Portuguese Phrase
Quanto tempo vai durar essa viagem?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the length of a trip, i.e., “How long will this trip last?”. It focuses on the duration rather than the distance or the destination.
When to use
Use this question when you are planning a journey, discussing an itinerary with friends, a travel agent, or a tour guide, and you need to know the expected length of the trip.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantotempovaiduraressaviagem?
Quanto tempo
Interrogative phrase meaning “how much time” or “how long”. It combines the interrogative adverb ‘quanto’ with the noun ‘tempo’.
Ir + infinitivo (vai durar)
The periphrastic future in Portuguese uses the verb ‘ir’ conjugated in the present + an infinitive. ‘Vai durar’ = ‘will last’.
Durar
Verb meaning ‘to last, to continue’. It is regular in the present and future tenses.
Essa vs. Esta
‘Essa’ points to something the listener already knows; ‘esta’ points to something the speaker is introducing. Both are correct here, but ‘essa’ is more common in casual conversation.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto tempo vai durar essa viagem?
How long will this trip last?
Vai durar cerca de duas semanas, de 10 a 24 de julho.
It will last about two weeks, from July 10 to July 24.
✕Common Mistakes
Quanto tempo vai ser essa viagem?
‘Ser’ is used for permanent characteristics, not for the duration of an event.
Quanto tempo vai durar esta viagem?
If the trip has not been mentioned yet, ‘esta’ is more appropriate.
↔Alternatives
Qual será a duração desta viagem?
What will be the duration of this trip?
Por quanto tempo essa viagem vai durar?
For how long will this trip last?
Quanto tempo essa viagem vai levar?
How much time will this trip take?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it’s common to ask about the length of a trip before buying tickets or booking accommodation. The periphrastic future (ir + infinitive) is the most natural way to talk about near‑future events in everyday speech, while the simple future (durará) sounds more formal or written. When speaking with strangers or in a professional setting, you might prefer ‘Qual será a duração…’ for a slightly more polite tone.