The Golden Triangle route: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
The Golden Triangle is the classic first route through northern India. It links Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, three cities that sit a day's drive apart. A sample route adds Bharatpur as a stop between Agra and Jaipur.
Length varies. Plans run 3 days or 6 days with 5 nights. They are examples, not a standard. The Agra stop brings the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, and the Taj is closed to tourist day visits on Fridays. Fort and Taj tickets do not cover Jaipur or any transfer, and there is no joint ticket for the whole route.
Our picks: Golden Triangle tours
The four-day and three-day tours are private, start in Delhi and visit Agra Fort on day two. The four-day tour adds a third night and the Baby Taj, while the three-day tour is the shorter schedule. Entry tickets are extra on those two, and the hotel nights come only with the hotel option. The seven-day tour is the slow version: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur with the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. 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.
Seven-day Golden Triangle tour: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Bottled water
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur over seven days, with the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort as the Agra stops. Check the booking page for which entry tickets are covered.
Check availability →
Private four-day Golden Triangle tour from Delhi
- Private car and local guides
- Hotel, airport or station pickup
- Battery bus at the Taj Mahal
Four days through the Golden Triangle, with Agra Fort and the Baby Taj on day two. Entry tickets are extra, and the three hotel nights with breakfast come only with the hotel option.
Check availability →
Private three-day Golden Triangle tour from Delhi
- Private car and guides
- Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
- Battery bus to the Taj Mahal
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in three days, with Agra Fort on day two. Monument tickets are extra, and the two hotel nights with breakfast come only with the hotel option.
Check availability →Golden Triangle tours
Multi-city routes and day tours across Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, with live prices and availability. Check which stops and entry tickets each one includes.
Golden Triangle plans compared
Two plan lengths and what each one leaves room for.
| 3-day plan | 6 days, 5 nights | |
|---|---|---|
| Cities | Delhi, Agra, Jaipur | Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and side stops |
| Pace | One city a day, two long road days | A full day in each city and time for Fatehpur Sikri or Bharatpur |
| Agra | Fort and Taj in one day | Fort, Taj, Itimad-ud-Daulah and Mehtab Bagh |
| Friday | Move the Agra day off Friday | Easy to shift |
| Suits | A short stopover | A first visit to India |
For most first-time visitors, the longer plan works better. Each road leg is about 5 hours, and a 3-day plan leaves little time for the sights. If you only have 3 days, spend the most time in Agra and keep Delhi and Jaipur short.
What each city adds
The sights that anchor the route.
Delhi
Delhi has its own Red Fort, a palace fortress of Shahjahanabad built under Shah Jahan and completed in 1648, and a UNESCO site since 2007. It is a different monument from the Agra Fort, with its own ticket.
Red Fort Agra and Red Fort Delhi →Agra
The Agra Fort has been a UNESCO site since 1983. Fares for foreign adults in 2026 are INR 650 for the Fort, INR 1,100 for the Taj Mahal and INR 610 for Fatehpur Sikri. The Fort is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Agra Fort tickets →Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar's red sandstone city lies 36 to 40 km west of Agra and can be added as a side trip. It has been a UNESCO site since 1986.
Fatehpur Sikri guide →Taj Mahal
Open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, closed Fridays. The main mausoleum is an optional extra of INR 200.
Taj Mahal tickets and rules →Jaipur: the third corner
Jaipur is the last stop of the triangle and has its own guides. The fort above Maota Lake is covered on the Amber Fort guide, and the pink sandstone facade with its honeycomb windows is the subject of the Hawa Mahal guide.
This site covers the Agra part in depth. Tickets for Jaipur sights are separate from the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, and so are the transfers between the cities.
Roads, distances and getting between the cities
Figures vary by route.
Delhi to Agra
Agra lies 200 to 225 km from Delhi, about 5 hours by road as a planning figure. The Gatimaan Express takes 1 hour 40 minutes and does not run on Fridays.
Day trip from Delhi →Agra to Jaipur
The road is 225 to 250 km, about 5 hours. Give the day over to the drive and a light sight stop.
Delhi to Jaipur
About 250 km. Routes do not always run through Agra, so confirm the sequence of the cities in any offer.
Trains and cars
For the Agra end of the trip, see the stations, trains and the last stretch to the Fort.
Getting to Agra →When to go on the Golden Triangle
The usual window is October to March, with February to April and September to November as alternatives. In Agra, the average daily high is about 42 degrees Celsius in May and June, and July to September bring the heaviest rain, with monthly totals from about 130 to 230 mm. December and January have average highs of 22 to 25 degrees and cool nights of about 8 degrees.
In winter, fog and air pollution can hide the Taj Mahal. A clear view is never guaranteed, so leave a spare morning if you can. The Agra weather guide has the month-by-month figures.
Plan the rest of your trip
Day trip from Delhi
Gatimaan Express times and a plan for the day.
Taj Mahal tickets
Fares, hours and the Friday closure.
Agra weather
Heat, rain and winter fog by month.
For other Agra tours, see Agra tours.
Golden Triangle tour: frequently asked questions
Which cities are on the Golden Triangle?
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. A sample route also adds Bharatpur.
How many days do I need for the Golden Triangle?
Plans run 3 days or 6 days with 5 nights. For a first visit, the longer plan leaves room for the sights.
How far apart are the cities?
Agra is 200 to 225 km from Delhi and Jaipur is 225 to 250 km from Agra, about 5 hours on each leg. Distances differ by route.
Does the Agra Fort ticket cover Jaipur or the transfers?
No. Fort and Taj tickets cover only those monuments. There is no joint ticket for the whole Golden Triangle.
Can I do the Taj Mahal on a Friday?
No. The Taj Mahal is closed to tourist day visits on Fridays, while the Agra Fort is open. Plan the Agra day for another weekday.
Is this the official Golden Triangle website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by the Archaeological Survey of India, UP Tourism or any tourism board.