India Travel Tips: A Simple Guide for First-Time Visitors

These India travel tips will help you plan a safe, easy and happy trip. India is huge and full of colour, faith, history and food, and a little preparation makes all the difference. Below you will find our best advice on visas, the best time to visit, money, phones, transport, food and water, temple etiquette, safety and common scams, packing and festivals, written by our team, who have planned private tours across India since 2002.

Before You Go

The first India travel tips are about papers and planning.

Visa and Passport

Most visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can apply for an e-Visa online on the official Indian visa website. Use only the official site, as look-alike sites charge extra. Apply well before you travel, and check the latest rules for your nationality, as fees and rules change. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have two blank pages. Keep printed and phone copies of your visa and passport.

Travel Insurance and Health

Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and trip changes. See your doctor or a travel clinic four to six weeks before you leave to ask which vaccines and medicines they advise for India. Pack your own medicines in their original boxes, with a copy of your prescription.

Plan Your Route

India is too big to see in one trip. For a first visit of a week, the Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is the best start. With two weeks, add Rajasthan, Varanasi or Kerala.

Best Time to Visit India

Seasons are among the most useful India travel tips, because the weather changes a lot from region to region.

October to March: the best time for most of India, including Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Central India, Goa and Kerala. Mornings in the north can be cold and foggy in December and January.
April to June: very hot in the plains. Go to the hills instead: Himachal, Uttarakhand and Kashmir.
June to September: the best time for Ladakh. Monsoon rains fall across most of India, and Kerala is green and quiet.
Char Dham Yatra: May to June and September to October. See our Chardham Yatra packages.

Money in India

Money is one of the most asked-about India travel tips.

Currency: the Indian rupee (INR). Change money at banks or authorised exchange counters, not in the street.
ATMs and cards: ATMs are common in cities. Cards are accepted in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, but carry cash for markets, temples, tips and small towns. Tell your bank before you travel.
Digital payments: Indians pay by UPI with their phones, and some apps now let visitors use UPI too.
Tipping: not required, but welcome. Round up for small services, and plan a fair daily tip for your driver and guide if you are happy with them.

Phone, Internet and Apps

One of the most practical India travel tips: buy a local SIM card at the airport or a phone shop with your passport and visa, or use an eSIM. Useful apps include maps, a ride app such as Uber or Ola in cities, a translation app, and the official railway app for train tickets. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafes.

Getting Around India

Good transport India travel tips save time and money.

Private car with driver: the most comfortable way to tour, with stops where you like. All our tours use one.
Trains: fast trains such as the Vande Bharat Express and Gatimaan Express link many cities. Book early, as seats sell out.
Flights: best for long distances, such as Delhi to Varanasi or Kerala.
Auto-rickshaws and taxis: agree the fare before you get in, or use a ride app. In old cities, a cycle-rickshaw is the best way through narrow lanes.

Food and Water

Food is a highlight of India. These India travel tips help you enjoy it safely.

Drink bottled or filtered water, and use it to brush your teeth. Carry a refillable bottle and refill it at your hotel.
Eat at busy places where food is cooked fresh and hot. Start with mild dishes and try more spice as you go.
Peel fruit yourself, and avoid ice and raw salads from street stalls.
Try a thali, a plate of many small dishes, and regional food such as Mughlai dishes in Delhi, dal baati churma in Rajasthan and appam with stew in Kerala.
Many Indians are vegetarian, and vegetarian food is easy to find everywhere.

Temple Etiquette and Local Customs

Respect is the heart of all India travel tips.

Cover your shoulders and knees at temples, mosques and gurudwaras, and take off your shoes before you enter. Carry socks for hot stone floors.
Cover your head at gurudwaras such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar and in some mosques.
Some temples do not allow phones, cameras or leather items. Follow the signs and use the lockers.
Use your right hand to give, take and eat.
Ask before you take photos of people, and never at cremation ghats.
Greet people with “Namaste” and folded hands.

Safety and Common Scams

India is safe for most visitors who take normal care. These India travel tips help you avoid the common problems.

Fake helpers: people at stations or monuments may say your hotel or a sight is closed and offer to take you elsewhere. Smile, say no and check for yourself.
Tickets: buy monument and train tickets only at official counters or websites.
Gems and shopping: do not buy gems to “sell back home”, and do not let anyone take you to a shop for a “special deal”.
Guides: use licensed guides and registered taxis or ride apps.
Valuables: keep your passport and money in a hotel safe or a hidden pouch, and watch your bags in crowds.

Tips for Women Travellers

Dress modestly, carry a scarf, sit near families on trains, avoid empty streets late at night and use trusted transport. Many women travel happily in India, and a private car with a known driver makes it easier.

Packing List for India

Our India travel tips for packing are simple: pack light and modest.

Light, loose cotton clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and a warm layer for northern winters and early safaris.
Comfortable shoes that are easy to slip off at temples, and a pair of socks.
A scarf or shawl, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Insect repellent, hand sanitiser, wet wipes and a small first-aid kit.
A universal plug adapter (India uses types C, D and M) and a power bank.

Festivals and Holidays

Festivals are a joy but need planning, which makes them part of good India travel tips. Holi, the festival of colours, falls in March, and Diwali, the festival of lights, in October or November. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year, and hotels fill up early. Some monuments close on certain days; the Taj Mahal, for example, is closed on Fridays. See our cultural tours of India.

Useful Hindi Words

Learning a few words is one of the friendliest India travel tips.

Namaste: hello
Dhanyavaad / Shukriya: thank you
Kitna hai?: how much is it?
Nahin chahiye: I do not want it
Paani: water

Emergency Numbers

The last India travel tips are for emergencies. Dial 112 for all emergencies in India. Save your hotel’s number, your embassy’s number and your tour operator’s number in your phone.

Travel Tips by Destination

We add India travel tips to each of our destination guides:

Agra: go to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, and remember it is closed on Fridays.
Varanasi: watch the Ganga Aarti from a boat, and never photograph cremations.
Prayagraj: carry a change of clothes for the holy dip at the Sangam.
Bodh Gaya: walk clockwise around the Mahabodhi Temple and speak softly.
Ladakh: rest for a full day on arrival to get used to the height.
Khajuraho: book Panna safari permits early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is India safe for tourists?

Yes, for most visitors who take normal care. Use licensed guides and registered transport, keep valuables safe and follow the India travel tips above.

Do I need a visa for India?

Most visitors do. Many nationalities can apply for an e-Visa on the official website. Check the rules for your passport before you book.

What is the best month to visit India?

November to February is the best for most of the country. For the mountains and Ladakh, go in summer.

Can I drink tap water in India?

No. Drink bottled or filtered water only.

What should I wear in India?

Light, modest clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, especially at religious places.

Is it better to travel with a tour operator?

For a first visit, a private tour with a car, driver and guides saves time and stress. We plan all bookings and are there for you throughout the trip.

Plan Your Trip with Shamrock Journeys

We hope these India travel tips help you plan. Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. See our spiritual tours of India, our Central India tours, our honeymoon tours, all our India tour packages and the best North India tours. Request your free quote

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

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