Delhi to Agra: How to Reach the Taj Mahal

Your options compared

As of July 2026. Train fares and road tolls change, so treat the costs as a guide and confirm before you travel.

By train

The train is the fastest way to Agra, and the Gatimaan Express is the one to aim for: India's first semi-high-speed service, it covers the route in about one hour forty minutes and departs from Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi, not New Delhi station, arriving at Agra Cantt. It runs six days a week and does not operate on Fridays, which happens to be the day the Taj Mahal is closed anyway.

Book AC Chair Car or Executive Class on IRCTC, ideally a few days ahead, since it fills up. If the Gatimaan is full or you are travelling on a Friday, the Shatabdi Express covers the same route in around two hours, and there are several other daily trains taking roughly two and a half to three and a half hours. Confirm exact departure times on IRCTC, as schedules shift.

By car or taxi

A private car is the most flexible option and the one most day-trippers choose, because it lets you leave before dawn and reach the Taj for sunrise. The route runs from Delhi through Noida and Greater Noida onto the Yamuna Expressway, a smooth six-lane toll road that carries you most of the way to Agra in three to four hours, depending on where in Delhi you start and the traffic getting out of the city.

The expressway toll for a car is currently around ₹400 to ₹500 one way, collected mainly at the Jewar toll plaza, and a FASTag is mandatory for payment. A car also lets you add Fatehpur Sikri or Sikandra on the way without reworking your day.

By bus

Buses are the budget choice. Air-conditioned Volvo services run from Delhi's ISBT and the Sarai Kale Khan terminal to Agra in about four to five hours, longer than the train or a car and less comfortable for a day trip, but the cheapest way to make the journey. They suit travellers on a tight budget who are staying overnight in Agra rather than rushing back the same day.

What about flights

Flying is not a practical way to get from Delhi to Agra. Agra's airport has very limited scheduled service, and once you add airport time at both ends, the train and even the car are faster door to door for a journey this short. Skip the plane for this route.

Can you do it in a day?

Yes, easily, and it is the most popular way to see the Taj Mahal. Take an early Gatimaan Express or leave by car before dawn, spend the late morning and afternoon at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and return to Delhi in the evening. The Gatimaan's morning departure and early-evening return are built around exactly this day trip.

If you would rather not manage the logistics yourself, our same-day Agra tour from Delhi does the whole thing for you. Weighing a day trip against staying over? See the same-day versus overnight comparison.

Which option is best for you

For most first-time visitors on a day trip, the Gatimaan Express is the sweet spot: fast, comfortable and hard to beat on time. Choose a private car if you want a sunrise start, are travelling as a family or group, or want to add Fatehpur Sikri on the way. Take the bus only if budget is the deciding factor and you have time to spare. Whichever you pick, aim to reach Agra by mid-morning at the latest to make the most of the day.

From the station to the Taj

Agra Cantt station is about 6 km from the Taj Mahal, a short ride by taxi or auto-rickshaw. Fuel vehicles are kept back from the monument to protect the marble, so the last stretch to the gates is on foot or by a battery-powered shuttle that runs for a few rupees. From the East Gate, the calmest at sunrise, you are a few minutes from the entrance.

Frequently asked questions