Agra is most well-known as the home of the Taj Mahal and while thousands of tourists descend upon the city every day to catch a glimpse of this world wonder, most don't spend much time in Agra. It's easy to see why because Agra has a reputation for being dusty, industrial, and not that interesting.
But despite its reputation, there are actually quite a few great things to do in Agra besides visiting the Taj Mahal. You can visit other UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Agra Fort, Baby Taj, and Fatepur Sikri or explore the culture of the city by visiting its top restaurants, biggest markets, and social projects like Sheroes Cafe.
Find out all the best things to do near the Taj Mahal during your stay in Agra.
1. Explore the Agra Fort and the Baby Taj
The Agra Fort and tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, also known as the Baby Taj, are two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are located in Agra. Agra itself was once the capital of the Mughal empire and is full of historic monuments from that era, but besides the Taj Mahal, these two are the best.
The Agra Fort is built of red sandstone and is an immense and impressive structure located next to the Taj. During the height of the Mughal Empire, this fort contained 500 buildings many of which were palaces, mosques, and audience halls. Today, you can walk through the fort's many courtyards and explore the ruins of buildings first built by Emperor Akbar and then by Shah Jahan, the same man who commissioned the Taj Mahal.
The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is also a famous Mughal era structure that is often called the Baby Taj because it was the inspiration for the world wonder. This was the first Mughal tomb to be built entirely from white marble and contains the body of Mirza Ghiyas Beg who was the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the woman the Taj Mahal was built for.
The Baby Taj itself is shaped like a jewel box and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Although it's much smaller than the Taj Mahal, it's still an incredibly regal structure with enchanting architecture and walls encrusted with semi-precious stones like topaz and onyx.
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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2. Get a Rooftop View of the Taj
On the Southern side of the Taj Mahal is Taj Ganj which a part of Agra that is full of many hotels and rooftop restaurants. This is a great area of the city to visit for a midday snack or even afternoon beer on a rooftop with views of the nearby Taj Mahal.
Some restaurants have better views than others, and no matter where you go, there will probably be some buildings in your line of sight. But we still think that eating a snack or drinking coffee with a view of a world wonder is a pretty magical experience.
Some of our favorite rooftop spots include Stuff Makers on top of Hotel Kamal and Saniya Palace located on top of the Saniya Hotel. The food at Hotel Kamal is slightly higher quality than that of Saniya Palace and Stuff Makers, but both offer great views with Indian and Western food options.
3. Visit the Sheroes Cafe and Support a Heartwarming Social Program
Sheroes is a modern and fun cafe that is located only about a block from the Taj Mahal and is staffed solely by female acid attack victims. The purpose of the cafe is to raise awareness of the terrible act of attacking someone with acid and to give the victims a voice and a chance to feel comfortable being in public after being disfigured.
At the cafe, you can grab a quick snack and listen to the stories of the survivors. The cafe also has a library and a boutique store where all the goods were made by acid attack victims.
Visiting the cafe is a great way to learn more about gender-based violence in India and give survivors, who are often hidden and shunned, the confidence to speak up and earn money for themselves.
4. Explore Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh, or the Moonlight Garden, is a Mughal creation that is located just across the river from the Taj Mahal. This garden is not only one of the best places to view the world wonder at sunset, but is also a peaceful escape from the city and great for a leisurely stroll. Although the garden was first built by Mughal emperor Babur, it was later updated by Shah Jahan who specifically designed it around views of the Taj.
The garden is built in the Persian style with white walkways leading through green lawns full of fruit trees, reflecting pools, and fountains. The entire garden covers an area of 25 acres and only costs 300 rupees to enter.
5. Take a Tour of Kachhpura Village
Kachhpura Village is located right next to Mehtab Bagh across the river from the Taj Mahal and is a small rural area that is full of typically unseen Mughal monuments. Here, the local residents have joined a tourism program to bring their village more income and higher living standards.
While walking through the village, you will be able to see the way locals of the city have been living for ages and interact with them. The tour is private and conducted by young village boys who have been trained as guides and can speak English. Tours normally last around 2 hours and offer great views of the Taj Mahal.
6. Check out One of the City's Top Restaurants
The food scene in Agra is often overshadowed by its famous monuments, but this small city does have plenty of great restaurants from fine dining to local joints.
As far as fine dining goes, nothing can beat Esphahan. Located inside the luxury Oberoi Amarvilas hotel, this restaurant offers exquisite North Indian specialties. While you eat, you can also enjoy the sound of classical Indian musicians playing santoors nearby.
Pinch of Spice is one of the top fine dining restaurants in the city that is not located inside a hotel. This restaurant serves authentic North Indian food in a three-story building that overlooks the nearby Taj Mahal.
For a more affordable and local experience, look no further than Joney's Place and Dasprakash. Joney's Place is one of the best restaurants in the city according to locals and serves tasty Indian favorites like malai kofta and yogurt lassi.
Dasaprakash is the best restaurant in Agra for authentic South Indian food. The food here is served thali style meaning that it is vegetarian and comes on a traditional metal plate with many small bowls of different dishes that are eaten with rice and bread.
7. Shop at the Bazaars in the Old City
To experience the beating heart of an Indian city, it's necessary to visit its chaotic bazaars that are full of all kinds of people and products. In Agra, the main markets are located in the Old City which is behind the local Jama Masjid, or main mosque.
Here you'll find narrow lanes that all connect to form a thriving local market that sells everything from embroidered materials and leather goods to spices and vegetables. A fun way to experience this area of the city is to take a guided tour so you can learn more about local history and the many shops.
Agra's Old City is also a great place to try some street food. Some of the most famous street food products in Agra are samosas and kachoris. Samosas and fried pyramids that are stuffed with a flavorful mashed vegetable filling. Kachoris are fried bread pockets that are also stuffed with a delicious filling. Another popular Agra treat is besan ka cheela, which are crepes made of chickpea flour.
8. Visit the Nearby Ruins of Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is located an hour outside of Agra and is the ruins of a Mughal city that was originally founded by Emperor Akbar in 1571. This city is one of India's top historical destinations and contains some of the best examples of Mughal architecture including grand palaces, mosques, and towers all built from red sandstone.
The city was built to honor the Muslim saint, Shaikh Salim Chishti, whose tomb is still there. Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal empire until there was a water shortage and the royal family was forced to return to the nearby Agra Fort.
9. Explore the Views from the Taj Nature Walk
Around 500 meters from the East Gate of the Taj Mahal is a forest reserve called the Taj Nature Walk. This park is primarily used by locals and is a great place to glimpse some wildlife and get unique views of the nearby Taj. In the park, you'll be able to walk along the trails and see 46 varieties of flowers and plenty of interesting animals including kingfishers and jackals.
While you wander along the paths, you'll find some viewpoints and watchtowers from which you can catch a better glimpse of the nearby world wonder. The Taj Nature Walk is a great stop for those who want to escape the surrounding city and just relax for an hour or so.
10. Relax at a Resort Spa
Nothing is better than spending time in a spa after a day out in the sun exploring historic monuments. Even for those who aren't necessarily spa-goers, it's hard to turn down spa services in India where there are a range of products offered all based on ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Indian spa experiences are top-notch and will make you feel healthy, relaxed, and rejuvenated.
Being a major travel destination, Agra is full of incredible 5-star hotels with all the amenities you could wish for including sunny pools, blooming gardens, and all-inclusive spas. If you stay at The Oberoi Amarvilas, you'll have access to their luxury spa that offers a range of therapies from red mud masks to sandalwood treatments.
Other hotels that have great onsite spas include the ITC Mughal, the Jaypee Palace, the DoubleTree by Hilton, and the Trident.
Explore Agra and the Taj Mahal with Asia Highlights
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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