Taj Ganj
First-timersBy the Taj's east gate.
Agra city guide
Things To Do In Agra
The Taj Mahal at sunrise, a red sandstone Mughal fort and an abandoned royal city nearby. Most people rush through in a day, and it deserves two.
41
Hostels in the city
9.2
Average, from 4,663 reviews
1653
The Taj completed
Friday
The Taj is closed
40 km
To Fatehpur Sikri
The Mughal city
Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and its monuments are among the finest in the world. The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, is the most famous building in India.
Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan was later imprisoned by his son, and Fatehpur Sikri, a city built and abandoned within a few years, are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The city itself is chaotic and touristy. Stay a night to see the Taj at sunrise.
Where to stay
Stay in Taj Ganj, the area by the Taj Mahal's east gate.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Agra
Agra was the Mughal capital in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and its three UNESCO sites are among the greatest buildings in India.
The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal between about 1632 and 1653, is best at sunrise, when the white marble turns pink and the crowds are thin. It is closed on Fridays. Buy tickets online, enter by the east or west gate, and allow at least two hours. Large bags, food and tripods are not allowed.
Agra Fort, a red sandstone fortress, holds palaces where Shah Jahan spent his last years imprisoned by his son, looking out at the Taj. Itimad-ud-Daulah, the 'Baby Taj', is a jewel-box tomb of inlaid marble across the river.
Watch sunset over the Taj from Mehtab Bagh, a garden on the opposite bank, or from a rooftop café.
Fatehpur Sikri, about an hour away, is the abandoned red sandstone capital of the emperor Akbar, with palaces, courtyards and a great mosque.
Free things
Free things to do in Agra
The Taj Mahal is not free, but the views of it from the riverbank near Mehtab Bagh and from rooftop cafés in Taj Ganj cost little or nothing.
The Kinari Bazaar and Agra's old markets are free to wander.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Agra
Agra is known for petha, a translucent sweet made from ash gourd, sold in dozens of flavours, and for Mughlai food: biryani, kebabs and rich curries. Bedai with spicy potato curry is the local breakfast.
A meal is €1.50 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Agra
Agra is quiet at night, with rooftop restaurants with views of the Taj and a few hotel bars.
A beer is €3 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Agra
Gatimaan and Vande Bharat express trains reach Delhi in under two hours. Agra Cantt is the main station; autos and Uber reach the Taj.
Near the Taj, only electric vehicles are allowed; walk or use the electric shuttles.
Costs
What Agra costs
Agra is cheap, apart from the Taj. Dorms start around €6 and a careful day is €20 to €30, plus entry.
The Taj Mahal costs foreigners about €12, plus a small extra fee for the main mausoleum. Agra Fort is a few euros. Buying tickets online saves queueing.
The currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.
Safety
Staying safe in Agra
Agra is safe, but the touts are relentless: unofficial guides, rickshaw drivers and shop owners steering you to commission-paying marble shops. A firm no, and booking tickets online, help.
Women travellers often face staring and comments, and sometimes groping in crowds; dress conservatively, use women's carriages on metros and trains, and book cabs through apps. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.
Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Agra
Mughal cities nearby.
Fatehpur Sikri
An abandoned Mughal capital.
Mathura and Vrindavan
Krishna's birthplace, huge at Holi.
Delhi
The capital.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Taj Mahotsav festival celebrates crafts in February.
17 October
Hindustan Dandiya Night
Navratri comes alive with Garba and Dandiya at this festive celebration in Agra. Live dhol beats drive the dancing, while Bollywood music keeps the…
17–18 October
Navratri Beats 4.0
Agra's biggest Navratri celebration returns for its fourth edition with two nights of dancing, music, and festive energy at Amal Garden. The first night…
4 October
Vidit Sharma
Vidit Sharma is a comedian and ex-radio jockey who channels his anger issues into sharp, observational humor about everything that bothers him. His set…
17–20 October
Dandiya Night
Colorful sticks, swirling outfits, and the infectious rhythm of Garba beats set the scene at this Dandiya celebration in Agra. A live DJ blends…
Hostels
Where to stay in Agra
The top-rated places to stay in Agra right now, live from Hostelworld.
Zigzag Homestay
Dorms from €2 a night
See dates and book
Hotel Kamal
See dates and book
Big Brother Hostel Agra
Dorms from €1 a night
See dates and book
Joey's Hostel Agra
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Bedweiser Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €3 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Friends Guest House & Hostel
Dorms from €2 a night
See dates and book
When to go
October to March. Summers are extremely hot.
Jan
Foggy mornings
Feb
Taj Mahotsav
Mar
Holi
Apr
Hot
May
Extreme heat
Jun
Extreme heat
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Humid
Oct
Good
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. May and June pass 40°C.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes the Taj ticket.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Agra travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When is the Taj Mahal closed?
On Fridays.
When is the best time to see it?
At sunrise, when the marble glows and the crowds are thin.
What can I bring in?
Small bags only; no food, large bags or tripods.
Can I see it at night?
On a few nights around the full moon, with limited tickets.
How many days do you need?
One or two, with Fatehpur Sikri.
When is the best time to visit?
October to March.
Should I buy tickets online?
Yes, it saves queueing.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Agra hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.