City trip Mumbai

When is the best time to go?

November to February are the best months for Mumbai: pleasant dry weather with temperatures of 23 to 32 degrees Celsius and a cool sea breeze in the evenings. The city is lively with festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi (August/September) and the Mumbai Film Festival (November). October is the transition month: the monsoon stops and the weather gradually becomes drier and more pleasant.

March and April are still acceptable (25 to 35 degrees) but become quickly hot and humid. Strictly avoid June to September: Mumbai is one of the world's rainiest cities. June alone brings an average of more than 700 millimetres of rain, with regular flooding, metro outages and blocked roads. Accommodation and flights are cheaper during the monsoon season.

The best neighbourhoods in Mumbai

• Colaba (South Mumbai) Mumbai's tourist heart: Gateway of India, the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Leopold Cafe, the Colaba Causeway market street and the Sassoon Docks fishing harbour. Most hotels and restaurants for visitors; right by the sea.
• Fort (South Mumbai) The colonial business centre with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (UNESCO, 1888), Bombay High Court, the Asiatic Society building and the pedestrian-friendly Kala Ghoda district with galleries, cafes and the Jehangir Art Gallery. Within walking distance of Colaba.
• Bandra (West) The trendy, cosmopolitan suburb: cafes, restaurants, Bollywood film sets and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge. A local favourite among young Mumbaikars; close to the airport (about 20 minutes by car).
• Dharavi One of Asia's largest informal settlements but also a bustling industrial hub: soap factories, tanneries, potters and recycling businesses side by side. Visit only via an organised Reality Tours tour, with proceeds going directly back to the community.
• Marine Drive / Chowpatty The iconic 3.6-kilometre boulevard along the Arabian Sea: the Queen's Necklace at night is one of Mumbai's most photographed views. Chowpatty Beach at the northern end: bhelpuri stalls, local families and stunning sunsets.

Top 5 attractions in Mumbai

• Gateway of India The iconic basalt triumphal arch (1924) at the Apollo Bunder quay is free to visit and best photographed early in the morning before the crowds. The adjacent pier is the departure point for boats to Elephanta Island (see below). The historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel stands directly opposite.
• Elephanta Island (Gharapuri) Located 10 kilometres from the Gateway of India, this UNESCO island features impressive 7th-century rock-cut caves dedicated to Shiva. Ferries depart every 30 minutes (07:00 to 17:30, closed Tuesday): return ferry approximately 200 to 250 rupees plus entry approximately 550 rupees for foreigners (~9 euros total). Climb the 120 steps to the main Trimurti sculpture (3 metres tall).
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya The former Prince of Wales Museum (1904) is one of India's finest collections: Mughal miniature portraits, Hindu sculptures, European porcelain and Tibetan thangkas. Entry for foreigners approximately 700 rupees (~7.75 euros). Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:15 to 17:45. Book an audio guide (approximately 150 rupees) for the best context.
• Dhobi Ghat Mumbai's open-air laundry of more than 5,000 washermen can be viewed from the bridge above the ghat in the Mahalaxmi district. Free to observe from above (best view from Mahalaxmi Bridge). Visit 08:00 to 12:00 for the most active washing period. Note: anyone demanding payment at the bridge is informal and no official entry fee applies.
• Marine Drive at night The 3.6-kilometre boulevard along the Arabian Sea becomes the Queen's Necklace at night: a double arc of streetlamps framing the bay. Free. Most atmospheric around 20:00 after dinner; Chowpatty Beach at the northern end sells bhelpuri and pani puri (0.25 to 0.50 euros). No traffic allowed but rickshaws and taxis run parallel to Marine Drive.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands to Mumbai

Air India flies almost daily non-stop from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in about 9 hours 50 minutes. Return tickets start from approximately 560 euros (book early).

KLM operates one weekly direct flight on this route. Cheaper alternatives: Etihad via Abu Dhabi or Emirates via Dubai are sometimes 100 to 200 euros cheaper but require 12 to 15 hours travel time.

There are no direct flights from Eindhoven (EIN) to Mumbai. Travellers from the south of the Netherlands take the train to Schiphol (about 1 hour 15 minutes). Mumbai's new Navi Mumbai International Airport (opened 2025) handles domestic flights; international flights still depart from the existing BOM airport.

From the airport to the city: the fastest option is the Mumbai Metro (Aqua Line, operational since October 2025): about 30 minutes to the centre, fare approximately 60 to 80 rupees (~0.70 euros). The local train to Churchgate takes about 35 minutes, fare from 15 rupees (second class). A prepaid taxi costs approximately 600 to 800 rupees (~7 to 9 euros) to Colaba.

What does a city trip to Mumbai cost?

Return flights from approximately 560 euros (Air India, book early). Accommodation: hostel from about 10 euros/night in Colaba, budget guesthouse 25 to 50 euros, mid-range hotel Bandra/Colaba 60 to 120 euros. Food: vada pav (street snack) approximately 0.25 euros, local thali 3 to 5 euros, restaurant meal 8 to 20 euros, dinner with drinks 15 to 35 euros. Gateway of India free; Elephanta Island (ferry + entry) approximately 9 euros; Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum approximately 7.75 euros; Dhobi Ghat free. Daily budget (excl. flights): approximately 30 euros (backpacker) to approximately 90 euros (mid-range).