Europe Trip Cost from India: What 10 Days Really Costs
By Ganesh ·
A 10-day first trip to Paris, Switzerland and Italy costs about ₹1.6–2.6 lakh per person. Here is where the money goes and how to spend less.
A 10-day first trip to Europe from India costs roughly ₹1.6–2.6 lakh per person for a mid-range trip covering Paris, Switzerland and Italy, sharing rooms. Budget travellers who use hostels and regional trains can do it for about ₹1.2–1.5 lakh; comfortable hotels and a Swiss Travel Pass push it towards ₹3 lakh. Flights and accommodation are about two-thirds of the bill.
Cost breakdown (per person, 10 days, approximate)
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights from Delhi or Mumbai | ₹45,000–60,000 | ₹55,000–80,000 | ₹80,000–1,20,000 |
| Schengen visa + service fees + insurance | ₹11,000–14,000 | ₹11,000–14,000 | ₹12,000–16,000 |
| Stays (9 nights, twin-share) | ₹27,000–40,000 | ₹50,000–80,000 | ₹90,000–1,40,000 |
| Trains and city transport | ₹15,000–22,000 | ₹22,000–35,000 | ₹35,000–50,000 |
| Food | ₹15,000–20,000 | ₹22,000–30,000 | ₹35,000–50,000 |
| Sights and excursions | ₹8,000–12,000 | ₹15,000–25,000 | ₹25,000–40,000 |
| Total | ₹1.2–1.5 lakh | ₹1.6–2.6 lakh | ₹2.8–4 lakh |
All figures are rough ranges for travel outside the peak weeks; summer (June–August) and Christmas can add 20–40% to flights and rooms.
Where the money goes
Flights
Fares to Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich or Milan are lowest when booked 2–4 months ahead and for travel in April–May or September–October. An open-jaw ticket (fly into Paris, out of Rome) usually costs about the same as a return and saves a long train back.
Visa
You apply for one Schengen visa at the consulate of the country where you spend the most nights. The visa fee for adults is about €90 (check the official page of the embassy you apply to), plus the VFS or BLS service charge, plus travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover.
Stays
Switzerland is the most expensive part of most itineraries: a simple double room there often costs what a good hotel costs in Italy. Staying in Interlaken or Lucerne rather than in mountain villages helps, as do apartments with a kitchen.
Trains
Book fast trains (Paris–Zurich, Milan–Florence–Rome) early: fixed-date fares rise as the date approaches. Inside Switzerland, compare a Swiss Travel Pass with point-to-point tickets plus the Half Fare Card for your exact plan.
A sample 10-day plan
- Days 1 to 3, Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (book a time slot), a walk along the Seine, Montmartre.
- Day 4, train to Lucerne or Interlaken.
- Days 5 and 6, the Swiss Alps. One big mountain excursion, then lakes and easy walks the next day.
- Day 7, train to Venice via Milan.
- Day 8, Florence.
- Days 9 and 10, Rome. Fly home from Rome.
Ways to spend less
- Travel in shoulder season (April–May, September–October).
- Choose fewer bases: four cities in ten days is plenty.
- Eat your main meal at lunch, when many restaurants have set menus.
- Pay with a forex card or a low-markup card rather than exchanging cash at airports.
- Pick one paid mountain excursion in Switzerland instead of several.
FAQ
Is ₹1 lakh enough for a Europe trip from India?
For 10 days across several countries it is very tight, because flights and the visa alone take about half of it. A shorter trip to one or two cheaper countries (Portugal, Hungary, Czechia) gets closer.
Which month is cheapest?
Outside school holidays, November and February–March usually have the lowest flights and rooms, but days are short and the Alps are in winter mode. April–May and September–October balance price and weather.
Do I need to show the full amount in my bank account for the visa?
Consulates look for funds that cover the trip comfortably, along with steady income. Each embassy's checklist says what it expects; follow it exactly.
Is a tour package cheaper?
Group packages can be competitive in peak season because they buy rooms and coaches in bulk. Planning it yourself usually costs less in shoulder season and gives you more time in each place.
Photo: Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007 by Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
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