Day 1:

Indulge in History

08:00 AM – 12:00 PM

There is no better way of kicking off your Mumbai tour other than the iconic Gateway of India.

The historical significance of the monument is well known to every Indian and being there, you get a surreal feeling. The famous and legendary Taj Mahal Palace sits just across the road. This is a popular spot for photographers and history lovers.

Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour

Mode of Transport: Kaali Peeli Taxi is an economical option.

From here, you get the tickets for the ferry ride to Elephanta Caves.

The Elephanta Caves is located on an island. It takes around 30 min to get here on a boat. This is a complex of many caves. Inside the caves, what you find are sculptures that are rock-cut. These caves are believed to be more than 1500 years old. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

Mode of Transport: Ferry ride from Gateway of India.

By the time you return to the mainland, it will be lunchtime and to quench your hunger, Colaba is the place to be. Just 500 meters from Gateway of India, here you get plenty of options to dine in but the 2 most popular names are Leopold Café (Persian) and Bademiya (Mughlai).

If looking for a vegetarian option, Pancham Puriwala, opposite CSMT Station, offers veg thalis with five varieties of puris and is one of the most famous restaurants in Mumbai, which dates back to 1848!

In the news: The Hindu 

Explore the Streets

01:00 PM – 07:00 PM

Post lunch, take a stroll along the Colaba Causeway.

Colaba Causeway is a paradise for shopaholics and culture vultures. A 500-meter lane packed with street vendors with unique collections of clothes, pieces of jewelry, footwear, and more products put up for sale at giveaway prices. And bargaining skills will be tested here. This is also known as the Culture Square of Mumbai.

Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours.

Mode of Transport: Explore the place on foot.

1 km from Colaba is The Oval Maidan.

The Oval Maidan and the surrounding area are home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of heritage buildings of Mumbai. The area was formerly called the Esplanade during the British Era. The architecture of Mumbai High court, Rajabai Clock Tower, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya stand out. If you love museums, you can spend some time at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. It remains open till 06:00 PM.

Time duration: 2 hours (including museum visit)

Mode of Transport: 10-min walk from Colaba.

The next stop in the list is none other than the world famous Marine drive.

The 3.6km long promenade is the city’s most perfect place to catch the sunset which is an experience one should not miss. There are lots of restaurants along the stretch of the road with amazing views. During the night, Marine drive looks like a string of pearls forming a necklace due to which is called a Queen’s necklace. 

Time duration: 3 – 4 hours.

Mode of Transport: Take an auto or a cab from Oval Maidan.

The city of Mumbai is known for its legendary nightlife. Marine Drive has lots of amazing eateries and pubs where one can enjoy and experience the amazing nightlife of Mumbai even till the wee hours of the morning. Head towards any of these places and have a great time with friends and family. 

The city of Mumbai has strict patrolling throughout the night and there are no safety concerns which has all contributed to the nightlife the city is famous for. The taxis are available even during late-night and one can have a gala time with no worries. 

After an unforgettable and long day, head back to the hotel and have a good night’s sleep to be fresh for the next day of Mumbai travel and sightseeing. 

Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Mumbai

Day 2:

Religious Tour

08:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Prior to beginning your sightseeing for the day, you must pay a visit to the Kyani and Co. Restaurant for breakfast. Their bun maska and chai are a must-try. The Persian restaurant has been in existence since 1904.

In the news: The Hindu

Mumbai’s spiritual culture is pretty famous and Haji Ali Dargah is one of the centres.

The mosque is believed to be more than 600 years old and its Indo-Islamic style of architecture is a manifestation of wealth and sacrifice. Often said to be a floating wonder, the sight of this edifice of white marble becomes strikingly magical especially when the tides are high.

Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour

Mode of Transport: Uber/OLA would be ideal.

6 km from the mosque is the other prominent spiritual centre, Shri Siddhi Vinayak Ganapati Mandir.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is believed to be one of the richest temples in India. Oftentimes, Bollywood stars and politicians are spotted within the temple premise seeking the blessings for their new projects.

Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour

Mode of Transport: Uber/OLA from Haji Ali Dargah.

Bandra Bandstand Promenade Sightseeing

12:00 PM – 04:00 PM

Bandra Bandstand area is one of the most famous tourist areas in Mumbai. Laces to explore here are the following.

The area hosts Bandra Fort which provides mesmerizing views of the Arabian Sea and the majestic Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This is the must-visit place to relax with friends and family. 

Near to Bandra Fort is Mannat, which is the home of famous Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. The place can be visited to gain a unique experience where we can observe hundreds of fans standing outside the mansion waiting just to get a glimpse of their favorite star. This place had gained a lot of popularity in recent years as a tourist destination.

After the visit to Mannat, visit Mount Mary Church, one of the oldest churches in Mumbai and is one of the most beautiful places of worship. It is known for its gothic architecture as well and is visited by people from all faiths and all walks of life. 

Please note that Bandra fort, Mannat, and Mount Mary’s Church are all at a walkable distance from each other and can be easily visited together. Candies Restaurant is a popular place in Bandra Bandstand for having your lunch.

Time duration: 3 – 4 hours

Mode of Transport: Uber/OLA from Shri Siddhi Vinayak Ganapati Mandir.

Explore Juhu

05:00 PM – 07:00 PM

Finally, head towards Juhu Beach which is the most visited beach in the city.

There are a lot of food stalls lined up at the beach entrance providing delicious street food such as vada pav, bhelpuri, paani puri, etc. which is a must-try for any traveller. It is also a famous shooting destination for various Bollywood films. Viewing the sunset at this beach is truly mesmerizing.

Juhu is also home to many popular Bollywood superstars, including Amitabh Bachhan’s Jalsa.

Time duration: 2 – 3 hours

Mode of Transport: Auto from Bandra would be ideal.

Day 3:

09:00 AM – 06:00 PM

Your Mumbai tour will be incomplete if you don’t take a tour of the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitra Nagari, the Bollywood studio.

The studio complex has a large assortment of indoor and outdoor studios that are used for shooting films and television shows. This is a place where every Bollywood fans aspire to be. There are multiple tours organized within the complex. The cost of the tours depends on the duration. Duration varies from 2 hours to half a day. Bookings can be made at the entrance. Online booking is also done at www.mumbaifilmcitytours.com. The timings of the studio for tourists are from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Time duration: 3 – 4 hours.

Your next stop will be at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Just 10 km north of the film city, Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Asia. With over a hundred square kilometers of green cover, the park is home to numerous and unique species of flora and fauna. To explore them, you can take a 30-min safari ride in a caged bus that takes you to the heart of the forest. Kanheri Caves is what draws tourists to this park. The cave is more than 2000 years old, cut from a rock. Other attractions inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park are Van Rani (Toy Train), Boating, Tulsi Lake, and Vihar Lake. The park remains open from 07:00 AM till 6:00 PM.

You can find detailed information on sgnp.maharashtra.gov.in

Time duration: 3 – 4 hours.

That will be a wrap in Mumbai.