Agra is about 230 km south-east of Delhi. Whether you go for the day or stay overnight, there are two main ways to make the journey: by road or by train.
By car on the Yamuna Expressway
The Yamuna Expressway is a six-lane toll road that links Greater Noida, on the edge of Delhi, with Agra. Door to door from central Delhi, the drive usually takes three and a half to four and a half hours, depending mostly on traffic leaving the city. A private car with a driver picks you up at your hotel and drops you at each monument, and you can stop when you like. It is the most flexible option, and it works on any day.
By train
Several fast trains run between Delhi and Agra. The quickest take around one hour and forty minutes from Hazrat Nizamuddin or New Delhi stations to Agra Cantt. Trains avoid road traffic and are relaxing, but you need transfers at both ends, tickets sell out at busy times, and not every train runs every day. Book through Indian Railways' official IRCTC website or ask your tour company to arrange tickets.
Day trip or overnight?
A day trip from Delhi is very doable: leave at 7 am, see the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the Baby Taj, and be back by evening. But it is a long day, and you see the Taj at its busiest. Staying one night in Agra lets you see the Taj at sunrise and add Fatehpur Sikri on the way back. Our Taj Mahal Overnight Tour does exactly this.
Which should you choose?
- Short on time, want flexibility: day trip by car.
- Prefer less time on the road: day trip by train.
- Want the best Taj Mahal experience: stay overnight and go at sunrise.
Whichever you choose, remember the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Check before you travel
Rules, fees and timetables change. These official sources have the latest information:
