Last Updated on: 12th February 2026, 08:28 am
Most travelers know Agra for one main reason: the Taj Mahal. And for those with limited time, it’s common to check out the Taj and then quickly move on. Admittedly, that’s exactly what I did during my first visit. But the former Mughal capital has enough in store to warrant at least a few days of exploration, such as Agra Fort, Akbar’s Tomb and the ‘Baby Taj.’
All of the locations featured in the guide below can be reached via the Uber app or a guided tour. Check the end of the article for potential scams to watch out for, followed by info on reaching Agra and the best places to stay.
Agra Fort
After the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort is arguably the city’s most-visited and historically important destination. At the time of writing, entry costs Rs 650 for foreigners, while the fort is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
A fort existed in the spot since at least the time of Babur, the first Mughal Emperor. His son, Hamayun, was later crowned here in 1530. But the red sandstone walls we see today was largely constructed by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573.
One of the fort’s top architectural highlights is the imposing Jahangiri Palace. It dates back to Akbar’s reign, and it served as the palace’s main harem.
Emperor Akbar had many Hindu wives, and Akbar himself established his own unique syncretic religion (more below). Accordingly, various elements of the Jahangiri Palace, such as its carved lattice work and domed chhatris, show influence from Hindu architecture.
From atop Agra Fort, one can clearly see the Taj Mahal in the distance. And this was the closest the Taj’s creator, Emperor Shah Jahan, was able to get to it during the final years of his life.
Though he supported his eldest son to succeed him, his other son, Aurangzeb, ultimately won a war of succession. Aurangzeb then banished his father to house arrest in Agra Fort.
He did, at least, later move his father’s remains to the Taj Mahal so that he could be interred next to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
As evidenced by the Taj Majal, Shah Jahan was clearly a fan of white marble. Accordingly, a lot of the white marble structures around Agra Fort also date to his reign.
Shah Jahan was responsible for sections like the Muthamman Burj, the Khas Mahal, the Jharokha, and the Shish Mahal, all known for their intricate marble carvings.
Shah Jahan also constructed the Mina Masjid, which was intended for the emperor’s exclusive use, along with the Nagina Masjid, intended for the ladies of the harem.
All in all, expect to spend at least a couple of hours exploring Agra Fort. But if you’ve already visited Rajasthan, it can’t quite compare with some of the top forts in that state.
Jama Masjid
In the heart of Agra’s Old City lies Jama Masjid, completed in 1648 by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan’s daughter. The red sandstone mosque is certainly impressive from an architectural standpoint.
But unfortunately, it was one of the dirtiest mosques I’ve ever encountered in India. The outer courtyard was covered in layers of grime, and I didn’t feel like lingering for long.
And frankly speaking, Agra’s Old City is a highly unpleasant place to explore on foot. In addition to the chaos and noise, expect to be repeatedly accosted by child beggars.
You’ll have a much more pleasant experience visiting the Jama Masjid of Fatehpur Sikri instead. Learn more in our dedicated guide.
Akbar's Tomb
Akbar’s Tomb is located a bit outside the city in the suburb of Sikandra. Though reachable by Uber, expect the journey to take around 45 minutes. (Contrary to what your driver may tell you, you can indeed easily catch another Uber to get back.)
But is it worth the trip considering all there is to see near the center?
The answer is a definite yes, as this is one of the top sites in the area for multiple reasons. The mausoleum is visually stunning, historically important, and you can have much of it to yourself, unlike at the city’s more central locations.
At the time of writing, entry to Akbar’s Tomb costs Rs 300 for foreigners, plus an extra 10 rupees for some kind of tax. The site is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
But who was Akbar?
Widely considered the greatest of the Mughal Emperors, Akbar (r. 1556-1605) was the empire’s third ruler. Not only did he greatly expand the Mughal Empire both territorially and economically, but he’s one of the only Mughal leaders to be remembered fondly even by Hindus.
He was known for being especially tolerant of other religions, even going as far as creating his own syncretic philosophy known as Din-i Ilahi. It blended elements of Islam, Hinduism, and even aspects of Jainism and Zoroastrianism.
Akbar’s mausoleum sits in the center of a vast garden complex that stretches out to 119 acres. It was constructed by Akbar’s son between 1605 and 1613, though Akbar himself had a role in planning the tomb’s design before his death.
Similar to the Taj Mahal, stepping inside the main mausoleum requires placing plastic coverings over your shoes. Expect to be asked for a tip upon your exit, but it’s not mandatory.
Aside from the central mausoleum, it’s worth exploring the wider complex to admire the art of the entrance gates, some of which were undergoing restoration at the time of my visit.
The colorful patterns demonstrate a strong influence from Timurid architecture of Central Asia (which was in turn heavily influenced by Persia). As we’ll cover shortly, Akbar’s grandfather Babur was born in modern-day Uzbekistan and was a direct descendant of Timur.
Elsewhere within Akbar’s Tomb complex, you can also find some additional structures, such as the Kanch Mahal, a pavilion likely built by Jahangir, the Akbari Sarai, a caravanserai housing the tomb of Islam Khan Chishti, and the tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani, Akbar’s Rajput wife.
Aram Bagh
Aram Bagh is easily the most underwhelming attraction in this guide. But it’s still worth a mention due to its major historical significance.
First of all, finding the place can be a bit challenging, and you’ll have to walk down an unassuming residential road (pictured here) to make it to the entrance. Note that while entry costs Rs 250 for foreigners, it’s only possible to pay online, and the on-site staff will refuse to accept cash.
Once you make it through the confusing UI and multiple potential errors, you can finally explore the garden. But don’t expect much besides some elevated walkways and dilapidated pavilions. So why come here at all?
While the average visitor probably shouldn’t even bother, Aram Bagh is significant for being the oldest Mughal garden, and potentially the oldest Mughal structure in all of India.
Starting in 1526, it was planned and laid out by none other than Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.
As mentioned above, Babur (1483-1530) was born in Andijan, Uzbekistan. But he lost much of his territory in Central Asia to rival khans before eventually making Kabul his new capital.
And from there, he eventually launched raids into north India, defeating the Sultanate of Delhi and making Agra the capital of his new empire.
Despite my disappointment with the garden itself, I was ultimately glad that I went. Later on in my long journey across Asia, I would go on to visit Babur’s tomb and garden complex in Kabul, Afghanistan, along with his birthplace in Andijan, Uzbekistan.
As such, these three seemingly unrelated locations became connected in my mind thanks to Babur’s legacy. This is one example of how traveling with a focus on history can be so rewarding.
The Baby Taj
Though one of Agra’s most remarkable tombs, the so-called ‘Baby Taj’ does not belong to a former Mughal Emperor. And in fact, despite its name, it predates the Taj Mahal, having served as an inspiration for it.
This is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, originally from Persia, and his wife Asmat Begum. Ghiyas Beg served under Akbar, while his daughter Nur Jahan would marry Jahangir, Akbar’s successor. After that, Ghiyas Beg would become Jahangir’s vizier.
Constructed between 1622 and 1628, this was the first Mughal tomb built of white marble. Similar to the Taj Mahal, the walls are inlaid with various precious stones procured from around the empire.
Notably, Mirza Ghiyas Beg was the grandfather of Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the Taj Mahal was later built.
The main mausoleum is known for its perforated lattice screens, while the interior features colorful floral and geometric patterns.
Stepping inside, you can find the cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and Asmat Begum laying side by side.
The mausoleum sits within a garden known as Char Bagh which covers about 23 square meters. And some of the surrounding pavilions offers clear views of the Yamuna River.
All in all, the Baby Taj complex is much smaller than Akbar’s Tomb, but equally impressive from an architectural standpoint. Just expect much bigger crowds!
Additional Info
Agra now has a metro system which is straightforward, clean and affordable. It only consists of two lines, however. If you happen to be staying near a metro station, it would be ideal to use it to get around. But most people will be relying on Uber.
Generally speaking, the great thing about Uber is that it’s a convenient way to avoid the hassle of having to negotiate with dishonest taxi drivers. Yet drivers in Agra have somehow found a way to make using Uber a stressful and time-consuming experience.
In India, the passenger must inform the driver of a special pin code before the ride begins, which is presumably a way to prevent fraud.
But in Agra, it’s not uncommon for an Uber driver to come to your location and then offer you a package tour to various locations for an inflated price. If you say ‘No thanks, just take me to my destination,’ he may refuse to input your pin and then tell you to leave the car. That way, you can’t even review him!
It’s one thing if this just happened occasionally, but I experienced it at least once daily. And one morning it even happened to me a few times in a row!
Another time, a driver immediately accepted my ride request and then told me to wait ten minutes for him to finish breakfast. Fortunately, there’s no penalty for cancelling Uber rides before the driver appears, and it’s easy to see why.
Uber can be a bit of a hassle everywhere in India, but it’s worst in Agra by far. Sometimes it may just be easier to get a tuk tuk the old-fashioned way.
I did find the motorbike drivers on Uber to be less scammy, though they don’t always provide helmets!
Unsurprisingly, the desirability of a hotel’s location in Agra is based on its proximity to the Taj Mahal (but there are, of course, plenty of other sites to see around town).
Just be careful, because lots of places will exaggerate how close they really are. Before confirming your booking, carefully read through reviews and also do some measurements yourself using Google Maps.
I ended up staying at Friends Guest House, which offers budget-friendly, comfortable rooms. They also have a rooftop restaurant, though you will have to walk around for quite a bit to find real (non-instant) coffee.
Though it was a little bit further from the Taj Mahal than I expected, it was still walkable.
Other highly-rated places near the Taj Mahal include The Vacation Villa Agra, Sheela Homestay, and Hotel Shyam Palace.
Agra is one of the easiest places in India to reach by train, with well over a dozen direct trains departing from Delhi each day. The journey takes just a few hours.
Trains connecting Agra with Jaipur are also abundant, with the journey lasting around four hours.
You can also reach Agra directly from cities like Kota, Bhopal, Mumbai, and even Chennai, among many others.
Like many cities in India, Agra has multiple railway stations, but most people will want to arrive at either Agra Cantonment or Agra Fort stations.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
If you have limited time in Agra, you’ll want to make the most of your time. And as mentioned in the guide above, there’s a lot more to see than just the Taj Mahal. Tours like this one will take you to the Taj Mahal in addition to Agra Fort, the Baby Taj & Mehtab Bagh.
If you’re fine with visiting the Taj Mahal on your own, then on another day you can join this tour which includes Akbar’s Tomb, Agra Fort and the Baby Taj. And it would also allow you to avoid the hassle of dealing with Agra’s Uber drivers.