3 days in Mumbai

Day by day

1. Day 1: Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

   Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Elephanta Caves, then Marine Drive in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

      Photograph the facade from the crossing opposite, and return after dark when the building is illuminated.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Vada pav

      Stalls outside railway stations, especially around Dadar and CSMT, and roadside carts across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Marine Drive

      Walk from Nariman Point to Chowpatty around sunset and finish with bhel puri on the beach; view the necklace from Malabar Hill after dark.

2. Day 2: Haji Ali Dargah and Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

   Haji Ali Dargah, Shree Siddhivinayak Temple and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, then Bandra Bandstand and Bandra Fort in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Haji Ali Dargah

      Check the tide times and go at low tide, dress modestly and cover your head inside the shrine.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pav bhaji

      Stalls at Juhu Beach and Girgaon Chowpatty, and long-established pav bhaji restaurants in Tardeo.

   4. Afternoon

      Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

      Rent the audio guide and focus on the sculpture gallery and the miniature paintings on the upper floor.

   5. Evening

      Bandra Bandstand and Bandra Fort

      Come at sunset when the Sea Link is lit up, then walk to Bandra's cafés and bars.

3. Day 3: Kala Ghoda Art District and Crawford Market

   Kala Ghoda Art District, Crawford Market and Mani Bhavan, then Juhu Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kala Ghoda Art District

      A small district of galleries, museums and heritage buildings, including the free Jehangir Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the David Sassoon Library and the sky-blue Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue.

   2. Late morning

      Crawford Market

      Go in the morning for the fruit market, then walk to the nearby lanes towards Mohammed Ali Road for street food.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bhel puri

      Beach stalls at Chowpatty and Juhu, and chaat counters in every neighbourhood.

   4. Afternoon

      Mani Bhavan

      Mahatma Gandhi's base in Bombay from 1917 to 1934, this house on Laburnum Road is now a museum with his preserved room, a library, photographs and dioramas of key moments in his life.

   5. Evening

      Juhu Beach

      Come for sunset and street food rather than swimming; the sea is polluted and currents can be strong.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum and Byculla Zoo (Byculla): Visit the museum first, then let children see the penguins in the air-conditioned enclosure in the zoo.
• Swap in Bollywood studio tour (Goregaon): Book through the official Film City tour or an established operator, and set aside half a day for the travel to Goregaon.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Colaba keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Fort and Kala Ghoda ($$$) suits culture, food lovers and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–20 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.3 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Mumbai
• 2 days in Mumbai
• 5 days in Mumbai

Questions travellers ask