Visiting Mumbai is like hopping on an exciting roller coaster – a new surprise awaits you at every corner. Underneath the veil of ubiquitous pollution and grueling traffic jams lies a city which is home to unmatchable art, fashion, adventure, architecture and of course, Bollywood. Include these experiences in your plan and you are sure to have a trip you will treasure for a long time.
1. Take a half-day Bollywood tour at Filmcity
Rouse the cinephile in you by booking a two-hour guided tour to Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Filmcity). You have three tour options including one where you can view live shooting on a set! However, don’t get your hopes too high as it is a TV serial shoot and not a movie. The overall feel of this place with all the fancy sets will surely be exciting and entertaining.Tip: Make sure you keep ample time to travel as Filmcity is located in Goregaon, quite far away from downtown.
2. Enjoy a day at the beach
Mumbai has the beautiful Arabian Sea at its west which means you have ample of places to enjoy mesmerising sunsets with sand in your toes. If you are looking for a lively, colourful fair, head straight to Juhu beach or Chowpatty. Those seeking solitude can hit lesser crowded beaches such as Aksa beach or Manori beach. Either way, it will be a day well spent.Tip: If you plan to swim, make sure you check in advance if the beach is safe for swimming on that particular day.
3. Indulge in street shopping at Colaba Causeway
From funky accessories to leather bags, and from home décor to silk scarves, you will find everything here. And the prices! They are the best part of the deal. Avoid the afternoon heat and plan a trip here at around 4pm, preferably on a weekday. Then take a cab to the nearby Fashion Street, which sells trendy clothes, exactly as the name describes.Tip: Bargain and take care of your belongings.
4. Hog on lip-smacking street food
If you have a love affair with street food, Mumbai will be like a blissful honeymoon! Enjoy a volcano of flavours when you bite into a hot vada pav, buttery pav bhaji or a spicy pani puri. And you don’t need to dedicate a day to enjoy street food in Mumbai, because it exists at every corner! However, if you want to taste the best of the best, visit Ashok Vada Pav (Prabhadevi) and Gurukripa (Sion).
5. Spend an evening watching impressive theatre or stand-up comedy
While Mumbai has always been home to some amazing stage acts and plays, the stand-up comedy bug bit it recently. Check out the websites of Prithvi Theatre (Juhu) and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA; Nariman Point) to know which dramas are playing. They also have festivals so keep an eye on that. While stand-up comedy takes places across many restaurants and cafés in the city, check out Canvas Laugh Club (Lower Parel) for some of the best performances in town.
Tip: Book tickets well in advance as most shows sell out soon.
6. Soak in the serene sunset at Marine Drive
Offering a fabulous view of the city’s showstopper skyline, Marine Drive is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. With the serene Arabian Sea on one side and Mumbai’s famous skyscrapers on the other, you are sure to have an unforgettable evening here. And as sun sets, the illumination makes the Queen’s Necklace a remarkable sight.Tip: Have a romantic evening with your partner at the Intercontinental Dome located on Marine Drive for soft music, dim lights, delicious food and fantastic hospitality.
7. Take a short trip to Dharavi slums
Visit these slums to see a different, jarring face of Mumbai and learn about the various small scale industries existing there. Many under-3-hour guided tours are available throughout the day.Tip: Buy some leather goods Dharavi is famous for.
How to reach Mumbai?
Mumbai is well connected to the rest of India with multiple non-stop flight options available. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has two terminals – Terminal 1 at Santacruz for domestic flights and Terminal 2 at Sahar for both domestic and international flights. To grab the cheapest air tickets to Mumbai, set a Price Alert and we’ll let you know when to book your flights.
Now that you have a wholesome list of the things to do in Mumbai, it is time to go ahead and book that trip! Book your flights, hotel or rent a car with Skyscanner today. You can do all of these on our mobile app too.
