Travel Guide Mumbai
It is the ancient Bombay and the most populated megalopolis of the country. Mumbai, the economic capital, abounds in life, color and sound. The city is in a frenzy of expansion, with business districts and skyscrapers sprouting up like mushrooms, but Mumbai still has a remarkable heritage. Historical monuments are lined up and in the different districts of the city you have the choice of museums and markets, parks and beaches, but also gastronomic restaurants or trendy bars. The Mumbai train station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each neighborhood has its own identity and atmosphere. It is the excessive opulence of the rich in the suburbs of Juhu or along Marine Drive, while the slum of Dharavi and its million inhabitants represents the largest slum in Asia. Mumbai is also known as the home of Bollywood, the center of India's film industry. You will pass the Gate of India, a monumental arch built in an Indo-Muslim style in the 16th century which faces the waterfront, you will visit Gandhi's house to pay homage to the most famous pacifist or the Sakshi gallery, an interesting contemporary art gallery. And near the capital, you can discover other jewels such as the rock caves of Ellora and Ajanta, the remains of Aurangabad, or the holy city of Nashik. And just an hour away by plane, you can enjoy the good life in Goa.
What to visit Mumbai?
Suggested addresses Mumbai
When to go to Mumbai?
As with all popular destinations, there are disadvantages to coming during the peak tourist months: in December and January, for example, it is difficult to find a cheap hotel room. However, Mumbai attracts visitors from all over the world all year round, so there is no particular season to favor or avoid, except for the monsoon season. The sea temperature is very pleasant all year round, ranging from 25°C to 30°C, and the rainiest months are the three summer months of June, August and July.
Weather at the moment
The region of Mumbai does not experience great variations in temperature, it is hot all year round (about 30°C). There is, of course, a dry season from October to May and a wet season from June to September. The southwest monsoon reaches the coast of Kerala in early June and within a few days spreads to Maharashtra and covers the whole country by the end of July. So avoid visiting Mumbai during the monsoon.
You can obtain a tourist visa for 3 months on the Indian government's website, which is essential to land in Mumbai and stay there. This e-tourist visa costs 65 €. In addition and of course, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months after your planned return and which has 3 blank pages.
No vaccinations are required to visit Mumbai, however it is advisable to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria, Rabies and Typhoid, especially if you are planning to leave Mumbai. In any case, it is important to be up to date with universal vaccinations if you are living in Mumbai.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to Mumbai? Our advice & tips
Many travel agencies specializing in India offer trips to Mumbai with or without an excursion to Goa. Your stay will be easier if you contact one of these specialists who know the destination well and will be able to book your nights and your tour as close as possible to your interests and your budget, without any bad surprises on the spot. No need to join a group, you can make your stay customized.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationIf you are fluent in English and have no particular dependencies or disabilities, you can organize your stay in Mumbai on your own, by booking your accommodations in advance, or on the spot by referring, for example, to the advice of your Petit Futé; you should have no particular worries about staying in this modern and fairly safe city as long as you know how to behave in the difficult neighborhoods.
In Mumbai you have several means of transportation, bus, cab, rickshaw (forbidden in the city center, available in the north of the city). Cabs, which can be recognized by their colors (black and yellow), can carry up to 4 passengers with their luggage and have air conditioning. The city is also criss-crossed by a network of efficient and comfortable buses that make it easy to get around. There is also a subway line.
