How to spend 3 days in Agra and see the Taj from every angle!

This blog contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep this content free.

We came to Agra for the same reason everyone else does: to see the Taj Mahal – the one attraction that sits at the top of every visitor’s Agra travel itinerary. This symbol of undying love is one of the seven Wonders of the Modern World and one of the most beautiful buildings in India, so like countless travellers before us, we too made the long journey to see it with our own eyes. (Spoiler alert: it lived up to every single expectation and then some!)

Since our month in India was all about travelling at a slow and leisurely pace, we gave ourselves three full days in Agra (we later learned that most people only stay a night or two!), and fortunately for us, that meant we got to see and do quite a bit around the city. Now here’s a look at how we spent our 3 days in Agra:

Agra Travel Itinerary

Your Agra travel itinerary should include views of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort

Visiting Agra Fort

Agra Fort in red sandstone

Red sandstone buildings inside Agra Fort

Admission ticket to Agra Fort

Viewing the Taj from Agra Fort

Tour Agra Fort on foot

Agra Fort was the main residence of the Mughal emperors before they moved their capital to the Red Fort in Delhi, so if you’ve already been there on your travels through India, it’s kind of cool to see some of the similarities between the two structures. 

Like the Red Fort in Delhi, Agra Fort is also a walled city and inside the enclosure you’ll find gardens, palaces, mosques, audience halls, and basically a maze of marble and red sandstone. If you’re interested in the history of the fort, you can easily hire a guide at the gates, however, it’s also the kind of place that you can enjoy on your own.

The cherry on top is that because Agra Fort is located just 2.5 kilometres from the Taj, you get some pretty cool views of it as well!

Visiting the Baby Taj in Agra

The grounds of the Baby Taj in Agra

Looking out from the Baby Taj

Geometric patterns and precious stones on the Baby Taj

Baby Taj from a distance

Admire the Baby Taj up close

Alright, so you’re not going to get any views of the Taj Mahal from the baby Taj, but if you’re already heading to Mehtab Bagh, this stop is right along the way.

The Baby Taj, whose real name is the Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah, is a mausoleum that was commissioned for Mirzā Ghiyās Beg; he was the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the woman the Taj was built for.

The Baby Taj has been regarded as an early draft for the Taj, but I personally don’t see the resemblance – I think Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi offers a better representation of that! But what I can agree with is that the Baby Taj looks a bit like a jewelry box. From a distance the building may appear to be solid white marble, however, when you get up close you can see that it is covered in arabesques, geometric patterns, and colourful semi-precious stones!

Views of Mehtab Bagh at sunset

Catch sunset at Mehtab Bagh

Another place you should make time for in Agra is Mehtab Bagh, which also goes by the ever romantic name: Moonlight Garden.

Aside from offering a quiet respite from Agra’s busy streets, these gardens sit directly behind the Taj Mahal and right across the Yamuna River, which means that once again you get some postcard perfect views.

This location is really popular at sunset, and couples, families, and tour groups were already starting to gather across the lawn long before the sun went down.

Legend has it that Emperor Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal, had wanted to build a mausoleum of black marble for himself in these very gardens to mirror the Taj Mahal. As history would have it, Shah Jahan’s own son ended up throwing him in prison, which meant this plan never came to pass, but can you imagine what that would look like today?

Tip: Because Mehtab Bagh is located so close to the Yamuna River, it can partially flood during the rainy season. Something to keep in mind if you visit during that time of year.

Views of the Taj Mahal from the Taj Walk

The lake we visited along the Taj Walk

Views of the Taj Mahal from the Taj Walk

Get close to nature on the Taj Walk

One of the biggest surprises in Agra was the Taj Walk, also known as the Taj Protected Forest, which is located just before reaching the East Gate.

The Taj Walk is a mix of paved paths and dirt trails, where you can spot peacocks roaming wild, however, the crowning jewel of the park are the free views of the Taj Mahal! They have a few benches scattered across the grounds and every once in a while you’ll come across an unexpected hill that offers views of the Taj dazzling in the sunlight.

Because the park is located east of the Taj, you get the best views in the morning when the sunlight hits the building. You can still visit in the afternoon, but the Taj will be backlit – something to keep in mind for all you photogs out there.

Rooftop restaurant with views of the Taj Mahal

Enjoy a meal with a view of the Taj

Saniya Palace Rooftop Restaurant calls itself “the restaurant with the best views of the Taj Mahal”, and while I didn’t try every restaurant in town, I can’t really argue with that statement either because the views were pretty spectacular.

This restaurant is located on top of a guesthouse by the South Gate and you have to huff and puff your way up several flights of stairs, but once you reach the top, you can see the Taj Mahal framed by pastel buildings.

The food did take a long time to arrive (we waited 45 minutes) and it’s not going to win any awards (expect standard Indian fare), but if you’re in no rush, the rooftop is a nice place to linger while you enjoy views of the Taj just a little bit longer.

Visiting the Taj Mahal - one of the most important stops of your Agra travel itinerary!

Inside the Taj Mahal complex

Visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra

Visit the Taj Mahal itself

And now I’ve saved the best for last: seeing the Taj Mahal up close!

What can I say about the Taj Mahal that hasn’t already been said before? The structure is striking from the minute you first set eyes on it.

We decided to skip the early morning wake-up call for sunrise, and made our way there at 9:00 a.m. without any rush. We were visiting on a weekend, but there were no lines at the East Gate, so we went through security and were standing in front of the Taj within minutes.

We spent the entire morning walking along the complex, gawking at the building’s beauty from every angle, and taking a gazillion pictures because you never know when you’re going to be back! If you’re planning on visiting, I would suggest you give yourself at least 2-3 hours to explore every nook and cranny.

Tip: Once a month on the full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for nighttime viewing, so if your trip happens to coincide with that, it’s a pretty rare opportunity to enjoy! Sadly, we missed the full moon by just a few days.

Stay within walking distance of the Taj

Our hotel in Agra was my favourite property of our whole month in India, so I just have to write about it! We stayed at a place called The Coral Court Homestay, which is a boutique hotel with a familiar touch.

The property was run by a travel-loving couple who had a colourful home filled with trinkets from around the world. I loved that wherever I looked there was an unusual artifact with a story, be it embroidered silk pillows with elephants, tinted glass lamps dangling from the ceilings, or shelves and coffee tables piled with books in foreign languages. It was like setting foot in the home I’d like to have one day. 

Aside from being a beautiful property, it was also within walking distance of the Taj Mahal while simultaneously being in a quiet area just off of Taj East Gate Road. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Agra, I would highly recommend this hotel!

Lastly, they served breakfast, lunch and dinner in a communal dining area where guests could mix and mingle, while swapping tales from their travels across India.

Visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

To wrap things up, I’m really glad I had three full days in Agra to sightsee without rush and tack on some lesser visited attractions. That being said, if you are on a tighter schedule, you can still pack quite a bit into a day or two, especially if you hire a rickshaw driver to take you around, so either way, you’ll enjoy your visit.

Would you add anything else to this Agra travel itinerary?

AGRA TRAVEL ITINERARY: How to spend 3 days in Agra and see the Taj Mahal from every angle!



Booking.com


Join the Conversation

13 Comments

  1. says: Ronnie Walter

    This is so stunning….I have been to India once but unfortunately couldn’t visit the Taj Mahal……lovely read.

  2. says: Tabitha

    Hello! I recently had found your videos on YouTube and have since started following your blog. I was wondering if you had a post that kind of explains more about your back-story and how you came to be able to travel as much as you do? Thanks!!

    1. says: Audrey Bergner

      Hi Tabitha, I guess you could say I got started with teaching English overseas. I’ve always enjoyed travelling and I took the opportunity to do so during every winter holiday and summer break when I was in university. Once I graduated, I took a job teaching English in Korea, met my husband, and ended up travelling around Southeast Asia with him. Along the way I started this blog and a YouTube channel, both of which I monetized, and I also got work writing pieces for travel websites. I should probably write a more in depth blog post about it at some point, but that’s the short version!

  3. says: Carrie

    Fab photos! I thought the Baby Taj was beautiful. Were you disappointed by the scaffolding on the Taj Mahal? Apparently the whole dome will be covered this year which is a shame, but it’ll look stunning when back to it’s original glory.

    1. says: Audrey Bergner

      Ahh, someone had warned me about the scaffolding, so I can’t say I was disappointed since I knew to expect it. It’s not great for photographers looking to get that iconic Taj shot, but the building is beautiful regardless! Apparently they’re also going to be applying mud packs to clean the yellow marble, so at least I missed that.

  4. says: Nicole

    Beautiful post! Agra really is an oasis of charm and splendor. But the Taj is not a stand-alone attraction. The legacy of the Mughal empire has left a magnificent fort and a liberal sprinkling of fascinating tombs and mausoleums. Wonderfull place to visit!

  5. says: Samarth

    Hi Audrey, Thank you for sharing your experience in Agra with us in such a wonderful post. I really enjoyed reading it with your tips and recommendations on where to have a good view and stay while travelling in Agra. The monuments that you mentioned are really the most important monuments in Agra but i would like to add to the list, the tomb of Akbar or Sikandra, which is located 15 kms from Taj Mahal. The tomb is built on an area covering 119 acres during early 17th century. This is the mausoleum that Akbar chose for himself but could not finish it during his time. The monument has Mughal elements like red sandstone and marble with inlay works and geometric patterns. The tomb is not a UNESCO’s heritage site but still worth visiting.

  6. says: Sarah

    Agra is just an amazing travel destination, I have been there twice.
    I would love to go back again and again. I love the Taj a lot.

    Thanks for your amazing travel guide and your photos are mind-blowing.

Leave a comment
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *