Mumbai connects India with many parts of the world, making foreign tourists drop in for a day or two before moving to places they want to explore. My uncle lives in Oman, and every time he comes to Kolkata to meet us, he first lands in Mumbai. If you’re dropping by similarly or planning to spend a one day trip in Mumbai, here is all you can do.
After my wedding, I had to come to Maharashtra to meet my nanny. She lives in Pune, but we first came to Mumbai, spent two days here, and then took an Uber intercity to Pune. Interestingly, long journeys like Mumbai to Pune are available instantaneously on taxi apps like this. Mumbai is convenient, considering the transportation system that connects the large city through multiple options.
Where to go for one day trip in Mumbai
I love places of historical interest, but surprisingly, Mumbai didn’t have much to offer. Experiencing Mumbai is more about Marine Drive, the café culture, the Gateway of India, and the vibe around the Taj Palace. But honestly, you won’t find places to hop from one to another, mainly because everything is pretty far off. The traffic and distance between one place and another play a significant role in helping you determine what to do on one day trip in Mumbai.
Well, here is me listing out all the things to do in Mumbai in one day as per the itinerary that best suited us:
Saki Naka to Gateway of India
Our one day trip in Mumbai seemed complete after traveling for one hour on a cab from Andheri East to Gateway of India. The city is so huge that going from one place to another offers much to see.
If you want to experience Mumbai quickly, a cab ride like this will give you much more to explore than you expect. It gets even better when you have a local driver to chat and tell you stories about the city.
While we covered this long route, we saw the famous Bandra Worli sea link, underwater tunnel, and Marine Drive. While you’d expect to see important places on the way, like the Haji Ali Dargah and Wankhede Stadium, spotting Ambani’s and Isha Ambani’s house were more prominent highlights!
The Gateway of India with Taj Palace at the backdrop
The Gateway of India is an icon of Mumbai, but the Taj Palace is iconic. While one was built by the British during the 20th century to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, the other was established by Jamshedji Tata to fight discrimination faced by Indians in their own land.
Before reaching here, our Uber driver showed us the building that had the board ‘dogs and Indians not allowed‘ when the Brits were in power. He then told us that Tata had built the palace to challenge the pre-Independence conditions.
This is where you unwind, have some Vada Pao or salad chat, and watch the ships float here. If you’d love to dine at the Taj Palace, you could also do this. But if your lunch budget isn’t high, you can move to other experiences the locals love.
Leopold Café
We went to Leopold Café, a Parsi restaurant that had witnessed the wrath of 26/11. If you want to feel the authentic vibe of Mumbai, this is one place to be. While Mumbai is filled with eateries, and some are even owned by renowned celebrities, the vibe of this place opens you up to what Bombay feels like.
They have combo meal options, including one main course, a drink, and a pastry. They are cost-effective and come with both soft and hard drink options. The Shephard’s Pie is pretty famous, and so is their cheesecake. So, don’t miss out on these two for sure!
Shopping at Colaba Causeway
They say shopping in Mumbai isn’t as great as in Delhi and I couldn’t agree more. It seems like Mumbai has a posh crowd to not own something like a Sarojini Nagar. But when looking for cheap thrills, Colaba Causeway is the way.
I am not kidding; the bags, accessories, and smartphone covers were all pretty and nice. They looked expensive and were precisely as pricey as they could get. I bought a hair clutch worth 150 INR, but that was the cheapest I could get. Most were around 400 to 500 INR, which was not within my budget. You are also not allowed to film these places, so I couldn’t get pictures to share either.
My partner bought a hoodie from The Souled Store for 1499 INR, and it was interesting to find physical stores of beloved clothing brands like Snitch and this one. These only sell online in places like Kolkata and Jaipur, but they have stores in Mumbai and Bangalore.
Taking a cab to Marine Drive
After shopping, we booked a local taxi to take us to Marine Drive. Here, taxis are small and mostly the last Santro cars that operate. He charged us 150 INR and dropped us off to witness the most beautiful sunset in Mumbai.
Our one day trip in Mumbai would have been incomplete without watching the sun go down by the Marine Drive. But it was pretty disturbing to see the concrete jungle on one end while the horizon looked so pretty on the other. Mumbai needs more trees, but rapid urbanization doesn’t make way for the same.
Trying ice cream at K. Rustom & Co.
K. Rustom began selling ice cream back in 1953, and his legacy is being carried out by his family. They sell handmade ice-cream sandwiches priced around 100 INR to 200 INR and have unique flavors with recipes known only to them.
The place was frequented by Anglo-Indian ice cream lovers, as when we went there, most people who were buying from there belonged to this community. They also don’t allow people to film, so I could only click a few images to share.
Grabbing a local train
You have to grab a local train in Mumbai to feel like a local. While most people not equipped to face such crowds shouldn’t move towards the Dadar area, they say, we saw a light crowd when traveling from Church Gate to Lower Parel. The ticket price was 5 INR, and the experience was similar to local train experiences in Kolkata.
Visiting Shree Siddhivinayak
Finally, we got a cab from Lower Parel to the holy Ganesh temple. When in Mumbai, this is one temple you shouldn’t miss. Depending on the day you visit, you will find longer or shorter queues than expected. We were there on a Monday evening and saw a moderate crowd. Once you have your darshan, you can buy Mahaprasad from counters within the temple premises.
Our one day trip in Mumbai ended with us returning to the hotel and finding a place to eat. There were moderate hotels to eat at around our stay at Saki Naka. But depending on where you stay, you can find places to eat. Mumbai never sleeps, so as much as you’re keen on traveling far and wide for food and experiences, you’re in for a ride.
One thing to note is the traffic before and after office hours are pretty crazy. You can be stuck in jam for hours if you commute during these hours. It is best to keep yourself busy with experiences during these times to avoid spending most of your day in a cab.
The alternative itinerary for a day trip in Mumbai
In April 2013, after completing the 12th board, my aunt brought me to Mumbai. We enjoyed a day trip in Mumbai by bus and covered prominent places of tourist interest. This is another of the places to see in Mumbai within a short period.
From The Gateway of India, tourist bus services run every day. These cover around 33 tourist spots within one day. Inevitably, you will not be able to spend much time in each place.
Some places are seen as buses pass by those routes, and you don’t need to get down. For example, the bus takes the Bandra Worli sea link, houses of film stars, etc. These aren’t where they stop; they only give you an overview from the window seats.
The image below shares all the details on what places you can visit, the price, and the contact number. You can connect with this person or come to The Gateway of India and catch the next bus that sets on this tour.
Wrapping up!
If you like exploring places slowly, you can find a lot to do in Mumbai. For instance, if I had to choose things to do in Mumbai, I’d explore the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Museum, find the lanes with street art, visit the Elephant Caves, or have a film city tour. It is vital to prioritize what you want to do in Mumbai because the city is significant, and one shouldn’t spend the maximum amount of exploration time on transportation!
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