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PhrasesOn the MetroQuanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare a…?
A2

Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare a…?

How long does it take to get to…?

Pronunciation

'Vuole' — VWOH-le. The 'u' after 'v' is a glide making a 'vw' sound at the start.

When to use it

Use this to plan your journey time. Replace the ellipsis with your destination. Works with any transport type, not just the metro.

What it means

'Ci vuole' (singular) or 'ci vogliono' (plural) is the impersonal form of 'volere' used to express time needed: 'Ci vogliono venti minuti' (It takes twenty minutes). This is one of the most useful impersonal constructions in Italian and appears constantly in daily life.

Variations

Ci vogliono molti minuti?

Does it take many minutes?

Vague yes/no version when you just need a rough idea.

È lontano in metro?

Is it far by metro?

Asks for relative distance rather than exact time.

In metro o a piedi, cosa è meglio?

By metro or on foot, which is better?

Asks for a comparison to help decide.

Mini Dialogue

— Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare al Vaticano? — In metro fino a Ottaviano, poi dieci minuti a piedi. — In tutto, più o meno? — Venti-venticinque minuti da qui.

— How long does it take to get to the Vatican? — By metro to Ottaviano, then ten minutes on foot. — In total, more or less? — Twenty to twenty-five minutes from here.

Cultural Note

St Peter's Basilica is closest to metro stop Ottaviano on line A. The Vatican Museums have a separate entrance — allow an extra 10–15 minutes of walking from the metro. Taxis from Termini take about the same time but cost much more.