The Taj Mahal is open every day except Friday, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset. The hours therefore change every day: we calculated them for the 15th of each month. This page also gives the official price for foreign visitors, the rule for night viewing (full moon) with calculated dates for the coming months, and the mistakes to avoid. For the rest of your trip, see our guide to traveling in India.
Our travel deals for Taj Mahal
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Taj Mahal.Compare flights- eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
Taj Mahal: key facts
- Closed on Friday; open the other days.
- Hours: from 30 min before sunrise to 30 min before sunset (see our calculated table).
- Foreign visitor price: 1,100 rupees; extra 200 rupees to enter the main mausoleum.
- Free for children under 15 (Indian and foreign).
- Tickets: online on the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) platform or at the ticket window; discount of 50 rupees per foreign ticket bought online.
- Night viewing: 5 nights a month around the full moon, 8 pm–11:59 pm, groups of up to 50 people, 30 minutes.
- Information checked on 15 October 2026 on tajmahal.gov.in (official site) — prices may change, check before you go.
Tickets: official vs resellers
The official Taj Mahal website points to the online ticketing platform of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the public body that manages the monument; ticket window sales are also possible. Official prices recorded on 15 October 2026:
| Visitor | Taj Mahal (days other than Friday) | Mausoleum supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner / NRI | 1,100 rupees | 200 rupees |
| SAARC / BIMSTEC citizen | 540 rupees | 200 rupees |
| Indian | 50 rupees | 200 rupees |
| Child under 15 | Free | — |
Around the monument and on the internet, many intermediaries offer tickets and « official guides ». The official site states that any ticketing question is a matter for the ASI: buy your tickets on the ASI platform or at the ticket window, and treat everything else as a paid service (guide, transport), not a compulsory step.
Opening hours calculated for each month
The official rule is simple, but its hours move every day. We applied it to the sunrise and sunset times calculated for Agra:
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Opening (≈) | Sunset | Closing (≈) | Average max temp* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:08 am | 6:38 am | 5:45 pm | 5:15 pm | 19.0 °C (66 °F) |
| February | 6:54 am | 6:24 am | 6:09 pm | 5:39 pm | 24.4 °C (76 °F) |
| March | 6:27 am | 5:57 am | 6:26 pm | 5:56 pm | 31.0 °C (88 °F) |
| April | 5:53 am | 5:23 am | 6:42 pm | 6:12 pm | 37.0 °C (99 °F) |
| May | 5:29 am | 4:59 am | 6:58 pm | 6:28 pm | 40.7 °C (105 °F) |
| June | 5:22 am | 4:52 am | 7:13 pm | 6:43 pm | 39.8 °C (104 °F) |
| July | 5:33 am | 5:03 am | 7:14 pm | 6:44 pm | 35.1 °C (95 °F) |
| August | 5:49 am | 5:19 am | 6:55 pm | 6:25 pm | 33.9 °C (93 °F) |
| September | 6:03 am | 5:33 am | 6:23 pm | 5:53 pm | 34.0 °C (93 °F) |
| October | 6:17 am | 5:47 am | 5:49 pm | 5:19 pm | 33.4 °C (92 °F) |
| November | 6:37 am | 6:07 am | 5:26 pm | 4:56 pm | 28.0 °C (82 °F) |
| December | 6:59 am | 6:29 am | 5:26 pm | 4:56 pm | 22.5 °C (73 °F) |
Night viewing: full moon dates
According to the official site, night viewing is possible five nights a month: the night of the full moon, the two before and the two after, from 8 pm to 11:59 pm, in 8 groups of up to 50 people, for 30 minutes each; you must report half an hour before the time shown on the ticket. On Friday the monument stays closed, including at night. Here are the possible nights according to our astronomical calculation of the full moon:
| Full moon | Possible nights (excluding Friday) | Nights lost (Friday) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 October 2026 | 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 October | 0 |
| 24 November 2026 | 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 November | 0 |
| 24 December 2026 | 22, 23, 24, 26 December | 1 |
| 22 January 2027 | 20, 21, 23, 24 January | 1 |
| 21 February 2027 | 20, 21, 22, 23 February | 1 |
| 22 March 2027 | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 March | 0 |
| 21 April 2027 | 19, 20, 21, 22 April | 1 |
| 20 May 2027 | 18, 19, 20, 22 May | 1 |
| 19 June 2027 | 17, 19, 20, 21 June | 1 |
| 18 July 2027 | 17, 18, 19, 20 July | 1 |
| 17 August 2027 | 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 August | 0 |
| 16 September 2027 | 14, 15, 16, 18 September | 1 |
| 15 October 2027 | 13, 14, 16, 17 October | 1 |
| 14 November 2027 | 13, 14, 15, 16 November | 1 |
| 13 December 2027 | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 December | 0 |
Best time to visit the Taj Mahal
- Season: from October to March, the weather is dry and cooler. According to the New Delhi normals (IMD), the average maximum exceeds 37 °C (99 °F) in April and 40 °C (104 °F) in May; July and August each receive about 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain (monsoon). Our page on the best time to visit India details each month.
- Winter haze: from December to January, mornings are often hazy on the Gangetic plain; the first slot may offer a veiled view. If you stay two days, keep a second try.
- Time: opening (30 min before sunrise) is the coolest moment. The official site notes that the marble looks pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden in the moonlight.
- Day: never Friday.
How long and suggested route
- 2 to 3 hours: gardens, pool, mausoleum (with supplement), mosque and the esplanade on the Yamuna side.
- Half a day: Taj Mahal at opening, then Agra Fort (separate ticket, reduced for Taj visitors on the same day according to the official price grid).
- Full day: add Itimad-ud-Daulah or Fatehpur Sikri.
- Checklist: passport, ticket or QR code, water, shoe covers (provided for the mausoleum), no drone.
Getting there
The official site has « Getting around Taj Mahal » and « Entry To Taj Mahal » pages covering access and the entry gates; check them for the gate that suits your accommodation. The ticket office can be reached on the telephone numbers published on the official site.
Accessibility
The official site does not publish a detailed accessibility guide. The gardens are flat, but access to the mausoleum is by steps. Ask the ASI or your accommodation before the visit.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Planning the visit on a Friday: the Taj is closed.
- Arriving late in the afternoon thinking you can visit until sunset: closing is 30 minutes before.
- Forgetting the 200-rupee supplement to enter the mausoleum.
- Bringing a drone: strictly prohibited in and around the Taj.
- Booking a « night viewing » on a Friday or outside the 5 nights around the full moon.
- Buying a ticket from an intermediary when the ASI ticketing platform and the ticket window are open to everyone.
What to see nearby
Agra fits into the classic Delhi – Agra – Jaipur circuit described in our guide to what to see in India. For a trip in March, our page on the Holi festival gives the dates. Entry requirements: see entry requirements for India; local time: time difference with India.
Frequently asked questions
What is the entry price of the Taj Mahal for a foreign visitor?
1,100 rupees (foreign rate), plus 200 rupees to enter the main mausoleum, according to the official site recorded on 15 October 2026. Under-15s enter free.
Which day is the Taj Mahal closed?
Friday. It is open every other day.
What are the opening hours of the Taj Mahal?
From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. In January this gives about 6:40 am–5:15 pm; in June, about 4:50 am–6:45 pm (our calculation).
Can you visit the Taj Mahal at night?
Yes, five nights a month around the full moon (except Friday), from 8 pm to 11:59 pm, in groups of 50 people for 30 minutes.
Do you need to book the Taj Mahal in advance?
It is not compulsory: the ticket window works. Buying online on the ASI platform does save 50 rupees per foreign ticket.
Our sources
- Official Taj Mahal website (tajmahal.gov.in): home, Ticketing and Night Viewing pages, consulted on 15 October 2026.
- India Meteorological Department (IMD): 1991–2020 normals for New Delhi (Ridge), taken from our page on the best time to visit India.
- Destination de Voyage calculation: sunrise and sunset (NOAA algorithm), full moons (Meeus, ch. 49).
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.