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Voykit pocket guide · India
Mumbai
मुंबई
Give Mumbai two to three nights for the harbour-front sights and street food, book it as a coastal city rather than a monument city, and skip the monsoon months when trains and flights are routinely delayed.
Mumbai is India's largest city by population and its financial and film centre. The historic core is at the southern tip of a long peninsula, while most of the city and the main airport lie far to the north. Distances are short on the map and slow in traffic.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- मुंबई
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, lower humidity, most comfortable for walking)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon rain floods streets and delays trains and flights)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Emergency (all services) 112 · Police 100 (now routed to 112) · Ambulance 108 (most states) or 102 · Fire 101 · Women's helpline 181 / 1091
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
Get in
By air
- BOM · Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International
- Far north of the southern sights; allow 60–90 min by taxi to Colaba in normal traffic
Get around
The Western and Central suburban rail lines and the Mumbai Metro move the largest volumes of people but get very crowded at rush hour. Taxis and app cabs (Uber, Ola) are easier for short-stay visitors; ferries run from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway of India monument
- Elephanta Island rock-cut caves (UNESCO)
- Marine Drive promenade at sunset
- Dhobi Ghat open-air laundry
- Crawford Market spices and produce
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station (UNESCO)
Sleep
- Colaba and Fort
- Closest to the historic sights and the harbour; walkable.
- Bandra
- Cafes and nightlife, closer to the airport side of the city.
- Juhu
- Beachfront hotels near the airport; convenient for late arrivals or early flights.
Language
Hindi is spoken or understood across the north and centre, English is the language of business, signs and educated conversation everywhere, and each state has its own language and script. In the south, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu replace Hindi — English is the better bridge there.
- Head wobble: a side-to-side tilt can mean yes, OK, or I heard you — check with words.
- WhatsApp is how hotels, drivers and guides communicate.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon rain can flood roads and delay trains and flights.
- Agree the taxi fare method or use the meter/app before you start.
- Check the operator for ferry services to Elephanta, which pause in bad weather.
- Suburban trains are extremely crowded at rush hour; avoid peak commuting times with luggage.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mumbai yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway of India monument
- Elephanta Island rock-cut caves (UNESCO)
- Marine Drive promenade at sunset
- Dhobi Ghat open-air laundry
- Crawford Market spices and produce
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station (UNESCO)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Maharashtra Tourism: www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/
- Incredible India: www.incredibleindia.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage — Mumbai: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mumbai
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Mumbaiमुंबई
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Emergency (all services)112
- Police100 (now routed to 112)
- Ambulance108 (most states) or 102
- Fire101
- Women's helpline181 / 1091
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/mumbai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.