How to Plan a Europe Trip from India: A Step-by-Step Guide

Planning your first Europe trip can feel overwhelming: which countries, how many days, which visa, what to pack. This guide breaks Europe trip planning into simple steps, from choosing a route to the night before you fly, with a timeline and a packing list made for Indian travellers.

• 7 days: Paris and Switzerland, or a quick five-country loop.
• 10 days: Paris, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
• 14–16 days: add London, or cover nine or ten countries from London to Rome.

Count from the day you land; flights from India to Europe take 8–10 hours, and most return flights leave in the evening or night.

For a first trip, most Indian travellers choose France and Switzerland, then add the Netherlands and Belgium or Italy. For a second trip, look at the UK and Scotland, Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal, or Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Avoid trying to see everything: two nights in each place is more enjoyable than one.

A group tour handles hotels, transport, entrances, Indian meals and a tour manager, at a group price. Independent travel gives flexibility but takes more planning and usually costs more in Switzerland and the UK. Families with children, senior citizens and first-time travellers usually prefer a group tour. Compare the costs in our Europe trip cost from India guide.

Europe itinerary 7 days: 3 nights Paris (city tour, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Disneyland® Paris), 1 night Geneva, 3 nights central Switzerland (Jungfraujoch, Titlis, Lucerne, Rhine Falls).

Europe trip itinerary 10 days: 2 nights Paris, 1 night Netherlands (Keukenhof or Madurodam), 1 night Germany (Heidelberg, Black Forest), 2 nights Switzerland, 1 night Innsbruck, 1 night Venice area, 1 night Rome.

Europe itinerary 14 days: 3 nights London, 3 nights Paris, 1 night Netherlands, 1 night Germany, 3 nights Switzerland, then Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence and Rome.

These follow our popular tours; see them all on our Europe tour packages page.

Read our Schengen visa guide for the documents.

Travel medical insurance is required for the Schengen visa, with cover of at least €30,000, and is strongly recommended for every trip. Medical care in Europe is expensive, so choose a policy that also covers trip cancellation, lost baggage and flight delays. Seniors should declare existing conditions to avoid claim problems.

• Passport, visa, printed tour confirmation, insurance and flight tickets
• Forex card, some euros in cash, and Swiss francs or pounds if needed
• Comfortable walking shoes and one pair of smarter shoes
• Layers: T-shirts, a sweater and a warm, waterproof jacket for the mountains
• Thermals, gloves and a cap for winter trips or Jungfraujoch
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a cap for summer
• Universal adapter (Type C/E/F plugs; Type J in Switzerland and Type G in the UK)
• Medicines with prescriptions, in your hand luggage
• Small snacks from India for long coach days
• A small daypack and a refillable water bottle

One suitcase and one hand bag per person is the rule on most group tours, because coach boots have limited space.

• Which hotels, and are they in the city or outside?
• How many meals are included, and are they Indian, Jain or vegetarian?
• Which entrances are included, and which excursions are optional?
• Does a tour manager travel with the group from India, or only a local guide?
• Are airport transfers included, and at what times?
• What are the cancellation terms, and are GST and TCS shown separately?

Tell us about Jain, vegetarian, diabetic, gluten-free or other needs when you book. On our tours most lunches and dinners are Indian, served at restaurants that prepare Jain and vegetarian dishes, and breakfast at hotels includes bread, cereals, fruit, yoghurt and eggs. Carry some ready-to-eat snacks, theplas or khakhras for long coach days.

Options include an international roaming pack from your Indian provider, a European eSIM bought online before travel, or a local SIM in Europe. An eSIM or roaming pack is the simplest for a group tour, as you keep your Indian number for OTPs. Hotels and coaches usually have free Wi-Fi.

Europe is generally safe, but pickpocketing is common in tourist areas. Use a cross-body bag, keep copies of your passport and visa on your phone and in your suitcase, and save the tour manager's number. The emergency number across the EU and Switzerland is 112. If you lose your passport, contact the Indian embassy or consulate; your tour manager will help.

• Keep your passport and cards in a zipped inner pocket; pickpockets are active in crowded places in Paris, Rome and Barcelona.
• Tap water is safe to drink in most of Europe.
• Shops close early and many are shut on Sundays.
• Tipping is optional; on our tours driver tips are already included.
• Learn a few words: bonjour, merci, danke, grazie.
• Read about currency in Europe before you buy forex.