5 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

      Come early in the morning for photographs without crowds, or at dusk when the arch and the Taj are lit up. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

      Photograph the facade from the crossing opposite, and return after dark when the building is illuminated. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Vada pav

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

   4. Afternoon

      Elephanta Caves

      Take an early ferry to beat the heat and the crowds, and carry water; ferries can be suspended in rough monsoon weather. (Half a day, low cost).

   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. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

      Avoid Tuesdays and festival days, leave bags and phones as directed, and remove shoes before entering. (1 hour, free).

   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. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   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

      Visit during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, usually in early February, for free street installations and performances. (2–3 hours, free).

   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. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bhel puri

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

   4. Afternoon

      Mani Bhavan

      Combine it with Banganga Tank and the Malabar Hill viewpoints on the same morning. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Juhu Beach

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Lonavala and Karla Caves

   About 2–2.5 hours by road or train each way. Getting there: Car via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, or train from CSMT.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Lonavala and Karla Caves

      About 2–2.5 hours by road or train (Car via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, or train from CSMT); about 85 km.

   2. Day

      Lonavala and Karla Caves

      A hill station in the Western Ghats known for monsoon waterfalls, viewpoints such as Tiger Point and chikki, a nut brittle sold in every shop. Best for families and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Mumbai

      Dinner: try Bombay sandwich.

5. Day 5: Banganga Tank and Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Kanheri Caves

   Banganga Tank, Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Kanheri Caves and Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, then Girgaon Chowpatty in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Banganga Tank

      Visit in the early morning when ducks paddle across the water and residents perform rituals on the steps. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Kanheri Caves

      Go early on a weekday, take a vehicle or bus from the park gate to the caves, and stay on marked paths. (Half a day, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bombay sandwich

      Sandwich carts near offices and colleges, particularly in Fort and around Churchgate.

   4. Afternoon

      Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat

      View from the bridge for free; if you go inside, do so with a guide and ask before photographing people at work. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Girgaon Chowpatty

      Visit in the evening after a sunset walk on Marine Drive and eat at a busy stall.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 21–27 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Mumbai

Questions travellers ask