India’s capital and its Mughal jewel make a perfect 5-day pairing. Delhi, a city of empires, mixes medieval bazaars and tree-lined avenues, Sikh langars and rooftop bars. Agra offers the Taj Mahal at dawn, riverbank gardens at dusk, and a kitchen steeped in saffron and smoke.

From Humayun’s Tomb to Qutub Minar, Delhi’s monuments sketch a timeline of dynasties. Agra’s sandstone Agra Fort and poetic Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) add depth to the Taj’s marble romance. Between headline sights, we’ll thread in street eats, coffee stops, and pockets of calm by your hotel pool.

Practicalities: Fly into Delhi (DEL) and move to Agra by fast train or private car. This plan favors mid-range budgets, with hotel options that include inviting pools for afternoon cooldowns. Street food is best sampled with reputable vendors; carry small bills, modest attire for temples, and expect cashless payments to be widely accepted.

Delhi

Delhi dazzles with contrasts: the clamor of Chandni Chowk against the quiet symmetry of Lutyens’ avenues, the scent of cardamom tea beside polished galleries and boutiques. It’s a city to taste as much as tour.

Top sights include Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lodhi Gardens, and the Sikh powerhouse of community cooking at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. For food, weave between Paranthe Wali Gali’s stuffed breads, Karim’s tandoor classics by Jama Masjid, and modern masterpieces at Indian Accent.

Getting here: Book international flights to Delhi via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From DEL, the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi Station takes ~20–25 minutes; taxis to central Delhi run ~45–75 minutes depending on traffic.

• Where to stay (with pools or strong amenities): Splurge: The Leela Palace New Delhi (spectacular pool and service), The Imperial, New Delhi (heritage, grand pool). Mid-range: The Suryaa New Delhi (reliable pool, South Delhi base), ITC Maurya (legendary Bukhara restaurant, outdoor pool). Budget: Bloomrooms @ New Delhi Railway Station (clean, design-forward; note: no big pool).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Delhi or VRBO Delhi.

Day 1: Arrival and a Taste of the City

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land in Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop in Lodhi Gardens—tombs peeking between banyans—and a coffee at Blue Tokai (single-origin pours) or Perch (wine + light bites) nearby.

Evening: Dive into dinner at Karim’s (since 1913; try burra kebab, mutton qorma) near Jama Masjid, or book Indian Accent for inventive plates like blue cheese naan and morels in pepper sauce. End with a short walk along India Gate’s lawns, lit up and lively.

Day 2: Old Delhi’s Soul and New Delhi’s Grandeur

Morning: Join a guided city immersion to cover more with context and comfort:

Book: Private Full Day New and Old Delhi City Tour with Rickshaw Ride. Glide by rickshaw through Chandni Chowk’s spice and silver lanes, visit Jama Masjid and the Sikh kitchen at Bangla Sahib, then continue to Humayun’s Tomb.

Afternoon: Continue to Qutub Minar’s soaring minaret and Lutyens’ Delhi (India Gate, Parliament exteriors). Lunch recs: Paranthe Wali Gali (try paneer and banana paratha), or UPSC-backed Andhra Bhavan canteen for a hearty thali. Return for a refreshing pool dip.

Evening: Optional focused experience if you love markets and fabrics:

Book: Exclusive Half Day Shopping Tour With Female Consultant for curated stops in Khan Market, Dilli Haat, or Shahpur Jat. Dinner: Bukhara at ITC Maurya (famously rustic tandoor—dal Bukhara, giant naan).

Agra

Agra, once the Mughal seat, layers red sandstone fortresses with white marble dreams. The Taj Mahal truly earns the dawn—soft light, inlay details glowing, Yamuna River drifting beyond.

Beyond the Taj, explore Agra Fort’s palaces, the miniature-marvel Baby Taj, and Mehtab Bagh for mirror-like sunset views. The kitchen is Mughlai-forward: charcoal kebabs, rich gravies, and cooling lassi between strolls.

Getting there: Morning trains from Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt) take about 1h40–2h. Book on Trip.com trains. Expect ~$10–25 in AC classes. Private car takes ~3.5–4.5 hours, ~$60–90 each way.

• Where to stay (great for pools): Splurge: The Oberoi Amarvilas (Taj-view pool). Mid-range: Courtyard by Marriott Agra (excellent pool, family-friendly), Hotel Taj Resorts (rooftop pool near East Gate). Budget: Hotel Sidhartha (steps from the Taj, simple).
• Compare more stays: Hotels.com Agra or VRBO Agra.

Day 3: Delhi to Agra, Fort and Sunset Garden

Morning: Board a fast train (e.g., Vande Bharat/Gatimaan) from Hazrat Nizamuddin; arrive ~1h40–2h later. Book via Trip.com trains. Check into your Agra hotel and enjoy a quick pool break.

Afternoon: Explore Agra Fort—Diwan-i-Khas, Jahangiri Mahal, and the Musamman Burj balcony where Shah Jahan once gazed at the Taj. Stop for a late lunch at Pinch of Spice (tender galouti kebabs, paneer lababdar) or Joney’s Place near the Taj (simple, beloved by travelers).

Evening: Cross the river to Mehtab Bagh for a picture-perfect Taj sunset framed by lawns and the Yamuna. Dinner options: Tea’se Me (rooftop views, multi-cuisine) or Esphahan at Amarvilas (reservations essential; refined Mughal flavors). Return for a night swim if your hotel allows.

Day 4: Taj at Sunrise, Pool Time, and Baby Taj or Fatehpur Sikri

Morning: Enter the Taj Mahal at first light—crowds are thinner and the marble blushes. To simplify tickets and guiding, consider:

Book: Tajmahal Entry tickets with optional Licensed Tour Guide for priority entry and expert context. Post-visit, celebrate with petha (candied ash gourd) from Panchhi Petha and breakfast back at the hotel.

Afternoon: Embrace your “pool” preference—block a relaxed swim and lounge hour. Later, choose between the delicate inlay and riverside calm of Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) or a half-day trip to Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO-listed Mughal ghost city with grand courtyards). Lunch: Sheroes Hangout (women-run, resilient story; simple North Indian plates).

Evening: Stroll Sadar Bazaar for leather crafts and spices; sample bedhai with aloo sabzi and jalebi from a popular halwai. Dinner at Dasaprakash (classic veg South Indian) or back to Pinch of Spice for a different spread. Cap the night with a final dip or rooftop chai.

Day 5: Return to Delhi and Depart

Morning: Early train back to Delhi (aim for arrival by late morning). Reserve seats via Trip.com trains. If your flight is later, drop bags and head to Dilli Haat for handicrafts and regional snacks (momos, litti chokha).

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your flight home—search options on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. If you have a longer layover, grab a light lunch at SodaBottleOpenerWala (Parsi comfort food) or a final coffee at Indian Coffee House (old-school charm).

Evening: In transit.

Optional Delhi Night Experience (if Day 2 runs light)

Note: If your plans bring you to Mumbai on another trip, bookmark this for later; otherwise, focus your evenings on Delhi’s India Gate and Connaught Place walks.

Eating & Coffee Shortlist (save this):

• Delhi breakfasts/coffee: Blue Tokai (filtered and espresso), Perch (Scandinavian feel), Old Famous Jalebi Wala (hot jalebis), Saravana Bhavan (idli, dosa).
• Delhi lunches/dinners: Karim’s (historic Mughlai), Indian Accent (modern Indian), Bukhara (front-row tandoor theater).
• Agra staples: Joney’s Place (old-school, near Taj), Pinch of Spice (Mughlai hits), Esphahan (refined, reservations needed), Sheroes Hangout (uplifting cause).

Getting Around & Costs: Autos and app cabs are abundant. Delhi–Agra fast trains ~1h40–2h ($10–25); private transfer ~$60–90 each way. Most major monuments accept cards/UPI; carry some cash for small vendors.

Summary: In five days, you’ll feel Delhi’s pulse and Agra’s poetry—rickshaws and rose marble, thalis and thrones—without rushing. The built-in pool breaks keep the pace civilized, letting you savor the sights and flavors that make North India so magnetic.