Hit the Taj at 6am sharp when gates open for the best light and minimal crowds. Book your tickets online through the official ASI portal for ₹1,100 (₹50 base + processing fees for foreigners) — Saves you from tout harassment and guarantees entry. Pro tip: screenshot your booking confirmation because mobile networks get dodgy near the gates.

The 'Taj is closed today' scam is everywhere around the entrance. Touts will confidently tell you it's shut for VIP visits, cleaning, or maintenance, then offer to take you to their cousin's marble shop instead. Just walk straight past them to the official ticket counters — I've never seen the Taj actually closed during posted hours.

Transport from Agra Cantt station: negotiate your tuk-tuk fare before hopping in (₹150-200 to East Gate is fair), or use Ola/Uber for transparent pricing. Drivers offering 'special shortcuts' for cheap always demand extra money halfway through the ride or detour to fake marble factories where they get commission. Stick to the main roads.

Entry gates breakdown: East Gate for Indian nationals (₹20), West and South Gates for foreign tourists (₹1,100). They discontinued combo tickets in 2023, so you'll need separate entries for each monument. While some claim student discounts still work occasionally, the official foreign rate is ₹1,100. The sunrise thing is beautiful but totally optional — Golden hour light happens twice daily, and afternoon visits have way fewer mosquitos!