I consider myself to be a pretty experienced traveler (I’ve been to more than 70 countries solo) but still, I was overwhelmed by Mumbai. I stayed in the city for several days, but I never quite felt like I got the appeal of India’s most populous city, where traditional “tourist attractions” seemed to be few and very far between… without any kind of tourist-friendly public transportation system connecting them. Thus, as I look back at my own two-month India trip, I actually wish I’d spent less time in Mumbai. In fact, just one day would have been enough, which is why I wanted to help other solo travelers in India by writing this guide to the best places to visit in Mumbai in one day.
Getting Oriented in Mumbai
Mumbai is a huge city – in fact, I read somewhere that if you took the eight smallest countries in the world and put them together, combined they would still be smaller than Mumbai! Unfortunately, Mumbai does not have a tourist-friendly public transportation system, so if you have one day in Mumbai it makes sense to concentrate your sightseeing in one area of the city. In my opinion, the best area to focus on for one day is Colaba and its immediate surroundings.
There are a few different peninsulas in Mumbai and Colaba is at the southern tip of one of them. Many of Mumbai’s most famous landmarks are located in this neighborhood, and it has enough things to see and do to keep you busy for a full day, without needing to venture further afield.
That being said, even though the attractions on this itinerary are close together and within comfortable walking distance, Mumbai can be confusing to navigate. Make sure you download an offline Google Map of Mumbai, and it’s even better if you have an Indian SIM card (or an eSim) in your phone.
My one-day Mumbai itinerary assumes that you slept the previous night in Colaba and will be ready to start sightseeing early in the morning on your first (and only) full day in the city. To make this work, you might want to consider one of the following Colaba hotels:
- Budget – Backpacker Cowies is a budget hostel with a common room, open-air terrace and activities like walking tours and event nights. I stayed here back when it was called Backpacker Panda.
- Mid-Range – Competitively-priced Ascot Hotel books up early and serves a delicious Indian-style breakfast.
- Luxury – The waterfront Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai is the most iconic hotel in all of India.
- Boutique – I can also personally recommend Abode Bombay, an independent boutique hotel in Colaba. However, you should make sure (!) to book one of the higher-end rooms with a window and private bathroom.
So, you’ve spent the night in Colaba and you are ready to spend one day in Mumbai exploring your surroundings? Let’s get started!
#1 – Sassoon Docks
The Sassoon Docks open daily around 5:00 am, making it the perfect first stop for jet-lagged travelers who aren’t yet on Indian time. The earlier you arrive the more action you’ll see, as trawlers dock at the pier and begin unloading their catch of the day. On the dock, hundreds of workers, mostly women, peel shellfish and sort through the rest of the bounty.
This isn’t for show – these are real people going about the hard work of getting food onto people’s plates. So, be conscientious and respectful about where you step, who you photograph and how you interact with the people who work here. You may also find that your shoes get a little bit fishy, so consider stopping by before breakfast, then returning to your hotel to rinse the soles of your shoes and fuel up for the rest of your one day in Mumbai.
#2 – Gateway of India
From the Sassoon Docks you can follow the Colaba Causeway (a popular shopping street) north to The Gateway of India. The walk should take about ten minutes, and along the way you’ll pass Leopold Cafe, which was immortalized in the novel Shantaram. Turn towards the water immediately after passing Leopold Cafe to reach the Gateway of India.
This triumphal arch was built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary ten years earlier, and is now considered to be a symbol of independence from British colonial rule. When I visited Mumbai the area immediately around the arch was controlled by security, and you had to queue (one line for women, one line for men) and go through a bag check before you could get up close.
#3 – The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower
If you slept here last night, you’ll already be very familiar with India’s most famous hotel. Built by the industrialist who founded the Tata Group (visit their tea plantations in the hills of Kerala). I love the story behind this hotel, which is that Tata built the hotel out of spite, after being refused service at a different, “whites only” luxury hotel. That hotel is no longer around, but the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower is still famous around the world.
I happened to be in Mumbai on the anniversary of the 2008 bombings, and security at the hotel was on high alert. They weren’t letting sightseers into the property, but on most days it’s possible to go into the lobby to see the shops, restaurants and luxurious interior. If you’re staying here, the hotel also offers a daily, guided “Heritage Walk” for guests, where you learn about the history of the property and explore behind the scenes.
Optional: Boat Trip to the Elephanta Caves
If you’re already feeling overwhelmed by the crowds (I don’t blame you!), you can escape the hustle and bustle of Mumbai on a boat trip to the Elephanta Caves. You can do it yourself on the public ferries that depart from the dock near the Gateway of India, but if you want to understand what you’re seeing I would recommend joining this affordable guided tour that departs daily around 10:30.
Elephanta is an island located about an hour away from Mumbai. If it wasn’t so hazy you could see it from the shore, but with the air quality today that is usually unlikely. The main attractions on the island are the remarkable caves, accessed via 100 steps, which were turned into a series of Hindu temples. The stone carvings inside date back more than a thousand years, and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most travelers spend about an hour and a half to two hours on the island before heading back on the ferry. If you’re up for a walk, you can climb the hill near the temples for panoramic views of the island and distant views of Mumbai (if it’s clear).
If you choose to go out to the Elephant Caves it will impact how many of the other sights on this itinerary you’ll be able to see. Don’t worry about it – whether you go to the islands or stay on the mainland you’ll still get a good overview of Mumbai in just one day with this plan.
#4 – National Gallery of Modern Art and the Jehangir Art Gallery
As you walk further northwest from the Gateway of India you begin to leave Colaba and arrive in the district of Kala Ghoda (“Black Horse” – look for the namesake statue). This neighborhood is home to many striking colonial buildings and a handful of the country’s most important art galleries.
Located across the street from one another, the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Jehangir Art Gallery are two places to consider visiting with your one day in Mumbai. The Jehangir Art Gallery was the first contemporary art museum in the city, and today it is free to enter. The National Gallery of Modern Art has five galleries that display works from their permanent collections as well as temporary exhibits from Indian and international artists.
#5 – Flora Fountain
Walking a few blocks further north will plant you in the heart of Fort, another historic district in Mumbai. The very first East India Company was situated here, giving the neighborhood its name.
There are quite a few striking colonial facades at the entrance to this area, including the Asiatic Society Library and Saint Thomas’ Cathedral, which is believed to be the oldest British building still standing today. You’ll want to turn west at Horniman Circle and walk towards the Flora Fountain, shown above. The fountain is named after Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and nature, who can be seen atop the 1864 monument.
Some other travel guides will tell you keep walking north from here to see the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which was formerly known as the Victoria Terminus. This is definitely a beautiful railway station, but it’s a bit out of the way and the Churchgate Station is nearly as beautiful.
#6 – Churchgate Railway Station
Continue walking a few more blocks west until you reach Churchgate Railway Station. This is the southern terminus of Mumbai’s Western Railway Line, which connects the Colaba peninsula to the north part of the city and the suburbs beyond. Millions of people pass through this station every day, so I recommend you just look at the architecture (inspired by a Swiss chalet) rather than getting lost in the crowds inside.
#7 – Marine Drive
Exploring Mumbai in one day gives you an introduction to the city, but you don’t truly understand the city’s scale until you reach Marine Drive, the waterfront promenade with views for miles (well, technically for just over three kilometers).
As you reach the waterfront you will pass Brabourne Stadium, a popular spot to watch a cricket match. I believe that you can buy tickets online at this site, although no matches are showing at the time of publication (March 2024). One block up the street you’ll also find Natural Ice Cream, the city’s most popular ice cream shop. Strolling along the water just isn’t the same without a fresh mango or coconut ice cream.
If you’re wearing comfortable walking shoes you can follow the pedestrian pathway north to Girgaon Chowpatty, one of the most popular hangout spots for local youths and families. Don’t swim at the beach here – the water is not clean – but do relax and observe local families enjoying their late afternoon.
#8 – Return to Colaba for Dinner
I haven’t talked much about food in this guide, so I’ll highlight some local eating options here. Personally, I found that the heat in India meant that after breakfast I wasn’t really hungry again until it was time for an early dinner.
One great option for dinner tonight is joining a Mumbai Street Food Tour, which departs around 5:30 pm from the Churchgate Railway Station. I loved taking street food tours in India because the guides always know which street food vendors are hygienic and safe, and they are able explain all of the ingredients, techniques and cultural references that go into India’s rich cuisine. On this tour, you will sample at least sixteen different street foods!
If you can’t make it to Churchgate Railway Station for 5:30, I recommend jumping in an Uber, Ola or taxi back to the center of Colaba, where there are lots of good restaurants to choose from. Some to check out include:
- Indigo Deli – I had a really good flatbread pizza here, and they also have other international dishes like pasta, risotto and burgers.
- The Table – Frequently voted as one of the best restaurants in the world, The Table is probably one of the most affordable places to try world-class cuisine. Reserve your table in advance.
- Koyla Ethnic Cafe – You’re paying for the views at this rooftop restaurant that only opens for dinner as the sun goes down.
- Ayub’s Restaurant – If you’re on a tight budget this take-out shop serves vegetarian and meat-based wraps, rolls and biryanis to go.
But really, you can walk around the well-lit main streets of Colaba safely in the evening, check out the different restaurants and see which ones have the atmosphere and menu that looks good to you.
After dinner you can relax with a cocktail at one of the classy bars around the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, or you could watch a Bollywood movie at the Regal Cinema, an Art Nouveau landmark, or the more modern Inox Laserplex. You don’t have to speak Hindi to have fun at a Bollywood movie, trust me!
Reflecting on Mumbai in One Day
I promise you, this itinerary for seeing Mumbai in one day is manageable, even for a novice traveler, and it takes you to a great variety of different sights and attractions.
If there’s something specific you want to see outside of the area I’ve described in this post, I would recommend traveling to and from that place in a taxi, Uber or Ola, as the public transportation system really is designed for commuters, not tourists. Some attractions that are further afield include Haji Ali’s Tomb, Malabar Hill and the Dharavi Slums, which were featured in “Slumdog Millionaire” (only go as part of a guided tour).
I spent two months traveling solo around India, and based on my experiences I narrowed down a list of the 15 best cities to visit in India if it’s your first trip to the country.
I also know that a lot of first-time visitors to India have questions before their trip. I wrote down all of my own India travel questions before left home, and then I answered them when my India trip came to a close.
Planning a trip to India? Pin this post for later!
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