How to Spend 3 Days in Agra

Three days in Agra will give you plenty of opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, with time left over to explore off-the-beaten-path parts of the city and visit smaller attractions. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: The Taj and the Baby Taj

Start your first day in Agra with a visit to the Taj Mahal. Book a skip-the-line tour to avoid long waits, and visit right at sunrise for the best lighting. Then make your way over to the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, otherwise known as the Baby Taj because of its white-marble exteriors. From here, head across the River Yamuna to Mehtab Bagh, a Mughal garden with great sunset views of the Taj. When night falls, head to the Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Center to watch Mohabbat the Taj, a theatrical retelling of the story of the Taj. Prebook a combo package that includes dinner, transportation, and tickets for the best value.

Day 2: Yoga, Food, and Agra Fort

Start your second day in Agra in a healthy way, at a yoga class with the Taj Mahal in the distance. Then, instead of grabbing breakfast, sign up for a cooking class in the home of a local and learn how to make Indian food yourself. Alternatively, join a street-food walking tour that will take you through parts of Agra that few tourists see. In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort, home to generations of Mughal emperors and the site where Shahjahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal, lived out his last days under captivity from his grandson. Stick around for an evening sound-and-light show; if you book an Agra Fort tour, your guide will be able to help you arrange tickets.

Day 3: Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri

On your last day, visit Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about a 25-mile (40-kilometer) drive out of town. This red-sandstone ghost town, home to the Mughal empire for 14 years, is one of the most magnificently preserved examples of Mughal architecture in the region. If Jaipur is your next stop, you can book a transfer from Agra that includes a stop at Fatehpur Sikri followed by a visit to the Chand Baori, a stepwell in the town of Abhaneri that's known for its exquisite symmetry. Alternatively, if you’re headed back to Agra and it happens to be one of the five nights around the full moon, visit the Taj Mahal by moonlight.