Quick answer: A foreign adult ticket to the Taj Mahal is ₹1,300 (about $15) — ₹1,100 entry plus the ₹200 add-on to enter the main mausoleum, which you should buy; SAARC/BIMSTEC nationals pay ₹740, Indians ₹250, and children under 15 are free. Payment is cashless (UPI, Visa, Mastercard) through the ASI portal or QR codes at the gate, and the monument is closed on Fridays. The ticket is cheap; the decisions are when and how. Sunrise is the visit — the gates open before dawn and the marble changes colour for an hour — so a sunrise tour ($25–60 from Agra) or an overnight in Agra beats any day trip. If you must come from Delhi for the day, the Gatimaan Express train tour ($80–150) gets you there by 9:40; a car day trip ($90–180) leaves at 5:00 and still arrives after sunrise.
Related: Delhi Travel Guide: Red Fort, India Gate & Taj Mahal Day Trip (2026)
Taj Mahal Options Compared
| Option | Price | Includes | At the Taj by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official ticket, foreigner | ₹1,300 (₹1,100 + ₹200 mausoleum) | Entry, mausoleum, shoe covers, water | Your timing (gates ~30 min before sunrise) | Agra-based visitors |
| Official ticket, SAARC/BIMSTEC | ₹740 | Same | — | Eligible |
| Official ticket, Indian | ₹250 | Same | — | Indian citizens |
| Children under 15 | Free (registration required) | Same | — | Families |
| Night viewing (full-moon nights) | Separate ticket, limited slots | 30-min viewing from the platform | Evening | Full-moon dates only |
| Sunrise tour from Agra (guide + ticket) | ~$25–60 | Hotel pickup, licensed guide, ticket, skip-the-line | Sunrise | The best visit |
| Delhi day trip by Gatimaan Express | ~$80–150 | Train 8:10–9:40, car in Agra, guide, Taj + Agra Fort, return 17:50 | ~10:30 | No overnight, comfortable |
| Delhi day trip by car | ~$90–180 (private) | 5:00 pickup, expressway, guide, Taj + Agra Fort, return ~20:00 | ~8:30–9:00 | Flexibility, groups |
| Overnight Agra from Delhi | ~$150–300 | Sunrise Taj, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri | Sunrise | Photographers, unhurried |
Fees from the ASI’s published 2026 rates (checked September 2026). The Taj opens from about 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, daily except Friday; night viewing is offered on five nights around each full moon, excluding Fridays and Ramadan. No cash is accepted at the ticket counters.
Top-Rated Taj Mahal Tours & Tickets
Why Sunrise Matters
Between first light and about 8:00 the marble shifts from grey to pink to gold, the gardens are cool and the crowds are a fraction of mid-morning’s. Day-trippers from Delhi arrive when the light is flat and the queues are long. If you can, sleep in Agra and take a sunrise tour (above), or enter independently at the East Gate 30 minutes before dawn. The ₹200 mausoleum add-on is worth it for the cenotaphs and pietra dura; without it you stop at the platform.
Day Trip From Delhi: Train vs Car
The Gatimaan Express leaves Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) at 8:10 and reaches Agra Cantt at 9:40, with a comfortable return at 17:50; tours meet you at the station with a car and guide, and the day includes Agra Fort. A private car on the Yamuna Expressway takes 3–4 hours each way; leaving at 5:00 gets you to the Taj by 8:30 — later than sunrise but before the worst crowds — with flexibility for Fatehpur Sikri. Costs are similar; the train is more relaxed, the car more flexible. Our guided vs self-guided guide applies: a guide here handles gates, tickets and touts.
Guides and Gates
Licensed guides (₹1,000–2,000 for a group) explain the architecture and the story in 60–90 minutes and know which gate is quickest (East Gate for sunrise, West for the main road). Tours include one. Large bags, food, tripods and drones are banned; lockers are at the gates.
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Trip from Delhi all Inclusive | $96 | ★ 4.9 (1,579 reviews) |
| Taj Mahal at Sunrise and Agra Day Tour from Delhi | $70 | ★ 5.0 (344 reviews) |
| Sunrise Tour Of Taj Mahal From Delhi – All Inclusive | $180 | ★ 5.0 (251 reviews) |
| Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour By Car From New Delhi | $110 | ★ 5.0 (90 reviews) |
| Sunrise Guided Tajmahal Tour | $20 | ★ 5.0 (81 reviews) |
| Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi | $72 | ★ 5.0 (28 reviews) |
Practical Tips
Book the ASI e-ticket the day before to skip the counter. Bring ID matching the ticket. Wear the shoe covers provided for the mausoleum. Fridays closed — plan around it. Combine with Agra Fort (₹650 foreigners) and, with time, Fatehpur Sikri. Related: child pricing on tours, and our Agra and Delhi hubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Taj Mahal ticket for foreigners in 2026?
₹1,300 — ₹1,100 entry plus ₹200 for the main mausoleum. SAARC/BIMSTEC citizens pay ₹740 and Indians ₹250; children under 15 are free.
Is the Taj Mahal closed on Fridays?
Yes, for prayers. It is open every other day from about 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.
Is a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal worth it?
Yes — it is the best light and the fewest people. Stay in Agra the night before or take a sunrise tour.
Can I do the Taj Mahal as a day trip from Delhi?
Yes, by the Gatimaan Express (arriving 9:40) or by car on the expressway (3–4 hours each way). You will miss sunrise but can see the Taj and Agra Fort comfortably.
Can I pay cash for Taj Mahal tickets?
No. Tickets are cashless in 2026 — UPI, Visa or Mastercard via the ASI portal or QR codes at the gate.
Is the ₹200 mausoleum ticket worth it?
Yes. Without it you cannot enter the main mausoleum to see the cenotaphs and inlay work.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
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