Practical Info A–Z

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss need a visa for India. The good news: Since 2014, there is the e-Tourist Visa (eTV), which has significantly simplified the process.

e-Tourist Visa (recommended)

• Application: Online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, at least 4 days before travel (better 1–2 weeks)
• Validity: 30 days (25 USD), 1 year (40 USD), or 5 years (80 USD) — each from the date of entry
• Stay: Max. 90 days at a time (for 1-year and 5-year visas), max. 30 days for the 30-day visa
• Entry: At 28 designated airports and 5 seaports
• Required: Passport (valid for 6+ months, 2 blank pages), digital passport photo, credit card for fee

Regular Visa (for longer stays)

Apply at the Indian embassy/consulate. Processing time: 5–15 working days. Required for stays over 90 days, work, or study stays.

Upon Entry

At the airport: e-Visa holders go to the special counter (often shorter than the regular line). Fingerprints and photo are taken. Entry is straightforward — the officers are professional, though sometimes slow.

The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Current rate (as of 2026): approx. 1 € ≈ 88–92 ₹.

ATMs

ATMs are everywhere — in cities on every corner, in rural areas in most small towns. The most reliable: SBI (State Bank of India), HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank.

• Withdrawal limit: Usually 10,000–20,000 ₹ per transaction
• Fees: Indian banks usually charge 200–250 ₹ per withdrawal (plus fees from your home bank)
• Best cards: Wise (formerly TransferWise), DKB, Comdirect — no foreign currency fees
• Tip: Always decline "Dynamic Currency Conversion" at the ATM — the rate is significantly worse

Cash vs. Digital

India has experienced a digital payment revolution: The UPI system (Unified Payments Interface) enables contactless payments via QR code — even the smallest street vendor has a QR code. However, most UPI apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) only work with an Indian bank account. For tourists, cash remains king:

• Always carry 2,000–5,000 ₹ in small bills (100s and 500s)
• Large bills (2,000 ₹) are often not changed by street vendors and rickshaw drivers
• Credit cards are accepted in hotels, upscale restaurants, and shops, but not in everyday life

India's biggest health challenge for travelers is the stomach — the infamous "Delhi Belly" hits the majority of visitors at least once. Preparation and hygiene significantly reduce the risk.

Vaccinations (recommended)

• Hepatitis A & B: Strongly recommended
• Typhoid: Recommended, especially for longer stays or travels off the tourist paths
• Rabies: For close animal contact (many street dogs!) or stays far from medical care
• Japanese Encephalitis: For stays in rural areas during the monsoon
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio: Check booster
• Malaria: Prophylaxis only needed in certain areas (Northeast, rural Rajasthan in the monsoon). Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kerala are largely malaria-free in the dry season.

Avoiding Delhi Belly

• Water: NEVER drink tap water. Only sealed bottles (check the seal!) or boiled water. Also for brushing teeth.
• Ice: In simple restaurants/street stalls often made from tap water. In upscale restaurants usually safe (cylindrical ice cubes = industrial = safe).
• Food: "Cook it, peel it, boil it — or forget it." Fried and freshly cooked is safer than salads and cut fruits.
• Hands: Always carry hand sanitizer. Wash hands before every meal.

If it hits you

Mild diarrhea: ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts, available at any pharmacy for 20 ₹) and light diet (rice, bananas, toast). If fever, blood in stool, or symptoms last over 48 hours: See a doctor. Private hospitals (Apollo, Max, Fortis) offer good care in all major cities. Travel health insurance is a must!

India is generally safe for tourists — violent crime against foreigners is rare. The main risks are fraud, pickpocketing, and sexual harassment for solo female travelers.

The most common scams

• “The Taj/Temple is closed today": The classic. Touts stand in front of every attraction claiming it's closed — and offer a tour to jewelry/carpet/spice shops instead. IGNORE and go directly to the entrance.
• Overpriced rickshaw/taxi fare: ALWAYS negotiate beforehand or insist on the meter. Better: Uber/Ola at fixed prices.
• Prepaid taxi scam at the airport: The official prepaid taxi counter is INSIDE the terminal (not outside). Outside, drivers charge 3–5x the normal price.
• Currency exchange scam: Slow counting, hidden bills, "calculation errors". Always count yourself, in front of the exchanger.
• Jewelry/carpet/spice shop: Rickshaw drivers take you to shops that pay them commission. Intense sales pressure is applied there. Insist on your destination.
• Drugged food/drink: Extremely rare, but it happens — don't accept food/drinks from strangers on the train.

Women alone in India

Solo female travelers are not unusual in India — many do it and have great experiences. But the reality is that sexual harassment (staring, catcalling, touching in crowds) occurs more frequently than in Europe. Strategies:

• Clothing: Cover knees and shoulders, especially in conservative regions (Rajasthan, rural areas). In Goa and Kerala, norms are more relaxed.
• Avoid lonely streets and parks at night. Take Uber/Ola instead of street rickshaws after dark.
• In trains and metro: Use the reserved women's compartments.
• Hotel: Book through well-known platforms and choose hotels with good reviews from solo travelers.
• Trust your instincts — if a situation feels uncomfortable, leave it.

A local SIM card is indispensable in India — for Uber/Ola, navigation, train bookings, and communication. The mobile network is well-developed and extremely affordable.

The best providers

• Jio: Largest 4G network, best coverage, cheapest rates. Prepaid plan: 299 ₹ (~3.40 €) for 28 days with 2 GB/day + unlimited calls. Perfect for tourists.
• Airtel: Second-largest network, marginally more expensive, but slightly better quality in urban areas. Tourist SIM: 599 ₹ for 30 days with 1.5 GB/day.
• Vi (Vodafone Idea): Third provider, similar prices, but weaker coverage in rural areas.

Buying a SIM card

Easiest: At the airport (Delhi T3, Mumbai T2 have official Jio/Airtel counters). Required: Passport + visa (copy made) + passport photo (sometimes — bring one just in case). Activation takes 2–24 hours.

In the city: Jio or Airtel shops in every neighborhood. However: Activation for foreigners is much simpler at the airport than in the city, where document issues often arise.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafes (quality varies), at all Indian railway stations (Railwire — Google initiative, good), and in shopping malls. Speed is acceptable in cities, often frustratingly slow in rural and mountainous regions.

Electricity

India uses 230V/50Hz (like Europe). The sockets are mostly three-pin (Type D/M — three round pins), but many also accept European two-pin plugs. To be safe, bring a universal adapter. Power outages are common in rural and small towns — a headlamp or power bank is worth its weight in gold.

Clothing & Dress Code

• Temples: Cover knees and shoulders, remove shoes (often also socks). In some temples, men must wear shirts (no tank tops).
• Mosques: Long pants/skirt, shoulders covered. Women: Headscarf (often distributed at the entrance).
• General: India is more conservative than it sometimes seems. Outside of Goa and Mumbai, shorts and sleeveless tops for women are inappropriate. Light, long cotton clothing is ideal: protects against sun, mosquitoes, and cultural faux pas.

Bargaining & Haggling

Bargaining is done everywhere in India — in markets, in shops without price tags, with rickshaw drivers, even in some hotels. No bargaining in supermarkets, chain restaurants, and shops with fixed prices (Fabindia, Anokhi).

• Start at 40–50% of the quoted price
• Work your way up with a smile — bargaining is a game, not a confrontation
• Walking away is the strongest bargaining weapon — you will often be called back
• If a price is accepted: You MUST buy. Withdrawing an accepted offer is an affront
• For very cheap items (under 50 ₹), haggling over 10 ₹ is inappropriate

Tipping

In restaurants: 10% (if no service charge is applied). Hotel porter: 50–100 ₹ per piece of luggage. Rickshaw driver: Round up. Guide: 200–500 ₹ per day. Hotel staff (room cleaning): 50–100 ₹ per day.