First trip to India tips that help: visa and arrival card, when to go, cash and SIM cards, trains and taxis, safe food and water, and temple etiquette.
A first trip to India goes best when you slow down, plan fewer stops than you think, and get the boring things (visa, money, water) sorted before you land. India is huge, loud, generous and endlessly surprising. These 25 tips cover what first-time visitors most often wish they had known, grouped so you can read the part you need.
## Before you fly
**1. Sort your visa early.** Most visitors use the e-Visa, applied for on the [official e-Visa portal](https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/) at least 4 days before arrival. Agency sites with similar names charge more for the same form. Our guide to the [India e-Visa for US citizens](/blog/india-e-visa-for-us-citizens) walks through it.
**2. Fill in the e-Arrival Card.** If you are flying in, foreign nationals must now submit an online e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing. It is separate from your visa.
**3. Pick your season.** For much of the country, the cooler, drier months from roughly October to March are the most comfortable. The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain to most regions from around June to September, and the plains get very hot before it arrives. The far south and the mountains follow their own patterns, so check the region you are visiting.
**4. See a travel clinic.** Ask about vaccinations and malaria advice six to eight weeks before you go. Read your own government's advice too, such as the [GOV.UK India travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india) or the [US State Department](https://travel.state.gov/).
**5. Get [travel insurance](/blog/the-digital-nomad-s-guide-to-avoiding-hurricane-season-havoc).** Make sure it covers medical treatment and, if you are going to the mountains, high-altitude trekking.
**6. Bring the right adaptor.** India runs on 230 volts and mostly uses round-pin plugs (types C, D and M). A universal adaptor saves hunting for one later.
## Money and phones
**7. Carry some cash.** Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants, and ATMs are common in cities. Small shops, street food stalls, rickshaws and rural areas often want cash. Keep small notes, as change for a large note can be hard to find.
**8. Tell your bank.** Let your bank know you are travelling so your card is not blocked, and check what it charges for foreign withdrawals.
**9. Buy a local SIM.** You can buy one at major airports with your passport and visa. It makes ride-hailing apps, maps and payments far easier. Activation can take a few hours.
**10. Bargain in markets, not in shops.** Haggling is normal at street markets and with some auto-rickshaw drivers. Shops with printed price tags and government emporiums usually have fixed prices.
## Getting around
**11. Travel takes longer than the map suggests.** A 300 km journey by road can take most of a day. Pick two or three regions for a first trip rather than trying to see the whole country.
**12. Use the trains.** Indian Railways is one of the best ways to see the country. Book ahead on [IRCTC](https://www.irctc.co.in/), the official booking site, because popular trains sell out. There is a foreign tourist quota on some trains.
**13. Fly the long distances.** Domestic flights connect most big cities and can save you an overnight journey.
**14. Use prepaid or app taxis.** At airports, use the official prepaid taxi counter or a ride-hailing app such as Uber or Ola. Agree the fare before you get into an auto-rickshaw without a meter.
**15. Cross roads with the locals.** Traffic flows in a way that looks chaotic at first. Walk at a steady pace and cross alongside other pedestrians.
## Food and health
**16. Drink bottled or filtered water.** Avoid tap water, and be careful with ice and raw salads at places you are unsure about.
**17. Eat where it is busy.** Street food can be one of the best parts of a trip. A crowded stall with fast turnover and food cooked fresh in front of you is a good sign.
**18. Ease into spice.** "Less spicy, please" is understood almost everywhere. Give your stomach a few days before going all in.
**19. Pack a small medical kit.** Rehydration salts, plasters, hand sanitiser and any personal medicines (with prescriptions) cover most minor problems. Pharmacies are easy to find in towns.
**20. Watch the air in winter.** Air quality in Delhi and other parts of north India can be poor in winter. If you have asthma or a heart condition, check daily air quality readings and plan around them.
## How should you behave at temples and in homes?
**21. Shoes off.** Remove your shoes before entering temples, mosques, gurdwaras and most homes. Look for the pile of shoes at the door.
**22. Dress for religious sites.** Cover shoulders and knees. In gurdwaras, everyone covers their head; scarves are usually provided. Some temples do not allow non-Hindus into the inner sanctum, so follow the signs.
**23. Use your right hand.** Eat, pass food and hand over money with your right hand. The left is traditionally kept for other tasks.
**24. Ask before taking photos.** Ask people before you photograph them, and look out for signs, as photography is banned at some temples, airports and military sites.
**25. Expect warmth, and questions.** People may ask where you are from, whether you are married and what you do. It is usually friendly curiosity. The famous head wobble can mean yes, OK or "I understand", depending on context.
## Plan around what you love
India has more to see than any one trip can hold. If history is your thing, build a route around the [UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India](/blog/unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-india); many of the best known, such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, sit close together. If you want colour and crowds, time your visit with a festival using our [India festival calendar for 2027](/blog/india-festival-calendar-2027). For ideas by region, the official [Incredible India](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/) tourism site is a good starting point.
A fun way to warm up before you go: the [Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz](https://bkjquiz.com/?utm_source=dgamaf53&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_id=d53) is the official quiz of India's Ministry of External Affairs. It is free to join, open to everyone worldwide, and you do not have to be Indian to take part. Even a few rounds will teach you things most guidebooks skip.
## The one tip that matters most
Leave space in your plans. The best moments of a first trip to India are rarely on the itinerary: a long chai with a stranger on a train, a wedding procession blocking the road, a family who insists you join their meal. If every hour is booked, you miss them. Plan the big pieces, keep a free day every few days, and let India surprise you.
It also helps to keep your expectations flexible. Trains run late, plans shift and a museum may be closed for a holiday you did not know about. Treat these moments as part of the trip rather than a failure of planning. Keep a paper copy of your bookings and your hotel's address in case your phone dies, and save your embassy's emergency number. With those basics in place, you can relax and enjoy the place.
WokeTraveler