One day in Mumbai is a quintessential Indian travel experience. The heaving city should be on every traveller’s itinerary, but it isn’t a destination known for its tourist attractions.
Instead, the best things to do in Mumbai revolve around experiencing the hustle and bustle, sounds and smells of this overstuffed metropolis.
If you’re wondering how long to spend in Mumbai, I’d say 24 hours is enough.
We spent one day in Mumbai at the end of our South India trip and managed to see the top tourist places in Mumbai and get an insight into local life for Mumbaikars.
There’s enough sightseeing in Mumbai to fill 24 hours, but the little interactions and tiny occurrences on the streets are what I’ll remember most about our time there.
Here’s my guide to things to do in Mumbai if you have one day or longer.
Things to do in Mumbai in 24 hours
1. Eat brunch
To fuel up for a big day of Mumbai sightseeing, we stopped at Indigo Deli, which is just opposite the Gateway of India, for brunch. They serve a range of cuisines and fresh juices.
It’s expensive by Indian standards but very yummy and the location is so easy for sightseeing in Colaba! There are other branches dotted around Mumbai too.
Try the shakshuka – it’s to die for.
2. Visit the Gateway of India
This iconic landmark is a Mumbai must-see.
Built in the early twentieth century, the arch was built to commemorate the landing of King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary, the first British monarch to visit India. It’s recognised as a symbol of the British colonial legacy.
This is one of the top places to visit in Mumbai and you can’t miss the Gateway, but you don’t need to spend a lot of time there. Once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it if you know what I mean.
It’s one of the most touristy places in Mumbai so we didn’t spend long there. It’s actually best viewed from afar rather than up close.
3. Sail to Elephanta Island
Located in Mumbai Harbour, Elephanta Island is one of the most interesting places to visit in Mumbai. The caves have fascinating temple carvings that date back to AD 450.
There are five caves to explore. You can book a tour to see them if you’re interested.
You’ll need to set aside a bit of time to visit Elephanta Island, as the sailing takes around an hour.
If you’re keen to put this on your Mumbai itinerary, head to the harbour for the 9am sailing.
4. Have tea at the Taj Mahal
One of the best things about Mumbai’s most iconic hotel is that you don’t have to be a guest to have a nose around this majestic palace.
We went in for a look at the grand staircase and ended up being shown to the hotel’s art gallery.
If I’m ever in Mumbai for longer than 24 hours, I’ll definitely be staying at the Taj!
For a luxury experience in Mumbai, treat yourself to lunch and coffee at Shamiana or book afternoon tea in the elegant Sea Lounge overlooking the harbour.
5. See Dhobi Ghat
Dhobi Ghat is the world’s largest open-air laundry, and it dates back 140 years.
It might seem slightly weird to go and gawp at Mumbai’s dirty washing, but it’s a fascinating sight. I can understand why it’s always recommended as one of the top places to visit in Mumbai.
The workers have developed a special code that ensures each garment that gets hand-washed in the 700 ‘ghats’ gets back to its rightful owner, clean and dry.
It’s a bit of a trek from Mumbai’s main attractions but definitely worth a look! We headed to Mahalaxmi Railway station and looked down from the viewing platform outside the station.
The best time of day to visit Dhobi Ghat is early afternoon for photos of the washing hung out to dry.
Check prices for tours visiting Dhobi Ghat here.
6. Go temple hopping
There are tons of important temples in Mumbai you might like to visit on your way to the next attraction.
Walkeshwar temple, Mahalakshmi temple and Lalbaugcha Raja are among the most well-known.
Be sure to wear respectful clothing and follow any instructions you’re given so as not to intrude or offend. We went to one with our local friend, which was a fascinating experience.
The easiest way to visit a temple in Mumbai without worrying about getting anything wrong is to book one of the tours below.
7. Gawp at VT Station
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, also known by its old name VT Station, is a Mumbai attraction in itself, with around 3 million people passing through every day.
You can join the throngs of commuters and use the train to get to all of the places you want to visit in Mumbai, if you dare.
The British gothic architecture is a sight to behold so even if you aren’t going to brave an Indian train journey, it’s worth walking in for a look around.
8. Have a drink at Leopolds
If like me, the Gregory David Robert’s book Shantaram made you want to visit Mumbai, you can’t miss Leopolds Cafe, which features heavily in the novel. Because of this, it has made it’s way onto all the good lists of things to do in Mumbai.
Leopolds is smaller than I imagined in real life! The food is decent, which is probably why it has stayed popular with Mumbai’s tourists, and they have a seriously tempting dessert fridge.
Leopold’s was targeted in the 2008 terrorist attacks and you can still see bullet holes in the walls.
9. Shop at Crawford Market
Crawford Market sells everything under the sun, including live animals, handbags, shoes, fruit and household items. All of this is sprawled in a space of around 72000 sq. yards.
It’s hard to believe this place has been going since 1871!
The market’s new official name is Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, but most people still use the British name.
We visited after dark, and our local friend showed us around. Be warned: the animal section may upset you and they sell endangered species. We didn’t experience any hassle there.
Crawford Market is closed on Tuesdays, just FYI in case your one day in Mumbai happens to fall on a Tuesday!
10. Browse Colaba Causeway Market
Along Colaba Causeway, you’ll find lots of little stalls selling all sorts of stuff. The sellers are quite persistent here, but no more than in many other markets I’ve been to around the world.
This market is more touristy than Crawford Market, which is where locals shop.
I wanted to go to Fashion Street for fake gear but our local friend warned us that it isn’t as good as it used to be. He said the same about Chor Bazaar, also known as ‘thieves market’. Might be worth skipping those ones if you’re planning to shop in Mumbai!
11. Window-shop at Zaveri Bazaar
This is Mumbai’s gold market. It’s one of the biggest and oldest in all of India. The area itself is quite run down but most of the gold is the real deal!
It’s mainly Indian style and I didn’t see anything I’d actually wear there. Still, fun to stare at some of the more extravagant pieces!
Only staying in Mumbai for the weekend? The gold market is closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
12. Eat lots of street food
Available on every corner of Mumbai, the city’s street food is delicious! We tried Vada pav, which is the Maharashtra version of a burger, as soon as we landed. It’s made from spiced potato instead of meat.
The stall at VT station sells around 3,000 of these tasty morsels per day!
Pani puri and Jalebi, a sticky sweet, are some of the many other Mumbai delicacies you must try when you visit.
You can do a street food tour to ensure you sample all of Mumbai’s tastiest bites.
I would have been nervous to taste anything without our friend’s guidance, so it makes sense to book a tour if you’d like to try the street food in Mumbai.
13. Try on sarees
Shopping is one of the most fun things to do in Mumbai and Mangaldas Market is the best place to shop for textiles.
It’s a bit of a maze inside but there are plenty of entrances and exits, so you won’t get trapped.
Even if you aren’t in the market for any traditional Indian clothing, it’s fun to look!
14. Learn about Dharavi Slum
Dharavi is the largest slum in Asia with 700,000 people living in an area of just over 2.1 square kilometres.
It became infamous thanks to Slumdog Millionaire, which controversially filmed some scenes in the slum and used child actors who were growing up in the slum.
We didn’t visit the Dharavi slum because there wasn’t enough time and I wouldn’t have been comfortable seeing the place if I couldn’t be sure that my being there was helpful in some way.
I’ve since seen ethical Dharavi tours that actually help the slum community. Do your research!
Check prices and availability for Mumbai slum tours here.
15. Stroll along Marine Drive
The curved 3.5km promenade known as Marine Drive, or the Queen’s Necklace, is where Mumbaikars go to relax, socialise and stroll at night.
It’s one of the poshest postcodes in Mumbai, with expensive properties lining the waterfront.
Head there after dark for a picnic or some street food, and watch Mumbai go by.
16. Chill in a hookah parlour
We joined our local friend’s friends at The Tipsy Townhouse for shisha, nachos and drinks. It’s a cool place to hang out in Mumbai after dark.
Other popular hookah bars in Mumbai are Ottoman Cafe, The Bar Terminal and Sheesha Sky Lounge.
17. Eat dinner at a rooftop restaurant
We shared dinner with some locals at The Goose and Gridiron. It’s all fairylights and mosaic tables, and it’s directly opposite the shisha place.
However, some of the best places to eat in Mumbai are rooftop restaurants.
Kandeel rooftop restaurant is popular, Candy and Green looks gorgeous and Dome-InterContinental seems cool.
18. See a Bollywood movie
Mumbai is the home of Bollywood, so if you have more than a day in Mumbai it’s worth catching a flick.
Try booking a Bollywood tour if you’d like to learn about the city’s movie scene in more depth.
19. Crawl Mumbai’s museums
The largest museum in Mumbai is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, which was formerly called the Prince of Wales Museum.
You might also like to check out Bhau Daji Lad Museum, and Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum
If nothing else, a museum trip is a crafty way to escape the heat and the crowds!
20. Haji Ali Dargah
Haji Ali Dargah is a floating Indo-Islamic pilgrim site located on an island near Worli coast in Mumbai. It was built in 19th century and the mosque holds Saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari’s tomb.
Legend has it that Saint Haji Ali died during a pilgrimage to Mecca, but his casket floated back to Mumbai.
Other tours and activities in Mumbai
Best trips from Mumbai
If you have more than one day in Mumbai, I recommend getting out of the city center. Check out this list of amazing places you can visit from Mumbai, or book one of the below tours.
Getting around Mumbai
Despite the city’s vast urban sprawl, many of Mumbai’s best places to see are walkable. However, places like the laundry would require you to take public transport or have a car.
Instead of battling with taxi drivers at the airport, I’d recommend booking a private transfer online before your trip to get your visit to Mumbai off to a smooth start.
You can hire a private driver to get around Mumbai.
Mumbai’s railway is one of the busiest in the world with 7.5 million Mumbaikars using the trains to commute daily. It should definitely be avoided at peak times.
However, riding a train in Mumbai is a rite of passage and one of the best ways to experience local life in the city.
We took the train from the laundry back down to the cricket ground mid-afternoon, when it was quiet.
Tickets are super cheap, and we rode in First Class.
We had a local friend who showed us around and having a driver in Mumbai was a lifesaver. Plus, local insight always makes any trip richer!
Where to stay in Mumbai
The best area to stay in Mumbai is Colaba. It’s located in the south and so close to the most famous attractions in Mumbai including the Taj and Gateway of India.
We felt safe there, probably because it’s one of the most touristy areas in Mumbai.
You can get all over Mumbai from Churchgate Station in Colaba and there’s a seaside promenade that’s nice to walk along!
Budget accommodation
If you’re planning a budget trip to Mumbai, you can stay in a hostel. Cohostel has great reviews and would be perfect for solo travellers looking to meet new people in Mumbai.
If you’re not a hostel person, check out Abad Inn.
Midrange hotels in Mumbai
For those on a midrange budget, look at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach.
Luxury Mumbai hotels
If you’re really going to splash out and indulge in luxury accommodation, you have to book the most famous hotel in Mumbai. Taj Mahal Palace is the fanciest option, or you can pay less to stay in the Tower.
Four Seasons is a good alternative, and there’s also an Oberoi.
You can find more places to stay in Mumbai using the booking.com map below.
Booking.comBest time to visit Mumbai
Our 24 hours in Mumbai was towards the end of November, which I think (and many locals verified) is the best time to go to Mumbai. The rainy season is over but you avoid the Christmas crowds.
If you can’t go to Mumbai in November, January to April is a good time.
More useful tips for visiting Mumbai
There is a lot of visible poverty in Mumbai which is upsetting to see.
We were also asked numerous times for selfies and had people taking our photos without our permission more than once, which can get annoying. A firm no or hand shielding your face does the trick.
We had read about pickpockets slashing your bags with pocket-knives, but didn’t experience this ourselves.
Just like you would in any big city, keep an eye on your stuff. A money belt and a padlock for your backpack will help.
Mumbai is a low-risk area for malaria so we didn’t bother with malaria tablets. I was nervous around the street dogs but we learned that the animals with clipped ears have been treated for rabies etc, so that made me feel less wary!
Travel insurance is essential if you’re visiting India. World Nomads are generally acknowledged as the best. You can get a quote using the box below.
Mumbai can be overwhelming, but spending a day there doesn’t have to be an ordeal you have to survive before you can fly home, or travel onwards to your next destination in India!
24 hours in Mumbai was definitely enough for me but I loved exploring and know you will too.
If you want more insight into Mumbai sightseeing and see my trip updates, check out my Mumbai Instagram Story highlight. I also share travel updated on my Facebook page and Twitter.
Cruising on Kerala’s Backwaters
The most romantic resort in Kerala?
Pin this
