Picolo recommends · Hotel in Agra, India
The Oberoi Amarvilas
Every room at this Mughal-style hotel looks towards the Taj Mahal, which stands only about 600 metres away across the gardens and rooftops.
You open the curtains and the white dome is already there. The monument is roughly 600 metres from The Oberoi Amarvilas, and every room is turned towards it. It is a view that changes through the day, from pink at dawn to white at noon.
The hotel borrows from Mughal architecture, the Islamic style of the empire that built the Taj, with fountains, terraces and a big pool. Electric buggies drive guests to the monument entrance. You arrive without the walk through the busy streets.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Oberoi Amarvilas
This is our Taj Mahal choice. Hotels in India are rarely worth a high price for the view alone, but this one is, because the view is the reason you came to Agra.
It is expensive, and Agra itself is hectic outside the gates. The Taj Mahal closes on Fridays, so do not plan your stay around a Friday visit. Book well ahead for the cool season, when demand is highest.
What you get
- Taj Mahal view from every room
- Mughal-style architecture
- Fountains and terraced gardens
- Large pool
- Electric buggy to the Taj Mahal entrance
A day at The Oberoi Amarvilas
- Morning
- The Taj Mahal at sunrise, before the heat and the crowds.
- Midday
- Breakfast on the terrace with the monument in view.
- Afternoon
- Shade and a swim in the pool through the hottest hours.
- Evening
- Watching the marble change colour from your window at dusk.
Location
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Open in MapsQuestions about The Oberoi Amarvilas
How close is The Oberoi Amarvilas to the Taj Mahal?
About 600 metres. Electric buggies take guests from the hotel to the entrance. That puts you at the gate early, ahead of most visitors arriving from Delhi.
Do all rooms at The Oberoi Amarvilas have a Taj Mahal view?
Yes. Every room faces the monument, which is the main reason to stay here. You do not need to pay for a higher room category just to see it.
Which day should you avoid when staying at The Oberoi Amarvilas?
Friday. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors that day, so plan your visit for another day of the week. Thursday or Saturday mornings work well instead.
Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
