With mind-bending diversity, from sun-washed beaches to bustling markets and sky-high buildings, Mumbai is a culturally rich and fascinating city. As the largest city in India by population and the capital of India’s Bollywood film industry, you’ll never run out of things to do in Mumbai. Sifting through endless places to visit is daunting, so we’ve done the wishlist legwork for you with 15 Mumbai must-dos.
1. Watch the sunset from Marine Drive Mumbai
The quintessential Mumbai activity is to catch one of the city’s legendary golden sunsets. The place to be during golden hour is Marine Drive, a walkway that extends from Nariman Point, past legendary Chowpatty Beach (Girgaon Chowpatty), and ends at Malabar Hill. It’s Mumbai’s most popular promenade and a hotspot for sunset as it faces directly west.
Forget about visiting Chowpatty Beach for the beach itself — we don’t recommend kicking off your shoes or swimming in the toxic water — but it’s the best place to experience the lively atmosphere of Mumbai.
Every evening, families, couples, and friends come down to this palm-fringed walkway and 3.5km (2.1 mi) beach to enjoy the sun’s final bow as it dips over the horizon, while sharing plates of traditional street food from the throng of street food vendors.
Imagine the smell of spices, the sound of laughter, meat sizzling in the pan, and the golden sun dipping below the Arabian Sea’s horizon — what better way to end a day?
2. Capture a photo under the Gateway of India
If you want to capture your “I’ve been to Mumbai” photo, stand in front of the iconic Gateway of India, a grand arch built to commemorate the royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.
Designed by Scottish architect, George Wittet, in an Indo-Saracenic style, it took 10 years to build, finishing in 1924. As a symbolic gesture, the last of the British troops to leave India marched through the arch in 1948, signalling the end of British colonial rule. Today the Gateway is a popular gathering spot and great place to people-watch.
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3. Explore the Elephanta Caves on Elephant Island
Nestled in the heart of Mumbai Harbour is Elephanta Island, a rural island known for its cave temples filled with ancient rock carvings and historic shrines. Just an hour’s ferry ride from the Gateway of India, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features the most impressive temple carvings in the country.
There are five Hindu temples on the island and two Buddhist stupas, estimated to have been built between 450-750 AD. The main temple is aptly named Cave 1, or The Great Cave, noted for its 6m (19.68 feet) tall golden statue of the Hindu God, Sadhashiva. The statue features Shiva with three faces, representing him as the creator, destroyer, and preserver of the universe. His eyes are closed, symbolising eternal contemplation. This may well be the most serene place in Mumbai — if serenity can be found in such a busy place!
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4. Escape the chaos at Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Just 90km (56 mi) outside of Greater Mumbai is an area teeming with exotic plants, flora, and lush rainforest. Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a serene escape from the honking noises and shoulder bumping of the city centre and noted for its lofty ecosystem and unique wildlife.
Most people visiting the park enjoy the many butterfly and bird species that call this area home, but it’s also known as one of the few natural habitats in India for leopards. Take one of the park’s safaris for your chance to see these elusive animals in their natural home. Afterwards, visit the Kanheri Caves, a sacred Buddhist site known for its millennia-old rock-cut sculptures and rock paintings.
5. Check out Bollywood Film City
Mumbai is the capital of India’s glitzy film industry. Churning out 900 movies a year (yes, that’s more than Hollywood), there’s no guessing why Mumbai is known as ‘The City of Dreams’.
Bollywood tours are one of the most popular things to do in Mumbai, and the only way to visit Film City, home to famous movie studios and colourful film sets for dance sequences. To experience Bollywood without a tour, it’s possible to visit some iconic film sets around the city such as Juju Beach, and Dharavi, the famous residential area featured in Slumdog Millionaire. However, we suggest visiting Dharavi with a local guide as there’s a high risk of getting lost.
6. See the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the granddaddy of architectural monuments in Mumbai. This imposing building is noted for its exuberant architecture, seamlessly blending Victorian, Islamic, and Hindu styles.
With imposing spires, striking domes, and stained glass windows, it’s definitely worth stopping and appreciating for a minute or two. Be sure to check out the jungle-themed reliefs of peacocks, lions, and monkeys adorning the reservation office walls.
7. Visit the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple
Another sacred site in Mumbai to put high on your list is the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. Siddhivinayak means ‘Ganesha who grants your wish' in English, and it’s said the deity grants the wishes of its devotees.
A highlight is the striking idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, carved out of a single black stone and standing at the temple’s heart. On either side sits a statue of Riddhi and Siddhi, two Hindu goddesses representing sanctity, fulfilment, prosperity, and wealth. The temple is so popular that it’s now only possible to visit by booking online, so plan accordingly.
8. Admire the sacred Global Vipassana Pagoda
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is the largest meditation hall in the world. Famous for its huge golden dome measuring 29m (95.1 ft) high, it’s the world’s largest stone dome built without supporting pillars. The pagoda opened in 2009 and can hold 8,000 meditators at one time.
It’s free to enter the Global Vipassana Pagoda, but only meditators may enter the dome while visitors can see inside from the gallery. Visiting the pagoda during spiritual sermons is a sight to behold, with so many meditators in session at one time. Make sure to be respectful by turning off your phone and avoid chatting with fellow travellers.
9. See flamingos at Karave Flamingo Point
For an urban escape, head over to Navi, a planned city across the Thane Creek to the east of Mumbai. Navi feels much less chaotic than Mumbai and has a ‘smart city’ feel. Even with high-rise buildings and built-up walkways, it offers plenty of green spaces to explore — 199 gardens to be exact!
One of those green spaces is Karave Flamingo Point, a wetland to the south of Navi known for, you guessed it, flamingos. In the winter months, these pink beauties make their pit stop in Mumbai for their annual migration. Large flocks in the thousands take to the waters in January to March and stay until the monsoon season drives them out. Karave also faces west, making it a prime spot to catch a sunset.
10. Explore the Fort and Colaba precincts
Once the initial shell shock of Mumbai subsides, you’re likely ready to explore some of the diverse districts and neighbourhoods. Fort is perhaps the most historic part of the city, named after the defensive George Fort built by the British East India Company.
Today the precinct is known for its colonial-era buildings, such as Rajabai Clock Tower, a striking replica of London’s Big Ben, and the David Sassoon Library and Reading Room, built in a Victorian Neo-Gothic architectural style.
Be sure to step into the Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall, containing the original manuscript of the Divine Comedy by Dante. Next to the Fort is Colaba, Mumbai’s art district, home to major art galleries and museums.
Located at the end of Colaba Causeway, the district's notable shopping street, is the National Gallery of Modern Art and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Mumbai’s history museum). Around these two established institutions are several smaller, independent galleries worth exploring, such as the Jehangir Art Gallery and the Institute of Contemporary Indian Arts.
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11. See the Taj Mahal Palace of Mumbai
The Mumbai Taj is a 5-star hotel that’s another prime example of stunning Indo-Saracenic architecture in the city. It opened in 1903 as India’s first luxury hotel. Over the years, it has hosted many of the world’s elite, from Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to the royal family to Mick Jagger.
While a night at The Taj may not be in budget, you can head inside to admire the ornate detailing by visiting La Patisserie for a coffee, dining at one of their restaurants, or sipping a cocktail in the lobby overlooking the Gateway of India.
12. Experience Asia's largest open-air laundromat
If you need clean duds in Mumbai, they’re likely headed for Dhobi Ghat, the largest open-air, hand-powered washing machine in Asia. In fact, Dhobi Ghat means ‘washing place’ in Hindi.
Since its inception in 1890, more than 7,000 dhobis (washers) have beat the dirt out of clothes and linens in large, concrete troughs for 18-20 hours a day. Most of the clothes come from hotels around the city, and it’s estimated that 100,000 garments are washed here each day. The best viewpoint of Dhobi Ghat is from the bridge over the railway tracks of the nearby Mahalaxmi Railway Station.
13. Get lost in the labyrinth of bazaars
What trip to India would be complete without souvenir ornamental trinkets costing less than a loaf of bread? You can seemingly buy anything from the bazaars of Mumbai from handicrafts to furniture to antiques to smartphones.
The colourful Crawford Market is the most famous place to pick up fresh spices, tea, fruit, and veg. It was the last settlement of British Bombay and the city’s largest and oldest market. While mangos are best enjoyed fresh, you can find artisan items to take home at Mangaldas Market, known for silk and cloth merchandise, and Zaveri Bazaar, known for jewellery.
Chor Bazaar, translating to ‘thieves market’ is one of the largest (and loudest) markets in Mumbai that’s good for second-hand treasures. Don’t let its name put you off, it’s a tongue-in-cheek joke referring to how anything you lose in Mumbai will end up there. Colaba Causeway also has a series of small bazaars for finding souvenirs and bric-a-brac goodies.
14. Explore the Juhu district
The Juhu district is one of the wealthier neighbourhoods in Mumbai and most famous for Juhu Beach, a popular location for Bollywood sets. You can join in on casual cricket games with local people and watch the sunset.
Head over to the marble ISKON Temple to indulge in delicious vegetarian food or watch a cultural show at the Prithvi Theatre. But don’t think the fun stops when the sun goes down! Mumbai is the entertainment capital of India and Juhu boasts the most famous nightclubs in the city.
15. Get a taste of Mumbai food culture
Each region of India has its own staple dishes and favourites. In Mumbai, street food is king. Once a humble fishing village, Mumbai transformed into a thriving megapolis of cultures, from Muslim to Gujarati and Parsi to Maharashtrian influences. As such, its cuisine is a melting pot of different flavours and aromas from all over.
With a smorgasbord of street food on offer, it’s hard to know where to start let alone avoid the dreaded Delhi belly. We suggest Chowpatty Beach for an essential Mumbai experience by grabbing a plate of bhelpuri (crisp fried thin dough filled with rice, lentils, herbs, and chutney) or pav bhaji (spicy vegetable curry with a bread roll) while taking in the sunset.
Another great place to find street food is around the bazaars. Crawford Market and Zaveri Bazaar host some excellent street food vendors, and delicious desserts await on Mohammed Ali Road.
