Day Trips to the Taj Mahal from New Delhi

There is no doubt that one of the best things to do in New Delhi is to visit the Taj Mahal, the spectacular white marble mausoleum on the banks of the Yamuna River. Many travellers recommend leaving this visit until last, as its beauty eclipses all other monuments in Agra.

Declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World, it was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. With over 8 million visitors a year, the most convenient way to see it is with an organised tour from New Delhi that includes a guide, tickets and transport.

With this excursion to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort by fast train from New Delhi, you will discover two of India's great architectural treasures accompanied by an expert guide, travelling comfortably and quickly on the Gatimaan Express train.

This private tour includes pick-up from your hotel, a full guided tour of both monuments, and if you choose the all-inclusive option, skip-the-line tickets and lunch at a 5-star hotel. A full day that ends with a stop at the Baby Taj and memorable views of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh.

Recommended if... you want to make the most of your day travelling by fast train with a guide and all services included from Delhi.

With this excursion to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the Little Taj, you will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the most emblematic sites of the Mughal Empire in a single day, accompanied by an expert local guide.

This is a private activity with flexible options that allow you to personalise your experience: you can include tickets, transfers from Agra or Delhi and even lunch at a 5-star hotel. An ideal option for those who want to gain an in-depth understanding of the region's history.

Recommended if... you are looking for a private, customisable excursion that covers the three most outstanding sights in the Agra area.

With this private excursion to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort from New Delhi, you will enjoy an exclusive and peaceful tour of Agra's main monuments, accompanied by an expert guide and with private door-to-door transport.

You will have the opportunity to discover the history and architecture of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort at your own pace, with the option of including entrance fees, lunch and a guide in several languages. Ideal if you value comfort and personalised attention throughout the day.

Recommended if... you prefer a hassle-free trip with an exclusive guide, direct pick-up and total flexibility from Delhi.

Most excursions to the Taj Mahal from New Delhi are designed as full-day activities, lasting approximately 11 to 12 hours. This includes round-trip transportation, guided tours of the monuments, and free time for lunch or taking photos. The fast train excursion to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort allows you to make the most of your day, shortening travel times without sacrificing a complete visit.

Other options, such as the private excursion with guide and transport from New Delhi, are similar in length but are better suited to the traveller's pace as they include exclusive transport. It is important to leave early in the morning to make the most of the day.

The price of excursions to the Taj Mahal from New Delhi varies depending on the services included, the type of transport and whether it is a shared or private experience. The most affordable options, such as the fast train tour with a guide, start at 12 (basic option, tickets not included), while more comprehensive tours, such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Little Taj tour, start at 5, with the option to add tickets, lunch or transfers.

For those looking for an exclusive experience with maximum comfort, the private tour with transport and guide from Delhi is the best option, with prices starting at 94 and customisable services. Booking in advance not only ensures availability, but also better rates, especially if you are travelling in high season.

Booking your excursion to the Taj Mahal from New Delhi is very easy and can be done directly online. Just choose the date and number of participants, and select the option that best suits your trip: from complete tours with tickets and lunch, such as the private excursion to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Little Taj, to visits by fast train or private transport with a guide.

All tours include immediate confirmation and free cancellation in advance. Don't forget to enter your hotel name if you choose a tour with pick-up, such as the private tour to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort from Delhi.

The price of tickets to the Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra varies depending on the type of visit and the nationality of the visitor. Here we explain how much each option costs so that you can organise your visit in advance.

General admission to the Taj Mahal

• €12 for foreigners
• €6 for citizens of SAARC/BIMSTEC countries
• €0.50 for Indian citizens
• Free for children under 15
• Optional access to the interior mausoleum: €2 supplement

Night entry to the Taj Mahal

• Only available 5 nights per month (full moon, two nights before and two after)
• €8.50 for foreigners
• €6 for locals and children aged 4 to 15
• Free for children under 4

Other monuments in Agra

Separate tickets, with prices ranging from £3.50 to £7:

• Agra Fort
• Fatehpur Sikri
• Little Taj (Itimad-Ud-Daulah)

Looking for a more convenient option?

For greater convenience, you can book excursions that include all entrance fees, such as:

• Fast train visit to the Taj Mahal with guide
• Full excursion to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Little Taj

You'll save time, avoid queues and enjoy a much smoother experience.

There are two ways to access the Taj Mahal:

Day ticket

• Available every day except Fridays.
• Hours: from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour before sunset.
• Maximum visit duration: 3 hours. Exceeding this time limit will result in a fine.
• Does not include skip-the-line access, except for private tours.
• Advance booking recommended: receives up to 50,000 visitors daily.

Night admission

• Available only 5 nights per month: full moon, two nights before and two after.
• Not available on Fridays or during Ramadan.
• Hours: between 8:30 p.m. and midnight, in 30-minute blocks.
• Maximum 50 people per session.
• You must bring your printed ticket with you.

No, official tickets do not include a guided tour of the Taj Mahal or an official audio guide. However, you can book guided tours through private tour companies, such as the fast train excursion from New Delhi, which also includes skip-the-line access and transfers from your accommodation.

You can also opt for more comprehensive experiences such as the private excursion to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the Little Taj, which allows you to customise your package to include tickets, a guide, lunch and transport from Agra or New Delhi. These options not only ensure a more comfortable visit, but also allow you to discover other places of interest such as Agra Fort, Akbar's Tomb and the Little Taj (Itimad-Ud-Daulah).

The great advantage of booking a guided tour is that you can tailor it to your needs, choosing from a simple skip-the-line ticket to a complete guided tour with all services included.

The guided tour is definitely worth it: the Taj Mahal is much more than a monument, and having an expert guide allows you to discover the historical and architectural details that make this jewel unique in the world.

Yes, the Taj Mahal offers special tickets for children, as those under 15 do not pay to visit the mausoleum during the day. Children under 4 do not pay to enter at any time.

Children between 4 and 15 pay a discounted ticket if they wish to visit the Taj Mahal at night. The price of a night ticket for children is around £5.

If you are travelling with children, remember that the Taj Mahal is a sacred place, so all visitors are asked to remain silent in the mausoleum and to walk around without making noise or running. Eating and bringing food inside is also prohibited.

The Taj Mahal opens every day half an hour before sunrise and closes half an hour before sunset, except on Fridays, when it is closed. It also opens five nights a month from 8.30pm to midnight, when you can take a night tour of the mausoleum. It is also closed on Friday evenings.

Night visits can be made on the two nights before the full moon, the two nights after the full moon, and on the night of the full moon. You can take a night tour of the Taj Mahal almost every month, except during Ramadan, which usually lasts from 10 March to 10 April each year.

It is always a good idea to check the official Taj Mahal website to make sure the monument is open before visiting.

In order to help preserve the monument, you can only stay at the Taj Mahal for up to 3 hours. However, this is enough time, as you need at least 2 hours to visit the Taj Mahal and enjoy everything it has to offer.

This time limit was put in place to preserve the monument, which receives around 8 million visitors per year, and to avoid overcrowding. If you stay longer, you will be charged a fine that may be equivalent to the price of an entrance ticket.

When planning your visit, please note that there are no official skip-the-line tickets available unless you book a guided tour from New Delhi, so you may have to wait between half an hour and 2 hours to enter. In addition, if you do not buy your ticket online, you will have to wait longer.

It is recommended that you plan your visit as a full-day excursion and go as early as possible. If you have time in the city of Agra, you can take advantage of your visit to see other interesting monuments, such as Agra Fort.

The best time of year to visit the Taj Mahal is from February to April, when temperatures are cooler and the weather is drier. November to January is the foggiest time of year, and July to October is the rainiest. May and June are the hottest months, and temperatures can be stifling.

Sunrise is one of the most beautiful times of day to visit the Taj Mahal, as is sunset. However, the monument is worth seeing at any time of day, as it changes colour as the hours pass.

The gates open around 6.30 a.m., half an hour before sunrise, so to get there early you will probably have to travel at night, unless you are staying in the city of Agra. The largest number of visitors arrive between 9 and 10 a.m., and the quietest time is between noon and 3 p.m.

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, about 200 km from New Delhi, the capital of India. To visit it, you can stay in Agra or New Delhi. This city offers a wider variety of accommodation, and you can easily reach Agra. Keep in mind that polluting vehicles will drop you off about 5 streets away from the Taj Mahal, and only electric cars and auto rickshaws will take you closer.

From New Delhi, you can get to Agra by bus, but this is not the most recommended means of transport as it takes about 4.5 hours, much longer than the train. You also have the option of flying, but this is more expensive and airport procedures take quite a long time.

By train

From New Delhi, there are several train lines that go to Agra, and the journey takes between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on the train you choose. One of the fastest is the Gatimaan Express.

Most lines drop you off at Agra Cantonment station, the main station in the city, which is about 6 km from the Taj Mahal, and some drop you off at Agra Fort station, which is 3 km from the Taj Mahal. From either of these stations, you can take a motorised tuk-tuk or bicycle tuk-tuk to reach the monument.

By taxi or Uber

Many people choose to take a taxi or Uber to the city of Agra, as although it is the most expensive option, you can share these services to reduce costs. The journey by road takes about 3 hours.

Please note that no polluting vehicles are allowed within 500 metres of the Taj Mahal, so the taxi or Uber will drop you off about 5 streets away from the site.

With a private tour

Another option for visiting the Taj Mahal is to book a guided tour from New Delhi with transport included. This is the most convenient option if you prefer not to worry about transport. You will also have an expert guide who will provide you with comprehensive information about the Taj Mahal, so you can make the most of your visit.

Some tour companies also include lunch and the opportunity to visit other monuments, temples and gardens in the city.

The Taj Mahal, the large white marble building that looks like a palace, is actually a mausoleum containing the tombs of Emperor Shah Jahan and his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is the main building you will see in the complex, which has been declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

In the mausoleum, you can appreciate all the details that have made it famous: reliefs, engravings, precious stone inlays, domes, columns, entrances and galleries. Everything is built with symmetry and rich symbolism. For example, the interior of the mausoleum is divided into eight parts, symbolising the eight paradises of the Koran.

In addition to the mausoleum, you can admire the gardens, which represent paradise on earth, and the canal in the centre. There are two buildings on either side of the mausoleum made of red sandstone: a mosque and a guest house. The entrance is also an imposing structure, consisting of 22 domes representing the number of years it took to build the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal changes colour depending on the time of day, so in the morning it is pink, at midday it is white and at night it takes on a golden colour. You can also visit the Taj Mahal Museum, where there are art objects and sketches.

Attractions near the Taj Mahal

If you are visiting the Taj Mahal, you can take the opportunity to see other interesting buildings in the city of Agra:

• Agra Fort: located about 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is an 11th-century stone fortress that was converted into a palace in the 15th century.
• Itimad-ud-Daulah Mausoleum: known as the Little Taj, as it is considered a sketch of the Taj Mahal. It is located 5 km from the Taj Mahal.
• Mehtab Bagh Gardens: considered the best viewpoint of the Taj Mahal from the other side of the Yamuna River. They date back to 1530.
• Akbar's Mausoleum: located 10 km from Agra Fort. Construction began in 1605 and combines red sandstone with white marble.
• Marble Emporium: this is the place to see artistic pieces of marble inlaid with stones. This art is known as Pietra Dura or Parchin Kari and emerged in the 16th century.

It is advisable to keep in mind a few recommendations to make the most of your visit to the Taj Mahal:

• Do not go on a Friday, as it will be closed.
• Eating and smoking are prohibited at the Taj Mahal. You are also not allowed to bring food or drinks inside. This measure has been adopted to help preserve the Taj Mahal by preventing liquids or food from spilling and staining it.
• You must remain silent inside the mausoleum and do not take photos.
• It is forbidden to enter with a video camera or photography accessories such as tripods, selfie sticks or headphones. You cannot use a drone either. Other prohibited items include lighters, knives, cables, chargers and electrical appliances.
• You cannot enter with backpacks or large bags. If you have them, you can leave them in the lockers available at the three entrances to the site. Some of these lockers are free and others have a minimal cost.
• You can hire a guide at one of the entrances to the Taj Mahal, but not all of them are official guides, so it is recommended that you ask them for an ID card.
• It is best to use the Fatehpuri Gate, which is the main entrance to the Taj Mahal. It is located to the west. The Fatehabad Gate, to the east, is less used because it is 1 km from the ticket office, and the south entrance is usually only used for exiting.
• Some people dressed in traditional costumes will offer to take a photo with you. Keep in mind that they provide this service in exchange for tips.