The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

This hotel was stunning! The views of the Taj and the friendly staff makes this a must visit again! We extended our stay by 1 night immediately after checking in. Well worth the money.

There are luxury hotels, and then there are hotels where the **location alone leaves you speechless**. The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra is firmly in the second category. We stayed here for two nights in April 2026 in a **Premier Room with Balcony**, and from the moment we arrived, it was obvious that this was going to be a very special stay. I've stayed in some fantastic five-star hotels around the world, but I have to say it: **India does luxury hospitality like very few other countries.** A Grand Welcome The service started before we'd even properly checked in. We were greeted with beautiful flower garlands, a cold towel and a refreshing drink while the team completed our check-in. It was a wonderful introduction to the hotel and immediately gave us that feeling that we were somewhere rather special. And then we saw the room. Or, more accurately, **the view from the room**. Hello, Taj Mahal! We were first-time visitors to the Taj Mahal, so imagine our reaction when we walked onto our balcony and found the **Taj Mahal sitting directly in front of us**. Yes. Really. It's difficult to put into words quite how impressive that is. Not only could we see one of the world's most famous buildings from our balcony, but we also had a fantastic view across the hotel's beautifully landscaped grounds and swimming pool. The room itself was luxurious and beautifully presented, but let's be honest — when you've got the Taj Mahal outside your window, it's going to be difficult for anything else to steal the show! The location also meant we had a fantastic vantage point for the evening entertainment, with classical Indian musicians and dancers performing in the hotel grounds. It was one of those moments when you sit back and think, *"This is why I travel."* Pool Time We spent quite a bit of time around the swimming pool during our stay, and it was a great place to relax after exploring Agra. The food served around the pool was also excellent — which meant there was very little reason to leave! Well, apart from the Taj Mahal, obviously. Dinner With a Birthday Surprise One of the most memorable evenings was dinner in the hotel's Indian restaurant. The setting was beautiful and we were entertained by live Indian music, with a santoor providing the soundtrack to dinner. The musician was fantastic and, at one point, started playing some modern classics, which was a lovely surprise. Then things got even better. It was my birthday, and the musician played **Happy Birthday** while the chef arrived with a fantastic vegan birthday cake accompanied by **three different sorbets**. And when I say it was a generous portion, I'm not exaggerating — there was enough cake to feed about four people! But the best part came the following morning. At breakfast, the chef actually made a point of coming over to ask whether I'd enjoyed the cake. That's the sort of detail that really stood out to me. It wasn't just good service — it showed that the team genuinely remembered us and cared about our experience. The Taj Mahal The following day, we took advantage of one of the hotel's golf carts to travel directly towards the entrance to the Taj Mahal. This is a particularly useful service because regular taxis and tuk-tuks can't simply drive right up to the monument, so the hotel's golf cart saves you some hassle and gets you much closer. We also used it for the return journey. And then there was the Taj Mahal itself. **Wow.** There's a reason it's one of the world's great wonders. Seeing it in photographs is one thing; standing in front of it is something else entirely. Having the Oberoi Amarvilas as our base made the experience even more special because we could admire it from the comfort of our own balcony afterwards. Breakfast With a View Breakfast the following morning was another highlight. There was a fantastic selection of both Indian and Western options, and I particularly enjoyed the combination of **idli sambar and smoked salmon** — perhaps not the most obvious breakfast pairing, but it worked! And, of course, there was plenty of fresh mango. At this point in my travels, I've realised that if a luxury hotel serves excellent fresh mango at breakfast, I'm probably going to be happy. Would I Stay Again? Without question. The Oberoi Amarvilas is quite simply **one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed in**. The architecture and grounds are stunning, the rooms are luxurious, the food is excellent and the service is genuinely exceptional. But ultimately, it's that extraordinary location that makes the hotel so special. Being able to sit on your balcony and look directly at the Taj Mahal is something I'll never forget. Add in the incredible welcome, the beautiful Indian music, the birthday surprise, the thoughtful service and the hotel's golf cart to the Taj Mahal, and you've got a stay that is very difficult to beat. I would absolutely return — although next time, I'm going to have to find an excuse for another birthday cake! **Verdict: Spectacular hotel, unforgettable Taj Mahal views and service that genuinely goes the extra mile. The Oberoi Amarvilas isn't just somewhere to stay in Agra — it's part of the experience.**

I had the most incredible visit with my friend. The hotel was beautiful and clean. Everyone who was working there was so kind and helpful. The highlight was easily our tour of the Taj Mahal and Agra fort with our guide Muzammil. He was so kind to us and clearly knew an abundance of history which we found fascinating to learn more about. While giving tours he added so many descriptive visuals that I really felt like we were traveling in time during the tour. If you visit I’d highly recommend requesting Muzammil as a tour guide. He was the best that we had from our entire trip to India! Can’t wait to visit again soon hopefully!!!

Unparalleled hospitality to add to a unique location and a stunning property. We celebrated our daughter's 21st birthday here, and we could not have made a better decision.

We had a wonderful stay at the Oberoi Amarvillas with our family. The hotel was spectacular and it's true - every room has an incredible view.. The staff are incredibly helpful and every need is cared for. It's true luxury! Sandeep was our tour guide and we learned a great deal about the Taj Mahal and the politics of the time. We had terrific discussions about history and learned about the motivations of the different rulers. The Taj Mahal was fantastic, but the Agra Fort was almost better. Sandeep did a tremendous job giving us insights that we could not have gotten on our own. There were 6 adults and 4 kids in our group - all the adults had been to Agra before but we didn't have a tour guide like Sandeep when we first toured. He made the trip extremely memorable. If you have plans to go to Agra, I highly recommend requesting Sandeep.