Doing the Golden Triangle is on almost everyone’s bucket list and two of stops on the Golden Triangle is the journey of traveling from Delhi to Agra by train, car or bus. In previous posts I covered 13 places to visit in Delhi, I also covered tips on visiting Taj Mahal, with the recent post covering 5 places to visit in Agra beyond Taj Mahal.
In this post, I wanted to provide tips on how to get from Delhi to Agra by train, bus or car, also covering the NewDelhii to Agra train ticket price options, depending on your budget and how much time you have to explore.
In some of my posts, you may have already read about how I managed to jump on the opportunity to visit India when my husband had a project in India for about a month and a half. While I had plenty of time in New Delhi to visit Humayun’s Tomb, The Lotus Temple and other places, my husband’s exploration were only on weekends.
So while planning the trip to Agra from Delhi I wanted to make sure we could maximise our time in Agra to not only the Taj Mahal but surrounding attractions. So below I have a quick guide one how to get from Delhi to Agra so that you can compare and see which method works for you.
Also See:
- 13 Places To See In New Delhi
- Tips For Visiting The Taj Mahal
- Where To Stay In New Delhi
- Going Beyond The Taj Mahal – 5 Places To See
- Car Rental Tips For Langkawi
CONTENTS
- 1 How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Train
- 2 Don’t Fall For Scams in Delhi (Or India)
- 3 Tips on Booking Ticket for Train Travel in India
- 4 How To Buy Tickets For Delhi to Agra By Train Online
- 5 Taj Mahal Tours In Agra From New Delhi
- 6 How to Travel From Delhi to Agra By Bus
- 7 How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Car
How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Train
- There are plenty of trains leaving from Delhi to Agra and on to Jaipur so the journey from Delhi to Agra by train is not difficult.
- Fast trains in Delhi leave early in the morning around 6 am and reach Agra around 8 am.
- You also have the Delhi to Agra Cantt train option. The Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi is where trains leave from 7 am and arrive at Agra Cantt Station.
- You can buy tickets online or at the stations or online – details below.
- There is now a New Delhi to Agra by train Taj express, a 100-minute journey on the Gatimaan Express, from the New Delhi to Agra, and home of the Taj Mahal. The Delhi to Agra train fare works out between 750 and 1,500 rupees (£8-£16 – AC Chair Car coach and Executive Coach. You can book below the train via the sites below of via a tour that includes the express train.
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Gatimaan Express runs six days a week, except Friday, in both directions. The train leaves from Nizamuddin station in Delhi at 8:10 am and reaches Agra at 9:50 am. From Agra, the train will start its return journey at 5:50 pm and will reach Nizamuddin at 7:30 pm. This means you can easily do a day trip to Agra by train.
Don’t Fall For Scams in Delhi (Or India)
First things first, people hustle in all cities and that’s no different to India. You just have to have your wits about you. Most of the tickets for buses and trains can be bought at the tourist office at Delhi Station but make no mistake about it, you will have rickshaw drivers(aka touts) coming up with a million excuse about why you need to let them take you to some tour agent elsewhere. They will literally come up with all manner of excuses.
From the place being closed, flooded, burnt and all sorts. Insist on to the International Tourist Bureau inside New Delhi station or find another rickshaw driver. The other excuse or scare tactics will be that there is some sort of commotion in the area and it’s too dangerous to visit.
This goes for when requesting directions or a ride to your booked accommodation. But hey presto, they know just the place that is “safe” to stay or buy tickets. Don’t fall for it! If you are staying in India for longer and need tips on calling locally in India or how to use or get the local sim card in India check out the post by My Trip Hack.
Tips on Booking Ticket for Train Travel in India
You can book tickets for trains in and around India at the main stations of most big cities like New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi. You can book tickets at the International Tourist Bureaus that you will find in the main stations. These cater mainly to tourists and are usually less crowded.
So whether you are in Delhi or Jaipur, aim to go there for your tickets to avoid scams or paying beyond the price of the tickets. You can see the full list of stations with International Tourist Bureaus and their opening times by visiting India Rail.
If you are just arriving in at Delhi International Airport. There is also a 24-hour rail booking office at Delhi International Airport. I arrived at like 3 am and was in a rush to just get some sleep but that is another option if you are not in a rush to get to your hotel or other destination when you arrive.
How To Buy Tickets For Delhi to Agra By Train Online
At first, planning and booking train tickets when abroad looks complicated as some of the sites require registration and just look downright complicated! There are three options when it comes to purchasing tickets in India. I have added them below but in order to use any one of the last two you need to register with the first option first:
- IRCTC – All online tickets have to go through via IRCTC but it’s not the easiest of websites to use.
- First, register and verify your account. You can then either buy your ticket through this site or use the other slightly more easy to navigate sites.
- You can book tickets at least 120 days in advance.
- You have options for an e-ticket or an i-ticket that requires an Indian address to send the ticket to. The best option is for the e-ticket.
- They now take foreign cards but if yours is not working you can use an Amex.
- Clear Trip – It’s probably the easiest & simplest website to use to buy Indian train tickets online.
- Clear Trip is allowed to link their website to the official IRCTC Indian Railways reservation & ticketing system.
- It has a simple interface and lets you find your train routes, popular cities, train timings and train availability without hassle.
- Enter the name of the starting station and the ending station
- Select the seat or class along with the date of journey
- Fill in the information about the number of passengers
- Click on “Search trains” to get the names of the trains running along the desired route
- You can also have a look at the train routes in India at the bottom of this page.
- You can pay by card. For more details on payment on the site, they have an FAQ.
- Make My Trip – Private much like Clear Trip and much like Clear Trip is also connected to the official IRCTC system.
- You can buy tickets with an international card and print and e-ticket at home.
- They charge a small fee when buying tickets through their site.
For more details in train travel in India, I highly recommend Seat61.
Taj Mahal Tours In Agra From New Delhi
You can certainly do Agra in one day. There are so many options to get from Delhi to Agra and one hassle-free option is to go via a tour. Most of these will provide options of going to Agra by train bus or car, all arranged for you via the tour.
You can also book them online before traveling to India. Check out Viator and Get Your Guide to find a suitable option.
How to Travel From Delhi to Agra By Bus
- You also have the option of the Delhi to Agra by bus tour package, you can book tickets for bus ride via Make My Trip, Viator or check out Get Your Guide for bus tour package from Delhi. Currently, there are about 40 buses leaving from Delhi to Agra.
- You have many operators to choose from on the Make My Trip site.
- The journey takes about 2 hours with the lowest fare around Rs 250.
- You can also buy tickets from the International Tourist Bureau at the main station. Details above.
How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Car
Whichever hotel you stay at, they can help you arrange a car and driver in addition to getting a guide when you arrive in Agra. Having gone through the process of looking at trains and buses to Agra in the end we opted for a car arranged by Marriott Hotel in Delhi, where we staying in Delhi.
Prices for this can range depending on whether you are booking a one-way trip, a return trip includes or excludes a guide when you get to Agra.
If you are staying overnight in Agra you can also enjoy Taj Mahal at sunrise before driving back to Delhi. Just get the prices and then compare to the above. We went with this option simply for ease of having it all sorted out by someone else including having an air-conditioned car to escape to between tourist sights while exploring during the hot Indian summer.
More on India on the blog:
- 13 Places to See in Delhi.
- Five Things to do in Agra Beyond Taj Mahal.
- Tips for a Stress-free Visit to the Taj Mahal.
- Humayun’s Tomb – A Tomb That Gave Birth to the Idea of Taj Mahal.
- Where To Stay In New Delhi
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India is number one on my Bucketlist! Hopefully one day I can go, the Taj Mahal would be so amazing to see such beautiful images!
Do you remember how much your cab ride and tour of the Taj Mahal cost? I am also staying at a Marriott in Delhi and would love to have a starting cost to negotiate if need be. Not sure if I am best taking the train. Would it be hustle free to do Agra by train from Delhi? Thanks!
We asked Marriott to arrange it for us. It depends on which option you choose. Without or without tour guide when you arrive in Agra. Is this a return trip or one way? Prices for each of those options will vary, so check with the hotel. As for the best train from Delhi to Agra. I would check that first thing when you arrive so you can get confirmation of thee train times and maybe book early if possible. This is also the bullet train new Delhi to Agra that you can look into.
Hi Bee,
I love reading your blog. Thank you so much for informative posts. We have been reading your post on tips on visiting Taj Mahal when we noticed that you have a post on how to get from Delhi to Agra. We are going to be in Delhi for a couple of days and plan on working through some of tips on places to visit in Delhi. As we are going to be visiting India for the first time, we are wondering which you would recommend between traveling from Delhi to Agra by train or Delhi to Agra by car. Can you recommend the best way or perhaps the quickest way to get to Agra considering we are hoping to spend a day in Agra before going to Jaipur. Would appreciate your opinion.
Thanks!
Glad I stumbled on this post as we are traveling to India next year are in the early stages of out India itineray planning when we starting looking at how to travel from Delhi to Agra so that we can visit the Taj Mahal. We just need to decide on whether we want to travel from Delhi to Agra by train or by Car. Thank you so much for your detailed post. Now its just a matter of deciding based on costs for the train or for a private car for the 3 of us.
Thank you!!!
The journey from Delhi to Agra by train is not difficult you say? Wait until you are experiencing it for the first time like I did. I actually made the mistake of not asking for help from the hotel I stayed and thought I could figure it out on my own and I regretted it especially when I almost couldn’t get help from people around because all were pretty much engaged in something. Luckily, I found a good local who took me to the station and I realized I wasn’t even close to it. Fun but a bit tiring for me.
Wow, all part of the travel adventures. Glad you managed to make your journey though.
We are considering the journey from Delhi to Agra by road, do you think rentals are easy to find in Delhi? we looking for easy and accessible ways on how to visit Taj Mahal from Delhi
To be honest I dont trust myself to drive in Delhi the driving in crazy the traffic even crazier. If you have been before and are comfortable then go for it otherwise I would say heir a car and drive for the trip or take the train.
Hi did you by any chance to the Delhi to Agra tour? We are trying to figure out the best way on how to get to Taj Mahal from new Delhi. Do you have to book train from Delhi to Agra in advance?
Hi Lexi, in the end we opted to get a car and drive arranged by the hotel as I left it to late to book the train tickets. It was a lot easier for us and basicall hustle free as we were shot on time so didnt want to waste time looking are how to get around and back to Delhi.
So many amazing options! THANK YOU FOR THE DETAIL! I am trying to cost up out trip and look at both Delhi to Agra distance by bus vs Delhi to Agra train fare and time it takes. We have also heard about the fastest train from Delhi to Agra. Which would you recommend. Also any detail you can provide about Agra train station would be great.
I personally would rather pay a bit more and arrive earlier so if I had to pick between bus and train I would go for the train.
Hi Bee, do you know the likely costs of delhi to agra flights as I havent decided between the Delhi Agra express train and flight from Delhi to Agra. Trying to figure out the best way to travel from Delhi to Agra
Hi there, in terms of how to travel from Delhi to Agra. Not really sure of the prices for flights but then again it really does depend on the airline and season of travel. The trains are not that bad as you also have the option for the fast train too so a flight is not that necessary.
Wow, how comprehsive. I have been trying to find details of distance bw delhi to agra and you seem to cover that and more in your post. Will check out your other post on places to visit in Delhi too.
Thanks Alice, glad yo hear I covered much of the answers you were after. Safe travels.
I would love to do the Delhi to Agra luxury train, any idea how much that costs?
Hi Cynthia, I am afraid I haven’t got clue as to how much the Delhi to Agra luxury train is. Sorry
Thanks for the informative post. Will share with my girlfriend as we are planning a trip to India before summer next year. Just wanted to ask if the Delhi to Agra superfast train is the same as the Gatimaan express train?
Hi Benjamin, yes I believe that is the fastest train from Delhi to Agra
Hey, just wondering if you can use the above for the best way to get from Agra to Jaipur?
Hey June, yes, you pretty much have these same options for trains, car and bus when looking at traveling from Delhi to Agra and then from Agra to Jaipur.
Hi Bee, just wanted to ask if you managed to get on the Gatimaan express from Delhi to Agra. We are looking at the New Delhi to Agra luxury train and wondering whether to choose that over the private car drive? Which would you recommend?
Hi Albert, we ended up driving from Delhi to Agra but leaving early in the morning as we didn’t have enough time to book our train tickets and also arrange a tour guide when we arrived so it was easier on that occasion to get a package with a driver and a tour guide in Agra.
I have to voice my affection for the effort you no doubt put into this post. I have been trying to figure out how to go from Delhi to Agra when I came across your post. So pleased I did as well as you cover all modes of transportation from Delhi to Agra. Now just need to decide between comfort and speed of the journey vs the cost of tickets
Thanks Jim. Certainly glad you managed to find what you were looking for. All the best with your travels to India.
Cheers for this excellent post. I have been trying to find a post that compares the cheapest way to get from Delhi to Agra and all the transport options available. Thanks for putting this together.
Aw thanks Luca. Hope you have an amazing time in Delhi and Agra if you are doing both.
Amazing detail. We are looking at travelling to India next year and are just starting out with itinerary research and the best way to travel from Delhi to Agra and the cost options. Will definitely have a look at your other post on your experience of India.
Thank you. Yes, we had a ball in India and dont mind visiting again. Thr are a come of ways to get to Agra from Delhi. Whichever one you choose. Have a great time.
I have been planning a trip to India for the past year now. Getting excited as we fly out on 15th March. My last on the list was looking at how to go from Delhi to Agra. Super useful your post and blog. I love how you have also included the best train from Delhi to Agra Thanks!
This information is just so superb, I’m so happy to have landed on this blog in my quest of the fastest transport time from Delhi to Agra. I love to visit places and travel and live as natives do, and Indian was on my next list down. I love the effort you take to consider all the time and the best and faster way to travel. So much easier to figure out which train goes to Agra from Delhi. I just love this blog.
I am so glad you found this post useful. There so many options for getting from Delhi to Agra. Hope you manage to have a great time in India.
Hi. Great detail & information you have given. We have been going to Goa for about 20 years & ashamed to say have never visited the Golden Triangle. Looking at going again late October & as there are no direct flights, considering via Delhi, which would be a great opportunity to visit the Triangle. I’ve heared it would be good to spend a few days in Jaipur. As we are limited on time, would you suggest seeing Delhi & Agra on this visit & Jaipur & the surrounding areas on another visit? Thanks.
Hi Josie,
Yes you can. I did them on separate visits. My first visit I only managed to do Delhi and Agra. You can certainly do these do as there is plenty to see and do so you can pace yourself to explore the temple, tombs and of course food. You also don’t have to fly between then if you choose to do all three. Transportation via car and driver rental are also great as well as the train which you don’t necessarily have to book in advance. Whichever option you go for I am sure you will have an amazing time.
Beautiful pictures of Taj Mahal, the Best place for visiting, I plan my tour with my friends and your this article helps me a lot, Thank you so much for your best sharing.