Looking for the best things to do in Mumbai India? In this article, we will share the very best activities and places to see that we experienced during our trip to the City of Dreams. India. Featuring ancient caves, delicious local dishes, amazing architecture, beaches and more – every type of traveller will find something to love from the things to do in Mumbai India.

Mumbai was the first stop of our six-month trip to Asia; honestly, we weren’t sure what to expect. Initially, we anticipated a bit of culture shock and sensory overload, however, we were actually pleasantly surprised. Mumbai was actually the best introduction to India we could have wished for. Everybody was so friendly, we never felt hassled or ripped off. The streets also felt very safe to walk around and the architecture blew us away. 

India’s financial centre and largest city has a welcome mix of coastal views, markets, cultural sites and mouth-watering street food. That is why we believe it deserves a spot on your India itinerary. 

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Contents

• Where to stay
• Things to do
  • 1. Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
  • 2. Take a sunset stroll along Marine Drive
  • 3. Explore Mumbai’s markets
  • 4. Enjoy the street food
  • 5. Take a Bollywood tour
  • 6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
  • 7. Marvel at the stunning architecture
  • 8. Explore Elephanta Island
  • 9. Adventure into Sanjay Gandhi National Park
  • 10. Visit one of Mumbai’s beaches

Essential Travel Tools
Flights: Skyscanner
Transport: 12GoAsia
Accommodation: Booking.com
Tours: Viator/Klook
Car hire: Discover Cars

Where to stay in Mumbai

We stayed in Colaba in South Mumbai. Although an hour’s manic taxi ride from the airport, we felt we were more centrally located to the sights we wanted to see in Colaba. The tree-lined streets of Colaba are charming and provide ample shade on a hot day. 

Our hotel was Bed and Breakfast Colaba, a lovely hotel offering large rooms, private bathrooms, breakfast and most importantly, great WIFI and aircon. The staff are very friendly and helpful; we found this to be very reasonably priced compared to other options in the area. 

Map of the Best Things to Do in Mumbai

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Top 10 Things to Do in Mumbai India

The majority of things to do are in the South of Mumbai, and whilst there isn’t a huge amount of sightseeing to be done, we found Mumbai to be the perfect place to spend three days (check out our three-day itinerary here). Here’s our list of the best things to do in Mumbai:

1. Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace Hotel – Best things to do in Mumbai for Iconic Landmarks

Price: Free

On Colaba’s seaside promenade you will find the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. They are both beautiful pieces of architecture and provide excellent photo opportunities. 

The Gateway of India was constructed in the early 20th century the arch to commemorate the first British monarch to visit India, Kind George V. Post-independence, the last of the British troops passed through the monument to exit India.

The Taj Mahal Palace is a luxury, five-star hotel overlooking the Arabian sea and the Gateway of India. The intricacies of the building’s exterior draw in the crowds along with a chance to see where the tragic 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks took place. 

If budget allows, we strongly recommend booking an afternoon tea at the Taj Hotel for a chance to experience the excellent customer service and the grandeur of the building’s interior.

2. Marine Drive – Best Things to Do in Mumbai for Sunset

Price: Free

Marine Drive, otherwise known as the “Queen’s necklace”, is one of the most wonderful parts of the city. This 3km promenade curves along the coast of the Arabian Sea, presenting the perfect location to watch the sunset behind the city of Mumbai. 

Join the couples, families and groups of friends on the seawall to take in the view or walk the length of it to Girgaon Chowpatty to enjoy some street food on the beach. 

3. Explore Mumbai’s markets – Best things to do in Mumbai for Shopping

Price: Free

What better way to experience a place than to visit its markets? Our market recommendations are Colaba Causeway and Crawford Market. 

Traders line the street of Colaba Causeway offering a variety of goods such as shoes, books, electronics and clothes. We also spotted a man trying to sell his “hand-luggage sized drums” walking up and down the street a few times. Colaba Causeway is also home to Leopold’s Cafe, another Mumbai institution that serves great food. Other eateries to try include Cafe Mondegar, Olympia Coffee House and Think Juice. 

Another of Mumbai’s famous markets is Crawford Market. This bustling local market is situated in a Victorian Gothic building and sells a variety of products such as fruits and vegetables, spices and jewellery. 

4. Enjoy the street food

Price: Rs 20-120

Mumbai is famous for its street food, and wow does it have great street food! 

One of our favourite spots was at Girgaon Chowpatty Beach where traders occupy the top corner of the beach trying to flog their tasty delights. Highlights include pani puri, pav bhaji and bhel puri. There aren’t just saviour dishes on offer either. Plenty of stands are offering delicious drink concoctions and sweet treats too.

Aram Vada Pav was another peak on our street food adventures. Located just opposite the CSMT train station, this food stall is popular with locals trying to buy “Mumbai’s best Vada Pav” (deep-fried spiced mashed potato in a bread roll with chutneys). 

5. Take a Bollywood Tour 

Price: $40pp for 2 hours

Bollywood is the reason many tourists flock to Mumbai. With around 1,000 films produced by Bollywood a year, having the chance to witness the magic behind the craft is a must in Mumbai. Mumbai Film City Tours offers tourists an insight into how the films are made, visits to the popular filming locations and if you’re lucky, the chance to watch filming take place. 

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Price: Rs 1,500 for two adults + camera (£16)

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum) is a museum based in one of Mumbai’s most impressive buildings. Exhibitions include a Natural History section, a Himalayan art, and a Money and Jewellery exhibit. Our highlight was the Conservation Exhibition. Here, info boards explain the conservation process of restoring different pieces of art and sculptures that are centuries old.

7. Marvel at the stunning architecture

Price: Free

Mumbai is full of incredible buildings. Everywhere you look there are beautiful pieces of architecture but some of our favourites were; Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the University of Mumbai and the Rajabai Clock Tower. 

CSMT, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is a grand train station in the Fort area of the city. The building perfectly blends the gothic style with traditional Indian influences, drawing crowds to its glass viewing platform to take the ultimate photo. The station is also one of the three UNESCO World Heritage sites the city has to offer. 

The Rajabai Clock Tower is part of the University campus in the Fort area and was modelled on London’s Big Ben. Both the University and the Clock Tower are not yet open to the public for tours but can still be appreciated from outside, especially at night when they are lit up. 

8. Explore Elephanta Island

Price: Rs 180 round trip + Rs 600 cave entry (£8.50pp)

Elephanta Island is just an hour’s ferry ride away from Mumbai and provides a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle. The ferry departs from the Gateway of India from 9 am-5 pm Tuesday-Sunday (the island is closed on Mondays). 

The island is the perfect half-day excursion from the city with five mid-5th to 6th century AD caves to explore that depict Hindu stories about Shiva. Cave 1 is the best preserved with intricate carvings, big stone columns supporting the ceiling and a shine guarded by statues. 

9. Adventure into Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Price: Rs 64 (£0.70pp)

Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is a large protected forest area north of Mumbai. The park is known as the lung of Mumbai as the lush greenery helps filter the city’s air pollution whilst the park’s two largest lakes provide a main water source to the city.

Inside the park, there are walking trails to explore as well as a boating lake, a lion and tiger safari, and ancient caves.

10. Visit one of Mumbai’s beaches

Price: Free

Being a coastal city, Mumbai has numerous beaches on offer to enjoy. Some of the more popular beaches include Girgaon Chowpatty Beach and Juhu Beach. 

Chowpatty Beach can be found at the end of the famous Marine Drive. Here locals and tourists gather to watch the sunset behind the cityscape and into the Arabian Sea whilst enjoying food from the local street food vendors. 

Further north, you will find Juhu Beach. This is the longest beach in Mumbai and one of the most visited beaches in India. Juhu Beach is often used as a Bollywood film location and is the ideal place to go celebrity spotting. Stroll along the shoreline, sunbathe on the sand or tuck into lip-smacking street food here. 

Author’s note (not including the slums on our best things to do in Mumbai):

We decided we didn’t want to tour Mumbai’s slums. Whilst we have read that there are tours of the slums that are educational and aim to provide insight to tourists and income to residents, we felt it would be unethical to partake in this experience ourselves. The idea gave us “human zoo” vibes. 

That being said, everybody is able to make their own choices and the slums we have heard be recommended are Dhobi Ghat (the laundry slum) and Dharavi (as featured in Slumdog Millionaire). 

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Thanks for reading our recommendations of things to do in Mumbai. To see how we spent our time there, read our itinerary here. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave them in the comments box below 🙂