#286 Getting a Tourist Brochure at a Tourist Information Center｜French Travel Phrases

Tourist information centers often provide free brochures containing information about local attractions, events, and maps of the surrounding area.

When you visit a city for the first time, these brochures can help you explore popular sights more efficiently.

In this article, I will explain useful French expressions for asking for a tourist brochure at a tourist information center, along with important grammar points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. Auriez-vous un dépliant touristique de la ville ?
（Hello. Do you have a tourist brochure for the city?）

B

Oui, bien sûr. En voici un.
（Yes, of course. Here is one.）

A

Merci. Quels sont les sites touristiques les plus populaires ?
（Thank you. What are the most popular tourist attractions?）

B

Je vous recommande le centre historique et le musée de la ville.
（I recommend the historic center and the city museum.）

A

D’accord. Merci beaucoup pour votre aide.
（I see. Thank you very much for your help.）

1. Asking for a Tourist Brochure

When you arrive at a tourist information center, the first thing you may want to do is ask whether a brochure is available.

The expression “Auriez-vous … ?” uses the present conditional form of the verb “avoir” (to have). It can be translated as “Do you have … ?” or “Could I have … ?”

The conditional mood adds a polite nuance similar to “if possible.” For this reason, it is commonly used when making requests at tourist information centers, hotels, shops, and other public places.

The phrase “dépliant touristique” means “tourist brochure.” The noun “dépliant” refers to a folded brochure or leaflet, while “touristique” means “tourist” or “tourism-related.”

The expression “de la ville” specifies which brochure you are looking for by indicating that it relates to the city.

2. Asking About Popular Tourist Attractions

After receiving a brochure, you may want to ask for recommendations on places worth visiting.

The word “quel” is an interrogative adjective meaning “which” or “what.” Its form changes according to the gender and number of the noun that follows.

In this sentence, “sites touristiques” is masculine plural, so “quels” is used.

The phrase “les plus populaires” is a superlative expression meaning “the most popular.” 

This type of structure is frequently used when asking about major attractions.

Because “sites touristiques” is plural, the superlative also takes the plural form “les plus populaires.”

3. Receiving Recommendations

In the dialogue, the staff member recommends two attractions.

The structure “Je vous recommande + noun” means “I recommend … to you.”

The verb “recommander” means “to recommend.” In this sentence, “vous” refers to the person receiving the recommendation.

The attractions “le centre historique” (the historic center) and “le musée de la ville” (the city museum) are connected by “et,” the French conjunction meaning “and.”

Notice that “Je vous recommande de + infinitive” means “I recommend doing something.”

Using the appropriate structure will make your French sound more natural.

Summary