Taj Mahal Tickets for Foreigners: Prices, Booking and Visiting Rules

Last verified October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so check the official links in Sources before you book.

Taj Mahal tickets for foreigners cost more than twenty times what Indian citizens pay, and that gap, a Friday closure and a few look-alike ticket sites cause most of the confusion first-time visitors run into. The figures below come from the official Taj Mahal website, which is run by Uttar Pradesh tourism, and from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the agency that looks after the monument. Agra is usually a day trip or one night on a longer route, and our Agra destination hub covers the rest of the city.

How much does a Taj Mahal ticket cost for foreigners?

A foreign tourist pays ₹1,100 for entry. The official site says that figure includes ASI and Agra Development Authority (ADA) charges. Walking into the main mausoleum, the domed tomb chamber at the centre of the complex, costs another ₹200. Buy online and each foreigner ticket is ₹50 cheaper. Children under 15 pay no entry fee, whether domestic or foreign.

So an adult who wants the full visit pays ₹1,300 at the counter or ₹1,250 online. For a rough dollar or pound figure on the day, use the India currency converter rather than a number printed in a guide, because rates move.

Other categories on the official page: citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries pay ₹540, and Indian citizens and OCI cardholders (Overseas Citizens of India) pay ₹50. If you hold an OCI card, carry the physical card. The monument table on the same page labels the higher rate as Foreigner/NRI, so a non-resident Indian travelling on a foreign passport without an OCI card should expect to pay the foreigner price. Ticket prices do get revised, so confirm on the official page before you budget; the monument entry fee calculator helps you add up a whole trip.

When is the Taj Mahal open, and which day is it closed?

The monument opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset, and it is closed to general visitors every Friday. Because the hours follow the sun, there is no fixed clock time. Look up sunrise for your date and plan to be at the gate before it.

Ticket counters run on a slightly different clock. At the Western Gate (near Saheli Burj) and the Eastern Gate they sell tickets from one hour before sunrise until 45 minutes before sunset. The Southern Gate is currently exit only. There are separate queues for foreign and domestic visitors, with signs pointing the way, and the foreigner line is normally the shorter one.

Friday matters for planning. Every other Agra monument stays open all week from sunrise to sunset, so a Friday in Agra is the day for Agra Fort and the river-side gardens, with the Taj on the following morning. If your train or flight puts you in Agra on a Friday only, you will not see the inside of the complex at all. Check the day of the week before you book hotels; our guide to booking trains in India as a foreigner explains how to fix your arrival date first.

Where do you buy tickets, and how do you avoid fake sites?

You have two sensible options: book online through the ASI e-ticket service, or buy at the Western or Eastern Gate counters. Hotel desks and street agents sell tickets too, usually with a markup, and the official site does not endorse them.

The ASI booking page itself carries a warning that a website selling Taj Mahal tickets is fraudulent and that ASI is not responsible for payments made there. The simplest protection is to start from the links on the official Taj Mahal website rather than from a search ad. Steps for the online route:

1. Open the official Taj Mahal site (tajmahal.gov.in) and follow its link to the ASI e-ticket page.
2. Choose Agra as the city and Taj Mahal as the monument, then continue.
3. Select the foreigner category and the number of tickets, and add the mausoleum option if the page offers it.
4. Pay by card and save the ticket or QR code on your phone, with a screenshot in case signal is poor at the gate.
5. At the monument, join the foreigner queue and keep the ticket ready for the security check.

The booking screens change from time to time, so treat those steps as the general flow. Carry your passport on the day anyway; the official night-viewing page says everyone must have ID, and it is easier to have it than to argue. Cards are accepted online, but have some cash for gate extras such as a licensed guide. The guide to paying in India explains what works where.

Is the main mausoleum worth the extra ₹200?

For most first-time visitors, yes, if the queue is reasonable. The standard ticket gets you through the gate, the gardens and the complex. The add-on is specifically for going inside the central tomb, which is dim, crowded and quick to walk through. Photography inside is generally restricted, so follow the signs and staff.

Skip it if you arrive late in the day with a long line, if you are visiting with young children who will not tolerate a shuffling queue, or if you have only an hour. The exterior is the real show, and nobody leaves the standard ticket short-changed. Decide at the counter or when booking, not on the steps.

Can you see the Taj Mahal at night?

Only on a few nights. Night viewing is offered on five nights a month: the full moon night, the two nights before it and the two after. Each evening has eight batches between 20:00 and 23:59, with a maximum of 50 people per batch and 30 minutes inside. That is at most 400 visitors a night, so tickets can sell out.

Adults pay ₹750 as a foreigner, and the ticket is separate from day entry. You report to Shilpgram, near the Eastern Gate, half an hour before the time on your ticket for security checks, and you need ID. Night viewing is closed on Fridays and during Ramzan (Ramadan). The official page publishes a schedule of dates for 2026-27, so check it before choosing your Agra night, and keep in mind that cloud and winter haze can hide the moon.

Is it worth it? It is a quiet 30 minutes at a distance rather than a close walk, so many people see the monument by day first and add the night session if the dates line up with their trip.

What can you bring in, and what stays outside?

The official site lists three rules that catch visitors out. Drones are strictly prohibited in and around the Taj Mahal. Eatables are not allowed inside. Tripods are not allowed without permission issued by the ASI. Beyond that, expect a security screening at the gate, and travel light: a phone, a camera, your ticket and ID are plenty.

For anything not in the list, such as water bottles, power banks or larger bags, the official page says nothing, so ask staff at the gate and be ready to leave items at your hotel. As for clothing, no dress code is published for the grounds, but shoulders and knees covered is a comfortable default; see what to wear in India for fabrics and footwear that work in the heat.

What is the best time of day and year to go?

This part is general guidance, not an official recommendation. Early morning is the usual advice: it is cooler, the light is softer and the first entry slots are quieter than late morning, when tour groups arrive. In the hot months, roughly April to June, being at the gate at opening makes the difference between pleasant and punishing. Winter mornings (December and January especially) can bring fog and haze that hide the building, so keep a spare half day in your schedule if you can.

Monsoon visits are possible but humid and cloudy; our India monsoon travel guide covers what that means across the country, and the best time to visit India tool lets you compare months for the rest of your route. The safety guide covers touts and ticket scams around monuments, which are more common outside the gates than inside.

What do other Agra monuments cost for foreigners?

Most visitors add Agra Fort and one or two smaller sights. These are the foreigner prices on the official table for weekdays other than Friday.

If you have one day, do the Taj at opening, Agra Fort in the late morning and Mehtab Bagh near sunset. Skip Fatehpur Sikri unless you are staying overnight. For a longer plan that places Agra between Delhi and Rajasthan, use the India itinerary planner and the Rajasthan hub. If you are flying into the capital first, read arriving at Delhi airport before you plan the road or rail leg south.

Which mistakes do first-timers make?

• Turning up on a Friday. The Taj is closed, and no ticket will change that.
• Buying through a search ad or an unofficial site that looks like the ASI page. Start from the official Taj Mahal site.
• Leaving night viewing to the last day. With 400 places a night and only five nights a month, dates are limited.
• Carrying food, a drone or a tripod and having to turn back to find storage.
• Cramming the Taj, the Fort and Fatehpur Sikri into one afternoon. Two sights done properly beat four done in a rush.
• Forgetting ID. Night viewing requires it, and carrying your passport removes the question.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Taj Mahal ticket for foreigners?

Entry is ₹1,100 for a foreign tourist, plus an optional ₹200 for the main mausoleum. Buying online gives ₹50 off each foreigner ticket. Children under 15 are free for day entry. Always check the official Taj Mahal site for the current price.

Is the Taj Mahal closed on Fridays?

Yes. The official site says the Taj Mahal is closed for general viewing on Fridays and open on other days. Night viewing is also closed on Fridays. Other Agra monuments stay open all week.

Can I buy Taj Mahal tickets at the gate?

Yes. Tickets are sold at the Western Gate and Eastern Gate counters, from one hour before sunrise until 45 minutes before sunset. You can also book online through the ASI e-ticket service for a small discount.

Do children need a Taj Mahal ticket?

Children under 15 pay no entry fee for day visits, domestic or foreign. Night viewing is different: the child price for ages 3 to 15 is ₹500.

Is Taj Mahal night viewing available every night?

No. It runs on five nights a month, around the full moon, in eight batches of up to 50 people between 20:00 and 23:59. It is closed on Fridays and during Ramzan. Check the official schedule for 2026-27.

Can I bring a tripod, drone or food?

Drones are strictly prohibited in and around the monument, eatables are not allowed inside, and tripods need permission from the ASI. Leave all three at your hotel unless you hold written permission.

Sources

• Taj Mahal official website: visiting hours and entry fee
• Taj Mahal official website: notices, rules and monument fee table
• Taj Mahal official website: night view timings and prices
• Archaeological Survey of India e-ticketing service

Prices, hours and rules are set by the ASI and Uttar Pradesh tourism and can change without notice. This is general travel information, so confirm the figures on the official pages before you pay.