If there is an international destination that is on every Indian’s bucket list, it is the city of Paris. A trip to Europe is aspirational for most desi travellers and France and Switzerland are the two most popular European countries that Indians look up online with a surge in searches for Paris with every season of Emily in Paris.
As romantic and head-in-the-clouds a trip to Paris sounds, you have to plan in advance to visit the City of Love on an Indian passport. Taking into account the long flight and the airfare that’s mostly on the dear side, you may want to make the most of your time in Paris, other parts of France and even explore a few nearby countries in Europe on that well earned Schengen visa.
We have covered our trip to Paris in 9 Chapters from the lens of travelling from India, planning an Emily in Paris inspired trip, experiences to include in your itinerary, availability of vegetarian food in Paris, decoding French fashion for Indian girls, if the Paris syndrome is true and exploring French culture with takeaways for our own wellbeing.
You are reading Chapter 1.
Here are a few important things to consider if you are planning a trip to Paris from India, especially if you are travelling to Europe for the first time.
Table of contents
Is it easy to travel in Paris from India?
A. How much does it cost for a trip to Paris from India?
How many days do you need to explore Paris? A. For first time travellers
Is Paris a tourist friendly city?
A. Can you go to Paris if you don't speak French?
Is it easy to travel in Paris from India?
It is not the easiest to travel to Paris from India, especially if it is at a short notice. However, if you plan about three months in advance then you should be in a good place. The biggest roadblock to your trip to Paris from India is getting a visa appointment at the nearest French embassy to you in India since Indian passport holders require a tourist visa to visit Paris.
How much does it cost for a trip to Paris from India?
A trip to Paris may not be the most budget friendly as a round trip flight ticket from India to Paris can cost you anywhere between INR 50,000 to 75,000 per person. Hotels and AirBnbs also cost an arm and a leg in the French capital and if you want to experience local food then you should factor in anywhere between INR 2500-5000 for food per person. You will also invest in experiences in Paris that generally have an entry fee beyond the free parks and public spaces. Overall it will cost you anywhere between INR 1.5 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs per person for your trip to Paris from India including the flights, stay and other travel expenses.
What is the cheapest month to go to Paris?
Based on the past trends, the best time to visit Paris owing to the cheapest flight tickets to Paris from India - October, November and February can prove to be relatively cheaper months to travel to Paris and you may also benefit from lower tariffs on your stay. Prices tend to be the highest from May to August owing to the summer holidays in India and families planning to spend the vacation in Paris and overall summertime travel from other European countries and the US. Prices can also spike up in December for travellers wanting to experience Christmas decorations in Paris.
Is Paris expensive for Indians?
Yes, Paris is expensive for Indians owing to the steep exchange rate between the Euro and the Indian Rupee with approximately every Euro being equivalent to a hundred bucks in INR. Thus, it's best to travel to Europe for anywhere between 10 to 15 days from India to optimise on the cost and make the most of the pricey flight tickets.
What do you need to travel to Paris from India?
You will need a valid passport that does not expire within the next 6 months from the date of your travel dates to Paris, a valid Schengen visa for your travel period, proof of hotel accommodation or a letter from a friend/ relative who may be hosting you and a return ticket back to India.
Another thing that is a best practice to have is travel insurance which ideally should be a part of your Schengen Visa application, so its best obtained earlier on.
Is a France visa easy to get?
This varies from the time of the year and the backlog of visa applications that the embassy is coping with. Ideally, if you have all your documents in place for which you should refer to the official website of the French embassy or approach a trusted travel agent to help with the paperwork. However, the tough part here is to get an appointment date at the VFS as the visa processing time for a French visa is not as high as other European countries in India.
We visited Paris in June 2024 and got our visa in about 4 working days from our VFS appointment in Mumbai. Again, this may vary from month to month and year after year.
Pro-tip: I am no visa expert, however, I’d keep two things in mind while travelling to Europe - Apply for the visa of the European country that is your port of entry (where your flight lands from India) to avoid any hassles. If you want to explore a slightly different route, then ensure that your longest stay during your Europe trip is in the country whose embassy you are applying to for a visa. This will help you avoid any immigration related issues, however, these rules are dynamic and subject to change so its best to check closer to your date of travel.
How many days do you need to explore Paris?
If you want to cover the touristy hotspots in Paris along with having some time to explore the hidden gems that only locals are privy to, then you need 3 full days in Paris. The more the merrier of course and if you are also planning to take day trips from Paris, then you should consider a 5 nights, 6 days stay in Paris.
Ideal duration of stay in Paris for first time travellers
If it’s your first time in Paris, you will likely squeeze in a lot more in your itinerary including day trips from Paris. Anywhere between 5 to 7 full days in the French capital should help you cover a lot of ground.
Ideal duration of stay in Paris for travellers visiting Paris again
If you have a layover in Paris or are visiting it a second time or the nth time, then anywhere between 2 to 3 days should be good for you as you would already know which neighbourhoods you liked from your first trip and which ones you’d like to avoid. Your stay could also focus a lot more on your travel interest which could be exploring the restaurant scene in Paris as there are new ones popping up every other month or visiting galleries and museums that you can't make it to on your first trip.
Best day trips from Paris
There are multiple day trips that you can take from Paris, however, I shall give you a curated list of 5 day trips based on your travel interest.
If you’re into royalty and getting to know the culture of a place then a day trip to Versailles will blow your mind. It is the grandest palace I have ever seen with the Gardens of Versailles which is the best manicured outdoor experience in all of France.
If you’re travelling with kids, then a day trip to Disneyland Paris is a no-brainer. However, if you’re a culture vulture and want to learn French history on the go then you can take a cross border trip to Waterloo in Belgium and learn more about Napolean Bonaparte.
If you’re into French wine and French chateaus like the ones Camille’s family owns all over France from Emily in Paris, then an offbeat day trip to the Loire Valley in Central France will be adored by you. It is a wine growing region in France with wine tasting in an ancient cellar and castles that have inspired the castles portrayed in Disney movies.
Lastly, if you want to take a day trip to explore another country, grab lunch there, explore its capital city by foot and on its free public transport then you could go to Luxembourg from Paris.
How many hours from India to Paris by flight?
If you take a direct flight to Paris or any other neighbouring country in Western Europe from any major city in India it will be around 8 to 9 hours long. However, if you fly to Paris with a layover in the Middle East then it would vary and will take longer.
Which area in Paris is best to stay?
It is tricky at the same time irrelevant to strategically plan your stay in Paris as there is nothing like a downtown or city centre or CBD. Paris is divided into various neighbourhoods known as arrondissements and the city planning is done in a spiral shape, which means Arrondissement 1 may not necessarily be next to Arrondissement 2. The best tourist places in Paris are all spread across multiple neighbourhoods.
Most people want to stay near the Eiffel Tower to have the coveted Eiffel Tower view from their rooms and get the best shots of their breakfast with an Eiffel Tower backdrop during the day and the Eiffel Tower sparkles at night. However, most of these rooms do cost a bomb so it really depends on your budget.
If you want to experience Paris like how it is portrayed in most Hollywood movies and in Emily in Paris, then Montmartre is a good place to stay in. It is a quaint and artsy neighbourhood and great for people who’d like to experience the quintessential Parisian cafes and desserts.
If you want to experience the more upscale neighbourhoods of Paris then, Saint Germaine and hotels near the Paris Opera are a great choice.
Most of these neighbourhoods are well connected by the Paris metro and hence, it is irrelevant where you stay in Paris as to cover most tourist attractions in Paris you will have to travel across arrondissements by car, Uber, bus or metro. So, in the larger scheme of things it doesn’t matter a lot for first time travellers.
What is the best way to get around in Paris?
Paris is best explored by foot. Period. Paris is easily one of the most walkable cities in Europe with wide footpaths and beautiful architecture that lets you soak in the city especially if it is your maiden trip to the city. It is also well connected by the metro and you can use that to travel from one to the next and explore the area by foot.
The best and cheapest way to get around in Paris is the Paris metro and the bus. We got a 5 day pass for the Paris metro which also allows you to travel to Versailles and is applicable on buses as well. You can download the Citymapper app for the most accurate schedules of the train and buses. The metro is definitely more dependable than the buses in Paris.
However, for your trip to and from the Paris airport or the main station, it's best to book an Uber and avoid local taxis as a lot of them are known to overcharge tourists.
Parisians generally don't drive as parking is exorbitantly expensive in Paris and finding one is also a hassle.
Is Paris safe?
Now this is indeed a tricky question to answer. However, most parts of Paris are safe for tourists, even women travellers. But like any other big city, it has its pockets that need to be avoided.
However, you definitely need to watch your belongings in Paris as pickpocketing is big in the French capital especially near the touristy areas.
Is it better to use cash or card in Paris?
Credit cards are accepted at most places in Paris. However, it's best to carry more than one credit or debit card considering the risks of pickpocketing in the city. Also, owing to the same risk, you may want to have minimum cash on you.
You can carry a few hundred Euros either from India or carry USD and get them exchanged in Paris. As always, avoid exchanging currency at the airport or at touristy places where you end up paying a higher rate.
Is Paris a tourist friendly city?
Overall, Paris is surely a tourist friendly destination despite the French people being stereotyped for being rude. Just do not expect unwarranted smiles and small talk from the French. Don't make unwarranted requests that may end up offending a local and you should be good. Ergonomically walking around, ease of navigating the metro, things to do and cafe culture all make it a tourist destination well designed for travellers.
Can you go to Paris if you don't speak French?
Absolutely, yes! As a traveller, you do not need to speak French. Just learn two golden words in French - one being Bonjour/Bonsoir which is a greeting in French that should be used at the start of any interaction with a Parisian. The other is Merci which means thank you in French.
How vegetarian-friendly is France?
France is a vegetarian friendly country and most good restaurants in Paris will have vegetarian friendly options on their menu. In fact, there are also a bunch of 100% vegetarian restaurants in Paris. You may just want to tread on the path of caution and re-confirm with your waiter if the dish you are ordering does not contain eggs if you are not an eggetarian as some people in Paris do consider eggs as vegetarian.
What to wear in Paris to dress like a local?
Locals in Paris definitely don't dress like the characters in Emily in Paris. Characterised with muted and neutral colours, minimal makeup, light accessories, a focus on comfort over body hugging garments and light layering in the spring and summer, Parisian fashion is timeless. So putting together a look may be a smarter thing to do than solely focusing on the outfit.
Also, local Parisians generally don't wear berets but most tourists (including me) definitely do to get the French girl aesthetic right.
What countries are close to Paris by train?
Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are close to Paris and easily accessible by train. On your 10 to 15 days trip from India, you could either cover all of France including the South of France or you could choose to visit a few of the neighbouring countries.
We planned a Be-Ne-Lux route which stands for a few days in Belgium, the Netherlands by exploring Amsterdam and taking day trips to other parts of the country and Luxembourg along with Paris.
Last word: Paris for different types of tourists
Considering the indulgence in multiple experiences, French culture, food and clocking about 20,000 steps daily, Paris is ideal for a couple traveller whether you’re still dating, in your honeymoon phase or travelling at a later stage in life. Nightlife in Paris including the vibrant bar scene is best explored by couples or a small group of friends travelling to the City of Love.
Apart from Disneyland Paris, there are limited things in Paris that may pique the interest of families travelling with young children. Slightly older children who enjoy history and culture may enjoy the museums in the city.
Solo travelling in Paris can also be fun as there is no dearth of activities including just people watching at a cafe all by yourself or joining a group of strangers on a walking tour or in a baking class. However, looking at other lovebirds around you on that Seine river cruise may either make you cringe or crave for someone’s shoulder to rest your head on.
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