Agra is famous for being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. This monument highlights Agra’s famous Mughal Architecture, a distinctive Indo-Islamic architectural style. The city sits on the banks of the Yamuna River in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh, about 230 km from the national capital New Delhi. Agra also falls into India’s Golden Triangle, a tourist circuit in India that got its name from the triangular shape the cities Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan create on a map. We stopped in Agra for 24 hours before heading to the rest of our wedding weekend festivities. Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Agra, India, if you’re coming from New Delhi.
Logistics: Itinerary, Getting to Agra & Where to Say
Getting to Agra: You can make the journey to Agra by train or car. It’s a little over three hours by car and under two hours by train. If traveling by train, we recommend sitting in first class; you can book your ticket here. It’s easier to purchase online beforehand to avoid lines and potential scams at the train station. You can hire a guide from the train station who will arrange a driver from there. We used Taj Club Holidays and would highly recommend it!
Where to Stay: We stayed at the Double Tree Agra which had a sleek modern design, offered a good breakfast, and was in a central location. Being in a central location is important when only spending 24 hours in Agra.
Day 1: Arrive in Agra & have lunch.
After lunch, head to Agra Fort to sightsee. This historical fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 2.5km northwest of the Taj Mahal. This fort was the primary residence of emperors during the Mughal Dynasty till 1638 when the capital moved from Agra to Delhi.
We finished Day 1 with Sunset drinks & dinner at Chia Taj Cafe. The cafe is known for its amazing view, tasty food and relaxing sitting area.
Day 2: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal.
On Day 2, you’ll want to get up bright and early to see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal. I went into depth on our experience and what to do to prepare for this monument in my latest blog post Taj Mahal Travel Tips: What you need to know before visiting.
After our visit to the Taj Mahal we decide to do some shopping. We weren’t looking for anything in particular, but after stumbling upon a shop of stunning rugs, Kiefer & I decided to purchase one for our future home together.
Things to See in Agra:
Agra Fort – The Agra Fort entry costs 35 Rs for Indians and 500 for foreign tourists, don’t fret; this converts to a little over $6. There is no entry fee for children below 15 years old. You can learn more about the Dos and Don’ts of the monument here.
Taj Mahal – Wake up before sunrise to be one of the first people to enter the Taj Mahal. The line will grow long and if you want to get good photos, the fewer people behind you the better. Speaking of photos, we paid for the photographer and wish we hadn’t. The guides truly are the best “photographers” on-site as they frequent the monument and know all the great spots. I highlighted everything you need to know about visiting the Taj Mahal here.
Shopping – Agra is famous for a few different artisanal products. One is marble, another is rugs. If you’re visiting the city make a point to buy some souvenirs or gifts such as marble coasters, jewelry boxes, or flower vases. We personally splurged on a rug to use in our home! The best part was they ship it to your home for free.
A Few Tips for Visiting Agra
- You don’t need more than two days (and the benefit of an overnight stay is getting to the Taj Mahal at Sunrise. We had a “light” itinerary, but there is much more to do. For other options – check out this article.
- Don’t fall into the shopping trap – all guides (regardless of who you hire) will take you to artisan shops to show you how the products are made and, of course, to try to get you to shop. Don’t forget to negotiate, and don’t be afraid to say no!
- Always be negotiating (a staple for travel all over India).
Thank you for reading about how to spend 24 hours in Agra! Is this spot on your bucket list?
