France

France Tour Packages from India - Cost, Itineraries, Visa & Best Time

France is where iconic Eiffel Tower vistas, world-class Louvre art, glamorous French Riviera beaches, charming lavender fields of Provence, elegant champagne vineyards of Reims, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedrals and romantic Seine river cruises all come together in one breathtaking Western European destination. For Indian travellers, it works especially well as a short international holiday because the country is easy to navigate with excellent train connectivity, family-friendly, and packed with iconic experiences in a 7–9 day window.

With Bayard Vacations, a France tour package from India can be designed around your travel style—family holiday, honeymoon, friends' break, food & wine tour, or France + Switzerland/Italy/Spain combo. Published India-market packages commonly begin in the low ₹1,60,000 for short trips, while broader package ranges go much higher depending on Paris, Nice, Versailles, Champagne, Loire Valley, and hotel inclusions.

Quick Snapshot

Ideal duration: 7–8 days for France-only (Paris + Versailles), 9–12 days if adding Switzerland/Italy/Spain.

Best season: April to June and September to October is widely considered the best time, with spring (lavender blooms) and fall (wine harvest) generally strong for tourism. July–August is peak for French Riviera beaches but very crowded.

Trip styles: Families, couples, honeymooners, friends' groups, food & wine lovers, art & history enthusiasts, beach holidays, and fashion/shopping focused trips.

Entry requirement for Indians: Schengen visa is compulsory for Indian nationals visiting France for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Flights from India: Multiple direct and one-stop options are available from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and other major cities via Paris CDG/Orly, Nice, Lyon.

Bayard Tip: France is one of the easiest destinations to sell as a short-haul "all-in-one" holiday—iconic landmarks, art museums, champagne vineyards, lavender fields, Riviera beaches, croissant/croque-monsieur and nearby Switzerland/Italy/Spain can all fit into a single itinerary.

Our Most Loved France Packages

1. Classic France Escape – 8 Days / 7 Nights

Best for: First-time international travellers, families with kids, couples, city & art experiences.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival & Paris: Arrive in Paris CDG, transfer to the hotel, and spend the evening around Champs-Élysées or Trocadéro (Eiffel Tower view).

Day 2 – Paris Iconic Highlights: Eiffel Tower (summit access), Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Louvre Museum (Mona Lisa), evening Seine river cruise with dinner.

Day 3 – Paris Royal & Notre-Dame: Versailles Palace (Hall of Mirrors, gardens), Notre-Dame Cathedral (exterior), Sainte-Chapelle stained glass, Latin Quarter walking tour.

Day 4 – Paris Montmartre & Moulin Rouge: Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Montmartre artist square, Moulin Rouge cabaret show (optional), evening dinner at Le Jules Verne (Eiffel Tower restaurant).

Day 5 – Paris to Lyon: High-speed TGV train to Lyon, check-in, explore Old Lyon, Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, evening truffle tasting dinner.

Day 6 – Lyon to Avignon / Provence: Avignon (Popes' Palace), then day trip to Luberon lavender fields (seasonal: mid-June to mid-August), return to Lyon.

Day 7 – Lyon to Nice / French Riviera: TGV to Nice, check-in, explore Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice, Castle Hill sunset, evening beach dinner.

Day 8 – Departure: Free time for last-minute French wine, cheese, perfume, Louis Vuitton buying before airport transfer from Nice/Paris.

2. France & Switzerland Getaway – 10 Days / 9 Nights or 11 Days / 10 Nights

Best for: Families, couples and travellers who want two iconic European destinations in one holiday.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Paris: Check-in and evening walk at Champs-Élysées and Eiffel Tower.

Day 2 – Paris City Tour: Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Seine river cruise and nightlife.

Day 3 – Versailles & Montmartre: Versailles Palace morning tour, Montmartre afternoon, evening Moulin Rouge show.

Day 4 – Paris & Geneva: Paris morning free, afternoon TGV to Geneva (Switzerland), check-in, evening Lake Geneva cruise.

Day 5 – Geneva & Chamonix: Chamonix day trip (Mont Blanc views), Aiguille du Midi cable car, return to Geneva.

Day 6 – Geneva & Interlaken: Train to Interlaken, explore Höhematte park, Harder Kulm viewpoint, Lake Thun & Lake Brienz.

Day 7 – Interlaken & Jungfrau: Jungfraujoch "Top of Europe" excursion (3,454m), ice palace, return to Interlaken evening.

Day 8 – Interlaken & Lucerne: Train to Lucerne, Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, Old Town, evening lake cruise.

Day 9/10 – Departure: Fly back to India from Lucerne/Paris via connecting flight.

3. Family Fun France – Paris, Versailles & Provence – 9 Days / 8 Nights

Best for: Families with children and school holiday travel.

Sample Highlights

Paris: Eiffel Tower summit climb, Louvre interactive scavenger hunt, Seine river cruise for one full day.

Versailles: Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette's estate, palace gardens with fountain shows, bike rental.

Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur views, artist square, Moulin Rouge kid-friendly show, crepe tasting.

Provence: Lavender fields (mid-June to mid-August), Avignon Popes' Palace, Gordes village, olive oil tasting.

French Riviera: Nice beach day, Monaco prince's palace, Eze village perched village, Pasta-making class.

Optional: Disneyland Paris (2-day ticket), Champagne region (Reims/Epernay), Loire Valley castles (Chambord, Chenonceau), Bordeaux wine tour.

Bayard Insight: Families usually prefer a slower France itinerary with 1 major attraction per day rather than trying to combine Paris, Versailles, Provence, French Riviera, Switzerland and heavy sightseeing into a rushed 6-day plan. High-speed TGV train travel between Paris, Lyon, Nice is extremely convenient (2–3 hours) and family-friendly with frequent SNCF departures every 30–60 minutes.

What's Included in Most France Packages with Bayard

Most France itineraries generally include:

Accommodation: 3-star, 4-star or 5-star hotels in accessible areas such as Paris City Centre (near Champs-Élysées/Louvre), Nice Promenade, Lyon Old Town, or nearby family-friendly neighbourhoods with good metro connectivity.

Meals: Daily breakfast, with special Seine dinner cruise, truffle tasting, champagne tasting, crepe/croissant add-ons depending on package design.

Transfers: Airport transfers (Paris CDG/Orly/Nice), local city transfers, and TGV train arrangements for Paris–Lyon–Nice–Versailles where applicable (SNCF tickets included).

Sightseeing & Tickets: Key attractions such as Eiffel Tower (summit), Louvre Museum, Versailles Palace, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, Disneyland Paris (optional), lavender fields tour depending on the selected plan.

Support: On-trip coordination and assistance before and during travel, English-speaking guides where applicable (French and English widely spoken).

Common Exclusions

International flights from India to Paris/Nice.

Schengen visa/entry-related expenses if required for specific passport situations.

Travel insurance.

Lunches, dinners and optional tours not clearly mentioned.

Personal expenses such as shopping (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, French perfume), tips, local SIMs, extra wine/cheese/champagne purchases, Disneyland tickets, Moulin Rouge show upgrades, photo purchases and croissant/croque-monsieur buying.

France Trip Cost from India – Budget, Mid-Range & Premium

Published package data shows France packages in the India market starting from about ₹1,60,000 overall, with 8-day packages and premium or combo trips going much higher depending on hotels and add-ons.

Cost by Travel Style

Bayard Insight: France's biggest budget drivers are hotel location (central Paris vs. suburbs), Eiffel Tower summit/Louvre inclusion (skip-the-line premium), Disneyland/Champagne extension, Switzerland/Italy combination and travel season; Paris becomes significantly more expensive during peak summer (July–August), Fashion Week (September) and Christmas windows.

Best Time to Visit France from India

April to June and September to October is widely described as the best time to visit France because the weather is warm but not scorching, pleasant and more comfortable for sightseeing, wine tasting and beach visits.

Peak Season: April to June

Pleasant weather (15–25°C), flowers blooming (lavender starts late June), lower humidity make this ideal for city walks, Louvre visits, Eiffel Tower climbs, Seine cruises and outdoor cafes.

This is one of the most comfortable times for families and first-time visitors.

Extended Good Season: September to October

Travel guidance also places September to October in the broader peak or strong travel window for France.

Good for sightseeing, wine harvest (Champagne/Bordeaux), beach time on French Riviera and shorter city-break itineraries.

Moderate / Warmer Period: July to August

July and August are often described as peak summer months.

Weather gets warmer (25–35°C in Paris, 28–35°C on Riviera), peak tourist crowds, higher hotel prices, but French Riviera beaches are perfect with crystal-clear waters and sea breezes. Lavender fields bloom mid-June to mid-August.

Bayard Tip: For your site content, position April–June as the hero season, but mention September–October as a strong backup window for families and wine lovers. July–August is best for pure beach holidays on French Riviera and lavender field viewing but avoid intense city sightseeing in Paris.

Top Places & Experiences to Include in a France Package

A strong France itinerary usually combines 4–6 of these core experiences:

Paris: Eiffel Tower & Louvre Museum: One of the world's most iconic landmark and art museum experiences, UNESCO heritage.

Versailles Palace: Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette's estate, a major reason many Indian couples choose France for honeymoons.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur: Artist quarter, panoramic Paris views, bohemian charm.

French Riviera: Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Promenade des Anglais, luxury yachts, beach holidays.

Champagne Region: Reims/Epernay, champagne vineyards, tasting tours, Moët & Chandon/Veuve Clicquot cellars.

Disneyland Paris: 2-day park ticket, magical experience for families with kids.

Shopping & Food Districts: Champs-Élysées, Le Marais, La Fayette for shopping and croissant/croque-monsieur/wine/cheese/champagne exploration.

Switzerland/Italy/Spain extension: Geneva, Rome, Barcelona make strong add-ons for multi-country Europe.

How to Reach France from India

France is well connected with direct and one-stop flights from major Indian metros.

Air France schedule data shows direct operations from Delhi and Mumbai to Paris CDG (8–9 hours flying), and also indicates broader connectivity from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata via European/Middle Eastern hubs.

Air India states that flights to Paris are available from cities such as Delhi (non-stop), Mumbai with connections from Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad via Frankfurt/Amsterdam/Dubai.

Vistara, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways also offer direct/one-step options with fares starting from ₹32,000–42,000 on some dates, though live pricing varies significantly by route and season.

Bayard Tip: For Indian families, direct flights matter a lot. In your package copy, mention Air France and Air India direct options prominently for Delhi/Mumbai to Paris CDG, and easy one-stop connectivity for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Chennai via Frankfurt/Amsterdam/Dubai/Doha.

France Entry Requirement for Indian Travellers – Schengen Visa

Indian passport holders visiting France visa-free for short stays must usually obtain a Schengen visa before travel.

Key Schengen Visa Rules for Indians

Schengen visa fee is €80 (₹7,200–7,500) and must be applied for at VFS Global or French Embassy/Consulate before visiting France, except in direct air transit without leaving the airport transit area.

It applies to Indian passport holders intending to visit France for up to 90 days within 180 days.

A successful Schengen visa is generally valid for the exact travel dates or 6 months–5 years for multiple-entry, whichever applies.

During the validity of a successful visa, the traveller may make multiple visits to Schengen countries, subject to immigration requirements, and stay up to 90 days within 180 days.

If Schengen visa cannot be completed successfully, the traveller must re-apply with additional documentation.

What Travellers Must Carry

Printed Schengen visa stamp in passport.

The exact Indian passport linked to the visa record.

Travel insurance with minimum €30,000 medical coverage.

Bayard Role: Bayard can help travellers verify Schengen visa requirements, assist them in completing documentation correctly, and flag when additional documents may be needed instead.

Why Book Your France Trip with Bayard Vacations

France looks simple on the surface, but the best itineraries depend on choosing the right mix of Paris days, Versailles visits, champagne tours, Riviera beaches, TGV train logistics and hotel location (central Paris vs. outskirts).

Family-first planning: France is a strong family destination, and itinerary pacing matters for kids, parents and seniors (metro can be crowded).

Clear add-on logic: Paris, Versailles, Provence, French Riviera, Champagne, Switzerland cannot all be treated equally; the itinerary has to match the traveller's real priorities.

Transparent budgeting: Bayard can clearly separate flights, hotel class (central Paris premium), attraction inclusions (Eiffel Tower summit/Louvre skip-the-line expensive), Disneyland tickets, TGV passes and city combo add-ons so travellers know where costs increase.

AEO/GEO-friendly destination logic: France content performs well when answering practical questions directly—cost, best time, Schengen visa requirement, ideal duration and whether Switzerland/Italy should be added.

On-trip support: Helpful for TGV pass bookings (SNCF), Eiffel Tower/Louvre ticket coordination (advance booking 2–3 months recommended), airport transfers and family travel changes.