Planning a trip to Mumbai can be overwhelming. There is so much to see and do. But we have you covered. Here is a variety of entertainment, fun, fashion, and food that Mumbai has to offer.
Where do you go and what do you see? What are the best places to eat, and where do you get the best street food? Where do you go if you want to shop? Are you wondering what the nightlife is like, what shows to catch, and hidden gems to discover?
Well, here’s a list of the best things to do in Mumbai to help you plan your holiday.
Mumbai’s Top Attractions
Mumbai’s top places to visit
Mumbai is a metropolitan city, the largest in India, and is a veritable hub for finance, trade, culture, and history. It was originally under the Colonial rule of the Portuguese. Mumbai was also called Bombay. It was gifted to the British Crown as a part of the dowry of Queen Catherine of Braganza. So you will find traces of Portuguese colonization if you know where to look.
But first, here’s some of the top things to do in Mumbai, or rather the top things to see.
The Gateway of India
Built-in the 20th century, the arch monument, was a symbolic ceremonial entrance to India. Erected in 1911 to commemorate the landing of King George V at Apollo Bunfer on his first visit with his Queen. However, it was not until 1924 that the archway was finally completed.
The archway is a whopping 26 meters high and faces the vast Arabian Sea.
Don’t forget to get a picture under this beautiful archway, on your visit.
Marine drive
What better way to catch the breathtaking sunset than to walk along the beautiful 3.6 kilometer stretch of the coast? This Promenade, along the south coast of the city, offers a lovely view of Mumbai’s skyline.
There is a cycle-friendly track for those of you who wish to pedal along the breezy coast. Alternatively, you can choose to take a nice long walk. Capture the city as it moves by, and enjoy a nice hot cup of tea and snacks, right on the beachfront.
Also, I’d suggest you visit Marine Drive at night when the entire city is lit up. Don’t worry, you’ll find that it’s completely safe as the coast is guarded at all times. While you’re there, don’t forget to pop over to Worli Sea Face, an iconic stretch of rocky terrain that has been featured in more than one film that is based in Mumbai.
Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus
You might find it odd that the Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus, earlier known as the Victoria Terminus, is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site. Why is a functioning train station a UNESCO World Heritage site, you might ask.
Built-in 1878 and completed in 1888, this structure represents everything that is Victorian, Gothic, and Revival architecture, with a blend of Indian traditional architecture, all in one superb design.
If you’re a tourist, or you’ve landed in Mumbai at the station, pause a minute and take in the turrets, the domes, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan. The terminus, the first station of its kind to be built in the subcontinent of India, became a representation of trade, commercialism, and economic wealth of the nation.
It was a symbol of progress that India embraced.
Mumbai film city
Mumbai is definitely the Los Angeles of India, the hub for the Bollywood film industry. It is the film city of India, after all. So if you’re a Bollywood enthusiast, then a tour of Mumbai’s Film City Studio, where all major shootings happen, should definitely be scratched into your itinerary.
It has a series of sets available for you to tour. There is a prison, lake, temple, court, villages, mountains, fountains, gardens, waterfalls, picnic spots. It’s a whole world out there, and you can book a tour, and guide, to take you through it all.
Dhobi Ghat
Dhobi Ghat is an open air laundromat in Mumbai. Why, you may ask, is a laundromat on the list of best things to do in Mumbai.
Well, because this hundred and forty year old laundromat is nothing short of a marvel.
Can you imagine the sight of rows and rows of washing stones, with dhobis- washers who manually wash clothes, doing the city’s laundry? Nearly a million pieces of clothing finds its way to this laundromat, sent in from homes, hotels, hospitals and restaurants.
You are strongly- strongly- advised to book a guided tour in advance should you wish to visit this place.
Visit Ellora Caves
You can’t visit Mumbai and not pop down to see the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, a short drive from the city. This UNESCO world heritage site is a group of thirty-four caves, monasteries, and temples that extends over two kilometers, dug side by side in the wall of a high, basalt cliff.
There is something mysterious and magical about these caves and how they were built. It is supposedly a Herculean task, to carve these structures in the time they did. So strong and firm they were that they withstood repeated ambushes and attempts of vandalism and destruction inflicted by the Mughal Aurangazeb, with very little damage.
Make sure you book a guided tour, because the history and culture that these caves possess, the stories that they hold deserve the best possible narration. Below are tickets and tours to other caves in Mumbai as well.
Mumbai street food
Mumbai has a number of street markets where you’ll find street food, so tasty and so many varieties of them, that you’ll probably go back home in a food coma. Chaat like vada pav, gol gappa, ragda pattice and papdi, savory dishes like chole bature, baida roti and kulchas, and the sweet-oh, don’t get me started on the sweets.
If you don’t find some dish to eat, in Mumbai, it probably means that you’ll not find it anywhere else.
Whether you’re cooling off with an old-fashioned iced-gola, or decide to experiment and try a Nitrogen biscuit from the Ice Cream Factory in Mulund, Mumbai is every foodie’s dream come true, a veritable wonderland of savory and sweet.
You don’t need a map to find the best spots around town. Ask any local, and they’ll be more than happy to point you in the direction of the best haunts; they’ll probably take you there themselves and grab something to eat with you.
Mumbai Shopping
Speaking of streets, Mumbai’s street markets are perhaps the best place in the country to shop for…everything, really. Anything you need, Mumbai’s never-ending, winding streets, filled with rows and rows of stalls and shops, have you covered.
If you’ve got some extra time, and are wondering what to do in Mumbai after you’ve seen the sights, then shopping is the answer. Shopping is the answer to everything.
The best places to hit the street-markets are Fashion Street where you will find, yup, you guessed it, clothes, shoes, accessories, and cloth for all occasions, and at all prices. Bandra Street Market is a bustling outdoor bazaar, with vendors, pockets of flea markets, and a bevy of food stalls for you to spend your day cashing in on fabulous bargains.
Linking Road not only has street markets, but you’ll also find plenty of high-end branded stores and global chains to shop at. The southern part of the city is definitely the shopping hub, but there are some markets, like the Kalamboli Market up north in Navi Mumbai, for you to visit.
Hidden Gems
You don’t need me to tell you that Mumbai has a living, thriving, pulsing nightlife and that there are dozens of exclusive clubs, bars, and restaurants that you can visit. But, while they definitely add to the charm, I believe that exploring hidden gems that the city has to offer would be one of the best things to do in Mumbai.
Pandavkada falls
The Pandavkada falls is located in Kharghar, a suburb in Navi Mumbai that is about a hundred and seven feet high, plunge-waterfall. This is a great way to get away from the bustle of the city and spend a few hours enjoying Maharashtra’s beautiful landscape.
But, when you’re planning your trip, and booking your journey down there, keep in mind that the falls are closed in July as Mumbai has a rather heavy rainy season.
Sewri Mangrove park
This park contains fifteen acres of mangroves, and is a protected area, by the Bombay Port Trust, to preserve the ecological balance of the coast and the Island full of mangroves. Mangroves like this one are hard to come by, which makes this beautiful spot a must-visit location.
What is particularly quirky is the startling number of flamingoes you’ll find here, along with little egrets and gulls
