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Yes, access to India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has recently expanded for foreign visitors. As of mid-2025, you can download specific apps like Cheq or use prepaid wallet facilities at major airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) to link your international credit card or load cash digitally. This is a game-changer because many smaller vendors, tuk-tuks, and street food stalls do not accept physical credit cards but rely entirely on QR code scans.

While cash is still useful, activating UPI upon arrival saves you from dealing with small change and ATM fees. Look for the “UPI One World” or partner kiosks in the arrival hall before you exit the terminal to set this up immediately.

Yes, airlines have expanded direct connectivity to Bengaluru (BLR) and Hyderabad (HYD) to bypass the congested Delhi/Mumbai hubs. Lufthansa and Air India have increased frequencies from Frankfurt and London directly to these tech hubs in 2025.

Flying direct to South India is often €50-100 more expensive than connecting via Delhi, but it eliminates the risk of missed connections due to fog or immigration delays in the north. If your destination is Kerala or Tamil Nadu, these new direct routes are significantly more efficient.

This is the most common trap for European travelers—domestic economy flights in India (Indigo, SpiceJet, Akasa) strictly limit checked bags to 15kg (33 lbs). Your international flight likely allows 23kg or 30kg (two bags), creating a costly problem if you connect on separate tickets.

If you book a single ticket (e.g., Frankfurt-Delhi-Varanasi on Air India), your international allowance applies to the whole journey. If you book separate domestic tickets, pre-purchase excess baggage online for about €5-10; paying at the airport counter will cost significantly more, often exceeding €10 per kg.

India allows a duty-free allowance of 2 liters of alcohol (liquor or wine) per adult passenger. Customs officials at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai often scan all incoming hand luggage specifically looking for bottles exceeding this limit.

Be extremely careful if your final destination is a “dry state” like Gujarat or Bihar, where possession of alcohol without a specific permit is a criminal offense. In these states, your duty-free purchase may be confiscated, or you could face legal trouble upon exiting the airport.

Buying a SIM at the airport (Airtel or Jio kiosks in the arrival hall) is the easiest method because street vendors often require local ID (Aadhaar card) which tourists don’t have. You will need your passport, a passport-sized photo (usually taken digitally at the kiosk), and a copy of your visa.

The process takes 10-15 minutes, but activation can take up to 4 hours. A 28-day plan with 1.5GB of daily data typically costs less than €5. Do not leave the airport without verifying the SIM is registered, as troubleshooting later without a local address is difficult.

No, never drink tap water in India, not even in luxury hotels, as the bacterial content is different from what European stomachs are used to. Stick strictly to sealed bottled water (check the cap seal is intact) or water from RO (Reverse Osmosis) filtration stations found in good hotels.

Use bottled water for brushing your teeth as well to avoid “Delhi Belly.” When ordering drinks, ask for “no ice” unless you are in a 5-star establishment where they filter their ice water. This single precaution prevents the majority of traveler sicknesses.

Ignore anyone approaching you in the arrival hall offering a “cheap taxi” or claiming your hotel is “closed” or “burned down”—this is a classic scam to divert you to a commission-paying hotel. Only use the official “Meru Cabs” or “Mega Cabs” counters inside the terminal, or the dedicated Uber pickup zone.

If you prepaid for a hotel transfer, look for your name on a placard. If you must use a prepaid taxi, pay at the police-managed booth just outside the exit gates and give the receipt to the driver only when you reach your destination.

ATMs offer the best exchange rates, but they often have a withdrawal limit of ₹10,000 (approx €110) per transaction. Airport exchange bureaus offer terrible rates with high markups; exchange only a small amount (€20-50) for immediate taxi fare if needed.

Carry a “no foreign transaction fee” card (like Revolut or Wise) and decline the ATM’s offer to convert currency (always choose “debit in INR”). Keep a stack of ₹100 and ₹500 notes, as small vendors and tuk-tuk drivers rarely have change for ₹500 notes, let alone larger denominations.

For the 8-10 hour flight from Europe, Premium Economy is often a sweet spot, costing €300-500 more than Economy but significantly less than Business. Airlines like Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Vistara (now Air India) offer wider seats and priority boarding that make a real difference on these medium-long haul routes.

The extra legroom is crucial if you plan to hit the ground running, as immigration queues in India can take 60-90 minutes. Arriving fresher helps you navigate the chaotic airport exit with more patience. Check the price gap; if it’s under €350, the value is excellent.