = from (origin). Desde = from, emphasising the starting point. Contraction: de + el = del.
Vengo de la oficina. (I am coming from the office.)
Salgo del trabajo a las seis. (I leave work at six.) — de + el = del
Desde mi casa hasta la estación hay un kilómetro. (From my house to the station it is one kilometre.)
Hacia = towards (direction, you may not arrive). Hasta = up to / as far as (the limit).
Caminamos hacia el centro. (We walk towards the centre.)
Este autobús va hasta la playa. (This bus goes as far as the beach.)
Por covers movement through or along a place.
Paseamos por el parque. (We stroll through the park.)
El tren pasa por Toledo. (The train passes through Toledo.)
For means of transport, Spanish uses en: en coche, en tren, en avión. Exception: a pie (on foot) and a caballo.
Viajamos en tren. (We travel by train.)
Voy al trabajo a pie. (I walk to work.)
Traps for English speakers
These are the errors English speakers make most often.