Day trips · Agra · India
5 best day trips from Agra
Where to go when you want a day away from Agra, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Agra is Fatehpur Sikri (About 1 hour by road). The closest option is Fatehpur Sikri, about 37 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Fatehpur Sikri (37 km)
- Most popular
- Fatehpur Sikri
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatehpur Sikri | 37 km | About 1 hour by road | Car with driver or taxi; local buses also run | First-timers, Culture, Families |
| Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur | 55 km | About 1.5 hours by road | Car with driver, or train to Bharatpur | Families, Quiet stays, Couples |
| Mathura | 55 km | About 1–1.5 hours by road or train | Train from Agra Cantt, or car via the expressway | Culture, Solo travellers |
| Vrindavan | 70 km | About 1.5–2 hours by road | Car with driver, often combined with Mathura | Culture, Solo travellers |
| Gwalior | 120 km | About 1.5 hours by fast train | Gatimaan Express or other trains from Agra Cantt | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
37 km · About 1 hour by road
1.Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar built this red sandstone capital in the 1570s and abandoned it within about 15 years. The royal palace complex has the Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas and Jodha Bai's palace, while the Jama Masjid next door holds the white-marble tomb of the Sufi saint Salim Chishti and the towering Buland Darwaza gate.
- Getting there
- Car with driver or taxi; local buses also run
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture, Families
55 km · About 1.5 hours by road
2.Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
A UNESCO-listed wetland famous for wintering birds, explored by bicycle or cycle-rickshaw with naturalist drivers along raised dykes. It is at its best from about November to February and combines easily with Fatehpur Sikri.
- Getting there
- Car with driver, or train to Bharatpur
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays, Couples
55 km · About 1–1.5 hours by road or train
3.Mathura
Revered as the birthplace of Krishna, Mathura has the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex, riverside ghats on the Yamuna with evening aarti, and a good museum of ancient sculpture. It is spectacular, and very crowded, during Holi and Janmashtami.
- Getting there
- Train from Agra Cantt, or car via the expressway
- Best for
- Culture, Solo travellers
70 km · About 1.5–2 hours by road
4.Vrindavan
A pilgrimage town of thousands of temples associated with Krishna's childhood, including the crowded Banke Bihari temple and the illuminated white-marble Prem Mandir. Holi celebrations here are among the most famous in India.
- Getting there
- Car with driver, often combined with Mathura
- Best for
- Culture, Solo travellers
120 km · About 1.5 hours by fast train
5.Gwalior
Gwalior Fort sits on a sandstone plateau above the city, with the tiled Man Singh Palace, the Saas-Bahu temples and rock-cut Jain statues on the approach road. The Jai Vilas Palace museum displays royal collections in the city below.
- Getting there
- Gatimaan Express or other trains from Agra Cantt
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Book ahead in peak season through IRCTC, and allow for fog delays in December and January.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Agra?
Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar built this red sandstone capital in the 1570s and abandoned it within about 15 years.
+How long does it take to get from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri?
About 1 hour by road — Car with driver or taxi; local buses also run, about 37 km.
+How long does it take to get from Agra to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur?
About 1.5 hours by road — Car with driver, or train to Bharatpur, about 55 km.