Shopping · Agra · India
Shopping in Agra
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Siddhartha Shukla, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Agra's crafts descend from the Mughal court: marble inlay (pietra dura), zardozi metal-thread embroidery, carpets and leather. Quality varies enormously, and many showrooms pay commissions to drivers and guides, so compare prices and buy only what you love. Best souvenirs: Marble inlay, Petha and dalmoth and Leather shoes.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Marble inlay
Where to shop
Sadar Bazaar
Leather shoes and bags, clothing and petha shops in the cantonment, with fixed prices in many stores.
Kinari Bazaar
Old-city lanes of wedding trim, saris, spices, brassware and sweets.
Shilpgram
A crafts village near the Taj's East Gate with stalls from across India, busiest during the Taj Mahotsav festival in February.
Markets
Kinari Bazaar and Johri Bazaar
The old city's interlinked market streets for textiles, jewellery and everyday goods.
Raja ki Mandi
A large local market for clothes and household items, with almost no tourists.
What to buy
Marble inlay
Boxes, coasters and plates inlaid with semi-precious stones in the Taj's style; real inlay feels cold and heavy and does not scratch easily.
Petha and dalmoth
Agra's sweet and savoury specialities, packed in boxes that travel for a few days.
Leather shoes
Agra is one of India's main shoe-making centres; Sadar Bazaar shops sell good-value leather footwear.
Zardozi embroidery
Metallic-thread embroidery on cushions, bags and wall hangings.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Old City and Agra Fort
Kinari Bazaar
The main market of the old city winds behind Jama Masjid, selling wedding trim, saris, bangles, spices, brass and sweets.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Photo spot
Market · Sadar Bazaar and Agra Cantt
Sadar Bazaar
The cantonment's main shopping street sells shoes and leather goods from Agra's many workshops, alongside clothes, petha shops and chaat stalls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Petha, Dalmoth and Lassi. Long-established petha shops in Sadar Bazaar, Noori Darwaza and around the city; buy from busy stores with high turnover. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Ganj | $ | Old lanes of guesthouses and rooftop cafés just south of the Taj |
| Taj East Gate Road | $$$$ | Luxury hotels within sight of the Taj Mahal |
| Fatehabad Road | $$$ | Broad hotel strip of chain and mid-range resorts south of the Taj |
| Sadar Bazaar and Agra Cantt | $$ | Cantonment shopping street near the main railway station |
| Old City and Agra Fort | $ | Dense markets around Jama Masjid and Agra Fort station |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in INR. Tips are appreciated but not obligatory: around 5–10% in restaurants without a service charge, a small amount for porters, and a tip at the end of the day for a hired driver or guide.
- Refuse shopping stops on guided tours; marble and carpet emporiums pay drivers commission and prices rise to match.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–June; the busiest months are February and November–December.
- February: Taj Mahotsav — crafts, music and food festival at Shilpgram (usually the second half of February)
- March: Holi — festival of colours (usually March)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and budget
Sadar Bazaar and Agra Cantt
Cantonment shopping street near the main railway station
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Agra?
Marble inlay, Petha and dalmoth, Leather shoes and Zardozi embroidery.
+Where is the best shopping in Agra?
Sadar Bazaar: Leather shoes and bags, clothing and petha shops in the cantonment, with fixed prices in many stores.
+What are the best markets in Agra?
Kinari Bazaar and Johri Bazaar and Raja ki Mandi.