Mumbai walking tour & city guide

South Mumbai

The Gateway of India, an arch on the waterfront, faces the historic Taj Mahal Palace hotel. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a gothic railway station, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marine Drive, a curving seafront boulevard, is called the 'Queen's Necklace' for its lights at night.

Neighborhoods

Colaba has markets and cafés, and Kala Ghoda is the arts district. Chowpatty Beach is famous for street food in the evening. Boats leave from the Gateway for the Elephanta Caves, with ancient rock-cut temples.

A day in Mumbai

Start at the Gateway of India in the morning and take a ferry to the Elephanta Caves if you have time. Walk through Colaba and the Kala Ghoda art district to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a gothic railway station that is a UNESCO site.

In the evening, join the crowds on Marine Drive, the 'Queen's Necklace', as the lights come on along the bay. End with street food at Chowpatty Beach: bhel puri and pav bhaji are classics.

Good to know

The monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy rain and flooding, so October to March is the most comfortable season. Local trains are fast but extremely crowded at rush hour.

Mumbai is India's movie capital; you can visit the Bollywood studios on a tour. The Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundry, is a famous sight.