turismo
/tuˈɾismo/masculine
The English phrase "sightseeing" is translated into Spanish as turismo.
turismo is the noun used for the general concept of tourism. However, when you want to express the action of "going sightseeing," the standard verbal phrase to use is hacer turismo.
Meaning: tourism (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word turismo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/tuˈɾismo/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, turismo can refer to the types of cars that are designed for long-distance travel and comfort rather than just the act of sightseeing.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you are walking around just to look at things without a specific destination, you might be described as turistear, a colloquial verb derived from turista.
- While turismo describes the act of sightseeing, the word turista can sometimes carry a negative connotation, implying a superficial visitor who doesn't respect local culture.
Examples in context
- Nuestro plan de turismo incluye visitar todos los famosos monumentos de la ciudad.Our sightseeing plan includes visiting all the famous monuments in the city.
- Durante nuestra estancia en Madrid, planeamos recorrer la ciudad para apreciar su rica historia.During our stay in Madrid, we plan to tour the city to appreciate its rich history.
- Esta tarde iremos a visitar algunos lugares de interés de la isla.This afternoon we will go to visit some places of interest on the island.
- Vamos a pasear por el centro histórico y disfrutar de la arquitectura de la ciudad.We're going to go sightseeing in the historic center and enjoy the city's architecture.
- Nos gustaría conocer los principales atractivos turísticos de la región.We would like to explore the main tourist attractions in the region.
- Me gusta hacer turismo por la ciudad.I like to go sightseeing around the city.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are planning a trip to Madrid.
- MateoLucía, ¿qué quieres hacer en Madrid?Lucía, what do you want to do in Madrid?
- LucíaQuiero hacer un poco de turismo.I want to do a bit of sightseeing.
- MateoPodemos visitar los museos más famosos.We can visit the most famous museums.
- Lucía¡Perfecto! Me encanta el turismo cultural.Perfect! I love cultural tourism.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sightseeing” translations and entries turismo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
