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Destination Guide

Europe Tour Packages & Travel Guide

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Europe — travel guide by Mysore International Travels

Europe is not one destination but a set of choices, and the single most useful thing a first-time traveller can do is narrow it down. The Schengen area lets you cross most Western European borders without a check, which tempts people into itineraries covering seven countries in ten days — and produces a holiday spent almost entirely in transit.

The classic first-timer's circuit is Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, sometimes with Amsterdam or the Rhine valley added. A second common shape is Eastern Europe — Prague, Vienna, Budapest — which offers comparable beauty at noticeably lower cost. Spain and Portugal work as a pair, as do the Nordic countries for anyone chasing the northern lights or the midnight sun.

The practical constraints for Indian travellers are the Schengen visa, which requires substantial documentation and should be applied for well ahead, and the cost, which is higher than any Asian destination. Against that, the rail network is superb, intra-Europe budget flights are cheap, and the density of what you can see in a small area is unmatched. MIT arranges Europe itineraries with flights, Schengen visa documentation, rail passes or internal flights, hotels, and a route sequenced to minimise wasted travel days.

Best Time to Visit

May to September is the main season, with long daylight hours, warm weather, and everything open — July and August are the busiest and priciest, and southern Europe can be uncomfortably hot. April to May and September to October are the sweet spot: pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower rates. December brings Christmas markets in Germany, Austria, and Central Europe, which are a genuine reason to travel in winter. January to March is cold and quiet, and the season for Alpine skiing and northern lights.

Weather

Europe spans a wide climatic range. Western and Central Europe have mild summers of 20-30°C and cold winters near or below freezing, with rain distributed through the year. The Mediterranean south — Italy, Spain, Greece — has hot dry summers frequently above 35°C and mild wet winters. The Nordic countries and the Alps are considerably colder, with heavy winter snow and very long summer daylight. Pack for the specific countries and season rather than for 'Europe'.

Ideal Duration

10 to 14 days for a first multi-country trip covering three or four cities properly. Seven to eight days suits two cities or a single country. Anything shorter than a week is difficult to justify given the flight time and visa effort from India. The most common mistake is trying to cover too much: three countries in ten days works, seven does not.

Budget

Europe is the most expensive region most Indian travellers will visit, and costs vary sharply by country — Switzerland and the Nordics are dramatically pricier than Portugal, Czechia, or Hungary. Accommodation is the largest component, followed by intra-Europe transport, city attraction tickets, and food. Costs can be managed by choosing Eastern or Southern Europe, travelling in shoulder season, using rail passes where they suit the route, and mixing restaurant meals with supermarket lunches. MIT quotes the full trip including flights, visa, hotels, transport, and passes.

Must-see

Top attractions in Europe

Paris & the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, and the Seine — the most-visited city in Europe and the usual first stop.

Swiss Alps: Jungfraujoch & Interlaken

Mountain railways, glacier viewpoints, and lakeside towns — the scenic core of most first-time Europe itineraries.

Rome, Florence & Venice

The Colosseum and Vatican, Renaissance Florence and the Uffizi, and Venice's canals — Italy's three essential cities.

Amsterdam & the Netherlands

Canals, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, and the Keukenhof tulip gardens in a short spring season.

Prague, Vienna & Budapest

The Central European circuit — a fairytale old town, imperial palaces and music, and thermal baths on the Danube, at lower cost than the west.

Barcelona & Spain

Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, Madrid's Prado, Andalusian Granada and Seville, and the Mediterranean coast.

The Rhine Valley & Black Forest

Castle-lined river cruises, half-timbered German towns, and the Romantic Road through Bavaria to Neuschwanstein castle.

Christmas Markets & the Northern Lights

December markets across Germany, Austria, and Central Europe, and winter aurora viewing in Norway, Finland, and Iceland.

Getting there

How to reach Europe

By Air
Major hubs including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, and Rome are reachable from Indian cities directly or with one connection, usually via a Gulf hub. From Bangalore, expect roughly 10 to 14 hours total depending on routing. Flying into one city and out of another avoids a wasted backtracking day.
Visa
Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa for most of Europe, applied for in advance with substantial documentation — itinerary, confirmed bookings, financial proof, travel insurance, and employment details. Apply well ahead, as appointment availability and processing times vary. The UK and some other countries require separate visas. MIT prepares the documentation as part of the itinerary.
Getting Around
Europe's rail network is excellent and often faster than flying city-to-city once airport time is counted. Rail passes such as Eurail can be good value for multi-country routes but need calculating against your actual plan. Budget airlines are cheap for longer hops but charge heavily for baggage. City metros are extensive and cheap.
Make the most of it

Things to do

  • Go up the Eiffel Tower and walk the Seine, booking tickets well in advance
  • Take the train to Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe', through the Swiss Alps
  • See the Colosseum and Vatican Museums in Rome — both need advance timed tickets
  • Ride a gondola or the vaporetto through Venice's canals
  • Cycle Amsterdam's canal ring and visit the Van Gogh Museum
  • Walk Prague's Charles Bridge at dawn before the crowds arrive
  • Soak in Budapest's Széchenyi thermal baths
  • See Gaudí's Sagrada Família in Barcelona, still under construction after 140 years
  • Cruise the Rhine past its castles, or drive the Romantic Road to Neuschwanstein
  • Visit the Christmas markets in December, or chase the northern lights in the Nordic winter
Where to stay

Hotels in Europe

European hotel rooms are generally smaller than Indian equivalents at the same price point, and three-star means something different than it does in India — clean and well located rather than spacious. Location relative to a metro or train station usually matters more than star rating, since city centres are walkable and transport is excellent. Breakfast is often charged separately. In peak season and in cities like Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam, book several months ahead. MIT books to the day's actual route rather than to whatever is cheapest on the outskirts.

Where to eat

Restaurants & local food

Indian restaurants exist in every major European city and are the reliable fallback, though they are pricier than at home. Beyond that, each country's own food is a large part of the point — Italian regional cooking, French bakeries and bistros, Spanish tapas, Central European hearty fare. Vegetarian food is now widely available across Western Europe and generally well understood, though Eastern and Central Europe are more meat-centred and need more planning. Supermarket lunches and bakery food keep costs down substantially without feeling like a compromise.

Before you go

Travel tips

  • Apply for the Schengen visa well in advance — documentation is substantial and appointment slots can be scarce in peak months
  • Do not over-schedule: three countries in ten days works, seven does not, and transit days consume a holiday fast
  • Fly into one city and out of another to avoid a wasted backtracking day
  • Book major attractions — Eiffel Tower, Vatican, Sagrada Família, Anne Frank House — weeks ahead; walk-up entry is often impossible
  • Calculate whether a rail pass actually saves money on your route rather than assuming it does
  • Budget airlines are cheap but charge heavily for baggage; factor that in before assuming they beat the train
  • Watch for pickpockets on metros and at crowded tourist sites in Paris, Rome, and Barcelona — it is the main crime risk travellers face
  • Carry a Schengen-compliant travel insurance policy; it is a visa requirement, not optional
  • Costs vary enormously by country — Eastern and Southern Europe deliver comparable experiences at a fraction of Swiss or Nordic prices
Nearby

Nearby attractions

  • Switzerland – the Alpine core of most first-time itineraries, covered in its own guide
  • Türkiye – straddling Europe and Asia, often combined with a Europe trip
  • United Kingdom – outside Schengen and requiring a separate visa, but easily added
  • Georgia & Azerbaijan – the Caucasus, increasingly popular as lower-cost alternatives
  • Morocco – a short hop from southern Spain, occasionally added to Iberian itineraries
FAQs

Europe — Frequently Asked Questions

Do Indians need a visa for Europe?
Yes. Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa for most of Europe, applied for in advance with substantial documentation — a detailed itinerary, confirmed flight and hotel bookings, financial proof, travel insurance, and employment details. The UK and some other countries require separate visas. MIT prepares the documentation.
What is the Schengen area?
A group of European countries that have abolished border checks between them, so a single Schengen visa lets you move freely across all of them. Not every European country is in it — the UK and Ireland are outside, and some EU members are not Schengen members — so check your specific route.
How many days do I need for Europe?
Ten to fourteen days for a first multi-country trip covering three or four cities properly. Seven to eight days suits two cities or a single country. Given the flight time and visa effort from India, anything under a week is hard to justify.
How many countries should I cover in one trip?
Fewer than you want to. Three countries in ten days works well; five or more turns the holiday into a transit exercise. Each country change costs most of a day in practice once packing, transfers, and check-in are counted.
What is the best time to visit Europe?
May to September for warm weather and long days, with July-August busiest and priciest. April-May and September-October are the sweet spot — good weather, fewer crowds, lower rates. December for Christmas markets. January-March for skiing and northern lights.
Is Europe expensive?
It is the most expensive region most Indian travellers visit, but costs vary sharply by country. Switzerland and the Nordics are dramatically pricier than Portugal, Czechia, or Hungary. Shoulder-season travel, Eastern or Southern Europe, and mixing restaurant meals with supermarket lunches all make a real difference.
Should I travel by train or budget airline within Europe?
Trains are often faster city-centre to city-centre once airport transfers and check-in are counted, and considerably more pleasant. Budget airlines win on longer hops but charge heavily for baggage. Most good itineraries mix the two, and we calculate which suits each leg.
Is a Eurail pass worth buying?
It depends entirely on your route. For a multi-country trip with several long rail legs it usually saves money; for a trip based in one or two cities it does not. Some high-speed and scenic trains also require seat reservations at extra cost even with a pass.
Is vegetarian food available in Europe?
Yes, widely across Western Europe, where vegetarianism is well understood and clearly marked on menus. Eastern and Central Europe are more meat-centred and need more planning. Indian restaurants exist in every major city as a reliable fallback, though they cost more than at home.
Which is the best first-time Europe itinerary?
Paris, Switzerland, and Italy is the classic, and it works — it covers a great city, spectacular mountains, and extraordinary history in about twelve days. Prague-Vienna-Budapest is the best-value alternative, offering comparable beauty at noticeably lower cost.
How far in advance should I book?
Start the Schengen visa process two to three months ahead, since appointment slots can be scarce in peak months and processing times vary. Book hotels and major attraction tickets — Eiffel Tower, Vatican, Sagrada Família, Anne Frank House — several weeks to months ahead for summer travel.
Is Europe safe for Indian travellers?
Generally yes, with low rates of violent crime. The main practical risk is pickpocketing on metros and at crowded tourist sites in Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, which is opportunistic and common. Keep valuables secure and be alert in crowds and on public transport.
Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
Yes, and it is not optional — Schengen visa applications require a policy meeting specified minimum coverage for medical expenses and repatriation. Beyond the requirement, European healthcare is expensive for visitors, so proper cover matters.
Is Europe good for families with children?
Yes. Disneyland Paris, Legoland, Swiss mountain railways, and interactive museums all work well, and the transport makes travel with children easier than in many destinations. Keep the pace slower than an adults-only trip would allow, and factor in rest days.
What about a honeymoon in Europe?
It is one of the most popular honeymoon choices from India, typically Paris and Switzerland, or Italy, or a Greek island add-on. Shoulder season gives better value and fewer crowds. We usually build these with fewer cities and longer stays than a sightseeing-focused trip.
Can I visit the UK on a Schengen visa?
No. The UK is not part of the Schengen area and requires its own visa, applied for separately with its own documentation and fees. If you want both on one trip, you need to plan for two visa processes and start earlier.
What is the currency in Europe?
Most Schengen countries use the euro, but not all — Switzerland uses the Swiss franc, Czechia the koruna, Hungary the forint, and the UK the pound. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Western Europe, but carry some cash for small purchases and in Eastern Europe.
How do I handle the language barrier?
English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and among younger people across most of Europe, and signage in major cities is often multilingual. Learning a few basic courtesies in the local language is appreciated. Translation apps handle the rest comfortably.
Which European countries offer the best value?
Portugal, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia deliver excellent experiences at substantially lower cost than France, Switzerland, or the Nordics. For a first trip on a constrained budget, a Prague-Vienna-Budapest or Portugal-Spain route goes considerably further than the classic western circuit.
How much does a Europe tour package cost?
It depends heavily on which countries you include — Switzerland and the Nordics cost multiples of Eastern Europe — plus season, flights, hotel category, and transport choices. MIT quotes the full trip including flights, visa support, hotels, transport, and attraction bookings.
Does MIT arrange Europe tour packages?
Yes. MIT arranges Europe itineraries including flights from South India, Schengen visa documentation, rail passes or internal flights, hotels, and route sequencing designed to minimise wasted travel days. Call or WhatsApp +91 96119 57301 or email mitb2btravels@gmail.com.
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