A complete 2 days itinerary of Agra – How to spend 2 days in Agra?

Agra is a major tourist attraction and is a part of India’s Golden Triangle Circuit. Dotted with several medieval Mughal monuments, Agra attracts tourists, backpackers round the year from all over. The city represents a transition phase of Indo-Islamic architecture and a stark difference between the monuments built with red sandstone especially at Fatehpur Sikri and white sandstone at Agra. I have been to Agra thrice. Once in 2016, once in 2019, and once in February 2020 which was the last trip of this year before lockdown so far. Based on all my travel experiences and visits to this city, I have prepared a detailed and easily followed 2 days itinerary of Agra. If you follow this 2 days tour plan of Agra, you can visit the city in a much comfortable way.

My visits to Agra so far have mostly been on weekends since I only travel on weekend. Another major reason to travel on weekends to Agra is that Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday. So, if you are planning two days visit to Agra, you don’t want to miss Taj Mahal (only if you are visiting Agra for the first time). Taj Mahal being an iconic monument represents not only the city but the country on a global level. So, people usually say if you didn’t visit Taj Mahal during your Agra trip, your trip is incomplete. As I have mentioned that Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday so you are left with Saturday and Sunday which are mostly weekends for people who are in corporate jobs. That’s the best way to plan 2 days itinerary of Agra. This was a well-planned journey. I have visited Agra twice on unplanned itineraries.

Budget of 2 days itinerary of Agra from Delhi

Table of Contents

Though Agra can be covered in two days but that requires proper planning so that you can spend a good time without any hassle. While planning the Agra itinerary for 2 days, you should also keep the budget in mind. I am thinking that spending two days in Agra, living in an Oyo hotel, including all the tickets, cabs, foods, etc. the total expenditure should be around Rs. 5,000, coming from Delhi. I traveled by train on a normal ticket and I reached the city without any problem

This is going to be a budget trip to Agra. I won’t talk about fancy hotels or restaurants. Since our Agra travel itinerary is only for two days, this is a nice budget. So, let’s discuss the budget of 2 days Agra trip. I stayed in Oyo and paid around 700 INR for two days and one night. I paid around 500 to 600 INR for food on the first day. Monuments tickets and cabs for the first day all came to around 600 INR. The next day, breakfast, lunch dinner, etc. came to less than 500 INR. The cab from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri and then back to Agra was a major expenditure that can go anything from 1500 to 2000 INR. So, you need to bargain. I booked the cab for around 1600 INR.

Things to do in 2 days in Agra – How to plan 2 days itinerary of Agra?

The planning is based on my personal experience which includes top things to do in Agra on weekend. Considering that we have only 2 days to explore the city, so you will have to stick to the time limit and follow it. It also depends on your mode of transportation; if you have your own vehicle, you can be a little worry-free. If you don’t have your own vehicle; you may have to deal with the fare issue if you are looking for a budget trip to Agra. You can either hire a cab for both the days and pay or you can use public transport or book a cab online as per your comfort depending on your Agra itinerary. This tour plan will cover the best of Agra. This is going to be more of a self-guided 2 days itinerary of Agra.

Read Here – How to plan one day weekend trip to Agra?

If we talk about places to visit in Agra in two days, we have to divide our 2 days Agra itinerary into 3 phases.

Agra – 3 monuments
Sikandra – 1 monument
Fatehpur Sikri

So, one day we dedicate to Agra and explore the major sites and monuments. The other day, or the last two of 2 days Agra travel plan, we visit Fatehpur Sikri including Sikandra. That’s how the complete itinerary of Agra looks like. You can shuffle it. But since you will be landing in Agra on the first day, so it’s better to start with Agra itself. There are three major monuments within Agra city and one is outside Agra, in Sikandra. We will cover all the monuments in our two day itinerary of Agra.

Starting 2 days weekend trip of Agra

I assume you will start your Agra journey from Delhi. If you are a foreign tourist to India, most likely you are supposed to land in Delhi, or you may land in Agra too. But I consider that it is going to be Delhi. I too have visited Agra all the time from Delhi itself since I live in Delhi NCR i.e. twice I have visited Agra from Gurgaon (2016 and 2020) and once I have visited Agra from Delhi (2019).

Mode of Transportation

You can use all three modes of transportation to reach Agra, i.e. air, road, and train. I have used the road and train. Agra is around 230 KM from Delhi and by road, it should take around 4 hours to reach. Trains have their own schedule. My all three journeys to Agra started from Nizamuddin Railway Station in the morning. If you have your own vehicle, that’s good and you can reach Agra at your own comfort. There are two railway stations in Agra, i.e. Agra Cantt and Agra Fort.

Accommodation in Agra

Agra has all types of accommodation options available. It’s better to book a hotel online to avoid any situation later. There are luxury hotels in Agra like Marriot, Taj, etc. Then there are budget accommodation options in Agra, like Oyo, or you can choose to stay in dorms, hostels as per your comfort and budget. I stayed in an Oyo which was an average accommodation type, considering that I just had to sleep in the night and it was good enough for the purpose.

Food options in Agra

Since Agra is a famous city and visited by tourists from all over round the year, you will find all types of food options from vegetarian to non-vegetarian, including all the major international cuisines. So, food will not be a problem. The city has fine dining restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, eateries, street food joints, etc. I never tried the street food of Agra in my past both visits, so this time I visited the famous Chaat Gali of Agra. If you are a street food lover, you shouldn’t miss this place.

Read Here – Agra Food Tour: Exploring Famous Food Joints

So, after discussing these three major issues of our 2 days Agra itinerary, now let’s start planning how to spend 2 days and one night in Agra.

Day 1 of 48 hours in Agra – Reaching Agra from Delhi

I am considering that you are visiting Agra from Delhi and most probably from Nizamuddin Railway Station. You can check the timing for the trains from the official website of Indian Railways. I assume that you reach Agra Cantt at 9 AM. After reaching the railway station, you can either book a cab or auto-rickshaw from the railway station itself or you can book a cab online to your hotel. You can always bargain if you are booking offline from the railway station. You can get nice deals and sometimes cheaper than the online option. Make sure that you don’t offend any driver while bargaining, pitch something that fits both sides.

Breakfast on the way to the hotel from the railway station

You can either choose to have breakfast on the way or you can have it after reaching your hotel. I did it on the way to the hotel. Deviram Sweets is a famous breakfast point in Agra and you can reach here on the way to the hotel from Agra Cantt railway station. After reaching the hotel, you relax for a while and get refreshed. Then you can start your 2 days Agra journey. We skip Taj Mahal on our first day of Agra trip since you should visit Taj Mahal in the morning to explore its beauty when the monument isn’t crowded.

Agra Fort – First place to visit on 2 days Delhi to Agra Trip

Let’s say we start the journey at 10:30 in the morning. We reach the fort by 11 AM depending on the distance of the fort from your hotel. You can either book a cab online or offline or you can contact the hotel staff for the cab option. Most of the hotels provide cab facilities too.

Agra Fort is a massive red sandstone fort that is spread in an area of 94 acres. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built around 1565 – 1573 and the construction was finished in different phases. Every dynasty who ruled over it modified and added to the fort from Lodhi, Mughals, Suri, again Mughal, Maratha, and then British. The fort has lots of places inside to visit from Jahangir Palace, Shahjahani Mahal, Shish Mahal, etc. From the fort, you can capture a breathtaking glimpse of Taj Mahal.

Time taken – The fort timing is 6 AM to 6 PM. You should cover the fort in at least 2 hours. The fort is massive and you should carry your water bottles with you. Ensure that you don’t throw plastic bottles. Carry your own bottle which you can refill later. There are enough drinking water facilities in the fort.

Ticket – As per the ticket booking website Yatra, the ticket for Indian tourists and SAARC+BIMS TEC tourists, the ticket is priced at 35 INR whereas for foreign tourists the ticket for Agra Fort is priced at 550 INR. The ticket can be booked both online and can be purchased from the ticket counter at the fort itself.

Let’s assume you spent 2 hours in the fort. The time should be 1 PM, lunchtime. I visited Sheroes Hangout Café for lunch. It is a café which is run by acid attack victim survivors so tourists visit it a lot. You can visit any restaurant or café of your choice. After lunch, you can resume your first day of 2 days itinerary of Agra.

Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb – Second place to visit on 2 days Delhi to Agra Trip

Let’s say we reach Itimad-ud-Daulah’s tomb around 2 PM. It is located near Taj Mahal and is known to be the first Mughal monument which was constructed with white marble. The use of pietra dura was also done first time in this tomb which you can clearly see in Taj Mahal. The construction of this tomb started in 1622 and finished by 1628. Itimad-ud-Daulah’s tomb is dedicated to Mirza Ghiyas Beg and was commissioned by his daughter Noor Jahan. It is also known as Baby Taj, Mini Taj, or Jewel Box. The tomb is known for wall carvings and paintings.

Time taken – The tomb can be covered easily in one hour.

You can’t carry any type of tripod inside the tomb so make sure you don’t.

Ticket – The tickets can be purchased from the tomb itself or can be booked online. Yatra website shows 20 INR for Indian, SAARC, and BIMSTEC visitors, and for foreign visitors, the ticket is priced at 250 INR.

After visiting the tomb, the time should be 3 to 3:30 PM. You should return to the hotel to take some rest. We will resume our journey at 5 PM again.

Mehtab Garden – Third place to visit on 2 days Delhi – Agra trip

Mehtab Garden is a royal garden that was built opposite Taj Mahal to its north. Also known as Moonlight Garden, it is among the 11 gardens Mughals built around Yamuna River. The garden is said to be built in 1503 and was modified by Shah Jahan for his personal purpose. It was ignored and got buried under thick mud and vegetation after the Mughal regime came to an end. Archaeological Survey of India carried out excavation projects in the 1990s and restored it to its glory. The views of Taj Mahal from the garden in the evening are something you shouldn’t miss out. That’s why Shah Jahan modified it. He would sit here and look at the majestic Taj Mahal. It is advisable to visit this garden during the evening hours when the sun rays are soft and light.

Time taken – Mehtab Garden opens at 6 AM and closes by 6 PM. You can spend anything from half hour to one hour here. There is nothing much to do but a good place for photography. Famous among the couples, the place is a must visit in Agra.

Ticket – The ticket of Mehtab Garden is priced at 20 INR for Indian, BIMSTEC, and SAARC tourists, whereas 250 INR for foreign tourists. The ticket can be purchased from the garden itself or can be booked online.

We finish our first day of 2 days itinerary of Agra here. After spending around 1 hour at Mehtab Garden, we leave back the place of stay.

If you are a street food lover, you should consider visiting Chaat Gali of Agra which is famous for its wide range of street food options.

You can take a walk around in the night to explore dinner options or you can have dinner at your place of stay.

Day 2 of 48 hours in Agra

Good morning! This is our second and last day of 2 days in Agra itinerary. We wake up early morning to visit Taj Mahal. You can have a quick bite at the hotel itself, maybe bread/omelet, coffee, etc.

Taj Mahal in the morning – Fourth place to visit on 2 days Delhi to Agra Tour

Among the most famous tourist attractions of India, UNESCO World Heritage Site Taj Mahal is a must visit monument in Agra. If your accommodation place (hotel, dorm) is located near Taj Mahal, it’s good. You can take a morning walk to the monument. I stayed near Taj Mahal thus; I took a morning walk there and reached in some 5 minutes. The monument looks brilliant in the morning hours. Though its elegance is magnificent round the clock but it is highly recommended to visit in the morning hours. You will get to capture the different shade of the pearl while monument due to sun says reflections.

Time taken – You can spend anything from one to two hours here. On average, it takes around 2 hours to completely visit this fort. You can photography which is the best hour for photography as well.

Ticket – As per Yatra, the entry fee of Taj Mahal for Indian tourists is 45 INR which is for Taj Mahal premises, and 200 INR for the main mausoleum. SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors have to pay 535 INR for a normal ticket and 200 INR extra for the main mausoleum. Foreign visitors have to pay 1050 INR for a normal ticket and an additional 200 INR for the main mausoleum.

We reach back to the hotel, let’s say at 9 AM. Take shower, get ready, and check out the hotel at 10 AM. This is the last day of the 2 days Agra itinerary and at the end of the day; you will take a bus or train back to Delhi.

You should book a cab for this day. You can do it on your own or ask the hotel staff. This day, we are moving out of the city and need a regular cab service thus, you should consider booking a cab for the whole day.

Breakfast on the second day of Agra trip

I had breakfast at Ram Babu Paratha Bhandar. I had booked a cab for the second day for Fatehpur Sikri. Ram Babu Paratha Bhandar is famous for paratha. It offers a wide range of paratha and is a famous breakfast point in Agra.

After breakfast, we head to the next place. Let’s say it is 11 AM.

Akbar’s Tomb Sikandra – Third place to visit on 2 day trip from Delhi to Agra

Akbar’s Tomb is located in Sikandra which is around 13km away from the main city Agra. It should take around half an hour to reach there depending on the traffic conditions. Dedicated to Emperor Akbar, the tomb is a fine example of a mixture of Mughal, Rajput, and Gothic architecture. This red sandstone monument was constructed by Akbar himself. The construction started in 1605 and finished in 1613 by his son Jahangir who added the top marble floor to the architecture.

In the tomb complex, you will see an unknown tomb that is in its ruined form and no one is sure about its history. Also, there is one more monument, Kanch Mahal which was constructed by Jahangir and used as a hunting lodge.

Time taken – The monument opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM. It should take anything from 1 hour to 1.5 hours to visit it completely.

Ticket – As per Yatra, the ticket is priced at 20 INR for Indian, SAARC, and BIMSTEC tourists, and 250 INR for foreign tourists. The ticket can be either purchased from the monument ticket counter or can be booked online.

Add-on

You may consider visiting the tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani which is located in Sikandra, hardly at a distance of 1 KM.

By now, the time should be around 12:30 PM. If you choose to visit Mariam-uz-Zamani tomb then the timings will be changed. I am not adding this monument to my list since I didn’t visit it and I am not sure how much time will be consumed here.

After this, we head to our final destination of 2 days itinerary of Agra which is Fatehpur Sikri. You can pack some light snacks for the journey. You will find many restaurants on the way to Fatehpur Sikri and can have lunch there if you want or you can have it at Fatehpur Sikri as well.

Fatehpur Sikri – Last place to visit on 2 days Agra itinerary

Fatehpur Sikri is located around 40 KM away from Agra and it should take at least one hour to reach there. It was Akbar’s dream city and he established the city in 1571. Fatehpur Sikri even served as the Mughal capital for a short time. The city was left abandoned and by 1610, the city was empty. Later on, various restoration projects were carried and it was restored.

There are a lot of monuments to visit in Fatehpur Sikri and you need at least three to four hours to cover all of them. Fatehpur Sikri is famous for a lot of things such as Buland Darwaza, Jami Masjid, Jodha Mahal, Birbal Palace, etc. It is one of the best tourist places to visit in Agra.

Click on the following link to know the places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri

Top ten places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri

How to reach Fatehpur Sikri from Agra?

Book a cab from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri. After reaching Fatehpur Sikri, you need to board a bus that will take you to the main site. It is a short ten-minute ride. The cab will only go up to there and from here you need to take the bus. This is a free service; you don’t have to pay for this.

Time taken – You need a minimum of four hours to cover all the places of Fatehpur Sikri.

Ticket – The ticket for Indian, BIMSTEC, and SAARC visitors is 50 INR and for foreign tourists, it is 610 INR. The ticket includes all the places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri.

By the time you cover all the places of Fatehpur Sikri, it should be at least 5 PM. Return to the city. You can have a light meal there and take a bus or train whatever suits you back to Delhi. Our 2 days itinerary of Agra comes to an end here. This is a complete itinerary for 1 night 2 days visit to Agra.

There are a few more sites and monuments which I haven’t mentioned in my two days Agra tour plan. This itinerary of Agra is focused on major monuments to cover in two days. I haven’t visited Jama Masjid which is located in Agra near the fort. Also, I didn’t get to visit Mariam-ur-Mazami’s tomb. Yet, if you want to visit these monuments as well, you can adjust your time accordingly. Make sure that you don’t end up disturbing the entire schedule of your itinerary else you will end up wasting your time and won’t be able to visit all the places nicely.

You can visit local markets in your spare time, especially during evening hours or around night when you step out of your hotel or hostel for dinner. I hope now you have got to know how to plan a 2 days weekend trip to Agra.

2 thoughts on “A complete 2 days itinerary of Agra – How to spend 2 days in Agra?”

Cedric Noronha says:

November 16, 2020 at 2:50 pm

Very good post. Highly informative for travellers who want to visit Agra. I visited Agra 17 years ago. Keep up the good work.

1. Rajat Kumar says:
  
  November 16, 2020 at 3:09 pm
  
  17 years is a long time.
  Thanks for stopping by…