India: Complete Travel Guide for 2025

Why India Changes You

India isn't so much a destination as an experience that rearranges your expectations. The sensory overload of Old Delhi, the flawless symmetry of the Taj Mahal at dawn, the palaces of Rajasthan, the beaches of Goa and the raw spirituality of Varanasi all coexist in a country that operates at its own intensity. Nothing quite prepares you for it, and that's precisely why so many travellers come back.

It's also one of the cheapest countries in the world to travel, which makes it a magnet for long, slow trips. The flip side is that distances are vast, the bureaucracy of trains and permits takes patience, and first-timers should plan around the climate and their own stomach as much as around the sights.

This guide covers when to go by region, what a trip realistically costs, and how to move around using the classic Golden Triangle as a backbone.

Best Time to Visit

India's monsoon and heat make timing crucial, and the country is big enough that "best time" varies by region.

• October-March (best overall): cool, dry and comfortable across most of the north, including Delhi, Rajasthan and Agra. This is peak season for good reason.
• April-June: intense pre-monsoon heat on the plains, often above 40°C. Good for escaping to the Himalayan foothills (Rishikesh, Manali, Ladakh).
• July-September: the monsoon brings rain and humidity, but also lush landscapes and Kerala's greenest, quietest season.
• Goa and the beaches: November-February for dry, sunny weather.

What India Actually Costs

India is widely considered one of the most affordable countries to travel. Day-to-day spending varies enormously by city and style, but as a rough guide most travellers land in these approximate ranges (accommodation, food and local transport):

Treat those as ballpark figures rather than fixed prices. Where we do have hard numbers is flights: our verified route data shows one-way fares to Delhi around ~350€ from London, ~351€ from Paris and ~342€ from Amsterdam, and much cheaper regional links — around ~106€ from Dubai and ~120€ to Bangkok. Domestic hops are a bargain too: ~59€ Delhi-Mumbai, ~85€ Delhi-Goa and just ~24€ Delhi-Jaipur. You can compare live prices anytime in our flights section.

Getting Around

• Trains: the soul of Indian travel. Book on IRCTC well in advance, and for tourists AC 2-Tier or AC 3-Tier balance comfort and price. Delhi-Agra takes 3-4 hours from a few euros.
• Domestic flights: cheap and time-saving for long distances — see the verified fares above, or check the Delhi to Mumbai route and the Delhi to Goa route.
• Rickshaws and ride apps: use Ola or Uber in cities to avoid haggling; agree a price first if hiring an auto-rickshaw.

The Golden Triangle

The classic first-timer route is Delhi → Agra → Jaipur, doable in 5-7 days:

• Delhi-Agra: 3-4h by train
• Agra-Jaipur: 4-5h by train or car
• Jaipur-Delhi: 4-5h by train

Top Destinations

• Delhi — Chaotic Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort) and orderly New Delhi (India Gate, Humayun's Tomb)
• Agra — The Taj Mahal at sunrise, plus Agra Fort
• Jaipur — The "Pink City": Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort and vibrant markets
• Varanasi — Hinduism's holiest city, on the ghats of the Ganges
• Goa — Beaches, Indo-Portuguese food, party north and peaceful south
• Kerala — Backwater houseboats, tea plantations and Ayurveda

How Long to Stay and What It Adds Up To

India is vast, so the golden rule is to go deep rather than wide. Two useful shapes:

• 2 weeks (Golden Triangle plus one region): Delhi, Agra and Jaipur (about a week), then Varanasi, Goa or Kerala.
• 3-4 weeks (a fuller north or south loop): the Golden Triangle plus Rajasthan's other cities, or a dedicated South India route through Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Putting the numbers together: at a mid-range pace of roughly 30-70€ a day, a two-week trip lands somewhere around 600-1,000€ on the ground — remarkable value for what you see. Backpackers travelling nearer 10-20€ a day spend a fraction of that. The largest fixed cost is the international flight, which our verified data puts around 350€ one way from Europe; internal flights are cheap (Delhi-Mumbai around 59€, Delhi-Goa around 85€), and trains cheaper still. Treat the daily ranges as estimates and pad your budget for guides, entry fees and the occasional splurge hotel.

Indian Cuisine

• Butter Chicken — India's most famous export, in a creamy tomato sauce
• Biryani — Fragrant spiced rice with meat or vegetables
• Dosa — Crisp fermented rice-and-lentil crepe, a South Indian staple
• Thali — A platter of curries, dal, rice and bread — the great-value everyday meal
• Chai — Milky spiced tea, sold everywhere for pennies

Festivals Worth Timing Your Trip Around

India's festivals are among the most vivid experiences on earth, and a few are worth planning around (dates shift each year with the lunar calendar, so check ahead):

• Holi — The festival of colours, usually in March; joyful but chaotic, so protect your camera and phone.
• Diwali — The festival of lights, usually October-November; cities glow with lamps and fireworks.
• Pushkar Camel Fair — A vast Rajasthani gathering, typically November.
• Regional festivals — From Kerala's boat races to Rajasthan's Desert Festival, most states have their own.

Accommodation books up and prices rise around major festivals, so reserve early if you're timing a visit.

Practical Tips

• Visa: most visitors, including EU, US and Canadian citizens, typically need a visa — usually available as an e-visa online. Confirm the current process for your nationality before travelling.
• Currency: the Indian rupee. Carry cash for small vendors and use ATMs from major banks.
• Health: "Delhi belly" is common — drink only bottled or filtered water, skip ice, peel fruit and eat where turnover is high. Check recommended travel vaccinations with a clinic before you go.