France from India: plan the trip

Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (visa C) before travel. Apply online on France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr), then submit documents and biometrics at a VFS Global centre in India; the French consulates decide. The fee is EUR 90 per adult and EUR 45 per child aged 6 to under 12, paid in INR, plus a VFS service charge. Normal processing is about 15 calendar days and can extend to 45, so apply early - up to 6 months ahead. See our France visa guide for the full steps.

France.fr calls spring an ideal time before the summer rush, and our month-by-month guide rates March to May as recommended, with June to November offering good conditions with trade-offs. Summers are hot in the south and centre, winters are cold in central and eastern France, and the mountains get snow for three to six months a year. See the best-time guide for Paris temperatures and rain by month (Meteo-France 1991-2020 averages).

France uses the euro. Credit cards are accepted in many shops, hotels and restaurants, though shopkeepers often state a minimum charge; US dollars are not accepted in most places, so carry some euros in cash. ATMs are widely available and often give the best exchange rates. Restaurants usually include a service charge (service compris, about 15 percent), so tipping is a small extra - 2 to 3 percent if the service was good.

Nonstop flights link Delhi and Mumbai with Paris Charles de Gaulle - Air India lists direct Delhi-Paris services, and Air France also connects India with Paris. Nonstop flying time is roughly nine to ten hours; one-stop options via Gulf or European hubs take longer but can cost less. Our Delhi and Mumbai flight-route guides compare timings, airlines and fares in detail.

Layers and a compact umbrella, because France has four climatic areas - oceanic rain in the west, cold winters in the centre and east, a Mediterranean south-east and snowy mountains. Add comfortable walking shoes for city sightseeing, a type E plug adapter (220 volts) and any regular medicines in original packs with a prescription. The travel-essentials guide has the full season-by-season checklist.