Top 15 Places to Visit in Mumbai with Tour Itinerary and Travel Tips

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a shopping paradise and is filled with markets such as Colaba Causeway and Crawford Market. It is also home to Bollywood, India's largest film industry, and Dharavi, Asia's biggest slum.

When visiting Mumbai, some of the must-see attractions include the Gateway of India, Kala Ghoda, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Mumbai's primary museum), Colaba Causeway, and Film City. In this article, we will discuss these must-see places in Mumbai and what makes each one interesting and unique.

Highlights

• The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
• The Wellington Fountain was built in 1865 in memory of the Duke of Wellington, a loyal servant of the British Crown who visited Mumbai in 1801 and 1804.
• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum, contains a collection of 2000 rare miniature paintings from several noteworthy art schools in India.
• Film City is home to 1000 film sets with lifelike gardens, mountains, lakes, homes, cities, and villages that have all been used in Bollywood films.
• Marine Drive is Mumbai's iconic curved coastal boulevard decorated with a glowing string of street lights.

Top Mumbai Attractions on the Map

1. Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is located at the tip of Apollo Bunder overlooking the Mumbai Harbor and Arabian Sea.

This monument is the unofficial icon of the city of Mumbai. It is now a popular hangout place for travelers and photographers and is surrounded by food stalls selling tasty snacks. The city's Elephanta Festival which was once held at the Elephanta Caves is now held in front of the gateway in March every year.

The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai for their formal proclamation as the Emperor and Empress of India in 1911.

Location: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Hours: Open all-day

2. Wellington Fountain and Colonial Buildings

The Wellington Fountain is a two-tiered octagonal fountain located at the intersection of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, and MG Road. The fountain is made of basalt and is adorned with eight marble statues. The top tier is made of metal and is decorated with cast-iron leaves.

The fountain was built in 1865 in memory of the Duke of Wellington, a loyal servant of the British Crown who visited Mumbai in 1801 and 1804. The Duke was a well-liked British figure in India as he was one of the first men to write about the Indian famine.

The Wellington Fountain is also surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings. The Sahakari Bhandar is a colonial-era building that was once a hotel and is decorated with mock minarets and Gujarati balconies. The Art Deco Regal Cinema is another building nearby which was designed by Charles Stevens and completed in 1933.

Location: Centre And Near Regal Cinema, SP Mukherjee Chowk, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai

Hours: All-day

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3. Kala Ghoda

Kala Ghoda Art Precinct is part of the Fort District which is one of the fashionable neighborhoods in Mumbai. This area of the city is a cultural hub of education, history, art, and food. Kala Ghoda is a specially designed crescent-shaped structure that houses the best art galleries in the city.

In February every year, there is a nine-day art festival that is organized by the Kala Ghoda Association. The festival draws a large number of travelers who come to see activities such as dance, music, theater, cinema, and literary performances.

The name Kala Ghoda means Black Horse and is a reference to a bronze statue of King Edward VII that was located in the center of the area.

Location: Stretching from Regal Circle to Mumbai University at MG Road

Hours: 24 hours

4. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum, is Mumbai's primary museum. It was built in the Indo-Saracenic architecture style and is adorned with an impressive white dome. The museum building is bordered by lavish green gardens.

The museum contains a collection of 2000 rare miniature paintings from several noteworthy art schools in India. You can also find exhibits of ancient Indian art and sculptures in the museum's sculpture gallery. Decorative artwork made from wood, metal, jade, and ivory are also part of the museum's collections.

The museum was built to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1905. The building was completed by 1914 but was then used by the military as a hospital during World War I. The museum was opened to the public in 1922.

Location: 159-161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai

Hours: 10:15 am to 6 pm

5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the most impressive Victorian Gothic building in India. Today, the terminus serves as the headquarters of the Central Railway and is one of the busiest railway stations in India seeing over 1,000 trains and three million passengers passing through every day. This station was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, in 2004 for its historical value and beautiful architecture.

Designed by Frederick William Stevens with beautiful domes, spires, and arches, this historic railway station was completed in 1888 and was originally called the Victoria Terminus to commemorate Queen Victoria's 50-year rule. It wasn't until 1996 that the station's name was changed to honor Shivaji, a legendary king who founded the Maratha Empire.

Constructed in Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival style with classical Indian elements, the terminus is often mistaken for a cathedral. It is topped by a large central dome, on which stands a 4-meter tall statue of a woman holding a torch in her right hand and a wheel her left representing the idea of progress.

Below the dome, you'll see the beautifully colored stained-glass windows decorated with floral patterns. The ticket hall is topped with a Neo-Gothic vaulted roof with designs made from stained glass and colorful tiles. For most travelers, visiting the terminus and waiting in line during rush hour adds an exciting dimension to their experience of this beautiful structure.

Location: Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Rd, Fort Area, Mumbai

6. The National Gallery of Modern Art

Located in an Edwardian building, the National Gallery of Modern Art is the most impressive museum space in Mumbai and displays a large collection containing thousands of modern art pieces.

The museum also houses a specialized library containing books, photographs, and audiovisual materials. They also periodically host a number of lectures, workshops, film screenings, and seminars.

For travelers who have an interest in modern art, the gallery offers fascinating insights into the field of visual and plastic art and phenomenal sculptures. Inside the museum, you can also stop by the souvenir shop which sells postcards and prints of popular artworks. It usually takes around 2 hours to explore the museum.

Location: Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall, MG Road, Fort, Mumbai

Hours: 11 am to 6 pm, closed on Monday and National Holidays

7. Jehangir Art Gallery

Established in 1952 by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, the Jehangir Art Gallery is one of Mumbai's premier art institutions. Here you'll find a collection of artwork by leading contemporary Indian artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, and craftsmen. Some of the most famous artists shown in the gallery include A. Ramachandran, Akbar Padamsee, and M.F. Husain.

The gallery has also held a great number of lectures, workshops, and discussions. Today, the complex contains six primary halls that are each equipped to exhibit different themes and art mediums including the Auditorium Hall, Hirji Jehangir Art Gallery, Exhibition Galleries 1 to 4, and the Terrace Art Gallery for Photography.

This gallery is also a hub of cultural activity for artists, art connoisseurs, and the public.

Location: Jehangir Art Gallary, 161- Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

Hours: 11 am to 7 pm, from Monday to Sunday

8. Colaba Causeway

The Colaba Causeway, officially called Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, is the main road that connects the Colaba Neighborhood to Old Woman's Island which is one of the city's seven nearby islands and part of historic Old Bombay.

Colaba Causeway is one of the most exciting places to visit in Mumbai and is famous for being a shopper's paradise. Here, you can find great bargains on clothes, accessories, and home decor. There are also several restaurants offering great food and drinks at affordable prices.

The construction of the street occurred between 1835 and 1838 and was completed under the supervision of the British East India Company. The road was built to avoid the deadly accidents that took place due to overcrowded boats that often sailed between Colaba and Old Woman's Island.

Location: Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Hours: 9 am to 10 pm

9. Crawford Market

Crawford Market, now officially called the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market, has long been the center of shopping life in South Mumbai.

The market offers an exciting shopping experience for those who love to explore local wet markets. Crawford Market is full of an array of dazzling fruits, vegetables, and poultry. Here one can experience the mix of the fragrances as they change from stall to stall from the fresh smell of vegetables to the mouthwatering smell of homemade chocolate.

The construction of the market was completed in 1869 and business commenced in 1871. The wealthy British would often send their domestic help to buy the day's produce from the Crawford Market.

Location: Lokmanya Tilak Marg, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai

Hours: 9 am to 8 pm

10. Bollywood

Bollywood is India's major film industry that produces many Hindi Movies which are famous for their catchy music and fun dance numbers. The Film City is the home of Bollywood and is one of the major attractions in Mumbai.

Film City is a large film studio that is spread across an area of 520 acres. Film City contains around 1000 film sets that include lifelike gardens, mountains, lakes, homes, cities, and villages that were all used in Bollywood films.

Film City was constructed by the Maharashtra state government to facilitate the growth of the industry. It has now become one of the best film studios in the country with world-class facilities that have been used to shoot over 900 movies and television shows.

Location: Goregaon, Mumbai

Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

11. Marine Drive

Marine Drive, also called the Queen's Necklace, is Mumbai's iconic curved coastal boulevard that is decorated with a string of glowing street lights.

This entire stretch of boulevard follows the curve of the coastline and is shrouded with palm trees and bordered by the Arabian sea. Marine Drive is the best place in Mumbai to watch the sunset or to just take a seaside stroll.

Marine Drive was built in the 20th century as part of the British government's Back Bay Reclamation Scheme during the second phase of Mumbai's urban development. This scheme involved dumping stone into the sea to create land and expand the city westward.

Location: Stretching along Nariman Point and Girgaum Chowpatty

Hours: 24 hours

12. Haji Ali Mosque

Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most prestigious Islamic symbols in India and is located in South Mumbai on an island in the waters of the Arabian Sea just about 500 meters off the coast of the Worli Fishing Village.

The mosque was built in 1431 and is dedicated to the memory of Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a 14th-century wealthy merchant who became a saint. The saint is famous for giving up all his wealth and material possessions to make a pilgrimage to Mecca from his home of present-day Uzbekistan.

Besides the mosque, the island also houses the tomb of Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

Location: Dargah Road, Haji Ali, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Hours: 6 am to 10 pm

13. General Post Office

The General Post Office is Mumbai's central post office that distributes most of the city's mail as well as issues stamps and prints postcards and letterheads. Being the head office, it is tasked with dispatching a large volume of mail to other post offices for delivery.

Completed in 1913, the General Post Office was designed by British architect John Begg and supervised by George Wittet. Modeled after the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, this fabulous composition of minarets, domes, and arches is a prime example of an Indo-Saracenic style building. 

The building itself contains a lofty three-story rotunda structure inside which leads to various departments. The philately section is popular among stamp collectors and it also has a souvenir shop selling postcards and all kinds of stationery.

Location: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mumbai

Hours: 10 am to 6 pm, from Monday to Saturday

14. Banganga Tank

Often called the mini-Banaras of Mumbai, the Bangana Tank is an ancient water tank that dates back to the 12th century. The tank is part of the Walkeshwar Temple complex in Malabar Hill.

The Banganga Tank is a rectangular-shaped structure that is surrounded by steps on all sides. Here, thousands of worshipers can climb the steps and take turns bathing in the holy water and giving offerings of flowers at the Banganga Temple.

The Banganga Tank was built in 1127 by Lakshman Prabhu, a Brahmin minister in the court of the Silhara dynasty of Thane. The water in the tank is regarded as a subsidiary of the holy Ganges River and is considered sacred and is believed to have healing powers by many.

Location: Walkeshwar Temple, Malabar Hill

Hours: 24 hours

15. Elephanta Island

Elephanta Island is located just off Mumbai's eastern shore and is known for its cave temples. The Elephanta Caves on the island have been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contain carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology and show the period of Brahmanical revival from the 6th century.

Originally called Gharapuri, or "Island of Caves", the island was renamed Elephanta by the Portuguese after they found huge stone statues of elephants there. Today, these elephant statues are displayed at the Jijamata Udyaan, a beautiful garden in Mumbai.

The most important statue inside the caves is the huge triple-headed Shiva, also known as the Trimurti (the three manifestations). The three faces of this compelling image represent the three versions of Shiva: the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer.

The central face, with its serene expression, depicts Shiva the preserver and resembles another god called Vishnu. The west-facing head shows Shiva the creator and is depicted as gentle and graceful. The head facing east with serpents adorning the hair and a cruel mouth represents Shiva the Destroyer. There are more superb sculptures on either side of this main statue.

Elephanta Island can be visited via an hour-long ferry ride from the Gateway of India. Make sure you catch the last return ferry which leaves at 5:30 pm because tourists are not allowed to stay overnight on the island.

Location: 9 kilometers Northeast of Mumbai

Hours: Open daily, ferry from Gateway of India operating from 9 am to 3 pm every 30 minutes

People Also Asked About Mumbai:

Mumbai is a pretty safe place to visit and you can see the city's main attractions in just two days. Colaba Causeway and Crawford Market are some of the best places to visit in Mumbai as they are home to the most iconic Mumbai hangouts and shopping places.

Below we have listed some commonly asked questions about Mumbai to help you get some more information before you travel.

How can I spend two days in Mumbai?

Start your day by heading over to Colaba Causeway for lunch. Afterward, explore Marine Drive and the Kala Ghoda Art Precinct before going back to your hotel to get some rest.

Start your second day with breakfast at Kala Ghoda. Next, check out the diverse exhibits at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. After having lunch, you will head to Banganga Tank and Chor Bazaar.

In Mumbai, we recommend staying in luxury hotels such as the Taj Mahal Palace or Tower Hotel.

What Mumbai is famous for?

Start your day by heading over to Colaba Causeway for lunch. Afterward, explore Marine Drive and the Kala Ghoda Art Precinct before going back to your hotel to get some rest.

Mumbai is also famous for being the location Dharavi, Asia's largest slum. Founded in 1883 during the British Colonial Era, Dharavi has suffered from many epidemics and disasters including a widespread plague in 1896 which killed over half of the population of Mumbai.

What are the best places in Mumbai for shopping?

Colaba Causeway and Crawford Market are some of the most famous shopping areas in India. Colaba Causeway is home to iconic Mumbai hangout spots like Café Mondegar and Leopold Café. Here you will also find shops selling apparel, colorful jewelry, brass knick-knacks, bags, and trendy footwear.

Crawford Market or Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai is also one of the city's oldest and most famous markets. It is a wet market that is home to wholesale shops selling fruits and veggies, home décor, bags, makeup, toys, and spices.

Is Mumbai a safe city?

Mumbai is a city with a moderate level of crime. Travelers will sometimes fall victim to petty crimes but this can be prevented by taking basic precautions. Areas that are often visited by tourists are generally safe. Kidnappings and muggings are uncommon.

Travelers should be aware of scams when visiting Mumbai. Certain individuals will try to take advantage of distracted tourists. Women should also take extra precautions as sexual assaults can occur and traveling alone is not recommended.

Explore the Best of Mumbai with a Two-day Itinerary

Mumbai is India's business and entertainment capital. If you are looking for the modern side of India, Mumbai is the right place! Below is a sample itinerary for travelers who want a quick look into the city.

First, after you arrive in Mumbai, start your journey by admiring the great monuments of the British Raj including the Gateway of India, Mumbai's most famous landmark, along with the fairly grand Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Then, visit the busy Colaba Causeway which contains a mix of great shops, restaurants, and residential areas along with the Crawford Market, selling all kinds of fresh produce. Drive down Marine Drive to see the panoramic views of the Arabain Sea and relax at Chowpatty Beach, where you can find vendors selling fresh coconut juice.

Mumbai is also home to India's major film industry, known as Bollywood, which you can explore on a visit to Film City's various movie sets and stages.

The second day begins with a visit to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum where you will find a priceless collection of Mughal miniature paintings and rare sculptures. Next, stop at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to see the beauty of this colonial-era building.

Spend the rest of the day exploring Kala Ghoda, the most fashionable neighborhood in the city that stretches from the Wellington Fountain and contains a number of art galleries, Neo-classical buildings, and boutique stores.

Explore India with Asia Highlights

Mumbai is home to many top attractions that are just waiting for you to visit and experience. Plan your trip with Asia Highlights and let us do all the researching and booking for you. We can tailor-make your itinerary to fit your specific travel goals so that you can just enjoy your trip.

Our staff will take care of everything, ensuring you and your family a hassle-free adventure that you will never forget.