3 days in Agra

Day by day

1. Day 1: Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

   Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, then Sadar Bazaar in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taj Mahal

      Shah Jahan built this white-marble mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631; work continued for about two decades.

   2. Late morning

      Agra Fort

      Enter through the Amar Singh Gate and allow time for the riverside terraces, which frame the Taj about 2.5 km away; afternoon light is best for photos.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Petha

      Long-established petha shops in Sadar Bazaar, Noori Darwaza and around the city; buy from busy stores with high turnover.

   4. Afternoon

      Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah

      Built between 1622 and 1628 by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, this small, jewel-box tomb was the first Mughal building faced in white marble with pietra dura inlay, and it is often called the 'Baby Taj'.

   5. Evening

      Sadar Bazaar

      Come after dark for aloo tikki and golgappe, and buy petha from a busy shop to take home.

2. Day 2: Mehtab Bagh and Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

   Mehtab Bagh, Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra and Jama Masjid, then Sunrise at the Taj in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mehtab Bagh

      Arrive about an hour before sunset; the Taj glows gold and the light fades over the river behind it.

   2. Late morning

      Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

      About 10 km north-west of the centre, Emperor Akbar's tomb stands in a vast walled garden entered through a monumental gate decorated with inlaid geometric patterns and four white minarets.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bedai and jalebi

      Morning stalls and sweet shops in the old city around Kinari Bazaar and Belanganj.

   4. Afternoon

      Jama Masjid

      Visit outside prayer times, dress modestly and carry a scarf; then walk into Kinari Bazaar for street food.

   5. Evening

      Sunrise at the Taj

      Walk through the gate as the sky lightens and watch the marble turn from grey to pink.

3. Day 3: Chini ka Rauza and Ram Bagh

   Chini ka Rauza, Ram Bagh and Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani, then Sunset from Mehtab Bagh in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Chini ka Rauza

      The riverside tomb of Afzal Khan Shirazi, a poet and minister of Shah Jahan, was once covered in glazed Persian-style tiles in blue, green and yellow.

   2. Late morning

      Ram Bagh

      Visit with Chini ka Rauza and Itimad-ud-Daulah in one afternoon loop on the east bank.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dalmoth

      Sweet and namkeen shops across the city, often alongside petha.

   4. Afternoon

      Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani

      The tomb of Akbar's wife and Jahangir's mother stands in a garden about 1 km from Akbar's Tomb.

   5. Evening

      Sunset from Mehtab Bagh

      See the Taj across the Yamuna as the sun sets behind it, from the garden built to face it.

Before you go

• Taj Mahal: Buy tickets online in advance to skip the ticket queue; entering the main mausoleum needs a separate add-on, and limited night-viewing slots around the full moon must be booked ahead.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Taj Ganj keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Taj East Gate Road ($$$$) suits luxury, couples and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–13 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.8 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Agra
• 2 days in Agra

Questions travellers ask