15 Best Places to Visit in Mumbai

Mumbai is one of the fascinating destinations in India, thanks to its abundance of cultural and historical sites and strikingly modern high-rise buildings. The commercial capital of India is all about history, food, cinema, culture, nightlife, art and a lot more. If you are planning your next vacation to Mumbai, look at this list of the best places and hill stations near Mumbai. Keep reading!

Here are the most famous places in Mumbai that you can visit with your family and friends.

1. Gateway of India

This 85-foot-tall monument was built to honour King George the Fifth's trip to Mumbai. The last British soldiers used the Gateway of India to leave India after its independence. The three architectural styles—Hindu, Islamic, and European Gothic—are expertly incorporated into one another. From here, you can take a ferry to the Elephanta Caves.

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
• Entry Fee – Free of cost 
• Operational Hours - Open throughout the day
• Things to Do – Enjoy local delicacies and the sea breeze, and take a look at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
• How to Reach - Via road

2. Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Island, where the Elephanta caverns are located, is about a 40-minute ferry trip from the Gateway of India. One of the best places to visit near Mumbai is Elephanta Caves, which dates way back to 600 AD, and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004.

• Best Time to Visit – November to February
• Entry Fee - ₹ 10 for Indians, ₹ 250 for foreigners, ₹ 150 for a round trip ferry ride
• Operational Hours - Every day of the week except Monday
• Things to Do - Explore the ecstatic artworks and sculptures in the caves.
• How to Reach - Via road

3. Marine Drive

One of the best tourist places in Mumbai, this beach provides a fantastic sunset view. Marine Drive attracts tourists mainly because they may stroll along the sidewalk and enjoy refreshing wind there.

• Best Time to Visit - March and October 
• Entry Fee – Free of cost
• Operational Hours – Open all days
• Things to Do – View the sunset, have street food at Chowpatty
• How to Reach - Via road

4. Victoria Terminus

UNESCO designated this place as a World Heritage Site in 2004. The structure is an example of numerous architectural styles, including traditional Indian, Victorian, and Gothic styles. 

Although it is a terminus where trains arrive and depart, you cannot help but be in awe of the magnificent architecture of the structure.

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
• Entry Fees - Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Open all days
• Things to Do – Buy books at Kitab Mahal, visit the St. Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai
• How to Reach – Via road

5. Haji Ali Shrine

Haji Ali Shrine, which is situated in Worli, is an example of Indian Muslim architecture. The 85-foot-tall building is located on a plot of land that is 4500 meters long. The material used to build this Shrine is the same as the marble used to make the Taj Mahal.

• Best Time to Visit - March and October
• Entry Fees - Free of cost 
• Operational Hours - Open all days
• Things to Do – On Fridays, one can attend a qawwali session and pay their respect at the Shrine 
• How to Reach - Via water and road

6. Sanjay Gandhi National Park

With around 2 million visits each year, Sanjay Gandhi National Park is Asia's most famous national park. This area is a top tourist destination in Mumbai because of its diverse flora and fauna and the 2,400-year-old Kanheri caves.

• Best Time to Visit – September to March
• Entry Fees - There are charges for different activities but no entry fees as such
• Opening Timings - Open every day from 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
• Things to Do – Tiger and lion safari, take a walk, boating, explore Kanheri caves, visit Buddhist Viharas, visit Trimurti temple, take a ride on the vanrani narrow gauge train 
• How to Reach - Via road

7. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

This museum contains about 50,000 artifacts and is organized into sections for art, archaeology, and natural history. Intriguingly, many of the objects in this collection also have foreign origins. Further, these artifacts may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization, the Gupta Dynasty, the Mauryan Dynasty, and more.

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
• Entry Fees - ₹ 20 for children, ₹ 85 for Indians, ₹ 500 for foreigners
• Opening Timings - Open every day from 10:15 AM to 6:00 PM
• Things to Do – Explore the museum, participate in gallery events, take part in art and craft activities
• How to Reach - Via road

8. Markets of Mumbai

Mumbai is a shopping paradise, especially for its flea markets and fashion-focused street stores. Colaba Causeway, Hill Road, Linking Road, and Fashion Street provide some excellent options at relatively reasonable prices for fashionistas. 

• Best Time to Visit – All year round, the best time to shop would be late afternoons and evenings 
• Entry Fees - Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Every day from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM
• Things to Do – Explore nearby cafes, shopping 
• How to Reach - Via road

9. Global Vipassana Pagoda

A drug hall called the Global Vipassana Pagoda was created to represent peace and harmony. The sermons here aim to dispel misconceptions about Vipassana and Lord Buddha's teachings.

• Best Time to Visit – All year round, preferably early morning or late afternoon 
• Entry Fees - Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
• Things to Do – Explore the wall mountings, video gallery, books, and souvenir center, see the Buddha Statue, and meditate. 
• How to Reach - Via road

10. Siddhivinayak Temple

One of Mumbai's most notable and well-known temples is the Siddhivinayak Temple, a revered shrine devoted to Lord Ganesha, located in the Prabhadevi neighbourhood. 

The Shri Ganesha image, which is roughly 2.5 feet big and carved out of a single piece of black stone, is kept in a small sanctum of the temple. The temple has become well-known because of its popularity with movie stars and influential people in the industry. 

• Best Time to Visit – June to December
• Entry Fees – Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Every day from 12:30 PM to 7:20 PM 
• Things to Do – Seek blessings of Lord Ganesha 
• How to Reach - Via road

11. Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, also known as the Mount Mary Church by the locals, is one of the greatest examples of its sort and is built atop a hillock 262 feet above sea level. 

The church, which is situated on the outskirts of the energetic metropolis of Mumbai, has a breathtaking view of the vibrantly buzzing Arabian Sea and its lovely reflection in many shades of blue.

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
• Entry Fees – Free of cost
• Operational Hours – Every day from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM
• Things to Do – Visit the Bandra fair, take part in the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, take part in the mass
• How to Reach - Via road

12. Flora Fountain

Around Flora Fountain are numerous other historic buildings, including the Central Telegraph Office, Bombay High Court, and the Gateway of India. If you visit the Flora Fountain, go there in the evening to view the fountain all lit up.

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year
• Entry Fees – Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Open all day, every day of the week 
• Things to Do – Explore the Hutatma Chowk, take part in a heritage walk around Mumbai 
• How to Reach - Via water and road

13. Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum

The Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, which was constructed in 1872, is Mumbai's oldest museum. It was constructed in the Renaissance revival style, heavily influenced by Europe. Apart from that, various archaeological artefacts, old Bombay maps, manuscripts, and other items are on display here. 

• Best Time to Visit – Throughout the year 
• Entry Fee - ₹ 10 for Indians, ₹ 100 for foreigners 
• Operational Hours – Open on Thursdays to Tuesdays from 10 AM- 6 PM 
• Things to Do – Take part in art, culture and drama shows, participate in the exhibitions 
• How to Reach - Via water and road

14. Fort Bassein

The Portuguese constructed Fort Bassein to strengthen their position in the Konkan region. This magnificent building, which is now in ruins, took part in numerous conflicts, including the Anglo-Maratha War.

• Best Time to Visit – July to January
• Entry Fees - Free of cost
• Operational Hours - Open every day; however, visitors are not allowed in the evening
• Things to Do – Explore the fort by hiking, visit the temple and church
• How to Reach - Via road

15. Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is also one of the best beaches in Maharashtra. In addition to being a reptile zoo, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust conducts herpetology research and works to preserve species. These species include the marsh crocodile, gharial, and the endangered saltwater crocodile.

• Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
• Open Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (Except Monday)
• Ideal Vacation Duration: 2 to 3  hours
• Things to Do: Learn about crocodiles, and see them in their natural habitat
• How to Reach: Via bus, rail and cab