Prayer of the traveller

When you travel, your four rak'ah prayers become two. Check if you count as a traveller, then see what to pray.

When you travel, the four rak'ah prayers become two. In the Hanafi school this is the rule, not just a choice.

Fajr2 rak'ahsZuhr2 instead of 4Asr2 instead of 4Maghrib3, the sameIsha2 instead of 4

Am I a traveller?

Is your journey about 48 miles (77 km) or more?

Have you left the built up area of your town?

At your destination, will you plan to stay in one place for 15 days or more?

Answer the three questions.

You start shortening once you leave your town. You keep shortening until you plan to stay 15 days or more in one place.
If you have no fixed plan to stay, you stay a traveller, even if you end up staying for months.
Behind a resident imam, pray all four rak'ahs with him. If you lead residents, they finish their four after your salam.
While travelling you can leave out the sunnah prayers, except the two before Fajr.

WajibShortening is wajib for a traveller in the Hanafi school. Distance is counted at about three days of moderate walking.

This guide follows the Hanafi method as set out in The Essentials of Worship, a course in Hanafi fiqh. For your own situation, ask a qualified teacher.