How many days in Agra? 3 days, with the Taj Mahal at sunrise and again at sunset
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Most people treat Agra as a day trip from Delhi and see the Taj Mahal at midday, in the worst light and the biggest crowds. Give it three days, or at least two nights. The Mughal capital has three World Heritage Sites: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the abandoned royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, plus smaller tombs and gardens that most visitors never see. The rule that matters: the Taj at sunrise, the river gardens at sunset, and nothing on a Friday, when the Taj is closed.
Short answer
Two days covers the Taj at sunrise, Agra Fort, the Baby Taj and Mehtab Bagh. The third day adds Fatehpur Sikri and Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Taj Mahal at sunrise and Agra Fort
Morning. Be at the east gate of the Taj Mahal half an hour before sunrise, when it opens; the light on the marble is softest and pinkest then. The foreigner ticket is around ₹1,100, plus about ₹200 to enter the main mausoleum, best bought online. Allow 2-3 hours for the gardens, the mosque and the guest house that flank the tomb, and the riverside terrace behind it.
Afternoon. Rest in the hottest hours, then take an auto-rickshaw about 10 minutes (roughly ₹100-200) to Agra Fort, the red sandstone citadel of the Mughal emperors (around ₹650 for foreigners). See the Diwan-i-Am (hall of public audience), the white marble palaces, and the Musamman Burj, the octagonal tower where Shah Jahan is said to have spent his last years looking at the Taj.
Evening. Eat in the Taj Ganj lanes south of the monument, where rooftop restaurants face the dome; a thali or curry costs ₹300-600. Some rooftops are better than others; choose one with a lot of customers.
Bring as little as possible to the Taj: food, tripods, large bags and many other items are not allowed, and the security queues are long. Lockers are available near the gates, but it is easier to leave things in your hotel.
Day 2: The Baby Taj, Mehtab Bagh and the markets
Morning. Cross the Yamuna to Itimad-ud-Daulah, the tomb often called the Baby Taj, built in white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones before the Taj itself (around ₹300 for foreigners). It is smaller, quieter and close to the river, and the inlay work can be seen up close.
Afternoon. Visit the Chini ka Rauza, a tomb with remains of glazed tiles, a few minutes away, then go back across the river to the Kinari Bazaar and the Jama Masjid, the old market district near the fort. Look for marble inlay workshops, where artisans show the technique used on the Taj.
Evening. At sunset, go to Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal garden on the far bank of the Yamuna directly opposite the Taj (around ₹300). You see the back of the monument reflected in the river with few people around, and it stays open while the Taj itself is closed on Fridays.
On the five nights around each full moon (except Fridays and during Ramadan), the Taj opens for small groups of night viewing. Tickets are limited and are usually sold a day in advance at the Archaeological Survey of India office; check current rules.
Day 3: Fatehpur Sikri and Akbar's Tomb
Morning. Leave early for Fatehpur Sikri, about 40 km and 1 hour by car (roughly ₹2,000-3,000 for a day taxi). The red sandstone city was built by Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century and abandoned after a few years. See the royal palaces, the Panch Mahal with its five storeys of columns, and the Diwan-i-Khas (around ₹600 for foreigners).
Afternoon. Walk next door to the Jama Masjid and its huge gate, the Buland Darwaza, and the white marble Tomb of Salim Chishti, where visitors tie threads on the screens with a wish. On the way back, stop at Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra, about 10 km from Agra, where deer and monkeys roam the gardens (around ₹300).
Evening. Try a Mughlai dinner: biryani, kebabs and slow-cooked curries in one of the hotel restaurants in the Fatehabad Road area. Buy petha, Agra's translucent sweet made of ash gourd, from a long-established sweet shop to take home.
At Fatehpur Sikri, unofficial guides and sellers wait at the entrances. If you want a guide, ask for one with an official licence at the ticket office, and agree on the price first.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do the Taj and Agra Fort on Day 1, and the Baby Taj with Mehtab Bagh at sunset on Day 2. With 1 day from Delhi, take the first train, see the Taj and the fort, and add Mehtab Bagh if time allows. You lose Fatehpur Sikri.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, a wetland bird reserve about 1-1.5 hours away (best from November to February), or to Mathura and Vrindavan, the temple towns linked with Krishna, especially lively during Holi. Many travellers continue to Jaipur, about 4-5 hours by road via Fatehpur Sikri, on the Golden Triangle route.
Where to stay in Agra
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Taj Ganj | Guesthouses and hostels a few minutes' walk from the Taj, many with rooftop views. | ₹800-2,000 |
| Mid-range | Fatehabad Road | Business and chain hotels 10 minutes from the east gate, with restaurants and pools. | ₹3,000-7,000 |
| Mid-range | Sadar Bazaar and cantonment | Quieter tree-lined streets near Agra Cantt station and the markets. | ₹2,500-6,000 |
| Comfort | Luxury hotels near the Taj | Hotels with views of the Taj from the rooms or the pool, a short drive to the east gate. | ₹15,000-50,000 |
Getting around
Fast trains from Delhi, such as the Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin and the Vande Bharat services, reach Agra Cantt station in about 1h45-2h; book early on the IRCTC site or an app. By car, the Yamuna Expressway takes about 3-3.5 hours from Delhi. In Agra, use auto-rickshaws (agree the fare first, about ₹100-300 for most rides in town), app taxis, or a car with a driver for the day (roughly ₹2,000-3,500). Only electric vehicles are allowed near the Taj, so you walk or take an electric shuttle for the last few hundred metres to the gates.
What to eat in Agra
Agra's cooking is Mughlai: rich curries with cream and nuts, biryani, kebabs and tandoori breads. Start the day like locals with bedai, a fried bread with spicy potato curry, followed by hot jalebi, sold at street stalls in the old city in the morning. The local sweet is petha, made from ash gourd in plain, saffron and many other flavours. A thali in a simple restaurant costs ₹200-400, a dinner in a hotel restaurant ₹1,000-2,500 per person. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and choose street stalls that are busy and cook food fresh.
Best time to visit
October to March is best: dry and pleasant, with highs of 20-30°C. December and January bring cold mornings and thick fog, which can hide the Taj at sunrise and delay trains. From April to June it is extremely hot, often above 40°C, and the monsoon from July to September brings humidity and heavy showers, though green gardens and fewer visitors. The Taj is closed every Friday, for prayers at its mosque.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₹700 | ₹2,500 | ₹10,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹600 | ₹1,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹1,300 | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Local transport | ₹300 | ₹1,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₹2,900 | about ₹7,000 | about ₹20,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, using foreigner ticket rates, which are much higher than those for Indian citizens; a licensed guide for the Taj or Fatehpur Sikri adds roughly ₹1,000-2,000.
Before you go
Common questions
Is the Taj Mahal closed on Fridays?
Yes. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors every Friday, when its mosque is used for prayers. Agra Fort, the Baby Taj, Mehtab Bagh and Fatehpur Sikri stay open, so plan those sites for Friday and keep the Taj for another day. Night viewing is also not offered on Fridays.
Should I see the Taj Mahal at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise, for most travellers. The gates open about 30 minutes before sunrise, the light on the marble is soft, the temperatures are lower and the queues are shorter. For the sunset, go to Mehtab Bagh across the river, which gives a quiet view of the Taj with the light behind you and fewer people.
Can I do Agra as a day trip from Delhi?
Yes, with an early fast train like the Gatimaan Express and a return in the evening, you can see the Taj, Agra Fort and perhaps the Baby Taj. But you will miss sunrise at the Taj and Fatehpur Sikri, and fog in winter can delay trains by hours. Staying one or two nights is more relaxed and gives better light.
Do I need a guide at the Taj Mahal?
Not necessarily. The grounds are easy to understand and audio guides and apps are available. A licensed guide adds stories about the Mughal emperors and helps you find the best viewpoints, and many travellers find it worth it. Hire one through your hotel or the official counters, and ignore touts at the gates.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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