Travel guide · India
Mumbai travel guide
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, Bollywood, sea-facing promenades and vada pav
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rutiknatekar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mumbai, India's financial capital and largest city, fills a long peninsula formed from seven former islands on the Arabian Sea. South Mumbai holds the Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings facing the Oval Maidan, with Marine Drive curving around Back Bay. Ferries cross the harbour to the rock-cut Elephanta Caves. Further north, Bandra and Juhu are the home of Bollywood stars, cafés and seafront promenades. Street food, from vada pav to pav bhaji on Chowpatty beach, is part of daily life, and the June-to-September monsoon reshapes the city's rhythm. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are November–February.
Key facts
- Country
- India
- Best time to visit
- November–February
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- BOM, NMI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $80–$180 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Bollywood and Vada pav
Why visit Mumbai
- Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites are within reach: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles around the Oval Maidan, and the Elephanta Caves an hour away by ferry.
- Street food and Irani cafés are central to the city: vada pav, pav bhaji and bhel puri on Chowpatty, and bun maska with chai at century-old Irani cafés.
- Marine Drive's seafront promenade, known as the Queen's Necklace for its lights at night, is the city's favourite place to watch the sunset.
- Bandra's seafront, cafés and Bollywood homes show modern Mumbai, while Kala Ghoda's galleries and museums show its artistic side.
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park, with the 2,000-year-old Kanheri Buddhist caves, is a forest inside the city limits.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Landmark · Colaba
Gateway of India
This 26-metre basalt arch on the Apollo Bunder waterfront was completed in 1924 to commemorate the 1911 landing of King George V and Queen Mary.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- After dark
Architecture · Fort and Kala Ghoda
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Designed by Frederick William Stevens and completed in 1888 as Victoria Terminus, this railway station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that fuses Victorian Gothic Revival with Indian motifs: domes, turrets, gargoyles and stained glass.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- After dark
Historic site · Elephanta Island
Elephanta Caves
On an island about an hour by ferry from the Gateway of India, these rock-cut cave temples from around the 5th to 6th centuries are dedicated to Shiva.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
Waterfront · Churchgate and Marine Drive
Marine Drive
A curving 3.6-km seafront boulevard around Back Bay, lined with Art Deco apartment buildings, from Nariman Point to Girgaon Chowpatty.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
Religious site · Lower Parel and Worli
Haji Ali Dargah
This white mosque and tomb of a 15th-century Sufi saint sits on an islet in Worli Bay, reached by a narrow causeway that is submerged at high tide.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
Religious site · Prabhadevi
Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
Built in 1801 and later greatly expanded, this temple to Ganesh is one of the most visited in Mumbai, with a gilded inner sanctum and a black-stone idol.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
Where to stay
Colaba is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, nightlife and shopping
Colaba
Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Causeway's street stalls
$$$ · Best for culture, food lovers and couples
Fort and Kala Ghoda
Victorian Gothic streets, galleries, museums and restaurants
$$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and luxury
Churchgate and Marine Drive
Art Deco apartment blocks and sea-facing hotels along Back Bay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, shopping and solo travellers
Bandra West
Seafront promenades, cafés, street art and Bollywood homes
What to eat
- Vada pav — Mumbai's signature snack: a spiced potato fritter in a soft bun with garlic, green and tamarind chutneys and a fried chilli.
- Pav bhaji — A buttery, spiced mash of vegetables cooked on a large griddle and served with toasted, buttered buns, chopped onion and lime.
- Bhel puri — Puffed rice tossed with sev, onion, potato, tomato and sweet and spicy chutneys, eaten from a paper cone.
- Bombay sandwich — White bread layered with green chutney, boiled potato, cucumber, tomato, onion and beetroot, often grilled with cheese and sprinkled with masala.
- Misal pav — A fiery Maharashtrian curry of sprouted moth beans topped with crunchy farsan, onion and coriander, served with pav buns.
- Bombil fry — Despite its English name, Bombay duck is a soft lizardfish, butterflied, coated in rava (semolina) and spices and fried until crisp outside.
When to go
The best time to visit Mumbai is November to February, when it is dry, sunny and least humid. March and October are hotter but still workable. The monsoon from June to September brings very heavy rain, flooding and disrupted travel, though the city and nearby hills look their greenest and festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi fall in late August or September.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Dry, sunny and comfortable with cooler evenings; peak season for visitors and the arts festival calendar. |
| Summer | March–May | Increasingly hot and humid, with no rain until the end of May; mango season and lower hotel prices. |
| Monsoon | June–September | Very heavy rain, especially in July, with flooding and disrupted trains, but green hills and the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. |
| Post-monsoon | October–November | Hot and humid in October, turning drier and more pleasant in November; Navratri and Diwali festivals. |
Getting there and around
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is in the northern suburbs; Terminal 2 handles international and most domestic flights. Colaba is about 25 km away, taking 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by taxi or ride-hailing depending on traffic, and the coastal road and sea link can speed the trip. The newer Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) lies across the harbour to the east, reached by road via the Atal Setu sea bridge.
Mumbai's suburban railway is the backbone of the city, carrying millions of passengers a day on its Western, Central and Harbour lines. A growing metro network, black-and-yellow taxis, auto-rickshaws in the suburbs and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, and the coastal road and sea link speed up north–south road trips.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Gateway of India, Colaba, Kala Ghoda, CSMT and Marine Drive, plus a morning at Elephanta. Four days adds Bandra, Haji Ali, Banganga, Dhobi Ghat and a food walk; add more for Lonavala, Matheran or the Ellora and Ajanta caves.
Practical information
- Currency
- INR
- Language
- Marathi, Hindi, English and Gujarati
- Plugs
- Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and check bottle seals are intact.
- Emergency number
- 112 (national emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tip about 10% in restaurants if service is not included, round up for taxis and app rides, and tip guides and drivers at the end of a day.
Pickpocketing is common on crowded trains, at stations and in markets. Never travel on train footboards or in doorways. In the monsoon, avoid wading through floodwater and check transport updates. City beaches have strong currents and polluted water, so swimming is not advised.
Flights to Mumbai
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Mumbai?
Two days covers the Gateway of India, Colaba, Kala Ghoda, CSMT and Marine Drive, plus a morning at Elephanta. Four days adds Bandra, Haji Ali, Banganga, Dhobi Ghat and a food walk; add more for Lonavala, Matheran or the Ellora and Ajanta caves. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Mumbai?
The best time to visit Mumbai is November to February, when it is dry, sunny and least humid. March and October are hotter but still workable. The monsoon from June to September brings very heavy rain, flooding and disrupted travel, though the city and nearby hills look their greenest and festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi fall in late August or September.
+What is Mumbai known for?
Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Bollywood, Vada pav, Art Deco architecture, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Elephanta Caves and Local trains. Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites are within reach: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles around the Oval Maidan, and the Elephanta Caves an hour away by ferry.
+Is Mumbai expensive?
Mumbai is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $80–$180 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Mumbai?
No. Trains, the metro, taxis and ride-hailing cover the city, and parking is very difficult. Hire a car with driver for day trips to Lonavala, Matheran or Nashik.