Delhi to Agra and Jaipur in 7 Days on a Budget
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in 7 Days on a Budget
A full week is enough for the Golden Triangle at an unhurried pace, with three real days in Jaipur instead of two. The route is unchanged from the shorter versions of this trip, two Delhi days, one Agra day trip on the Gatimaan Express, then Jaipur by Vande Bharat Express. Total train fares still run close to 3,000 rupees per person, the extra days buy you time, not extra transport cost.
This is the 6 day itinerary with one more Jaipur day added, which is itself the 4 day itinerary with an extra Delhi and Jaipur day each. For just Delhi and Agra, see the 2 day itinerary .
Book these before you go
- Check rates on Booking.com for your Delhi nights, book near a Metro station for easy transfers to and from Hazrat Nizamuddin station.
- Search Jaipur hotels for three nights, the old walled city keeps City Palace and Hawa Mahal within walking distance.
- Book a Golden Triangle tour if you would rather have a driver and guide cover the whole week for a fixed price.
Day 1: Delhi, New Delhi side
India Gate and Kartavya Path in the cooler morning hours, Connaught Place for lunch, then the Metro out to Humayun’s Tomb (₹550 foreigner ticket) in the afternoon. It is the direct architectural model for the Taj Mahal you will see on day 3.
Day 2: Delhi, Old Delhi side
Jama Masjid in the morning (free courtyard entry, ₹300 for a photography permit), then Chandni Chowk on foot or by cycle rickshaw, agree the fare first. Paranthe Wali Gali for lunch, Qutub Minar (₹550 foreigner ticket) in the late afternoon, viewed from ground level only since the minaret’s interior has been closed since a 1981 stampede.
Day 3: Agra day trip
The Gatimaan Express (train 12050) leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin station, not New Delhi Railway Station, at 08:10 and reaches Agra Cantt at 09:50, AC Chair Car about ₹860. The Taj Mahal foreigner ticket is ₹1,100 plus ₹200 for the mausoleum, give it two hours. Agra Fort, 15 minutes away, adds another 90 minutes and the best free view of the Taj from its ramparts. Return train 12049 leaves Agra Cantt at 17:35, reaching Delhi at 19:30. The Taj Mahal and the Gatimaan Express both skip Fridays, plan the whole trip around that.
Day 4: Travel to Jaipur
The Vande Bharat Express covers the 293 km to Jaipur in about 3 hours 37 minutes, Chair Car fare around ₹1,050 with a meal included. Check in, then head to Amber Fort for the afternoon, the Sheesh Mahal and elephant gate courtyard are worth 2 to 3 hours.
Day 5: Jaipur, City Palace and the Pink City
City Palace and Hawa Mahal in the morning, the Palace of Winds photographs best from the street outside around 9am. Johari Bazaar in the afternoon for jewelry and textiles, bargaining is expected.
Day 6: Jaipur, a second day
Nahargarh Fort in the morning for the view over the whole city, then Bapu Bazaar for textiles and juttis (traditional leather shoes) at prices well below Johari Bazaar’s tourist-facing stalls. If you would rather use this day differently, a half day trip to Sanganer for block printing workshops is a common, low cost alternative that most Jaipur based drivers know well.
Day 7: Return to Delhi
A morning Vande Bharat back to Delhi leaves the whole afternoon free before an evening flight. Use it for Dilli Haat’s craft stalls, Khan Market, or simply a buffer against Delhi traffic. Rishikesh (about 230 km, 3.5 to 5 hours by car) and Amritsar’s Golden Temple (best reached by a short flight rather than the 5.5 hour train) are the two most common ways to extend this trip further, both need a full extra day of their own rather than fitting into day 7.
At a glance
| Day | Focus | Distance / train time from Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi: India Gate, Connaught Place, Humayun’s Tomb | in city |
| 2 | Delhi: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Qutub Minar | in city |
| 3 | Agra day trip: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort | 230 km, 1h40 each way (Gatimaan Express) |
| 4 | Travel to Jaipur, Amber Fort | 293 km, 3h37 (Vande Bharat Express) |
| 5 | Jaipur: City Palace, Hawa Mahal | in Jaipur |
| 6 | Jaipur: Nahargarh Fort, Bapu Bazaar | in Jaipur |
| 7 | Return to Delhi, buffer day | 293 km, 3h37 return |
Is a private driver worth it for a full week loop?
It is a stronger case at 7 days than at 2 or 4, since a driver can add stops like Fatehpur Sikri between Agra and Jaipur that the train route cannot reach at all. Expect roughly 22,500 rupees for a 5 day sedan package as a baseline, more for a full week, against about 3,000 rupees per person on trains. The train stays cheaper solo or in a pair, the driver starts winning on flexibility and group size.
Do you need a visa and any vaccinations before this trip?
Most nationalities need an e-Visa or regular visa for India, arranged well before travel, this is not something to sort out on arrival. No vaccinations are legally required for most travelers, but a doctor’s advice on hepatitis A and typhoid coverage is standard pre-trip guidance given the food and water precautions this itinerary already asks you to follow.
Confirm every train seat through IRCTC as soon as your dates are fixed rather than waiting, and book the Taj Mahal ticket ahead through the official ASI ticketing portal to skip the queue at the gate.