Arrive In or Arrive At: What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Arrive in = large places (cities, countries, continents)
Arrive at = specific places (buildings, stations, addresses)
Explanation
ARRIVE IN 🌍
Large geographical areas
- • Cities: arrive in London
- • Countries: arrive in France
- • Continents: arrive in Europe
- • Regions: arrive in California
ARRIVE AT 📍
Specific points/locations
- • Buildings: arrive at the hotel
- • Stations: arrive at the airport
- • Addresses: arrive at 123 Main St
- • Events: arrive at the meeting
Warning: Never use "arrive to", this is always incorrect in English!
Special case - HOME: We say "arrive home" (no preposition needed).
Examples
✔We arrived in Tokyo at midnight. (city)
✔She arrived at the airport early. (building)
✔They arrived in Australia last week. (country)
✔He arrived at the office before 9 AM. (specific place)
✔We arrived home tired. (no preposition)
✘We arrived to the hotel.
✘She arrived at Paris.
Practice
Fill in with "in" or "at":
"The train arrives _____ the station at 3 PM, and then we'll arrive _____ Berlin by 5 PM."