Free things to do · Agra · India
5 free things to do in Agra
Agra without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Darshanavenugopal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Agra without paying an entry fee: Jama Masjid, Chini ka Rauza, Kinari Bazaar and Sadar Bazaar are all free. Buy Taj Mahal tickets online to avoid queues and touts selling 'skip-the-line' services.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Very affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–August
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Old City and Agra Fort
1.Jama Masjid
Visit outside prayer times, dress modestly and carry a scarf; then walk into Kinari Bazaar for street food.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Yamuna east bank
2.Chini ka Rauza
Stop here between Itimad-ud-Daulah and Mehtab Bagh; it takes only 20 minutes and you may have it to yourself.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Market · Old City and Agra Fort
3.Kinari Bazaar
Go in the morning for breakfast stalls and lighter traffic; watch your pockets in the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Photo spot
Market · Sadar Bazaar and Agra Cantt
4.Sadar Bazaar
Come after dark for aloo tikki and golgappe, and buy petha from a busy shop to take home.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Religious site · Sikandra
5.Guru ka Tal
Cover your head (scarves are provided), remove shoes and join the langar if you have time.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old City and Agra Fort | Jama Masjid and Kinari Bazaar | 45 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| Yamuna east bank | Chini ka Rauza | 30 minutes |
| Sadar Bazaar and Agra Cantt | Sadar Bazaar | 1–2 hours |
| Sikandra | Guru ka Tal | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Yamuna east bank
Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah
Visit in the late afternoon, then continue a few minutes north to Chini ka Rauza or south to Mehtab Bagh for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Photo spot
Garden · Yamuna north bank
Mehtab Bagh
Arrive about an hour before sunset; the Taj glows gold and the light fades over the river behind it.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Kids
Historic site · Sikandra
Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra
Combine it with the nearby tomb of Akbar's wife Mariam-uz-Zamani and the Guru ka Tal gurdwara on the way back into town.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Sikandra
Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani
Ask your driver to stop here after Akbar's Tomb; the two take under two hours together.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Garden · Yamuna east bank
Ram Bagh
Visit with Chini ka Rauza and Itimad-ud-Daulah in one afternoon loop on the east bank.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Park · Taj East Gate Road
Taj Nature Walk
Walk here in the early morning or late afternoon after visiting the Taj; bring water as there is little shade on some stretches.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Buy Taj Mahal tickets online to avoid queues and touts selling 'skip-the-line' services.
- Hire a licensed guide through the ticket office or your hotel rather than at the gate, and agree the fee and duration first.
- Use app cabs instead of autos for longer trips to avoid negotiation.
- Refuse shopping stops on guided tours; marble and carpet emporiums pay drivers commission and prices rise to match.
- Visit from April or July to September for the lowest hotel rates, including at luxury hotels.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Agra expensive to visit?
Agra is very affordable for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Agra?
Jama Masjid: Visit outside prayer times, dress modestly and carry a scarf; then walk into Kinari Bazaar for street food.