Schengen and Eurozone Travel Guide for Indians

Schengen / Eurozone at a glance

Currency

20 of 29 Schengen countries use the Euro. Outside Eurozone (Switzerland, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, etc.) you need local currency.

Cards & ATMs

Bank ATMs across the EU are reliable. Always pay in local currency, never in INR — DCC adds 5–8% silently.

Visa

Schengen visa allows 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen states. EES (Entry-Exit System) launches in 2026 with fingerprint/photo.

ETIAS

ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers only. Indian travellers continue with the Schengen visa — ETIAS does not apply.

Multi-country

Eurail / Interrail passes work for cross-country trains. Border checks are returning at some land crossings due to EES rollout.

Common mistakes

Don't exchange Euros at the airport. Don't use airport / hotel ATMs (Euronet etc.). Carry a 20-Euro emergency note for vending machines and locker fees.

Cash vs card in Schengen / Eurozone Mostly cashless

Cash-heavyFully cashless

Schengen / Eurozone sits at about 80 on the cash-to-cashless spectrum. Across most Schengen countries, contactless cards are dominant. A small cash float for tipping and small purchases is enough.

Money for your Schengen / Eurozone trip

How to carry money to Schengen / Eurozone, answered here. For live rates, conversion and buying, we hand you to the pages built for it.

CurrencyEuro (EUR)

Cash vs cardMostly cashless

Best combinationForex card plus a small cash float

Live rate

1 EUR = ——

The same live rate Matrix Forex shows across the site. Rates move through the day.

Buy Euro See the live EUR rate Open the converter →

What things cost in Schengen / Eurozone

Typical local prices in Schengen / Eurozone, for orientation only. These are local prices, not exchange rates.
Everyday item	Typical price
Coffee	€3
Metro day pass	€8
Hotel (3-star)	€140
Bistro meal	€20

Most first-time European trips from India are Schengen-style multi-country itineraries — Paris, Amsterdam, Rome on a single visa. The visa is one document, but the money landscape changes the moment you cross from a Eurozone country to Switzerland or Czechia.

The biggest 2026 change is EES — the Entry-Exit System. Your fingerprints and photo are recorded on first entry; subsequent entries are faster but the first one will be slow. Plan for it at the immigration line.