Europe is the dream trip — and the one people most often over-plan. First-timers try to see ten countries in ten days and spend the holiday on coaches and at borders. Keep it to 8-10 nights and 3-4 countries in one region, and a classic multi-country package from Gujarat starts around ₹1,59,999 per person — here is how to do it properly the first time.
Rule one: don't try to see all of Europe
Europe is huge and varied, so on a first visit pick one region and 3-4 countries that flow together. The most-loved first-timer circuit from Gujarat is Paris → Switzerland → Italy, sometimes with a night in the Netherlands or a Rhine Falls stop — it gives you the icons, the Eiffel Tower, the Alps, Venice and Rome, without living on the road.
When to go
May to September brings long, warm days with everything open, the best all-round window. April and October are shoulder season, with fewer crowds, softer prices and cooler weather. December offers magical Christmas markets and snow, but short days and cold. Avoid peak August if you can, since it is the busiest and priciest month.
A classic 8-night first-timer itinerary
A well-loved route runs: two nights in Paris for the Eiffel Tower, a Seine cruise, the Louvre and Disneyland if you have kids; a night in Lucerne, Switzerland for the lake town and a trip up to Mount Titlis or Jungfrau; a night in Interlaken or Engelberg for the Alps, waterfalls and cable cars; two nights across Venice and Florence in Italy for a gondola ride and Renaissance streets; and two closing nights in Rome for the Colosseum, the Vatican and Roman ruins.
The Schengen visa
A single Schengen visa covers this whole trip. You apply to the country where you'll spend the most nights, submit documents and biometrics through VFS, and allow about 15 days for processing. It is document-heavy — bank statements, ITR, insurance, a day-wise itinerary — which is exactly the part we handle for you; see our full Schengen guide for the checklist.
What it costs, and coach tour vs private trip
A guided multi-country package of about 8 nights from Gujarat starts from ₹1,59,999 per person, including the Schengen visa, flights, hotels, most meals, a coach tour and a guide, with Schengen insurance from around ₹1,500 on top — shopping, optional experiences and tips are extra, and the final price depends on season, hotel category and exact route. For a first visit, a guided coach tour is the easy button, since the visa, hotels, most meals (including Indian dinners), inter-city travel and a guide are all bundled; if you would rather travel at your own pace, we also build private itineraries with train passes and self-drive segments. First-timers usually love the coach tour; return visitors tend to go private. Most Europe tour packages from India include daily Indian or vegetarian dinners, and Jain meals can be arranged with notice.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a first Europe trip from India? Around 8-10 nights covering 3-4 countries in one region — a classic Paris-Switzerland-Italy circuit fits an 8-night trip well.
What is the best time to visit Europe from Gujarat? May to September for long, warm days with everything open; April and October are quieter and cheaper, and December offers Christmas markets and snow but short, cold days.
How much does a Europe tour cost from Gujarat? A guided multi-country package of about 8 nights starts around ₹1,59,999 per person, including the Schengen visa, flights, hotels, most meals, a coach tour and a guide.
Ready for your first Europe trip? Explera plans the route, the visa and every booking in between — WhatsApp us to start planning.
