Things to Do in Mumbai
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Mumbai, India, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Mumbai. Bigger film industry than Hollywood, never once cast me, a global stretch now, India's financial and entertainment capital, a genuinely dense, energetic coastal city that produces more films annually than anywhere else on Earth. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Mumbai: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the walk. Four main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Bollywood
Mumbai is home to Bollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world, produces more films annually than Hollywood, by most counts, a genuinely enormous, culturally significant industry, Hindi-language films produced here reach audiences across India and a global diaspora, and the industry's influence on Indian fashion, music, and popular culture is hard to overstate.
Film studio tours are available through several operators, worth booking if you want a behind-the-scenes look, and simply being aware of the industry's scale as you move through the city, film billboards, actor-owned businesses, and genuine star culture, adds real texture to a Mumbai visit.
Best time Weekday mornings for active studio tours
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
A colonial-era railway station in Mumbai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Victorian Gothic architecture, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a genuinely striking blend of Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian architectural elements, still a fully functioning station handling enormous daily passenger volumes.
Worth a proper look at both the exterior facade and, if you're catching a train anyway, the genuinely ornate interior, this is a working station rather than a museum, worth being respectful of the daily commuter traffic while you admire the architecture.
Address Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai
Gateway of India
Mumbai's Gateway of India arch was built to commemorate a visit by King George V and Queen Mary, fashionably late, that arch, took over a decade after the visit to actually finish, a genuinely striking basalt arch overlooking the harbour, now one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city and a popular gathering spot, particularly in the evening.
Ferries to Elephanta Island, home to significant ancient rock-cut cave temples, depart from right beside the Gateway, worth combining both if you have a full day, the caves are a genuinely worthwhile day trip if the ferry timing works.
Best time Evening for the Gateway; morning ferry departure for Elephanta
Address Gateway of India, Mumbai
Mumbai Street Food
Mumbai's street food scene is genuinely essential, vada pav (a spiced potato fritter in a bun, sometimes called the city's unofficial burger) and pav bhaji (a spiced vegetable mash served with bread) are both worth seeking out from a busy, popular local stall.
Chowpatty Beach, a genuinely lively stretch of sand in the evenings, is a good place to try several street food options at once, a proper local institution worth experiencing regardless of whether you plan to swim.
Best time Evening
Address Chowpatty Beach, Mumbai
Best time to visit Mumbai
November through February gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, cooler and drier than Mumbai's genuinely intense monsoon and summer heat.
The monsoon season (roughly June through September) brings genuinely heavy, dramatic rain, part of the city's character but worth planning around for outdoor sightseeing if travelling then.
Getting around Mumbai
Mumbai's local train network is genuinely the fastest way to cross the city, though it gets extremely crowded during rush hours. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the more comfortable alternative for visitors, particularly outside peak commuting times.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mumbai worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, the genuine scale of Bollywood, the striking colonial railway architecture, and the Gateway of India together make it one of India's most dynamic, energetic cities.
- How many days do you need in Mumbai?
- Three days covers the Gateway of India, the railway terminus, and a proper street food circuit comfortably.
- Is Mumbai expensive?
- Moderate, generally more expensive than much of the rest of India given its status as the financial capital, though street food and local transport remain genuinely affordable.
- What is Mumbai famous for?
- Bollywood, the world's largest film industry by output, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO-listed Victorian Gothic railway station, and the Gateway of India.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
