Travel guide for Indian travellers
Paris trip from India: cost, visa & best time
Paris is the romantic city every honeymooner dreams of — the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night, the Louvre and the gardens of Versailles. Here is what a trip really costs, how the Schengen visa works for Indians and the best months to go.
- Flight
- 9–10 hours direct
- Budget
- ₹28,000 a day
- Best time
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Visa
- Schengen visa required
Why Paris
Why Indians love a Paris trip
The romance
Seine cruises, cafés and the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.
Art everywhere
The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Montmartre.
Versailles
A palace day trip that rivals anything in Europe.
Gateway to Europe
Fast trains to Switzerland, Amsterdam and London.
Cost
How much does a Paris trip cost from India?
Per person, per day, excluding flights; trip totals are for our 5-day itinerary. Prices are planning estimates for sharing a room.
Budget
₹14,000/ day
About ₹70,000 for 5 days
Budget hotels outside the centre, Metro, bakeries
ComfortMost popular
₹28,000/ day
About ₹1.4L for 5 days
Central 3–4 star hotel, Seine cruise, museum pass
Luxury
₹60,000/ day
About ₹3L for 5 days
5-star with Eiffel views, fine dining, taxis
Best time to visit
When to go to Paris, month by month
- JanGood
Cold, winter sales
- FebGood
Cold, quiet museums
- MarGood
Early spring
- AprBest
Blossoms, mild
- MayBest
Warm, gardens at their best
- JunBest
Long days, festivals
- JulGood
Hot and busy
- AugGood
Locals away, some closures
- SepBest
Warm, fewer crowds
- OctBest
Autumn colours
- NovAvoid
Grey and rainy
- DecGood
Christmas lights, cold
Our advice: April to June and September to October bring mild weather and slightly smaller crowds. July and August are hot and crowded; December is festive but cold.
Before you fly
Visa, flights & money for Paris from India
Visa for Indians
Schengen visa via VFS Global for France: confirmed hotels, flights, insurance (€30,000+ cover), bank statements and ITRs. Book the earliest appointment you can for summer.
Flights from India
Air France and Air India fly direct from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Paris CDG (about 9–10 hours).
Money & payments
Currency is the euro (EUR, about ₹95). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; small bakeries may have card minimums, so carry a few euros.
SIM, eSIM & apps
Buy a Europe eSIM before you fly or an Orange/SFR/Bouygues SIM in Paris. The RATP and Bonjour RATP apps show metro routes and tickets.
Plugs & power
Type E/C sockets, 230V. Slim two-pin plugs fit; thick Indian three-pin plugs need an adapter.
Time difference
France is 3 hours 30 minutes behind India in summer (4 hours 30 minutes in winter).
Visa and entry rules change. Always confirm on the official embassy or government website before you book.
Vegetarian & Jain food
Where vegetarians eat well in Paris
Paris's "Little India" around Gare du Nord and La Chapelle has pure-veg South Indian restaurants; Le Marais has excellent French vegetarian and vegan food.
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis (near Gare du Nord)
Saravanaa BhavanJain food
Pure-veg South Indian food with Jain dishes marked on the menu.
Rue Cail, La Chapelle
Krishna Bhavan
Long-running, budget-friendly pure-veg South Indian restaurant in Little India.
Le Marais
Le Potager du Marais
Vegan French bistro — try classic French dishes made fully plant-based.
How to ask: Say "Je suis végétarien(ne), sans viande, sans poisson, sans œuf" (I am vegetarian — no meat, fish or egg). At Indian restaurants say "Jain".
Insider tips
Save money and skip the queues
Save money
Free museums on the first Sunday
Many Paris museums, including the Musée d'Orsay, are free on the first Sunday of the month (reservations may still be needed).
Save money
Buy a Navigo Easy card
Load metro tickets onto a Navigo Easy card instead of paper tickets, or use the Bonjour RATP app on your phone.
Save money
Tax refund on shopping
Spend over €100 in one store on the same day and ask for a détaxe form; validate it at the airport PABLO kiosks before check-in.
Local secret
Say "Bonjour" first
Always greet shopkeepers and waiters with "Bonjour" before asking anything — it makes a real difference to service.
Local secret
The Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour
After dark the tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour — the Trocadéro or Pont de Bir-Hakeim are the best free viewpoints.
Best timing
Louvre at opening, not on Tuesdays
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Book the 9 AM slot and head straight to the Mona Lisa before the crowds.
FAQs
Paris trip questions, answered
What Indian travellers ask us most before booking.
How do Indians get a visa for Paris?
Apply for a Schengen visa through the French visa centre (VFS Global). Book an appointment 1–2 months ahead in peak season; processing usually takes about 15 days.
How much does a 5-day Paris trip cost from India?
About ₹28,000 per person per day for a comfortable trip, plus ₹50,000–85,000 for flights — roughly ₹1.9–2.3 lakh per person in total.
Is Paris good for vegetarians?
Yes. The area around Gare du Nord (La Chapelle) has many Indian pure-veg restaurants, and vegetarian and vegan cafés are common across the city.
Can we combine Paris and Switzerland?
Easily. A direct TGV train from Paris reaches Geneva, Basel or Zurich in 3–4 hours, and one Schengen visa covers both countries.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
Yes if you visit three or more museums or monuments, such as the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe. It also saves time in queues.
Curated by EZYaan
Paris: Eiffel Tower, Louvre & Versailles
The Eiffel Tower at sunset, the Louvre and Orsay, Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors and Montmartre — paced with time to linger.
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