There are so many popular, cool, and trendy places around Mumbai from checking out a Bollywood film being made (seriously you can do a tour to see) to having high tea at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel or getting local on the “slow local” train. But from a sightseeing perspective, I’ve summed up the 25 most iconic places to visit in Mumbai so you can start checking them off your list!

If you’re here for just a couple of days, you won’t be able to hit all of these – but don’t worry even seeing a few will be so memorable for you. At the bottom of this post, I have more places to visit in Mumbai is a few other articles I’ve written such as itineraries, experiences, and what to do in just one day.

Don’t miss picking up a copy of my India e-book!

Before You Go To Mumbai

Don’t forget your visa! You can’t get one when you arrive, and you won’t be able to travel without one. I personally use iVisa because it makes everything easier. You can get a quote here and read more about getting your India tourist visa here.

You also don’t want to skimp on travel insurance. India’s cheap, but a bad break or ER visit can set you back quite a pretty penny. Here’s my World Nomads review on why I use them, and you can get a quote here.

25 Most Iconic Places to Visit in Mumbai

1. Gateway of India

You’ll find this easily when you start to sightsee in Mumbai, and it was the first place I took my parents to see. When the Brits left India and India got democracy, they left through this gate – so it’s a really meaningful place.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station

You’ll probably travel through here at some point! This railway station is not only practical and useful for everyday life, but it’s a UNESCO Heritage Site. In 2008, it was the target of a tourist attack and is the world’s busiest railway station.

3. Elephanta Caves

Another UNESCO site, these caves are mostly a shrine to Lord Shiva and are one of the most epic things to see when visiting Mumbai. They were carved out sometime around 450 AD.

Check here for a tour to the caves

4. Elephanta Island

This Island is where you’ll find the caves and you can get here from the Gateway of India, going to Gharapuri by ferry which takes an hour. The caves are the main attraction but this voyage to the island is also very cool and offers unique photo opportunities.

5. Marine Drive

What a beautiful place to people watch along the coast. There are trees planted alongside the road with large sidewalks, and it’s a kind of peaceful getaway right there in Mumbai.

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

This was once called the Prince of Wales Museum but was renamed. It’s a natural history museum and great to visit especially if you have a rainy day in Mumbai. The architecture itself is stunning.

7. Haji Ali Dargah

Off of Worli, is a beautiful mosque and actually one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Mumbai, even though people often don’t visit it.

Book a tour with Haji Ali Dargah and the Sufi Shrines here

8. Kanheri Caves

While the Elephanta Caves are for Lord Shiva which is part of Hinduism, these caves are Buddhist. India really has it all when it comes to religion. This is located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Book a tour to the Kanheri Caves here

9. EsselWorld

Traveling with kids who want a break from sightseeing? This is India’s largest amusement park and is very popular with Indian tourists who are visiting Mumbai. Before you say this isn’t the “real India”, trust me, it surely is!

Book a ticket to EsselWorld here

10. Girgaum Chowpatty

Okay, Chowpatty beach isn’t going to be this jaw-dropping beach so don’t get too excited, but it is the most popular beach in Mumbai and is an experience to visit and see. However, don’t go swimming here – just go people watch.

11. Churchgate, Slow Local

Go to Churchgate Station and take the slow local to anywhere! This is the BEST way to get around Mumbai and avoid traffic and is such a cool experience – I don’t think I’ll ever in my life see a more crowded train. You will want to avoid taking this in rush hour as it’s BUSY. Think of taking this if you arrive at the airport in Andheri and want to go to Colaba. If you go to Churchgate at noon, which will avoid rush hour, you can see the amazing dabbawallas which are EPIC – they deliver lunches in Mumbai on such a large scale without messing up that people come from all over to research this magic.

12. Sanjay Gandhi National Park

This is the national park that has the Buddhist caves mentioned above. If you want a little nature escape while in Mumbai, this is just perfect for you!

13. Siddhivinayak Temple

This Ganesh temple is one of the richest temples in Mumbai. It can get quite busy so try to go early in the morning. It actually opens at 530 AM.

14. Leopold’s for the Shantaram Fans

If you read [easyazon_link identifier=”0312330537″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Shantaram[/easyazon_link] then you might want to check out his local spot in the book, Leopold’s, for a beer and some local shacks. It’s nothing much and not really all that if you didn’t read the book. But foreigners like to go here for that nostalgia. It was another place that was attacked in 2008 during the terrorist attack.

15. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai (Crawford Market)

Crawford Market is one of the biggest most famous markets in all of Mumbai. This is a must-visit! Although I also love “thieves market”, Chor Bazaar!

16. Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park

On Malabar Hill are the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, also called the hanging gardens and next to it is is an area called “shoe park” because of a giant sculpture of a shoe, Kamala Nehru Park. This is a great place to see the sunset over the Arabian sea.

17. Colaba Causeway

Just wander along the Colaba Causeway to see some everyday life in Mumbai. You’ll see of a mix of lower and upper-class people and shops – street food and five-star hotels. You can walk to the Gateway of India and pop into the Taj Hotel.

Go for a private walking tour of Colaba here

18. Jijamata Udyaan

The name of this place has changed a few times: it was once Victoria Gardens (after the queen of England) then was called Rani Baug, and now Jijamata Udyaan. You’ll find in India, they are changing names even now (like Bangalore going back to Bangaluru) to get rid of the names the English gave them. This is a beautiful zoo and garden and is the oldest public garden in Mumbai.

19. Bandra-Worli Sea Link

This is fairly new and saved a lot of traffic time in Mumbai – but it’s also really amazing! It’s a cable hanging bridge. Keep in mind, it’s only for cars – you cannot walk on it and even motorcycles cannot go on it; I think for safety reasons.

20. Flora Fountain

Located at the South end of “Mile Long Road” aka Dadabhai Naoroji Road or MG Road, is this really beautiful monument at Martyr’s Square. It’s named after a Roman goddess and is one of Mumbai’s most famous landmarks.

21. Mani Bhavan

This is a museum dedicated to Gandhi.

22. Global Vipassana Pagoda

Have you ever thought about doing Vipassana? This is a type of meditation that requires 10 days of silence. Men and women are separated, and this building is one of the most famous in all of India. Courses are free and light meals are provided. It’s not for the light of heart.

23. Taraporewala Aquarium

I’m personally not a fan of aquariums, but I can’t deny that this is a huge attraction in Mumbai

24. Rajabai Clock Tower

Located at Mumbai University is this huge clock tower. When it was built, it was the tallest building in Mumbai, so it’s kind of a favorite from the people there. It was built by the English and modeled after Big Ben.

25. Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

I couldn’t not list the Taj. While it’s sometimes put down as a colonial place to avoid, it’s an iconic building in Mumbai, a top hotel in India, and a place that many go for high tea or lunch. This was also a site of the 2008 terrorist attacks and that is why it’s not a 5-star hotel. You will have pretty intense security checks. Book a stay here 

For other places to stay in Mumbai, check here

Tours Around Mumbai

If you want a bit more guidance to many of these places around Mumbai, try this highlights tour from Viator or this private tour with a local from Get Your Guide.

For more Mumbai travel

For general India travel tips and advice, check out this post on planning your trip to India and this post on how to dress in India. Plus, you can join my India travel Facebook group!

Don’t Forget These 10 India Travel Essentials

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