Planning a trip to Mumbai? Read on for my guide to the city—from iconic landmarks and incredible food to where to stay and how I’d personally spend a few days exploring Mumbai.

This page may contain affiliate links. Check out my Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more information.

Mumbai Travel Guide & 3-Day Itinerary: Where to Stay, What to Do & How to Plan Your Trip

Mumbai is one of the most fascinating cities I’ve ever visited. It’s lively, historic, colourful and somehow always moving.

Between the colonial architecture of South Mumbai, the night bustle of Colaba, the sea breeze along Marine Drive and the endless street corners and neighbourhoods dripping in incredible food, Mumbai leaves a strong impression no matter how long you stay.

At the same time, Mumbai can feel overwhelming when you first start planning a trip. The city is enormous, traffic can be intense, and it isn’t always obvious where to base yourself or how to structure your days.

After exploring the city myself—from historic landmarks and museums to neighbourhood walks and local restaurants—this guide brings together the places that are genuinely worth your time.

In this guide I’ll cover:

• Where to stay in Mumbai (best areas + hotel recommendations)
• The Mumbai tours that are genuinely worth booking
• A simple 2–3 day itinerary to help structure your visit
• The places and landmarks you shouldn’t miss
• Restaurants and neighbourhoods that give you a feel for the city

Shall we?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel blogger and digital creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.

Mumbai Travel Map: Plan Your Trip with 70+ Curated Places

Planning a trip to Mumbai?

To make planning easier, I’ve created a Mumbai Travel Map with 70+ carefully curated places already pinned across the city, so you can easily navigate your way around Mumbai while you’re there. From historic landmarks and viewpoints to cafés, restaurants, neighbourhood walks and hidden gems.

Inside the map you’ll find:

✔ 70+ curated places across Mumbai
✔ organised by category (landmarks, sights, restaurants, cafés, viewpoints, markets)
✔ pre-saved in Google Maps
✔ easy to use on your phone while travelling
✔ hidden gems not included in this blog

🇮🇳 Practical Tips for Visiting Mumbai

• Travel insurance: It’s always a good idea to have travel medical insurance when visiting India. I personally use SafetyWing, which offers flexible coverage designed for international travellers.

• Getting around: Uber works very well in Mumbai and is usually the easiest way to get around. If taking a taxi or rickshaw, check the Uber price first so you know roughly what the journey should cost and agree on the price before getting in.

• Currency: The local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). ATMs are easy to find at the airport, and I suggest checking cash before you take the Uber to your hotel. Cards are widely accepted in restaurants, but markets and smaller shops often prefer or only accept cash.

• Traffic & noise: Mumbai traffic can feel chaotic, and there’s a lot of honking, which is simply part of how traffic flows in the city.

• Dress: Lightweight clothing works best in the heat, but dressing fairly modestly is generally appreciated, especially in temples and residential areas.

• Photos: In tourist areas like the Gateway of India, some people may ask to take a photo with you if you’re a Westerner. Feel free to say yes—or politely decline.

• Markets & bargaining: In markets like Linking Road or Crawford Market, prices are rarely fixed. Start lower than the first price offered and meet somewhere in the middle.

• Street food: Mumbai is famous for its street snacks. If you try them, look for busy stalls with lots of locals, which usually means fresher food.

• Water: Avoid drinking tap water—stick to bottled or filtered water always.

• Heat: Mumbai is hot and humid for much of the year, so lightweight clothing, sunscreen and plenty of water will make exploring more comfortable.

• SIM cards: Mobile data in India is inexpensive and needed for getting around, calling Ubers and navigating the city. I personally recommend Airalo, it’s very quick to set-up and you can have data as soon as you land.

• Pace for your trip: Mumbai is an intense, fast-moving city. If you’re someone who gets easily overstimulated, it helps to plan slower mornings or breaks during the day.

Which Area of Mumbai Should You Stay In? Best Area for First-Time Visitors

If you’re visiting Mumbai for the first time, choosing the right neighbourhood makes exploring the city much easier.

Based on my experience, here are the three areas I recommend to base yourself during your stay.

• South Mumbai — best for first-time visitors and historic landmarks (like the Gateway of India)
• Bandra — great for restaurants, cafés and nightlife
• Juhu — a calmer base with beach views and larger hotels, and close to Bandra

Most travellers visiting the city for the first time will find South Mumbai the most convenient base, as many of the city’s major sights are located here, but I would also consider switching areas at the end of your trip like we did to get a taste for two neighbourhoods during your stay.

Best Hotels in Mumbai

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (£££)

Few hotels are as closely tied to Mumbai’s story as The Taj Mahal Palace. Which made it the perfect and most iconic base for our trip.

Opened in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata, the hotel quickly became one of the most important landmarks in the city and has welcomed world leaders, artists, and travellers for more than a century.

What makes the Taj special isn’t just the history—it’s also the setting. The hotel sits directly beside the Gateway of India, with many rooms looking out across the Arabian Sea.

Even if you’re not staying here, it’s worth visiting for a drink at their Harbour Bar or meal just to experience one of Mumbai’s most iconic buildings.

Soho House Mumbai (£££)

To trade your historic stay for a modern one, I suggest splitting your Mumbai hotels between the South and the North.

Located along Mumbai’s Northern Juhu Beach, Soho House Mumbai offers a stylish, relaxed stay with one of the best rooftop pools in the city, and makes it easy to reach the Bandra neighbourhood too while you’re here.

The rooms are beautifully designed, and some even come with ocean views. Plus, you don’t need to be a Soho House member to stay.

If you’re looking for somewhere chic and comfortable with excellent views of the Arabian Sea, it’s a lovely option. And where we based ourselves for the second half of our trip.

Tours in Mumbai Worth Booking

Mumbai is a city you can explore independently, but a good local tour can sometimes reveal parts of the city you might otherwise miss, and is a great way to support local tourism.

Here’s a few lovely ones I recommend:

🥘 Mumbai Street Food Tour: Mumbai’s street food scene is legendary. While here, I suggest taking a street food tour with a local to get introduced to favourites like vada pav, pani puri and pav bhaji while also giving you insight into how street food fits into daily life in the city. Here’s the one I suggest.

🇮🇳 Dharavi Slum Walking Tour: The Dhavari Slum Walking Tour is run by locals (many of whom live in Dharavi) and a chance to get real insight into what daily life is like for the people here. Here’s the one to book.

🐘 Elephanta Caves Tour: Located on an island in Mumbai Harbour, the Elephanta Caves are rock-cut temples dating back to around the 6th century. I highly recommend taking a Elephanta Caves Tour if you have the time. This tour will take you straight from your hotel to the ferry with a local guide as well as drop-off. Here’s the one I suggest.

How to Spend 2–3 Days in Mumbai: My Itinerary

I was in Mumbai for just a few days, so this guide follows the same route I took exploring the city for the first time. Three days is really just a first introduction to Mumbai, but it’s enough time to experience some of its historic landmarks, neighbourhood cafés, markets and seaside promenades.

Day 1 — Exploring Historic South Mumbai

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is a grand basalt arch built in 1924 overlooking the Arabian Sea, and one of Mumbai’s most recognisable landmarks. While here you can watch ferries leave for Elephanta Island, and the waterfront buzzing throughout the day with locals and visitors alike.

Practical tips:

• Cost: Free
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber to “Gateway of India, Colaba” (or if you’re staying at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel it’s just outside the main entrance)
• How long to spend: 15–20 minutes
• What to see: Gateway arch, harbour views, ferries departing for Elephanta Island

National Gallery of Modern Art

Just a short walk away, the National Gallery of Modern Art sits inside a beautiful heritage building and offered us a quieter culture-filled pause from the busy streets outside.

Practical tips

• Cost: Around ₹20–₹500 depending on nationality (many museums understandably charge more if you’re a foreigner vs living on local wages)
• How to get there: 10–15 minute walk from the Gateway of India
• How long to spend: Around 1 hour

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Often shortened to CST, this extraordinary railway station is one of the most impressive buildings in Mumbai. Built during the British Raj, the station blends Victorian Gothic architecture with Indian design and remains one of the busiest railway stations in the country today.

Most of the trains here are regional, so you only visit to take a look and a picture or so, but still very worth it.

Practical tips

• Cost: Free to see the exterior
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber from Colaba (about 10–15 minutes)
• How long to spend: 10-20 minutes

Colaba Cafés & Restaurants

South Mumbai is also home to several historic cafés and long-standing restaurants—with food so delicious, I’m still dreaming about it back in London (especially Trishna).

A few worth stopping by include:

• Leopold Café — a famous Colaba institution that has been part of the city since the 19th century
• Café Mondegar — known for its colourful Mario Miranda murals and relaxed café atmosphere (you might even catch a cricket game on while you’re here)
• Trishna — one of Mumbai’s most beloved seafood restaurants, particularly known for its butter garlic crab (their prawn koliwada is divine)
• Bagdadi Restaurant — a simple local favourite serving luscious dishes like chicken fry, mutton masala and biryani

Sunset at Marine Drive

To end the evening, I recommend taking a sunset walk along Marine Drive, a sweeping seaside promenade that curves along Mumbai’s coastline.

It’s one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset, and fills with locals in the evenings gathering along the coast to sit, talk and watch the Arabian Sea. Absolutely a trip highlight.

Practical tips:

• Cost: Free
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber from Colaba (10–15 minutes)
• How long to spend: 30–60 minutes
• What to do: Walk the promenade or sit along the sea wall

At the northern end of Marine Drive, you’ll find Girgaum Chowpatty Beach, one of Mumbai’s most famous city beaches. If you’re curious to try some local snacks, this is a good place to look for stalls selling bhel puri (a crunchy mix of puffed rice, chutneys and vegetables), pani puri (crisp hollow shells filled with spiced water, potato and chickpeas), and pav bhaji (a buttery bread roll served with a rich vegetable curry)—all classic Mumbai favourites.

Day 2 — Exploring Mumbai Culture & Neighbourhoods

Mani Bhavan

Mani Bhavan was Mahatma Gandhi’s residence in Mumbai during key years of India’s independence movement. Today the building serves as a small museum dedicated to his life and work.

Although it’s small, it’s a lovely place to walk around and learn more about the history of Gandhi and India’s journey to independence.

Practical tips

• Cost: Free (donations welcome)
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber to “Mani Bhavan, Gamdevi”
• How long to spend: 45–60 minutes

Around a 10-15 taxi ride from here, you can also have a peek at Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, for an interesting glimpse into the city’s daily life.

Chor Bazaar & Crawford Market

Mumbai’s market scene is incredible, and one of the most interesting is Chor Bazaar, known for antiques, vintage objects and unusual collectibles.

Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s a fascinating place to wander and an 8-minute drive from Mani Bhavan.

A close taxi away you can also visit Crawford Market, one of Mumbai’s oldest markets selling fruit, spices, flowers and household goods in a beautiful 19th century colonial building.

Explore Bandra

In the afternoon, head north to Bandra, one of Mumbai’s most creative neighbourhoods and the abode of many Bollywood stars.

You’ll find cafés, street art, boutique shops and seaside promenades here, making it a lovely place to wander for a few hours and grab dinner (I recommend Royal Carriage Bandra for its unique setting or Benne – Heritage Bangalore Dosa for their sinful dosas).

Day 3 — Mumbai Markets & Coastal Views

Malabar Hill Elevated Nature Trail

New to Mumbai—the Malabar Hill Nature Trail is an elevated forest walkway offering sweeping views across the Arabian Sea.

It was one of my favourite things to do whilst in the city and given the bustle of the historic area—a lovely contrast to see a quieter side of Mumbai.

Practical tips

• Cost: ₹25 for Indian citizens and ₹100 for foreign tourists (cash-only)
• How long to spend: 30–45 minutes
• What to see: Coastal views and forested paths

Linking Road Market

Post nature-exploring, you can dip into shopping at one of Mumbai’s best-known shopping streets, Linking Road Market.

I actually had some shopping to do here for an Indian wedding, and it was perfect. The street is lined with stalls selling clothes, shoes and accessories, you can easily spend an hour or two just browsing.

Prices aren’t fixed, so bargaining is absolutely part of the experience. A good rule of thumb is to start around half of the first price offered and meet somewhere in the middle. It also helps to quickly check prices for similar items at nearby stalls, so you get a sense of what things usually cost before agreeing on a price.

Sunset at Juhu Beach

A lovely finish to your time in Mumbai is along Juhu Beach, one of the city’s most popular stretches of sand and a great place to watch a last sunset in Mumbai.

You’ll often see vendors selling fresh coconuts along the beach (around 50 rupees).

If you’re staying in this part of the city, Soho House Mumbai makes a lovely base, in fact—our room had a view right onto the Juhu Beach.

Practical tips

• Cost: Free
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber to “Juhu Beach”
• How long to spend: 45–60 minutes

Foods to Try in Mumbai

• Pav Bhaji (spiced vegetable curry served with buttery bread rolls)
One of Mumbai’s most famous street foods.

• Vada Pav (a spiced potato fritter served in a bread roll with chutneys)
Often called Mumbai’s street-food burger.

• Bhel Puri (puffed rice mixed with chutneys, vegetables and spices)
A crunchy snack often eaten at beaches like Chowpatty.

• Pani Puri (crisp shells filled with spiced water, potato and chickpeas)
A fun street snack usually eaten standing at a stall.

• Butter Garlic Crab (crab cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce)
One of the city’s most famous seafood dishes.

• Biryani (spiced rice cooked with meat or vegetables)
A classic dish you’ll find in many local restaurants.

• Bombay Sandwich (a layered sandwich filled with vegetables, chutney and spices)
A surprisingly delicious street snack you’ll see at stalls across the city.

• Falooda (a sweet dessert drink with rose syrup, vermicelli and ice cream)
A popular dessert in many Mumbai cafés.

Explore Mumbai with My Travel Map

Planning a trip to Mumbai?

To make planning easier, I’ve created a Mumbai Travel Map with 70+ carefully curated places already pinned across the city—from historic landmarks and viewpoints to cafés, restaurants, neighbourhood walks and hidden gems.

Inside the map you’ll find:

✔ 70+ curated places across Mumbai
✔ organised by category (landmarks, sights, restaurants, cafés, viewpoints, markets)
✔ pre-saved in Google Maps
✔ easy to use on your phone while travelling
✔ hidden gems not included in this guide

🗺️ Get the Mumbai Travel Map for your trip →

Final Thoughts on Visiting Mumbai

Mumbai is an intense city in the best possible way—busy, colourful and full of history at every turn.

Three days here is really just enough to get a first taste of the city, but it’s a fascinating place to explore and one I’d happily return to for longer.

Have an incredible visit.

I hope this guide helps you plan your own trip to Mumbai. If you end up visiting the city, I’d love to hear how your trip went—feel free to say hello over on Instagram.

CHECK OUT MORE worldwide TRAVEL GUIDES:

• Tanzania Safari Guide: First-Hand Safari Itinerary, Top Tips & Must-Sees
• Zanzibar Travel Guide (Detailed Guide + My Personal Recommendations)
• Visiting the White Temple, Chaing Rai Thailand
• 5 Exotic Destinations You Can Reach In Less Than 5 Hours From London
• 20 Amazing Living Abroad Quotes

Happy travels,