12-Day Europe Grand Tour — Paris, Swiss Alps, Rome and Barcelona

Yes — Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa for most European countries. The Schengen area covers 27 countries. Applying through the embassy of the country where you spend the most nights is usually the correct approach. Processing takes 2–4 weeks. Switzerland (for the Swiss Alps) and the UK are outside Schengen and require separate visas.

June to September for beaches and outdoor sightseeing — long days, warm weather. December to February for Christmas markets, alpine skiing and far fewer crowds. April, May and October are shoulder months: pleasant, cheaper and less crowded than summer. Scandinavia and Iceland are best in summer for midnight sun, or December to March for northern lights.

France, Italy and Switzerland form the most natural circuit — a Paris–Geneva–Swiss Alps–Milan–Rome route is well-worn and logistically clean. Eastern Europe (Prague, Vienna, Budapest) is another easy cluster. Georgia and Armenia are best combined as a Caucasus trip rather than a European circuit.

Not especially, but the experience justifies the cost for most travellers. Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland) is significantly cheaper than Western Europe. Booking flights 3–4 months out and travelling in shoulder season cuts costs considerably.

The Euro (€) is used in 20 of the 27 EU countries, including France, Italy, Greece and Spain. Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF), Czech Republic the Czech Koruna, Hungary the Forint. Cards work almost everywhere in Western Europe; carry some cash for Eastern Europe and rural areas.