Taj Mahal day trip from Delhi: the short version
You can see the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal in one day from Delhi, by train or by car. The Gatimaan Express 12050 leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 and reaches Agra Cantt at 09:50. That is 1 hour 40 minutes. It runs Sunday to Thursday and on Saturday, not on Fridays.
Two details trip up first-time visitors. The train starts at Hazrat Nizamuddin, not at New Delhi station, and you get off at Agra Cantt, not at the Agra Fort station. And the Taj Mahal is closed to tourist day visits on Fridays, so a Friday is a day for the Fort, not the Taj.
Our picks: day trips from Delhi to Agra
The private day tour starts in the Delhi area and suits you if you want a car and guide the whole way. The express-train day swaps the road for a train and a private car in Agra, and the longer tour adds Fatehpur Sikri if you can spare 8 to 12 hours. Monument tickets vary by tour, so check the options, and remember the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Same-day Agra trip from Delhi by express train
- Air-conditioned return train
- Meals on the train
- Private car and guide in Agra
A same-day trip by train instead of a long drive. Monument tickets and the five-star buffet are included only with the matching option.
Check availability →
Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri in one day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking guide
- Private transport and parking
Three sights in one long day with a private car. All monument entry fees are extra.
Check availability →
Private day trip to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
- Hotel or airport pickup
- Guide and air-conditioned car
- Mineral water
A private day to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Monument entries and the five-star breakfast come only with the matching option, and the Baby Taj costs extra.
Check availability →Agra day trips from Delhi
Train and car day trips to the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, with live prices and availability. Check the inclusions and the pickup point.
Train or car: Agra day trip from Delhi compared
The train is shorter on the clock. The car gives you your own schedule.
| Gatimaan Express | Car | |
|---|---|---|
| Journey | 1 hour 40 minutes | About 5 hours each way (planning figure for 225 km) |
| Start | Hazrat Nizamuddin, 08:10 | Your hotel, at the time you choose |
| Arrival | Agra Cantt, 09:50 | Your choice of stop in Agra |
| Fridays | Does not run | Possible, but the Taj is closed |
| Extra costs | – | Car tolls on the Yamuna Expressway, INR 415 in total in 2026 |
| Return | Check the return timetable before you book | You set the time |
The toll adds up from INR 120 at Jewar, INR 155 at Mathura and INR 140 at Agra for a car, so check the current rate before you go. For most first-time visitors, the train is the better choice, because the 1 hour 40 minutes leaves most of the day for the sights. A car suits a group or a trip that adds a stop, such as Fatehpur Sikri. Other trains, including the Shatabdi and the Taj Express, also serve the route, so check current departures and booking windows.
Agra day trip from Delhi: the plan for the day
A simple order for the train arrival at 09:50.
Arrive at Agra Cantt
The Fort is 3 to 5.5 km from the station, depending on the route. Have your onward ride settled before you step off the train.
Start at the Agra Fort
The Fort is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Amar Singh Gate is the only visitor entrance, and the military part is closed. Foreign adults pay INR 650. The red sandstone walls, the Diwan-i-Am and the Musamman Burj, with its hazy view toward the Taj, are the main stops.
Inside the Agra Fort →Then the Taj Mahal
The Taj is about 2.5 km from the Fort. Foreign adults pay INR 1,100, and the main mausoleum is an optional extra of INR 200. The Fort costs INR 600 if you visit it after the Taj, so Fort first costs INR 50 more. Choose the order that suits the light and the queues.
Taj Mahal tickets and rules →Watch the closing times
The Taj closes 30 minutes before sunset and its counters 45 minutes before. Sunset moves through the year, so work backwards from your return train or driver.
Friday, delays and Delhi
What can change the day.
If you only have a Friday
Take a car and visit the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri instead. Foreign adults pay INR 600 at each on Fridays. Both are open, the Taj is not.
Fatehpur Sikri guide →A late train
No schedule promises a visit if the train runs late. Give the Taj the most time, and keep the Fort for the margin.
Leaving Delhi
Roads and stations in New Delhi can be slow. Allow extra time to reach Hazrat Nizamuddin, and check your government's travel advice for Delhi before you go.
Heading on to Jaipur
Jaipur is a trip of its own from Delhi. Getting from Delhi to Jaipur is covered on a sister guide.
Golden Triangle route →Plan the rest of your trip
More for the Delhi to Agra journey.
Day trip from Delhi: frequently asked questions
Can I see the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in one day from Delhi?
Yes, by the Gatimaan Express or by car. Both make a long day. The train takes 1 hour 40 minutes one way, and the road is about 225 km, or 5 hours as a planning figure.
Which station do I leave from and arrive at?
The Gatimaan Express 12050 starts at Hazrat Nizamuddin, not New Delhi station, and arrives at Agra Cantt, not at the Agra Fort station.
Does the Gatimaan Express run on Fridays?
No. It runs Sunday to Thursday and on Saturday. The Taj Mahal is also closed on Fridays.
How much do the entries cost on the day?
For foreign adults in 2026, INR 1,100 for the Taj Mahal, with an optional extra of INR 200 for the main mausoleum, and INR 650 for the Agra Fort. Indian citizens pay INR 50 at each.
Is there a joint ticket for the Taj and the Fort?
No. You buy both separately. A lower Fort rate applies after a Taj visit.
Is this the official site of the Agra Fort?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by the Archaeological Survey of India, UP Tourism, the railways or any tour operator.