Day trips · Mumbai · India
5 best day trips from Mumbai
Where to go when you want a day away from Mumbai, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Mumbai is Lonavala and Karla Caves (About 2–2.5 hours by road or train). The closest option is Alibaug, about 30 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Alibaug (30 km)
- Most popular
- Lonavala and Karla Caves
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonavala and Karla Caves | 85 km | About 2–2.5 hours by road or train | Car via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, or train from CSMT | Families, Couples |
| Alibaug | 30 km | About 1.5 hours by ferry and bus | Catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, then bus or taxi | Families, Beach, Couples |
| Matheran | 90 km | About 2.5–3 hours by road and toy train | Train or car to Neral, then the Matheran toy train or a shared taxi | Families, Quiet stays, Couples |
| Nashik vineyards | 170 km | About 4 hours by road | Car with driver | Couples, Food lovers |
| Ellora and Ajanta Caves | 350 km | About 1 hour by air or 6–7 hours by train | Flight or train to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) | Culture, First-timers |
The day trips
85 km · About 2–2.5 hours by road or train
1.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. The Karla Caves nearby include a great Buddhist chaitya hall from around the 1st century BCE.
- Getting there
- Car via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, or train from CSMT
- Best for
- Families, Couples
30 km · About 1.5 hours by ferry and bus
2.Alibaug
A coastal town across the harbour with beaches such as Kihim and Varsoli, weekend villas and Kolaba Fort, reachable on foot across the sand at low tide.
- Getting there
- Catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, then bus or taxi
- Best for
- Families, Beach, Couples
90 km · About 2.5–3 hours by road and toy train
3.Matheran
A car-free hill station on a Western Ghats plateau, reached by a narrow-gauge toy train from Neral that opened in 1907. Visitors walk or ride horses between forest viewpoints such as Panorama Point and Louisa Point.
- Getting there
- Train or car to Neral, then the Matheran toy train or a shared taxi
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays, Couples
170 km · About 4 hours by road
4.Nashik vineyards
India's main wine region, with wineries such as Sula Vineyards offering tours, tastings and restaurants among the vines. The harvest season usually runs from January to March.
- Getting there
- Car with driver
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers
350 km · About 1 hour by air or 6–7 hours by train
5.Ellora and Ajanta Caves
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, including Ellora's monolithic Kailasa temple and Ajanta's ancient Buddhist murals. Allow at least two nights.
- Getting there
- Flight or train to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Travel outside 8–11am and 5–9pm peaks, buy tickets in the official Indian Railways ticketing app or at station counters, and never board or alight from a moving train.
- BEST buses, including red double-deckers, cover the whole city cheaply, though traffic makes them slow.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Mumbai?
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.
+How long does it take to get from Mumbai 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.
+How long does it take to get from Mumbai to Alibaug?
About 1.5 hours by ferry and bus — Catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, then bus or taxi, about 30 km.