Most visitors reach Agra from Delhi, and there are two good ways to do it: a fast train, or a car on the expressway. Both are comfortable and both work. Which one suits you depends mostly on whether you are coming for the day or staying, and on how many of you there are.
In this article
By Train
The railway line between Delhi and Agra is one of the busiest in India, and several fast daytime trains run on it. The Gatimaan Express, which runs from Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station, was introduced in 2016 as India's first semi-high-speed service. The Shatabdi from New Delhi station and Vande Bharat services also cover the route. The fastest trains take well under two hours.
Most arrive at Agra Cantt, the main station. Timetables, stations and fares change, so check the current schedule and book on IRCTC, Indian Railways' official booking site. The good morning trains fill up well in advance in the cooler months.
By Car on the Yamuna Expressway
The Yamuna Expressway runs from Greater Noida, on Delhi's south-eastern edge, to Agra. It opened in 2012 and is about 165 km long, and it turned the drive into a fast, straight, tolled run. The real variable is getting out of Delhi: depending on where you start and the traffic, the city end can take as long as the expressway itself.
A car with a driver is the most flexible option. It gives you transport between the monuments in Agra, which are spread out, and it lets you stop at Sikandra on the way in or out.
Which to Choose
- Solo or a couple, staying over: the train is quick, cheap and comfortable; use taxis or an auto-rickshaw in Agra.
- Family or group: a car often works out better per person, and the door-to-door convenience matters more with children or luggage.
- Day trip: either, but a morning train gets you there faster and more predictably than Delhi traffic. Hire a car and driver in Agra for the day.
- Going on to Jaipur or elsewhere: a car, since Fatehpur Sikri is on the way west.
Is a Day Trip Worth It?
It can be done, and thousands of people do it. But a day trip means an early start, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort at pace, and a late return, and it leaves no room for the sunset at Mehtab Bagh or for Fatehpur Sikri. If you possibly can, stay one night. Our one-day and two-day itineraries show what each gets you.
And check the day. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, and a Friday day trip from Delhi is the classic avoidable mistake.
When You Arrive
Agra's monuments are spread out on both banks of the Yamuna, so arrange transport for the day rather than trying to walk between them. Most hotels and the restaurants tourists use are in Tajganj and along Fatehabad Road, close to the Taj Mahal.
If you are on a day trip, a late lunch or an early dinner before the journey back is the one meal worth planning. Tajnuma is on Fatehabad Road, open from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am every day; call +91 90688 89658 to book around your train time.
