Top Destinations for Indian Tourists: Popular Travel Hotspots Inside and Outside India

They say you can spot an Indian traveler anywhere on the planet, and they’re not joking. Whether shopping in Dubai’s glitzy malls, chilling at Phuket’s beaches, or clicking selfies inside Jaipur’s forts, Indian tourists are everywhere, and their travel choices keep changing every year. But what is it that draws these millions of wanderers to some places over others? As travel habits shift and flight deals pop up almost overnight, you’ll want to know where Indians are flocking right now and what makes these spots so irresistible.

Where Indians Travel Inside India: The All-Time Favorites

When it comes to exploring their own country, Indian tourists are truly spoiled for choice. India offers a wild medley of mountains, beaches, deserts, forests, and bustling cities. No wonder the majority—estimated at over 1.8 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024, according to India’s Ministry of Tourism—choose to roam within their borders. So, which places have captured Indian hearts?

Goa sits high on almost every list and for good reason. It’s all about the beaches, buzzing nightlife, and those spicy prawn curries. Indian families, college gangs, honeymooners—everybody seems to want a piece of Goa, especially between November and February. Right up there is the golden triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. If you’ve never snapped a family photo with the Taj Mahal in the background, have you even done a road trip?

And let's talk about the Himalayan magnetism. Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, along with Kashmir’s Gulmarg and Sonmarg, pull in year-round crowds. It’s the snow, the crisp mountain air, the piping hot momos, and the chance to make a snowman—something every Delhi or Mumbai kid dreams of. Down south, Ooty and Munnar are a hit with nature lovers wanting to sip tea in rolling green hills. And then there’s Kerala, where houseboat holidays and Ayurvedic spas are the name of the game.

If cultural thrills are what you’re after, Varanasi ticks the box for the spiritually curious, with its sunrise Ganga aartis and busy ghats. Chennai’s beaches and temples, Hyderabad’s biryani and pearls, and Kolkata’s colonial charm keep eastern and southern India in the spotlight. Rajasthan’s forts and deserts (think Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer) add a fairytale touch, with camel safaris under starry skies.

The power of Bollywood and social media play a huge role in making some places crowd favorites—Manali’s Rohtang Pass starred in countless movies, while Rann of Kutch’s white desert lit up Instagram after the Rann Utsav. And it’s not just scenery: food trips fuel travel plans too. Mumbai’s street food, Lucknow’s kebabs, Amritsar’s kulchas—each city seems to tempt with a flavor trail hard to say no to.

Indian tourists don’t just look for sights but want full-on experiences, whether paragliding in Bir, white-water rafting in Rishikesh, or sipping filter coffee in Coorg’s misty plantations. Tourist infrastructure—smooth roads, new airports, budget hotels, even free Wi-Fi in city centers—makes travel easier than ever, bringing in new crowds from smaller cities every season.

Here’s a quick look at 2024’s top domestic Indian destinations based on Ministry of Tourism and MakeMyTrip booking data:

Tech-savvy travelers track deals on apps, use UPI everywhere, and rarely leave home without booking everything online. My husband Elliot once jokingly said, “Planning an Indian holiday now is harder than a startup pitch,” as we struggled to fit everyone’s food and sightseeing wishlist into one week. Not far from the truth, honestly!

The Global Adventure: Where Indians Go Abroad

Every Indian traveler dreams of a foreign trip. In 2024 alone, over 33 million Indians went overseas, said the UN World Tourism Organization—making India one of Asia’s fastest-growing outbound markets. But with so many choices, what global destinations make it to Indian travelers’ bucket lists?

Dubai is the undisputed favorite. It’s nearby, visa is easy, and flights are as frequent as chai breaks. Indian families love Dubai’s malls, desert safaris, and the world’s tallest building photo-ops. It’s rare to find an Indian wedding album without at least one glamorous Dubai backdrop. Singapore, with attractions like Universal Studios, Sentosa’s cable cars, Little India, and those strict chewing gum rules, is another hot pick—especially for families with kids and foodies.

Bali’s tranquil beaches, turquoise pools, and endless banana pancakes charm everyone, from luxury honeymooners to budget backpackers. Thailand—hello again—is practically a second home, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, zippy boat cruises, and shopping sprees. Indian travelers crowd Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok, and Krabi for a sun tan, island hopping, and spicy-sweet food.

Another destination on every bucket list is Maldives. Those overwater villas and blue lagoons have turned it into honeymoon central for Indians, who found out during the pandemic that Maldives had the world’s easiest entry procedures. In 2023, India was Maldives’ biggest tourist source, sending over 240,000 visitors, the official figures say.

But it’s not just Southeast Asia or beach escapes. Europe’s charms are beginning to lure more Indians, with Schengen visas opening up for tourists of all age groups. Paris and Swiss hill stations straight out of Bollywood scenes are favorites in the summer, while London’s shops buzz with visitors flying in for a mix of sightseeing and shopping. Eastern Europe—Prague, Budapest, Croatia—is gaining fans for its castle vibes and pocket-friendly prices.

Australia and New Zealand are popular for their adventure, wildlife, and easy English communication. And if you think Indian tourists shy away from long-haul trips, think again—New York, Toronto, and even cities in Africa like Nairobi and Mauritius see growing Indian communities and curious travelers digging into new cultures and cuisines. Cricket, food, film locations, and even Instagram-influenced trends now inspire Indian travel plans abroad.

Here are the top destinations Indians traveled to overseas in 2024, based on latest data from Expedia and government tourism boards:

Visa rules play a massive part here. As Singapore and Thailand granted visa-free entries for Indians in 2024, flight bookings shot up by over 80%, reported Thomas Cook India. But ask any seasoned traveler, and you’ll hear complaints about tough US or Schengen visa waits—sometimes they last longer than a family WhatsApp argument.

It’s not all sightseeing, either. Many trips combine festivals, sporting events, or work/play trips. Kids drag parents to Disneyland or Legoland in Malaysia, while foodies chase after street eats in Vietnam and Korea, thanks to viral travel reels. For those who want a spiritual connection, the Char Dham Yatra in Nepal or Buddhist circuit in Sri Lanka remains a classic trail.

To sum it up, wherever an Indian tourist goes, they usually bring a big suitcase, a bigger appetite, and a million questions. And by the time they return, they’ve added another destination to their “must-visit” list for next year.

What’s Fueling These Travel Trends?

You might wonder why particular destinations always enjoy the spotlight with Indian tourists. It’s never just one thing. A cocktail of affordable flights, easier visa rules, rising incomes, and pure FOMO fired up by social media reels have changed how Indians travel. A quick scroll through Instagram and suddenly Ladakh’s Pangong Lake or Maldives’ sea-plane hotels are everywhere. The urge to share ‘travel goals’ is driving younger Indians, especially Gen Z and millennials, to try out offbeat spots just for that perfect story.

Technology changed everything. Apps like MakeMyTrip and Goibibo have made booking a trip as common as ordering a pizza. Even family “uncles” used to paper tickets now track deals online and demand NRIs bring back shopping hauls. Payment apps ensure you never run out of cash, which makes international travel less stressful. Not to forget, direct flights to once-remote locations have shrunk the world for Indian tourists—think Chandigarh to Bangkok non-stop or Mumbai flights to Istanbul at lunch, arriving in time for a doner kebab dinner.

The travel bug’s not biting just the metros. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities—think Indore, Kochi, Rajkot—are sending more people abroad than ever before. Improved connectivity and increased spending power have opened the floodgates. Weekend getaways and short breaks are popular, especially around long public holidays and school vacations.

And guess what—the hunger for new experiences keeps growing. Indian tourists are willing to try adventure activities like skydiving in Dubai or shark cage diving in South Africa. According to a survey by Booking.com in March 2024, over 67% of Indian respondents said they prioritised “unique experiences over just sightseeing.”

But some things never change. Food remains a deciding factor. Indian restaurants and vegetarian options—sometimes a full thali—are often a must-have, no matter the location. Hoteliers from Singapore to Switzerland now roll out the red carpet with “Jain food available” signs especially during the Indian wedding season. As a Singapore Tourism Board official humorously put it,

“If your hotel chef isn’t ready with masala dosas and paneer tikka, you won’t be a favourite among Indian visitors.”

And yes, shopping—always shopping. Whether it’s snapping up gadgets in Dubai, snagging Swiss chocolates, or bargaining for silk scarves in Thailand, the hunt for deals and souvenirs is serious business.

Finally, social ties matter. So many trips combine family visits—weddings, graduations, or catching up with cousins living abroad. This explains why the US, UK, and Canada, with their large Indian diaspora, still feature on so many travel plans despite the long-haul flights and red tape.

Tips and Surprising Facts for Indian Travelers

If you’re part of the travel-hungry crowd, here are some insights and travel hacks you’ll find handy. Planning a trip with the whole family? Book early—way early—especially during Indian festivals and long weekends. Train and flight tickets for places like Goa or Shimla start selling out months in advance. Government tourism data shows over 75% of Indian families prefer to finalize their travel bookings 30 to 60 days before departure, compared to just 10% for solo or couple travelers.

Use travel credit cards with partnerships for cashback or lounge access. You’ll thank yourself during those layovers in Singapore or Bangkok when you’re waiting for the next flight. For international trips, look for flash deals, but always double-check visa fees and rules—these can change overnight. Places like Dubai launched ‘Visa-On-Arrival’ at airports, making life easier for spontaneous getaways. But don’t bank on last-minute luck for Schengen or US—rejections or long waits are common.

• Always carry a universal power adapter. Indian travelers love gadgets, and not every hotel abroad comes with Indian plug points.
• Download maps and language translation apps ahead of time. Even local cab drivers in Paris or Bali can struggle with English, let alone Hindi.
• Check local customs rules for shopping—returning with too much liquor or electronics? Hope you love explaining things at Indian customs!
• Plan for food—if you’re vegetarian or want Indian food, scope out nearby restaurants or carry ready-to-eat packs.
• Travel insurance isn’t just paperwork; it’s a lifesaver in emergencies. Indians are buying policies more than ever, especially since the pandemic.

A few quirky facts spice up the story: In 2023, MakeMyTrip reported Varanasi as the most “booked solo travel” destination by Indian women—spiritual, but empowering too. According to Economic Times, Indian tourists in Singapore spent the most on gold jewelry, while Dubai trip travelers set records for mobile phone buys. Indians are now the largest source of tourists to the Maldives for three years in a row.

And here’s an eye-opener: India now ranks fourth globally for tourist numbers to Thailand, just after China, Laos, and Malaysia, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Even offbeat places like Georgia (the country, not the US state!) and Vietnam are going viral with discount packages and easy visas, driven by reels and YouTube vloggers.

If you remember one thing, let it be this: Indian travelers are adventurous, curious, and fiercely loyal to their favorites, but they’re always hunting for the next big thing. The world really is their playground, and their choices, tastes, and wishlists keep travel trends bubbling with possibility.