Mumbai Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Mumbai tours, India’s vibrant City of Dreams: the colonial landmarks of the Gateway of India and Victorian Bombay, the eye-opening Dharavi community and Dhobi Ghat, the ancient rock-cut Elephanta Caves, the dazzling world of Bollywood, sizzling street-food trails, and the city by night. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect India trip.
rating
Explore Mumbai by interest
Whatever brings you to Mumbai — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
City sightseeing
Gateway and colonial Bombay.
ExploreDharavi & local life
Real, resilient Mumbai.
ExploreElephanta Caves
Ancient island temples.
ExploreStreet food
Vada pav and more.
ExploreBollywood
Behind the cinema.
ExploreMumbai by night
City lights tour.
ExploreDhobi Ghat
Vast open-air laundry.
ExploreDay trips
Kanheri and beyond.
ExploreTop attractions in Mumbai
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Gateway of India
Iconic seafront arch.
Elephanta Caves
Ancient island temples.
Dharavi
Resilient community.
Bollywood
Film studios and stars.
Street Food
Vada pav and bazaars.
Marine Drive
The Queen’s Necklace.
Mumbai by Night
City lights.
CSMT Terminus
Victorian railway.
Mumbai in 1 day
- 1Gateway of India
- 2Colonial Fort & CSMT
- 3Dhobi Ghat
- 4Marine Drive sunset
Mumbai in 2 days
- 1Day 1: city & Dharavi
- 2Day 2: Elephanta Caves
- 3Harbour ferry
- 4Bollywood
Mumbai in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & Dharavi
- 2Day 2: Elephanta
- 3Day 3: Bollywood & food
- 4City, island & cinema
Mumbai with kids
- 1Gateway & ferry
- 2Elephanta Caves
- 3Bollywood fun
- 4Hanging Gardens
Mumbai heritage & Elephanta Caves
- 1Fort & Colaba colonial walk
- 2Gothic & Art Deco UNESCO ensemble
- 3Ferry to the Elephanta Caves
- 4Gateway of India at dusk
Dharavi & Mumbai street food
- 1Dharavi small-industry walk
- 2Dhobi Ghat open-air laundry
- 3Dabbawala lunchbox network
- 4Evening street-food & bazaars
Ferry 1 hr awayElephanta Caves
Ancient island temples.
In the city awayDharavi
Resilient community.
Film City awayBollywood
Behind the cinema.
In the city awayStreet Food
Vada pav and bazaars.
National park awayKanheri Caves
Buddhist rock caves.
In the city awayGateway of India
Iconic seafront arch.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Mumbai visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
November to February brings the most pleasant, drier and cooler weather — the prime time to visit Mumbai for sightseeing and tours.
Cool season (Nov–Feb)
Warm, dry and comfortable, ideal for exploring the city, Elephanta and walking tours; the peak season.
Summer (Mar–May)
Hot and very humid; start early, stay hydrated and favour indoor sights and evening tours.
Monsoon (Jun–Sep)
Heavy rains bring a dramatic, green city and a romantic atmosphere, but flooding can disrupt travel; Elephanta ferries may pause in rough seas.
Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi (around August–September) fills Mumbai with spectacular processions and celebrations — a vibrant, busy time.
Elephanta note
The Elephanta Caves are closed on Mondays, and ferries depend on the weather, especially in monsoon season.
One day
The Gateway, city sights and a Dharavi tour.
Two days
Add the Elephanta Caves and Bollywood.
Three days
The sweet spot: city, Elephanta, Bollywood and food.
Four days
Add Kanheri Caves, Lonavala or a Taj Mahal trip.
Gateway to India
Many start a wider India trip in Mumbai.
Travelling with kids
Mix the ferry, caves and Bollywood fun.
Tours & transfers
Private tours with a car and guide are the easiest, most comfortable way to navigate Mumbai’s vast, busy streets.
Taxis & apps
Black-and-yellow taxis, autos and ride-hailing apps (Uber, Ola) are cheap and convenient for getting around the city.
Trains & metro
Mumbai’s suburban trains are iconic but extremely crowded; the growing metro is a cleaner option for some routes.
Harbour ferries
Ferries from the Gateway of India reach the Elephanta Caves, a scenic ride included on tours.
On foot
The Fort, Colaba and Marine Drive areas are walkable and full of colonial architecture and cafés.
From the airport
Mumbai’s airport is about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours from the south depending on traffic; pre-book a transfer.
Choose ethical Dharavi tours
Pick a respectful, well-reviewed Dharavi tour with no photos of residents and community reinvestment for the best, most ethical experience.
Plan Elephanta around Mondays
The Elephanta Caves close on Mondays and depend on the ferry weather, so plan your visit accordingly.
Indian rupee
India uses the rupee; carry some cash for small vendors, autos and tips, though cards and apps work in hotels and shops.
Dress and heat
Dress modestly for temples and caves, and in the warmer months start early and carry water for the heat and humidity.
Stay savvy
Mumbai is generally safe but very crowded; keep valuables secure, agree taxi fares or use apps, and be cautious crossing busy roads.
Pre-book popular tours
Dharavi, Elephanta and Bollywood tours fill up — book ahead.
Dharavi tours
Respectful small-group tours sell out — book ahead.
Elephanta Caves
Guided ferry tours are popular — reserve early (closed Mondays).
Bollywood tours
Studio and Film City tours fill up — pre-book.
Street food tours
Small-group food tours are in demand — book ahead.
City sightseeing
Private city tours are busy in peak season — reserve early.
Cool-season peak
November–February is busy — plan ahead.
City sightseeing
Around €20–50 for a private Mumbai city tour.
Dharavi tours
About €15–35 for a guided Dharavi and Dhobi Ghat tour.
Elephanta Caves
Roughly €25–55 for a guided Elephanta Caves tour with ferry.
Bollywood
Around €30–70 for a Bollywood studio or Film City tour.
Street food
About €20–45 for a Mumbai street-food tour.
How to save
Join group tours, combine the city with Dharavi, and travel in the cooler shoulder months.
Mumbai through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Sightseeing, tours.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Low prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot and humid.
- Best for
- Lush, dramatic city.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Heavy rain; ferries pause.
- Best for
- Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Vibrant; busy.