Beaches · Mumbai · India
The best beaches in and near Mumbai
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Anoop Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Juhu Beach (Western suburbs, about 20–30 minutes from the airport). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 5
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 30°C (86°F)
The beaches
Western suburbs, about 20–30 minutes from the airport · Sunsets and street food
1.Juhu Beach
A long sandy beach in the western suburbs, busiest at sunset with families and street-food stalls; not for swimming.
South Mumbai, end of Marine Drive · Evening snacks
2.Girgaon Chowpatty
The city beach at the end of Marine Drive, famous for bhel puri stalls and Ganesh idol immersions.
Andheri West, about 30 minutes from the airport · Morning walks
3.Versova Beach
A long beach in Andheri West transformed by a volunteer clean-up campaign that began in 2015, with fishing boats at its northern end.
Northern suburbs, about 1 hour from the airport · Weekend outings
4.Aksa Beach
A wide beach in Malad popular at weekends; strong currents make swimming dangerous.
About 1.5 hours by ferry and road · Day trips and families
5.Kihim and Varsoli, Alibaug
Cleaner, quieter beaches across the harbour, reached by catamaran from the Gateway of India and a short road trip.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C (79°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| March | 27°C (81°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| April | 28°C (82°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 34°C (93°F) |
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 28°C (82°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| August | 28°C (82°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| September | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 34°C (93°F) |
| November | 28°C (82°F) | 34°C (93°F) |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$$ · Best for families, beach and luxury
Juhu
Juhu has a long beach where families gather in the evenings for pav bhaji and bhel puri, upscale beach hotels, the ISKCON temple and Prithvi Theatre. It is about 20–30 minutes from the airport and a good base for families and business travellers in the western suburbs.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Beach for evening walks; Good hotels
- Watch out
- Sea not suitable for swimming; An hour or more from South Mumbai sights
- Nearby
- Juhu Beach, Prithvi Theatre, ISKCON Juhu
Getting to the beaches
- Train — Suburban 'local' trains run from Churchgate and CSMT north through the city and are fast and cheap, but extremely crowded at rush hour.
- Metro — Metro Line 1 runs between Versova, Andheri and Ghatkopar, Lines 2A and 7 serve the western suburbs, and the underground Line 3 (Aqua Line) runs from Aarey via the airport and BKC towards South Mumbai.
- Ferry — Ferries leave the Gateway of India for Elephanta Island and catamarans for Mandwa near Alibaug, with reduced services in rough monsoon weather.
- Bus — BEST buses, including red double-deckers, cover the whole city cheaply, though traffic makes them slow.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in October–May. The busiest of those is December, so book early.
Beach safety
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. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Mumbai have beaches?
Yes: Juhu Beach, Girgaon Chowpatty, Versova Beach, Aksa Beach and Kihim and Varsoli, Alibaug.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Mumbai?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Mumbai?
Juhu Beach: A long sandy beach in the western suburbs, busiest at sunset with families and street-food stalls; not for swimming.