Things to do on a trip to Agra

Located between New Delhi and Jaipur, Agra is one of the most important cities in the country, not only because it is home to the Taj Mahal, one of the most visited monuments in the world, but also because of its historical and cultural legacy, the result of the Mughal Empire, of which it was the capital in the 16th century. The city experienced its greatest splendour during the reign of Shah Jahan. The main monuments and buildings to see in Agra, such as the Taj Mahal and the city fort, were built during this period.

In this post we’ll tell you the must-see sights in the city and give you other travel tips to help you get the most out of the experience. One or two days is more than enough time to visit Agra, as its interest lies in a few buildings and not so much in the city as such, which is not one of the most beautiful in the country. We’ll also advise you on where to stay and some of the best restaurants where you can enjoy Indian cuisine, one of the most exquisite in the world.

What are the best places to see in Agra?

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

1. The Tomb of Chini Ka Rauza

Chini Ka Rauza was a poet and politician of the Mughal Empire. His tomb is one of the city’s little secrets and is not usually visited by many tourists. The building is not as impressive as the other mausoleums, but it is striking that it is the only building decorated exclusively with tiles. Admission is free, and if you have time to spare it is well worth a visit.

2. Agra Fort

The Fort is another must-see in Agra. It was built in 1573 and named a World Heritage Site in 1983. It is India’s largest fortress at 320,000 square metres within which the walls house Arabian-style gardens, halls and rooms. Admission is 4.5€ and the fortress is open daily from 6.30am to 7pm except Fridays.

3. Itimad-ud-Daulah, the mausoleum to see in Agra

This beautiful mausoleum is known as the little Taj Mahal, and is built of white marble inlaid with precious stones, so it closely resembles the original. The best way to get there is by tuc-tuc or on a private tour, which usually also includes the gardens of Mehtab Bagh. The entrance fee is €1.15, but there is a discount if you buy it at the same time as the Taj Mahal ticket.

4. Ram Bagh, the gardens to see in Agra

The Ram Bagh gardens are the oldest Mughal gardens in India. They were built in the 16th century in the Persian style, with rivers and canals flowing through nature representing paradise. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk and admission is €1.5.

5. Taj Mahal, the must-see in Agra

This monumental building has a fairytale history. The story is longer, but in a nutshell, it was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his late wife, whom he managed to marry after battling the royal family. The Taj Mahal is located on the banks of the Yamuna River and is the most important monument to see in Agra.

The ticket costs €12 and can be purchased at the ticket office or on the official website (where you also save 50 cents). The ticket includes a bottle of water and shoe covers, and is good for the whole day, although two hours is enough to visit the building and gardens. Opening hours are from dawn to dusk, and on some days of the year it is open for a couple of hours in the evening. It is advisable to go early and if possible avoid the weekend.

What to see around Agra?

1. New Delhi, India’s capital city

New Delhi is usually the first stop in India because most international flights arrive at its airport, but if you’re staying in Agra, you can always take a day trip to the capital, which is only a couple of hours away by train.

In New Delhi you cannot miss the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid Mosque and Humayun’s Tomb. We also recommend you to get lost in its bazaars and visit the well of Agrasen Ki Baoli. In this post we give you more details about New Delhi: Things to do and see in New Delhi

2. Jaipur, the Pink City

Jaipur is one of the most touristic cities in India because of the particular pink colour of its facades. There you can visit several palaces, temples and the city’s bazaar. It is advisable to spend between one and two days there.

To get there from Agra there are several options. You can go by bus, which takes almost six hours and is one of the cheapest ways to travel around the country. Another option is the train, which takes just under 5 hours and offers tickets to suit all budgets; berths, private rooms and second-class seats. The plane is the most expensive option, but it’s worth it because it takes less than an hour. Finally, you can take a taxi, which takes about 6 hours and is cheap if you share with other travellers.

What to see in 1 day in Agra?

Many travellers choose not to spend the night in the city and simply spend one day, which is more than enough to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. However, it’s advisable to organise it well in advance so you don’t waste time queuing. Tickets for the Taj Mahal can be bought online, but don’t be too rushed if you’re travelling by train, as trains are often delayed. From the station it’s best to take a tuc tuc, which will be cheaper if you go a little further away. We recommend using the same transport to get from the Taj Mahal to the city fort. There are a few more places to see in Agra as mentioned above, but these two are the must-sees if you only have 24 hours.

Where and what to eat in Agra?

India’s cuisine is world-renowned for its abundant use of spices and the spiciness of its dishes. However, there is a world beyond curries and tika masala. In Agra, for example, the most famous and not-to-be-missed dishes are biryani (spiced rice with meat) and aloo gobi (spiced cauliflower). Among the sweets are jalebi and gulab jamun, which are doughs with different spices soaked in syrup. Here is a selection of some restaurants where you can try these dishes.

• Jahanpanah: is one of the best restaurants in the city specialising in Awadhi style. There you can try different Indian specialities including biryani.
• Lakshmi Vilas: is a simple and very clean restaurant serving Indian specialities of which we recommend trying the thali. The service is quick and the staff is charming. The prices are also very reasonable.
• Jhankar: is a top-quality, elegant and friendly restaurant offering evening entertainment. The price per person is between 15€ and 30€, but the best thing is that they have their own garden where they grow their own herbs and vegetables.

Where to stay in Agra?

Agra is one of the most touristy cities in India, so it won’t be difficult to find accommodation. However, we recommend staying in the surrounding area, near the Taj Mahal or the Fort, another of the main sights to see in Agra.

• Zostel Agra: is a simple but very nice hostel located next to the Taj Mahal. They have both double rooms from €15 a night and bunk beds for €5. It’s also a good place to meet people.
• Joey’s Hostel Agra: is the accommodation with the best views of the city. From the terrace you can see the Taj Mahal perfectly while you rest and have a drink. The price is around €30 a night.
• The Hideout Agra: is a very modern and well-appointed hotel located at the western entrance to the city. Rooms are spacious and family rooms can be booked from €40. Perfect for family travel.

How to get to Agra?

There are no direct flights to Agra from Spain, so the easiest option is to fly to New Delhi, although you may also have to make a stopover. Once in the capital, which is 200km from Agra, you can get to the city in a number of ways:

• Plane: if you’re going directly to Agra, air travel is the easiest way. There are not always direct flights, but if you are also planning to visit one of the nearby cities such as Jaipur or Mumbai, a stopover is not a bad option.
• Train: is the easiest option as there are frequent trains to Agra from New Delhi between 6am and 9:30pm. The journey takes just 2 hours and costs around €13.
• Bus: the journey takes 4-5 hours and costs between 200-500 rupees. It is the most expensive means of transport, so we advise you to check it out on the internet beforehand.

What should I consider before travelling to Agra?

• A visa is required to travel to Agra. It can be obtained online and usually takes less than a week. The cost is around €70.
• Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured.
• The city is safe, but be careful and watch out for your belongings.
• The official currency of India is the rupee.
• The traffic is crazy, if you can avoid it, don’t drive.
• Driving is part of everyday life, so be prepared.
• Best to avoid eating at street stalls and drinking tap water.
• Don’t try to see the whole country in one trip, India is huge. If you have to choose, it’s best to start in the north.
• The climate varies a lot from one area to another. If you’re going to the mountains the best time is summer, but for the rest of the country, travel is recommended between December and March.
• Beware of scams, they are very common.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Agra?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Agra.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can consult our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Agra