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🇮🇳 Itinerary · India · 7 days

1-week India itinerary 2026: the Golden Triangle

7 well-paced days: Delhi, the Taj Mahal at Agra and the palaces of Jaipur. The Golden Triangle, the essential formula for a first trip, with detailed budget and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€1,000-1,700

Total distance

~750 km

Profile

First time

Season

Oct-Mar

Delhi 2d · Agra 2d · Jaipur 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

India 1-week itinerary map: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, the Golden Triangle

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€70/pers

Delhi · Arrival and the old city

  • Morning Arrival at Indira Gandhi airport. Metro or prepaid taxi into the centre (45 min).
  • Afternoon Rest for the jet lag (4.5 h), then first contact with Old Delhi: Jama Masjid, the country's largest mosque.
  • Evening Rickshaw through the lanes of Chandni Chowk, street food on Paranthe Wali Gali.
🛌 🛌 Delhi, Connaught Place · e.g. The Imperial (2 nights)·🚇 Delhi metro, clean and efficient·India guide →
2

~€50

Delhi · Mughal and colonial monuments

  • 9am Humayun's Tomb, forerunner of the Taj Mahal, and Qutub Minar, a 12th-century minaret (UNESCO).
  • 2pm The Mughal Red Fort, then India Gate and the New Delhi avenues laid out by the British.
  • 5pm Bangla Sahib Sikh temple, with a community kitchen serving 30,000 meals a day.
3

~€80

Delhi → Agra · The Taj Mahal

  • 6am Gatimaan or Shatabdi express train to Agra (1h40, €10-15), the fastest in India.
  • 10am Itimad-ud-Daulah, the Baby Taj, then lunch overlooking the Yamuna river.
  • 4pm Taj Mahal in late afternoon, golden light on the white marble, fewer crowds than at sunrise.
🛌 🛌 Agra, Taj Ganj · e.g. The Oberoi Amarvilas (2 nights)·🚄 Delhi-Agra express train, 1h40
4

~€55

Agra · Fort and sunrise over the Taj

  • 6am Back to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, a hushed mood and reflections in the pools.
  • 10am Agra Fort, the red-sandstone palace where Shah Jahan ended his life facing the Taj.
  • 3pm Drive to Fatehpur Sikri, a ghostly former Mughal capital (1 h).
5

~€75

Agra → Jaipur · The Pink City

  • 8am Drive to Jaipur (240 km, 4.5 h) with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri if not seen the day before.
  • 3pm Check in, then Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds with its 953-window facade.
  • 6pm Bazaars of the old pink city, textiles, jewellery and semi-precious stones.
🛌 🛌 Jaipur, old city · e.g. Samode Haveli (3 nights)·🚗 Agra-Jaipur road, 4.5 h
6

~€60

Jaipur · Amber Fort and palaces

  • 8am Amber Fort on its hill, the maharajas' palace and hall of mirrors (Sheesh Mahal).
  • 1pm City Palace, still home to the royal family, and Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory (UNESCO).
  • 5pm Sunset from Nahargarh Fort, panoramic view over the pink city.
7

Flight

Jaipur → Delhi → Return

  • Morning Last craft shopping (block print, rugs), then train or flight to Delhi.
  • 2pm Transfer to Delhi airport (or a direct flight from Jaipur). Flight home to Paris.

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,000

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €600
  • 🏨 Guesthouse: €15/night
  • 🍛 Thali and street food: €8/day
  • 🚄 Trains + bus: €60
  • 🎫 Sites (Taj €12, forts): €80
Recommended

Comfort

€1,350

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €700
  • 🏨 Boutique haveli: €60/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €20/day
  • 🚗 Private driver 7 days: €250
  • 🎫 Sites + guide: €130

Premium

€2,800

per person

  • ✈️ Premium flight: €1,400
  • 🏨 Oberoi 5★ palaces: €250/night
  • 🍽️ Fine dining: €45/day
  • 🚖 Private driver-guide
  • 🎫 Private tours and VIP Taj sunrise: €300

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

The Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur.

2 weeks

2 weeks

The grand Rajasthan loop, to the Thar Desert.

1 month

1 month

From the Mughal North to the Kerala South, the grand axis.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

The Golden Triangle runs by express train (Delhi-Agra in 1h40) then by car with a driver (Agra-Jaipur). A private driver (€35-40/day) is the comfortable, affordable way to do this circuit. Indian trains are an experience in themselves: book AC classes ahead on IRCTC.

🚄

Gatimaan train Delhi → Agra

€10-15 · 1h40 · India's fastest train

🚗

Private driver Agra → Jaipur

€35-40/day · Fatehpur Sikri stop · comfort

🚇

Delhi metro

€0.30-0.60 · clean and air-conditioned · beats the traffic

🛺

Auto-rickshaw in town

€1-3 a ride · negotiate or insist on the meter

Adapt by season

Dry winter or summer monsoon

The Golden Triangle is at its best from October to March: 15 to 28 °C, clear skies, ideal for visiting forts and palaces. From April to June the northern heat becomes crushing (42 °C in Delhi), so rise early. From July to September the monsoon cools things a little but makes the air heavy, with strong showers. Dodge Delhi's pollution in early November, the smog peak after Diwali, by visiting first thing in the morning.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In November 2024 I saw the Taj Mahal at sunset AND at sunrise: at 4pm the light gilds the marble and the crowd thins, at 6am the site is nearly empty and the Yamuna mist wraps it. Both were worth the double ticket.
  • • The Delhi-Agra express train rather than the road: 1h40 versus 4 h, and a taste of railway India.
  • • The private driver on the Agra-Jaipur leg: he knows Fatehpur Sikri and the craft stops.
  • • The Bangla Sahib Sikh temple in Delhi and its free community kitchen, a powerful moment of humanity.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Don't underestimate Delhi: two full days are needed, many cut it to half a day.
  • • Avoid visiting at midday: heat and crowds peak, favour early morning.
  • • Book the Taj Mahal online ahead to skip the queues (closed on Fridays).

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week enough in India? +
Yes for the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), the best introduction to the country. India is vast: a coherent regional circuit beats trying to see everything and spending the trip in transit.
Do I need a visa for India? +
Yes, a tourist e-visa online (about $25-40 depending on duration, 3-4 day lead time). Passport valid 6 months. Apply on the official Indian government site, not through intermediaries.
Is the Taj Mahal worth two visits? +
Many think so: sunrise offers calm and mist, late afternoon the golden light and fewer people than at opening. The ticket allows one entry, but you can buy another. Closed on Fridays.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes with a private driver for comfort and safety. The forts and palaces delight children. Watch food hygiene (bottled water, well-cooked dishes) and the heat. Plan breaks.
When is the best time to go? +
October to March: bearable temperatures (15-28 °C), clear skies. April-June is very hot (42 °C). July-September, monsoon. Avoid Delhi's pollution peak in early November after Diwali.
How much does a week in India cost all-in? +
Budget about €1,000 backpacking, €1,350 in comfort and €2,800 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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