21 Things to Do in Mumbai To Tour the Iconic Landmarks

Mumbai, a city that is famous worldwide because of its star power and charisma, has a lot more to offer than just shiny things. You can find the seaside always buzzing with locals, people laughing and chatting around street stalls, and travelers soaking up the breeze early mornings at the Gateway of India. 

From vintage and best Mumbai markets to nightlife, your trip here will be full of energy and amusement. To help you with the itinerary, we have listed the top things to do in Mumbai in this blog. So check it out and get excited about a new experience!

Visiting the Gateway of India is one of the best things to do in Mumbai. It is the most popular structure, which overlooks the Arabian Sea in all its splendour. 

Constructed in the British Raj, it is a favorite tourist attraction, photography hub, and also a common place to spend time among the locals. The days here are vibrant with hawkers, pigeons, and ferry boats. 

• Travel Tip: Come a little early for fun things to do in Mumbai in the morning to avoid the rush and explore the place in a better way. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Marine Drive is among the most scenic coastal stretches in India and is called the Queen’s Necklace. The promenade measures 3.6 km and runs along the Arabian Sea in a very beautiful way, making it a perfect place to walk in the evenings or have a rest along the water. 

It is a ritual among the Mumbaikars to watch the sunset here. By night, the lights look like a necklace of jewels and are an excellent place to jog, and have the Mumbai street food that is hard to resist. 

• Travel Tip: Make sure to visit in the evenings for the most ideal time and carry a light jacket because it’s windy. 
• Ticket Price: Free 
• Timings: 24/7

The Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising beautiful rock-cut temples in honor of Lord Shiva. The gateway has a ferry that serves the main island, where there are old sculptures, large pillars, intricate carvings, and the majestic Trimurti statue. 

Along with that, the staircase to the top is surrounded by local stalls where they sell souvenirs. The island is surrounded by nature; hiking and exploring it add adventure and thrill to the list of things to do in Mumbai. It is the ideal half-day tour for culture, history and photography enthusiasts. 

• Travel Tip: Make sure to go early in the day before the sun blazes hard, and you can take a ferry ride easily. 
• Ticket Price: INR 40 for Indian citizens, INR 15 for children under 15, INR 600 for foreigners. 
• Timings: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday closed.

Exploring Colaba Causeway is the most lively shopping street in Mumbai in where fashion, jewelry, antiques, art, and street food merge. You will find leather bags of high quality as well as some weird souvenirs. 

The atmosphere is vibrant, the sales are dynamic, and the prices cannot be refused. Bargaining is not only permitted but is also expected. Other historic cafés found in Colaba are Leopold Cafe and Cafe Mondegar.

• Travel Tip: You should begin shopping on the inner lanes of the shopping center and bargain with the shopkeepers to get better rates. 
• Ticket Price: Free 
• Timings: 9 am to 10 pm.

Mumbai street food really comes to life in Chowpatty Beach. It is not merely a beach, but a foodie heaven with dishes like Pav Bhaji, bhel puri, ice gola, and pani puri. 

Plus, the street market is among the best markets in Mumbai. Families, travelers, and couples come here every evening to enjoy the festive atmosphere. The actuality of warmth is the contrast between the cool breeze and warm flavors. 

The beach is neat and has a lot of light, and it makes evening walks pleasant. Hence, the local appeal is enhanced by watching kids play and vendors yelling to sell their food. 

• Travel Tip: Only go into the stalls that have a long queue because the food is always fresher and safer. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

The magic of Bollywood is realized in Film City, which is in Goregaon. You can take a guided tour of actual movie sets, sound stages, fake villages, and behind-the-scenes locations. 

And if you are fortunate enough, maybe you can stumble into a live movie shoot. 

This place provides you with an array of iconic scenes and where they are shot. It is indeed surreal to visit places that you have been viewing on the computer for years. 

• Travel Tip: You must book tours in advance because of the limited walk-in availability, as it is one of the famous things in Mumbai. 
• Ticket Price: INR 500 for basic tour.
• Timings: 10 am to 5 pm, Monday closed.

Visiting Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the most interesting things to do in Mumbai.

This sacred temple is devoted to Lord Ganesha. Thousands of faithful people go there every day in search of blessings of new beginnings, career developments, and prosperity. 

The temple is also very well-designed with wooden doors carved with images of Ganesha. The serene sounds within the sanctum justify waiting in line. Politicians and Bollywood stars are regular guests in the temple.

You must see the temple on Ganesh Chaturthi, the way it is decorated with grandeur and receives a large inflow of people and special occasions. 

• Travel Tip: Tuesdays are the days that you must avoid because of the rush, unless you choose to spend hours standing in the long lines. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 5:30 am to 9:50 pm.

Bandra is a hipster utopia with a Bohemian atmosphere, murals, and graffiti-covered walls. In the Chapel Road and other nearby lanes, the street art is so amazingly beautiful that it attracts tourists and locals to come down here, especially to take pictures. 

All thanks to the local and international artists, every wall tells a different story of emotions, conflicts, politics, and art. 

This is an ideal location for Instagram photos due to its colorful hues. Fashionable cafés and boutiques are also present in Bandra, which provides a cool respite from the normal bustle of the city. 

• Travel Tip: Just go early in the morning when the roads are free for better photography.
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Moving on, the next things to do in Mumbai is taking a walk at Carter Road. This lane is ideal as a place to make leisure walks along the waterfront with a view of the Bandra coastline. During the evenings, you can promenade in the line with cute cafes, juice bars, street vendors, and musicians. 

The locals visit here to unwind, work out, or just have a good time. Carter Road’s ambience is contemporary but comfortable, and makes it perfect for families and couples. If you want a destination free of tourist traffic and love being by the sea, the sunset view is magnificent. 

• Travel Tip: Do not forget to have a Mumbai-style Shawarma or fries at the local stalls. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Haji Ali Dargah is both architecturally and spiritually appealing, and it is situated on an isle at Worli. It looks like the white mosque is suspended over water, particularly when high tides occur. 

The pathway to the shrine is cool and bordered by sellers. It has a tranquil Sufi music, worship, and relaxing energy within. Additionally, the mosque is more than 600 years old, and visitors of all religions are welcome here. Overall, the experience is memorable because of the sea views around. 

• Travel Tip: Make sure to go only when the tide is low to avoid any risks. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 5:30 am to 10 pm

The Worli Sea Face is a place that the joggers, walkers, and photography enthusiasts visit. It makes a dramatic scene because of the crashing waves, especially during the time of monsoon season. 

It is also not as congested as Marine Drive and is a good place to get away. You may sit and rest on the benches or walk to experience breezy weather. 

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link appears beautiful at this location, notably during the night. Thus, it is safe to say it is an ideal location to relax and refresh. 

• Travel Tip: It is important to be careful during monsoon visits due to heavy water pressure.  
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Another things to do in Navi Mumbai is chilling at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. 

The park is one of the largest urban national parks in the world, which is located in this city. 

It provides boating, hiking, cycling, and wildlife viewing. It is the heaven of nature lovers because of the green vegetation. Another significant attraction is the lion and tiger safari. 

The old Kanheri Caves, carved out of volcanic rock, are found in the park. It is the ideal destination to be able to reconnect with nature, as one avoids the non-stop lifestyle of Mumbai. 

• Travel Tip: You should wear comfortable clothes and shoes for long walks and carry a water bottle to stay hydrated.   
• Ticket Price: INR 85 for Indian citizens, INR 45 for kids under 5, INR 200 for foreigners. 
• Timings: 10 am to 5 pm, Monday closed

Kanheri caves in the SGNP are more than 2,000 years old. The caves have Buddhist sculptures, chaityas (prayer halls), and viharas (monk residences). 

The ascending standpoint is breathtaking with respect to the forest and city skyline. It is a peaceful and historical site that would suit tourists who have a curiosity about ancient architecture. 

The environment is quiet and thus perfect for meditating and taking photographs. Each of the caves is distributed over a vast area, hence allows ample time to explore. 

• Travel Tip: It is best to go in early and beat the crowd and heat. Pack a light bag with a water bottle and sunscreen because there’s a lot of climbing. 
• Ticket Price: INR 25 for Indian citizens and INR 200 for foreigners. 
• Timings: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm

CSMT is a UNESCO World Heritage Station and one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. It has Victorian Gothic architecture, pointed arches, and stained-glass windows, which are spectacular. 

At night, the lights in the building glamorize and make Mumbai a city of non-stop life, as depicted inside. The best part about visiting the heritage site is that you can take a short shopping trip to the nearby Bhuleshwar market and recharge yourself. 

• Travel Tip: You must take your cameras here and capture the best shots from the opposite side of the street at the traffic island. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

The museum is the treasure chest of the culture of Mumbai, where one can find ancient artifacts, sculptures, paintings, and textiles. Its Indo-Saracenic architecture is equally impressive. 

The galleries are so calm and cool with air conditioners, and it makes it a pleasurable visit. You can find many workshops, educational programs, and events in the museum. It is a nice place to spend a silent afternoon and read about the Indian artistic and cultural history 

• Travel Tip: Get a guide or an audio guide to get a more in-depth insight into the museum and its importance. 
• Ticket Price: INR 50 for Indians and INR 975 for foreigners. 
• Timings: 10:15 am to 6 pm.

Dharavi is a Mumbai neighborhood that is culturally diverse and industrial. A tour around shows the entrepreneurial nature of people living there; they own businesses in such areas as pottery, leather work, recycling, and baking. The streets are small yet vibrant and imaginative. 

The experience is stereotype-breaking, and it provides a fresh perspective on Mumbai. Tourists are impressed by the wholeness and creativity of the community. 

• Travel Tip: It is important to always use an authorized and ethical tour operator.  
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Lower Parel is the nightlife district of Mumbai that has rooftop bars, breweries, and dance halls and taking a trip here is considered one of the things to do in Mumbai this weekend. It has both a luxury dining and a casual party atmosphere. 

The location remains busy until late evening with the young professionals and tourists. A lot of cafes and clubs have live music and DJs here to experience the perfect Mumbai nightlife. The rooftop venues have phenomenal views of the skyline, making it the ideal location to have a great evening out. 

• Travel Tip: Weekends are pretty busy here, so you must book your tables in advance. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Juhu Beach is quite an interesting place in Mumbai, with its food stalls, camel riding, and energetic venues. Bollywood actors and actresses are frequent neighbors, and if you are lucky, you might meet them. 

It is a great beach to take long walks, capture sunsets, and go out with the family. Food stalls here sell pav bhaji, gola, pani puri, and more are unmissable. It is a carnival-like atmosphere on a daily basis. 

• Travel Tip: Leave your things in a safer place and be aware of the pickpockets. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 24/7

Chor Bazaar is one of the biggest flea markets in India, with a number of antiques, lamps, old decor, and posters and is counted as best things to do in Mumbai for youngsters. 

You may get something special here with incredible prices. Even when you have no intention of making purchases, the century-old, beautiful market makes it entertaining to explore. 

The streets are small yet filled with hundreds of shops and stalls. It is a perfect heaven for collectors and bargain hunters. 

• Travel Tip: Make sure to bargain bravely, as the prices asked are usually high. 
• Ticket Price: Free
• Timings: 11 am to 7:30 pm

Mani Bhavan is an old structure in which Mahatma Gandhi lived whenever he visited Mumbai. The museum exhibits photographs, letters, books, and preserved rooms of the life of Gandhi. 

The setting is bare but effective and provides an insight into the freedom movement in India. You can find inspiration from spinning wheels, the library, and diorama-like storytelling. It is a serene site, and it takes you back to a critical period in the history of India. 

• Travel Tip: Take time to window-shop in the library, as there are books from the rare collections. 
• Ticket Price: INR 20 per person and INR 10 for students.
• Timings: 9:30 am to 6 pm

The Taj Mahal Palace hotel is one of the most recognizable buildings of Mumbai and the symbol of old-time luxury and tradition. It is standing tall facing the Gateway of India, and this grand hotel has been accommodating royalty, world leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries since 1903. 

This is a place food lovers can go and enjoy luxurious treats and take pictures of all the picturesque angles. 

• Travel Tip: Make sure to book an appointment before visiting. 
• Ticket Price: Free, but the stay and food are chargeable. 
• Timings: Open 24/7

Wrapping Up! 

Mumbai is not just a city but an experience with a mix of cultures, history, food, and modernity. Here you can find capricious bazaars, hallowed caverns, lavish movie houses, and beach walks. Whether you are on a weekend trip or even planning a full week-long trip, the 20 things to do in Mumbai will definitely assure you that you can enjoy and explore the real soul of the city. 

Now grab your bags, wear the most comfortable clothes, and be ready to get shocked by what Mumbai has to offer you!