Two to three days covers the essentials. See the Golden Temple once by day and again at night, walk Heritage Street and Hall Bazaar, visit Gobindgarh Fort and the Partition Museum, and save one late afternoon for the flag ceremony at the Attari border west of the city.

The Attari-Wagah border sits roughly 30 km west of central Amritsar, usually under an hour by road. The flag-lowering ceremony takes place every evening just before sunset. Most visitors go by taxi or shared car, and buses also run from the city bus terminal in the afternoon.

Yes, the Golden Temple complex stays open day and night, and the langar serves free meals around the clock. Many visitors come twice, once in daylight and once after dark, when the gilded sanctum glows over the pool. Everyone covers their head and removes shoes before entering.