Mumbai itinerary for first-timers
The classic neighborhoods in an order that works, with a 4K street walk for every stop. Watch your trip before you take it.
Day 1: CSMT, Fort, Kala Ghoda, Colaba & the Gateway of India
The Gothic railway station, the old Fort district, the Oval Maidan, the galleries of Kala Ghoda, the Colaba Causeway market and sunset at the Gateway of India.
- 1
Morning
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Mumbai's great Victorian Gothic railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of domes, spires and carved stone, and still one of the busiest stations in India.
- Station facade
- Domes and spires
- Commuter crowds
The facade is best seen from across the road; morning light is softer and the heat is lower.
Walk south along Dadabhai Naoroji Road, about 10 min.
- 2
Morning
Fort: St. Thomas Cathedral & Flora Fountain
The heart of the old walled city, named after the British fort that once stood here: colonial office blocks, the city's oldest Anglican church and the carved Flora Fountain at a busy junction.
- St. Thomas Cathedral
- Flora Fountain
- Hutatma Chowk
- Colonial office blocks
Walk west past the fountain to the Oval Maidan, about 10 min.
- 3
Late morning
Oval Maidan & Rajabai Clock Tower
A long green where local cricket matches run all day, with the Gothic buildings of the High Court and the University of Mumbai on one side and a row of Art Deco apartments on the other. The two styles together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Oval Maidan
- Rajabai Clock Tower
- University of Mumbai
- Art Deco facades
Stand in the middle of the Oval to see the Gothic side and the Art Deco side facing each other.
Walk east across to Kala Ghoda, about 10 min.
- 4
Afternoon
Kala Ghoda
Mumbai's arts district: galleries, museums and heritage buildings in a small crescent of leafy streets, with the city's main museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art on its edge.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Galleries
- Heritage streets
The museum is a good place to spend the hottest part of the day indoors.
Walk south past Regal Cinema to the Causeway, about 10 min.
- 5
Late afternoon
Colaba Causeway
A long, crowded street market under colonial arcades, with stalls of clothes, jewellery, bags and souvenirs and Colaba's lanes branching off on both sides.
- Street stalls
- Colonial arcades
- Regal Cinema
Bargaining is normal at the stalls; keep an eye on your phone and bag in the crowds.
Walk east to the waterfront, about 10 min.
- 6
Sunset
Gateway of India
The basalt arch on the harbour front, built to mark a royal visit in the early 20th century, with boats bobbing in the water and crowds gathering on the promenade in the evening.
- Gateway arch
- Apollo Bunder promenade
- Harbour boats
Day 2: Crawford Market, Khotachiwadi, Banganga & Marine Drive
The market hall and old trading lanes of Kalbadevi, the heritage village of Khotachiwadi, the temple tank of Banganga, and sunset from Chowpatty along Marine Drive.
- 1
Morning
Crawford Market & Kalbadevi
A grand 19th-century market hall of fruit, spices and household goods, and beyond it the dense old trading streets of Kalbadevi, packed with wholesale shops and the sari market.
- Crawford Market hall
- Fruit and spice stalls
- Kalbadevi streets
- Sari market
It is a working wholesale area: step aside for porters carrying heavy loads through the lanes.
Taxi to Girgaon, about 15 min.
- 2
Late morning
Khotachiwadi
A tiny heritage village of colourful old houses and narrow lanes hidden in Girgaon, one of the last of its kind in central Mumbai.
- Old Portuguese-style houses
- Narrow lanes
- Wayside shrines
People live here: keep voices low and ask before photographing anyone.
Khotachiwadi, Mumbai's Heritage Village in Girgaon
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Taxi up Malabar Hill to Walkeshwar, about 15 min.
- 3
Afternoon
Banganga Tank
An ancient stepped water tank surrounded by small temples and old houses on Malabar Hill, one of the oldest and calmest corners of the city.
- Banganga Tank
- Temples of Walkeshwar
- Stone steps
It is a sacred place: dress modestly and remove your shoes where asked.
Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Walk
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Taxi down to Girgaon Chowpatty, about 10 min.
- 4
Sunset & evening
Girgaon Chowpatty & Marine Drive
The city beach at the top of the bay and the long seafront promenade curving south to Nariman Point, where all of Mumbai seems to come out in the evening. At night the street lights along the curve give it the name 'Queen's Necklace'.
- Girgaon Chowpatty
- Seafront promenade
- Queen's Necklace at night
- Nariman Point
Chowpatty is the place for bhel puri and pav bhaji from the beach stalls; sit on the sea wall and watch the sunset.
Marine Drive Evening Walk from Chowpatty to Nariman Point
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Day 3: Haji Ali, Bandra & Bandstand
The causeway to Haji Ali Dargah, then across the Sea Link to Bandra for its shopping streets, Mount Mary Church and sunset on Bandstand.
- 1
Morning
Haji Ali Dargah
A white mosque and shrine on a small islet off the Worli coast, reached by a long narrow causeway across the sea.
- Causeway
- Haji Ali Dargah
- Sea views
The causeway is low and waves can wash over it at high tide, especially in the monsoon; check the tide times before you go, and dress modestly.
Crossing the Causeway to Haji Ali Dargah at High Tide
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Taxi north over the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, about 30 min.
- 2
Afternoon
Bandra: Linking Road & Hill Road
The busy shopping streets of Mumbai's most popular suburb: street stalls on Linking Road, then Hill Road with its small cafés, boutiques and old buildings.
- Linking Road
- Waterfield Road
- Hill Road
Bandra Walk: Linking Road, Hill Road, Mount Mary and Bandstand
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Jump toWalk west uphill to the basilica, about 15 min.
- 3
Late afternoon
Mount Mary Church
A historic hilltop basilica above the sea, one of the best-known churches in Mumbai, reached by a steep climb from Hill Road.
- Mount Mary Basilica
- Hilltop views
Bandra Walk: Linking Road, Hill Road, Mount Mary and Bandstand
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Jump toWalk down to the seafront, about 10 min.
- 4
Sunset
Bandra Bandstand
A seafront promenade on the rocks below the hill, with views across the water to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and crowds of strollers at sunset.
- Seafront promenade
- Bandra-Worli Sea Link views
- Sunset over the Arabian Sea
Bandra Walk: Linking Road, Hill Road, Mount Mary and Bandstand
Video by Life Ambience on YouTube
Jump to
Travelling with someone?
Send them this 3-day Mumbai plan, videos included.
Planning your first trip to Mumbai
How many days?
Three days is a good first visit: colonial South Mumbai, then the markets, Malabar Hill and Marine Drive, then Haji Ali and Bandra. One day covers the Fort district, Colaba and a sunset on Marine Drive.
Where to stay
Colaba and Fort put you within walking distance of most of the sights; Marine Drive and Churchgate are close by and face the sea; Bandra is livelier at night, full of cafés, and nearer the airport.
Getting around
Taxis and app cabs are the easiest way between neighbourhoods. Local trains run from Churchgate and CSMT to the suburbs and are fast but packed at rush hour, and the new underground metro runs north through South Mumbai. Traffic is heavy, so allow extra time for every road trip.
Mumbai is a long, narrow city on a peninsula, and most first visits begin at its southern tip. South Mumbai is the old colonial centre: the Gothic railway station of CSMT, the Fort district with its cathedral and fountain, the Oval Maidan under the university's clock tower, the galleries of Kala Ghoda, the street market of Colaba Causeway and the Gateway of India on the harbour. Further north are the bazaars around Crawford Market, the old houses of Girgaon, the temple tank of Banganga and the great curve of Marine Drive. Bandra, the seaside suburb across the Sea Link, shows the younger, more relaxed side of the city.
Every stop comes with a walking video filmed on those streets, so you can see the crowds, the buildings and the seafront before you arrive. Use the buttons under each video to jump to a landmark, or press Preview to watch a whole day in a row.
Mumbai itinerary: common questions
How many days do you need in Mumbai?
Three days is a good first visit: one for CSMT, the Fort district, Kala Ghoda, Colaba and the Gateway of India, one for Crawford Market, Girgaon, Banganga and Marine Drive, and one for Haji Ali and Bandra. One day covers the colonial south and a sunset on Marine Drive.
When is the best time to visit Mumbai?
November to February is the most comfortable, warm and dry. April and May are very hot and humid, and the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, waterlogged streets and rough seas on the promenades. Whenever you go, carry water and plan walks for the morning and the evening.
Is South Mumbai walkable?
Yes. CSMT, the Fort district, the Oval Maidan, Kala Ghoda, Colaba Causeway and the Gateway of India are all within a few kilometres and are best seen on foot. Pavements can be crowded and crossings busy, so take your time and cross with the locals.
Can I visit the Elephanta Caves from Mumbai?
Yes. Ferries to Elephanta Island leave from the Gateway of India and take about an hour each way; the rock-cut cave temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allow most of a day for it, on top of the city plan.
Is it easy to use the local trains?
They are the fastest way to the suburbs, running north from Churchgate and CSMT, but they are extremely crowded at rush hour. Travel outside the morning and evening peaks, and use the women-only carriages if they apply to you.
Travel times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Keep exploring Mumbai
More 4K walking videos, top sights, food markets and dishes to try.
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