Free things to do · Mumbai · India
13 free things to do in Mumbai
Mumbai without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Darwininan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Mumbai without paying an entry fee: Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Marine Drive and Haji Ali Dargah are all free. Hotels are pricier than elsewhere in India; book early for December and January.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 13
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- July
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Colaba
1.Gateway of India
Come early in the morning for photographs without crowds, or at dusk when the arch and the Taj are lit up.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- After dark
Architecture · Fort and Kala Ghoda
2.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Photograph the facade from the crossing opposite, and return after dark when the building is illuminated.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- After dark
Waterfront · Churchgate and Marine Drive
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
Religious site · Lower Parel and Worli
4.Haji Ali Dargah
Check the tide times and go at low tide, dress modestly and cover your head inside the shrine.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
Religious site · Prabhadevi
5.Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
Avoid Tuesdays and festival days, leave bags and phones as directed, and remove shoes before entering.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Fort and Kala Ghoda
6.Kala Ghoda Art District
Visit during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, usually in early February, for free street installations and performances.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Food
Historic site · Malabar Hill
7.Banganga Tank
Visit in the early morning when ducks paddle across the water and residents perform rituals on the steps.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
Experience · Mahalaxmi
8.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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
Market · Fort and Kala Ghoda
9.Crawford Market
Go in the morning for the fruit market, then walk to the nearby lanes towards Mohammed Ali Road for street food.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Waterfront · Bandra West
10.Bandra Bandstand and Bandra Fort
Come at sunset when the Sea Link is lit up, then walk to Bandra's cafés and bars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
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Beach · Juhu
11.Juhu Beach
Come for sunset and street food rather than swimming; the sea is polluted and currents can be strong.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Food
- After dark
Beach · Churchgate and Marine Drive
12.Girgaon Chowpatty
Visit in the evening after a sunset walk on Marine Drive and eat at a busy stall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
Religious site · Gorai
13.Global Vipassana Pagoda
Combine it with a short guided meditation offered for visitors, and allow travel time to Gorai in the far north-west.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Colaba | Gateway of India | 30 minutes |
| Fort and Kala Ghoda | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Kala Ghoda Art District and Crawford Market | 45 minutes + 2–3 hours + 1 hour |
| Churchgate and Marine Drive | Marine Drive and Girgaon Chowpatty | 1–2 hours + 1 hour |
| Lower Parel and Worli | Haji Ali Dargah | 1 hour |
| Prabhadevi | Shree Siddhivinayak Temple | 1 hour |
| Malabar Hill | Banganga Tank | 45 minutes |
| Mahalaxmi | Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat | 30 minutes |
| Bandra West | Bandra Bandstand and Bandra Fort | 1 hour |
| Juhu | Juhu Beach | 1–2 hours |
| Gorai | Global Vipassana Pagoda | 1.5 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Elephanta Island
Elephanta Caves
Take an early ferry to beat the heat and the crowds, and carry water; ferries can be suspended in rough monsoon weather.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
Museum · Fort and Kala Ghoda
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Rent the audio guide and focus on the sculpture gallery and the miniature paintings on the upper floor.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Gamdevi
Mani Bhavan
Combine it with Banganga Tank and the Malabar Hill viewpoints on the same morning.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Borivali
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.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
Museum · Byculla
Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum and Byculla Zoo
Visit the museum first, then let children see the penguins in the air-conditioned enclosure in the zoo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
More ways to save
- Hotels are pricier than elsewhere in India; book early for December and January.
- Use local trains outside rush hour and the metro for long north–south trips instead of taxis.
- Eat street food and at Irani cafés and Udupi restaurants for excellent, low-cost meals.
- Many highlights, including Marine Drive, the Gateway, Kala Ghoda's galleries and Banganga, are free.
- Stay in Bandra or Andheri for better-value rooms if your plans centre on the suburbs.
- Hotel rates drop in the monsoon months if you can tolerate the rain.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mumbai expensive to visit?
Mumbai is moderately priced for most visitors, but 13 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Mumbai?
Gateway of India: Come early in the morning for photographs without crowds, or at dusk when the arch and the Taj are lit up.