Getting around · Mumbai · India
Getting around Mumbai
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pradeep717, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mumbai's suburban railway is the backbone of the city, carrying millions of passengers a day on its Western, Central and Harbour lines. A growing metro network, black-and-yellow taxis, auto-rickshaws in the suburbs and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, and the coastal road and sea link speed up north–south road trips. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- BOM, NMI
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Train
Suburban 'local' trains run from Churchgate and CSMT north through the city and are fast and cheap, but extremely crowded at rush hour. First-class and women-only carriages are less crowded.
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.
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.
Taxi
Metered black-and-yellow taxis operate across the city, including South Mumbai, and are cheap for short trips.
Check the meter is reset at the start, and ask for the fare card if the meter reading needs converting.
Tuk-tuk
Auto-rickshaws run on meters in the suburbs north of Bandra and Sion but are not allowed in South Mumbai.
Ride-hailing
Uber, Ola and Rapido operate across the city and are convenient for airport trips and evenings.
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.
From the airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is in the northern suburbs; Terminal 2 handles international and most domestic flights. Colaba is about 25 km away, taking 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by taxi or ride-hailing depending on traffic, and the coastal road and sea link can speed the trip. The newer Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) lies across the harbour to the east, reached by road via the Atal Setu sea bridge.
Do you need a car?
No. Trains, the metro, taxis and ride-hailing cover the city, and parking is very difficult. Hire a car with driver for day trips to Lonavala, Matheran or Nashik.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lonavala and Karla Caves | About 2–2.5 hours by road or train | Car via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, or train from CSMT |
| Alibaug | About 1.5 hours by ferry and bus | Catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, then bus or taxi |
| Matheran | About 2.5–3 hours by road and toy train | Train or car to Neral, then the Matheran toy train or a shared taxi |
| Nashik vineyards | About 4 hours by road | Car with driver |
| Ellora and Ajanta Caves | About 1 hour by air or 6–7 hours by train | Flight or train to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Mumbai?
No. Trains, the metro, taxis and ride-hailing cover the city, and parking is very difficult. Hire a car with driver for day trips to Lonavala, Matheran or Nashik.
+How do you get from the airport to Mumbai?
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is in the northern suburbs; Terminal 2 handles international and most domestic flights. Colaba is about 25 km away, taking 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by taxi or ride-hailing depending on traffic, and the coastal road and sea link can speed the trip. The newer Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) lies across the harbour to the east, reached by road via the Atal Setu sea bridge.
+What is the best way to get around Mumbai?
Train: Suburban 'local' trains run from Churchgate and CSMT north through the city and are fast and cheap, but extremely crowded at rush hour. First-class and women-only carriages are less crowded.