Excuse me, does this bus go to the city centre?
Stress 'AU-to-bus' on the first syllable; 'centro' is 'CHEN-tro'.
Use this when you are unsure whether the bus at the stop goes to the city centre. It is a quick, polite question suitable for any stranger at the stop. Switch to 'Scusi' for a more formal tone.
'Scusa' is the informal imperative of 'scusare'. 'Va' is the third-person singular present of 'andare'. In Italian cities the historic centre is always called 'il centro', making this phrase universally understood.
Scusi, questo autobus va al centro?
Excuse me (formal), does this bus go to the city centre?
Formal version — use with strangers, elderly people or officials.
Questo bus passa per il centro?
Does this bus pass through the centre?
'Passa per' implies the bus goes through without necessarily terminating there.
Sa dirmi se questo autobus arriva al centro?
Could you tell me if this bus reaches the centre?
Very polite, often used when approaching someone who looks busy.
In most Italian cities, 'il centro' or 'il centro storico' is the beating heart of daily life. Locals give directions relative to the centre, so knowing this phrase unlocks most journeys.