3 Days in Mumbai: A Day-by-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day one walks South Mumbai's colonial heart, from the Gateway of India and the city museum to the Gothic CSMT station, ending with sunset on Marine Drive. Day two takes the ferry to the cave temples of Elephanta Island, then the street shops of Colaba Causeway. Day three visits Siddhivinayak, the Mahalakshmi temple and Haji Ali, ending by the sea at Bandra.
Good to Know
Estimated total per person: ₹1,800 to ₹3,400, excluding flights and hotel
Weather: Hot and humid most of the year; the monsoon from June to September brings very heavy rain, and November to February is the most pleasant.
Pack:
Light cotton clothes
Sunscreen and a hat
An umbrella in the monsoon
Clothes covering shoulders and knees for temples and the dargah
Local tips:
Local trains are fast but packed at rush hour; avoid them between about 8 and 11am and 5 and 9pm.
Black-and-yellow taxis use meters; app cabs are easy to find too.
The Haji Ali causeway can only be walked at low tide.
Booking tips:
Take an early ferry to Elephanta; the last boats back leave in the late afternoon.
The Elephanta Caves are closed on Mondays.
Getting there (from other Indian cities):
flight: Direct flights to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from every major Indian city - About 2 hours from Delhi
train: Rajdhani, Duronto and other trains to Mumbai CSMT, Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus - About 16 hours from Delhi by Rajdhani
The airport is about 25 km from South Mumbai; allow an hour or more by cab, longer at rush hour.
Stay in South Mumbai or near a station on your route to cut travel time.
Day 1: Colonial South Mumbai and Marine Drive
The Gateway of India, the city museum and art gallery, the Gothic CSMT station, and sunset along Marine Drive.
Gateway of India (morning): Start at the Gateway of India, the basalt arch on the harbour completed in 1924 to mark a royal visit, facing the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Morning is calmer, with boats bobbing in the harbour before the crowds arrive. Free Why visit: Mumbai's most famous landmark; Harbour views and the Taj Mahal Palace next door Know before you go: Very crowded in the evenings and at weekends; Elephanta ferries leave from here
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (city museum) (late morning): Walk to the city museum, about 10 minutes, in a domed Indo-Saracenic building opened in 1922 as the Prince of Wales Museum. Its galleries cover Indian sculpture, miniature paintings, arms and natural history. Next door, the Jehangir Art Gallery shows contemporary Indian art for free. ₹200, Indian adult; ₹250 with audio guide Why visit: Mumbai's main museum, in a landmark building; The free Jehangir Art Gallery next door Know before you go: Allow at least two hours; Bags may need to be deposited
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) (afternoon): Walk north along DN Road, past the Flora Fountain, to CSMT, about 20 minutes. Completed in 1888 as Victoria Terminus, this Victorian Gothic railway station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still handles millions of passengers a day. Free, to see from outside; heritage tours inside are paid Why visit: One of the world's grandest railway stations; A UNESCO site that is still in daily use Know before you go: The best view of the facade is from across the road; Avoid the station at rush hour
Marine Drive (sunset): Take a cab to Marine Drive, about 10 minutes, the long seafront promenade around Back Bay. Sit on the sea wall with half of Mumbai for the sunset, then watch the curve of street lights come on. Free Why visit: Sunset over the Arabian Sea; The 'Queen's Necklace' of lights after dark Know before you go: Breezy and pleasant in the evening; Very busy on weekends
Eat: Kyani & Co. - One of Mumbai's oldest Irani cafés, near Metro Cinema, for bun maska, chai and berry pulao.
Evening: Stay on Marine Drive after sunset, when its street lights curve around the bay like a necklace.
Budget for the day: ₹500 to ₹900 per person, excluding hotel
Day 2: Elephanta Caves and Colaba
A morning ferry to the Shiva cave temples on Elephanta Island, then the street shops and cafés of Colaba Causeway.
Elephanta Caves (morning): Take a morning ferry from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, about an hour across the harbour. Climb the steps to the rock-cut cave temples, carved around the 5th to 7th centuries and dedicated to Shiva. The great three-headed Shiva sculpture in the main cave is about 6 metres tall. ₹40, Indian visitors; the return ferry is about ₹200 to ₹300 extra Why visit: Ancient rock-cut Shiva temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; A harbour ferry ride with views of the city Know before you go: Closed on Mondays; About 120 steps up to the caves; a toy train covers part of the way
Colaba Causeway (afternoon): Back at the Gateway, walk to Colaba Causeway, the street market of stalls selling clothes, jewellery, bags and souvenirs under old colonial arcades. It is lively, cheap and good for bargaining, with cafés along the way. Free Why visit: Mumbai's best-known street shopping; Cafés and old colonial buildings Know before you go: Bargain politely; Keep an eye on your bag in the crowds
Eat: Bademiya - A famous late-night kebab grill on a lane behind the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Mostly meat dishes.
Evening: Eat kebabs at Bademiya, the street-side grill behind the Taj that has been running since the 1940s.
Budget for the day: ₹590 to ₹1,000 per person, excluding hotel
Day 3: Siddhivinayak, Haji Ali and Bandra
Mumbai's most visited Ganesh temple, the Mahalakshmi temple and Haji Ali Dargah by the sea, and sunset on the Bandra seafront.
Siddhivinayak Temple (morning): Start early at Siddhivinayak in Prabhadevi, Mumbai's most visited Ganesh temple, first built in 1801. Devotees queue from before dawn, and the inner shrine holds a black stone idol of Ganesh. Free Why visit: Mumbai's most important Ganesh temple; A glimpse of the city's devotion Know before you go: Very crowded on Tuesdays; Phones and bags may need to be deposited
Mahalakshmi Temple (late morning): Take a taxi to the Mahalakshmi temple by the sea, about 15 minutes, dedicated to the goddess of wealth. The lane leading to it is lined with stalls selling flowers, coconuts and sweets for offerings. Free Why visit: One of Mumbai's oldest temples; A busy, colourful lane of offering stalls Know before you go: Busiest on Fridays and during Navratri
Haji Ali Dargah (midday): Walk to Haji Ali Dargah, a few minutes away, the white mosque and tomb of a 15th-century saint on an islet in the sea. It is reached by a narrow causeway that disappears under water at high tide. Free Why visit: A white mosque and shrine standing in the sea; The walk out along the causeway Know before you go: The causeway is only walkable at low tide; check tide times; Cover your head inside
Bandstand, Bandra (sunset): Take a cab across the Sea Link to Bandra, about 30 minutes, and walk the seafront promenade at Bandstand, popular with couples and families, past film stars' homes to the ruins of Bandra Fort for the sunset. Free Why visit: Sunset over the sea and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link; A walk past famous film stars' homes Know before you go: The rocks are slippery; stay on the promenade; Bandra Fort closes at dusk
Eat: Candies - A much-loved, rambling café in Bandra with sandwiches, bakes and Indian snacks, near the seafront.
Evening: Walk the Bandra seafront from Bandstand to Bandra Fort for the sunset over the Sea Link.
Budget for the day: ₹700 to ₹1,500 per person, excluding hotel
Want a Different Pace?
A Dharavi walk: A guided walk through Dharavi's workshops: See the recycling, pottery and leather trades at work. (Trade-off: Go with a responsible local guide. - Similar cost)
Sanjay Gandhi National Park: The forest park and Kanheri Caves in the north of the city: Ancient Buddhist caves inside a forest. (Trade-off: About 1.5 hours from South Mumbai. - Similar cost)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Mumbai?
A 3-day Mumbai itinerary like this one works well for First-time visitors, Architecture lovers, Street-food fans. It's not the best fit if You are visiting in the monsoon, June to September, when ferries can stop or You dislike crowds and heat.
How much does a 3-day Mumbai trip cost per person?
Budget about ₹1,800 to ₹3,400 per person for entry tickets, food and local transport on this 3-day Mumbai itinerary. Flights and hotel are extra.
What's the best time to visit Mumbai?
The best time to visit Mumbai is November to February.
How do I reach Mumbai from other Indian cities?
Common options are flight (About 2 hours from Delhi), train (About 16 hours from Delhi by Rajdhani). The airport is about 25 km from South Mumbai; allow an hour or more by cab, longer at rush hour.
What are the must-see places in Mumbai in 3 days?
Day 1: Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (city museum), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Marine Drive. Day 2: Elephanta Caves and Colaba Causeway. Day 3: Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple, Haji Ali Dargah and Bandstand, Bandra.
Which Mumbai attractions are free?
On this itinerary, Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Marine Drive, Colaba Causeway, Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple, Haji Ali Dargah and Bandstand, Bandra are free to visit (some charge for special exhibitions or inside visits).
How much are entry tickets in Mumbai?
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (city museum): ₹200; Elephanta Caves: ₹40. Prices are for Indian adult visitors; check the official site before you go.
How do you get to the Elephanta Caves?
Ferries leave from the Gateway of India from about 9am and take around an hour. The caves cost ₹40 for Indian visitors, the return ferry about ₹200 to ₹300, and the caves are closed on Mondays.
How do you get around Mumbai?
Use metered taxis or app cabs for short trips, and local trains or the metro for longer ones, avoiding rush hours. South Mumbai's sights on day one are walkable.
Where to Eat in Mumbai
Pizza By The Bay - ★4.2 - Soona Mahal, 143, Marine Dr, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020, India
Jimmy Boy Restaurant & Cake Shop Fort - ★4.3 - Vikas Building, 11, G Vaidya Rd, near Horniman Circle, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Aram Vada Pav - ★4.3 - Capital Cinema Building, 126, Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Rd, opp. Aram Hotel CSMT, Azad Maidan, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Swati Snacks - ★4.4 - Dalamal Tower, Free Press Journal Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021, India
The Nutcracker - ★4.4 - Dr, Forbes St, Lion Gate, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Nightlife in Mumbai
Leopold Cafe - ★4.2 - Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Police Station, Colaba Causeway, near Colaba, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Mockingbird Cafe Bar - ★4.4-80, Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020, India
Kala Ghoda Cafe - ★4.3-10, Rope Walk Ln, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Cafe Mondegar - ★4.4 - Metro House, Colaba Causeway, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
145 Kala Ghoda - ★4.4-1st, Temple Bar Building, 145, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Sunlight Restaurant & Bar - ★4.2-537, Ravindra Apartments, Kalbadevi Rd, Dhobi Talao, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002, India
Woodside Inn - ★4.4 - Indian Mercantile Mansion, Wodehouse Road, Opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba Causeway, Colaba, Dr Ambedkar Statue Chowk Area, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
The Lantern Bar - ★4.2-95, Mahatma Gandhi Road, off Ash Lane, near Fountain circle, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India