Mumbai
Visited in October 1994
At a glance
- Country
- India
- Region
- Mumbai City district
- Population
- 15.4 million
- Best time to go
- November to February
- Main airport
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM)
- Coordinates
- 19.06°N, 72.88°E
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Overview
Mumbai is India's financial capital and the home of Bollywood, a city of ambition packed onto a narrow peninsula in the Arabian Sea. In the south, Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings line the streets; further north lie the suburbs of Bandra and Juhu.
It moves fast and works hard, but it also knows how to stop and watch the sunset. Join the crowds on Marine Drive in the evening and you'll feel the city's pulse.
Things to see
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Photo: A.Savin, FAL Gateway of India
The grand basalt arch on the Colaba waterfront, built to mark the visit of George V in 1911.
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Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
A spectacular Victorian Gothic railway station and UNESCO World Heritage Site, still busy with commuters.
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Photo: Christian Haugen, CC BY 2.0 Elephanta Caves
Rock-cut temples to Shiva on an island in the harbour, reached by a ferry from the Gateway.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Anoop Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0 CSMVS Museum
The city's main museum, in a domed Indo-Saracenic building, with sculpture, miniatures and textiles.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: A.Savin, FAL Haji Ali Dargah
A white mosque and shrine on an islet, reached by a causeway that floods at high tide.
Things to do
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Photo: Rutvi Mistry, CC BY-SA 4.0 Street food
Try vada pav, pav bhaji and bhel puri at stalls and beachfront stands across the city.
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Photo: A.Savin, FAL Sunset on Marine Drive
Walk the curving seafront promenade as the lights come on, ending with a snack at Girgaon Chowpatty.
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Photo: Navin Thakur, CC BY 2.0 Explore Bandra
Street art, old Portuguese-era villas, cafés and the seafront promenade at Bandstand.
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dhobi Ghat
See the city's vast open-air laundry from the bridge at Mahalaxmi station.
Where to stay
Colaba
The classic base for first-timers, close to the Gateway and the main sights.
Hotels in ColabaFort
Business hotels among heritage buildings and good restaurants, near the stations.
Hotels in FortBandra
Trendy and residential, with the best bars and cafés in the suburbs.
Hotels in BandraJuhu
Beach hotels handy for the airport, though far from the historic south.
Hotels in Juhu
Getting around
Suburban trains are fast but crushingly busy at rush hour. Use app taxis or the black-and-yellow cabs for most journeys, and the expanding Metro where it helps.
A taxi from the airport to Colaba takes 45 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic.
When to go
November to February is warm and dry. The monsoon from June to September brings torrential rain, and Ganesh Chaturthi fills the streets in August or September.
Plan your trip to Mumbai
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.