Backpacking through Europe is a dream of many travelers. Visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, witnessing a beautiful sunset in Santorini, eating pizza in Tuscany, exploring the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and admiring the Swiss Alps are a few things that travelers have on their itinerary. But before you make any plans, you need to apply for a Schengen visa. While a Schengen visa does not give you entry to all the countries of Europe, it does open doors to almost 29 countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Croatia, and more. But the process for obtaining a Schengen visa involves the submission of a few documents. Among them, the travel itinerary is one of the most important ones. Here you will find everything you need to know about creating a travel itinerary for a Schengen visa.
What is a Travel Itinerary for a Schengen Visa?
The travel itinerary is a document you must create while applying for your Schengen tourist visa. It should include everything about your Schengen tour, including dates of travel, cities/countries you plan to visit, details of your accommodation, flight itinerary, travel details, things you are planning to see and do, and more. It should be detailed and cover all the days you will be staying in the Schengen zone.
What is the Importance of Travel Itinerary for Schengen Visa?
The travel itinerary is a mandatory document for a Schengen visa application. It is not something you can skip, as this may lead to rejection of your visa application. The travel itinerary is important for the embassy or visa officer to understand your travel plans and to confirm the purpose of your visit. It also gives the visa officer assurance  that you have plans to return to your homeland after your holiday or visit to the Schengen cities/countries.
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How to Create a Schengen Visa Travel Itinerary
Now that you know how important it is to submit your travel itinerary for a Schengen visa, you must take the time to create it. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create a travel itinerary for a Schengen visa.
1. Decide on Your Travel Dates and Duration
The first thing to do is decide the duration and the dates of your Schengen holiday. The Schengen visa is issued to for the number of days you plan to visit the area. So, you need to be precise about the duration of your holiday. Apart from this, you also need to decide your dates, including the date you are flying to the Schengen country/city and the date you are flying back to your home country. Make sure these dates align with your leaves.
2. Decide the Countries/Cities You Plan to Visit
The next step is to decide which places you plan to visit in the Schengen zone. While you may want to visit as many cities and countries as possible, make sure your itinerary is practical. Apart from mentioning the places you are visiting, you also need to specify the arrival and departure dates, as well as the activities in each of the places. Do not forget to mention the first port of entry (the Schengen city/country you are visiting first) and the port of exit (the city/country you are visiting last).
3. Chart Our Your Travel Route
Once you have decided on the places you are visiting, the next step is to chart out your travel route. This will include how you are planning to travel from one city/country to another. You can choose flights, trains, or buses to travel through cities and even across Europe. Along with the mode of traveling, you also need to mention the approximate distance and time it would take you to travel from one place to another.
4. Make Flight Reservations
The next step is to make your flight reservations. This includes your flight from your home country to the Schengen destination you are visiting, as well as all the other flights you take to explore the Schengen area. The best part is that you do not have to book the flight before applying for your visa. Most airlines allow you to reserve your flights without paying the full ticket price. You can complete the booking process after you receive your Schengen visa. If you are finding it difficult to reserve your flight tickets, you can take the help of reliable travel agents and online tools to make dummy bookings for you.
5. Make Accommodation/Hotel Reservation
Once the flight reservations are made, the next step would be to arrange your accommodation. Your travel itinerary should include details of the places you will stay in each city you visit. Try to make these hotel reservations through websites that offer free cancellations or allow date changes if you need to change the dates. A travel company can also help you make hotel reservations as per your preferences. On the other hand, if you are planning to stay at a friend/relative’s house in any of the places you are visiting, you need to mention the same and also produce a Schengen visa invitation letter sent by the host.
6. Outline Your Daily Plan
Your travel itinerary should also have your daily plan. This means it should include the popular places you will visit and the activities you will do every day of your stay in the Schengen zone. This includes attractions such as museums, beaches, historical buildings, iconic attractions, etc. Apart from this, you must list activities like shopping and relaxation activities.
Sample Travel Itinerary for Schengen Visa
Once you have all the details mentioned above, the next step is to create a professional document that covers all these points. Here is a Schengen travel itinerary you can follow to create your own.
Schengen Itinerary Day 1 (July 4) – Date of Departure from Dubai, UAE Boarding the flight to Paris, France from Dubai International Airport via Emirates at 2.50 PM on July 4. Reaching the airport in Paris, France on July 4 at 7.30 PM. Check in to Hotel Astoria, 30 minutes away from the airport. Dinner at the restaurant and rest.
Day 2 (July 5) – Exploring Paris City Morning: Breakfast at a café near the Eiffel Tower followed by a visit to the Eiffel Tower, i.e., between 9 AM and 11 AM. Stroll around Champ de Mars Walk Afternoon: Lunch at a restaurant near Champ de Mars Walk followed by a Seine River Cruise to enjoy the relaxing afternoon. Enjoy an afternoon exploration in Paris with a visit to the Louvre Museum. Evening: Explore the Latin Quarter and have dinner at one of the exceptional restaurants. Go to the Eiffel Tower to witness the tower sparkling at night. Return to hotel and rest.
Day 3 (July 6) – Art and Architecture of Paris Morning: Breakfast at the hotel followed by a visit to Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame Cathedral. Stroll through the cafes and boutiques of the Marais District. Afternoon: Lunch at a café or restaurant nearby. Visit the Musee d’Orsay followed by a visit to Montmartre. Evening: Visit Sacre-Coeur Basilica and Montmartre Village. Dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. End the day with a cabaret show at Moulin Rouge.
Day 04 (July 7) – Arrival at Rome, Italy Check out of the hotel and arrive at the railway station. Catch the first train to Rome at 6.11 AM. Arrival in Rome at around 5.15 PM. Head to Hotel Colosseum, 7 minutes from Roma Termini. Dinner and rest at the hotel.  Day 05 (July 8) – Explore Ancient Rome Morning: Breakfast at the hotel followed by enjoying the Colosseum Tour. Visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill before lunch. Afternoon: Lunch at a local eatery for some local food. Visit the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Evening: Visit to Trevi Fountain and dinner near the Spanish Steps. Walk through the city to enjoy the night magic.
Day 6 (July 9) – Vatican City and Trastevere Charm Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and head out to Vatican City. Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica before lunch. Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to Castel Sant’Angelo and Via del Corso. Evening: Spend the evening walking around the Trastevere District, including dinner at a local restaurant and a scoop of gelato by the river.
Day 7 (July 10) – Arrival in Santorini, Greece Check out of the hotel and arrive at the airport. Catch the 6.05 AM flight from Rome to Santorini at 6.05 AM. Arrival at Santorini at 8.15 AM. Head to Aqua Luxury Suites, around a 15minute drive from the airport. Mid-Morning: Spend the morning exploring the Oia Village with blue domed-churches and white-washed homes. Afternoon: Drive to Red Beach; enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Explore the Akrotiri Archeological Site. Plan to visit Kamari Beach. Evening: Return to Oia to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant and relax.
Day 08 (July 11) – Departure to Dubai, UAE Breakfast at the hotel followed by some time for relaxation and enjoying the view. Shopping trip to Oia to buy souvenirs. Check out of the hotel and head to airport. Catch your flight back to Dubai at 5 PM with Emirates. Arrival at Dubai at 9.30 PM. |
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Getting the travel itinerary right will strengthen your Schengen visa application. So, Â follow this Schengen visa travel itinerary template to ensure you can present an impactful travel itinerary with your visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it necessary to confirm all bookings while creating the travel itinerary for Schengen visa?
Q. Is it possible to change my travel itinerary after getting my visa?
Q. What are the common mistakes to avoid while creating the travel itinerary?
- Not providing consistent details about your bookings/reservations, travel dates, duration, etc.
- Creating overambitious plans like planning to visit too many countries within a short duration.
- Including fake reservations from unreliable sources that the embassies cannot find or cross-verify.
- Not providing information about your return flight.
- No consistency between financial documents and itinerary or hotel bookings. For instance, booking a 5-star hotel without proof of sufficient financial resources.
Q. How long should my Schengen itinerary be for a tourist visa?
Q. How can I ensure that my Schengen travel itinerary is strong?
- Your travel itinerary should be realistic. The visa official needs to ensure that the destinations you have listed can be covered within the duration of your stay.
- Creating the travel itinerary alone is not enough. You need to provide the right supporting documents such as hotel bookings, travel insurance, and flight reservations to strengthen your itinerary.
- The dates and cities you mention in your travel itinerary should match the dates and cities you have included in your visa application.
