WHERE TO STAY IN MUMBAI FOR TOURISTS

If you are interested in where to stay in Mumbai, you may also be interested in where to stay in New Delhi, where to stay in Jaipur and where to stay in Goa.

South Mumbai, the best area to stay in Mumbai

South Mumbai is undoubtedly one of the best areas in Mumbai to stay because there is wholesome quality attributed to it which includes cultural spots like museums, galleries, and creative spaces, historical features like gothic, precolonial and Indo-Saracenic architectural infrastructure, liberal-minded locals, balmy weather, narrow street-markets, and the subtle aestheticism; the enigmatic beauty of the place is indeed beguiling.

Despite the location being posh and top-rated, it welcomingly embraces the budgeted backpackers and tourists like family, and friends.

Extremely amiable to the tourists, South Mumbai or South Bombay is popularly short formed as SOBO. From the farthest bay area of Colaba’s Navy Nagar to the length of beautiful Marine Drive and Girgaum Chowpatty, moving ahead to Haji Ali Dargah and spectacular Worli sea-face to the bustling and crowded flower market of Dadar railway station, SOBO is a heartthrob.

Hotels in South Mumbai

Churchgate

(sightseeing, business, weekend, solo travelers, exotic food, family)

Churchgate is a name attributed to the first railway station of the western line in Mumbai. It sees millions of commuters traveling through and fro to meet their ends.
Termed as khau gallis, the one at Nariman point near World Trade Centre and the other that is attached to Oval Maidan, nearby Churchgate station, are popular street-food joints in SOBO. Whether you try roadside pasta, or the world-famous vada pav, or the mouth-watering chaats like paani puri and sev puri, these tiny stalls are spread all over Churchgate.

From Churchgate, you can head for a boat ride in the Arabian sea while spending some time watching the arches of Gateway of India during the dusk. An early morning ride to Elephanta caves will indeed be an informative experience.

Hotels in Churchgate

Fort

(architectural design, sightseeing, Young adults, aimless wandering, nightlife, 1 day, clubs)

Stepping out of CSMT railway station is a treat when you see well-sculpted and carved niches, and, domes of Municipal Corporation building. As you move forward towards Churchgate, you will reach Fort, a vast junction of roads that observes several commercial and official buildings.

Check out the ancient artifacts at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum) while taking a stroll and observing the gothic buildings of Elphinstone College, David Sassoon library, and Flora Fountain in Fort. The roads and the bylanes are sheltered by old Banyan and peepal trees.

The zone also hosts many offbeat clubhouses, cafes, and restaurants wherein you can, spend your leisure time, shake a leg or two on original scores and have a great night singing at a Karaoke bar.

Hotels in Fort

Marine Drive

(sightseeing, leisure, beauty, fitness, nightlife, 1 day)

Marine Drive is long well maintained and beautified curvature-shore to the Arabian sea. During the night, when the lamps are lit it literally appears like a necklace and therefore it is named as “Queen's necklace”.

Take a walk or jog on the promenade of Marine Drive or maybe you just sit there and watch the horizon and sunset behind the sprawling bungalow of Raj Bhavan, Governor's residence. At the same time on the leeward side, you will watch vehicles speedily cutting the roads.

You will find many international cuisine-serving restaurants in the lane connecting Churchgate to Marine drive wherein you can enjoy a relishing meal.

Hotels in Marine Drive

Colaba

(2 days, old local, local cafes, solo backpackers, family)

The southernmost tip of Mumbai and port to naval service is called Colaba. Being a historic locality, the residents here have been residing for more than a hundred years, generations of generations.

Colaba Causeway is a happening shopping street, where you can buy from trendy chappals (footwear) to gorgeous outfits to terrific accessories all at cheap rates. Indulging in shopping from the streets essentially requires one to learn the art of bargaining and being aware of the standard rates.

Explore the contemporary art galleries and NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art), and wander through the lanes of this pre-colonial location that still buzzes voices of the old times.

Hotels in Colaba

Other neighbourhoods to stay in Mumbai

Juhu

(tourists, a month, beach, celebrities)

Juhu is another good place to stay in as it is most famous for the long and lengthy beach that sits along the shore and even though it isn’t the cleanest of beaches, it is still a great place to come and see due to the amount of things going on.

There are also numerous places of religion located in the neighbourhood including churches and temples with the most popular one being ISKCON temple as it is set over four acres and is one of the most visually stunning buildings that attracts thousands of people every day.

Juhu is one of the wealthiest areas of the city and you will see lots of brand new mansions that are mainly owned by Bollywood celebrities. Juhu is home to many restaurants, bars and hotels, though most of them tend to be more expensive than most neighbourhoods in Mumbai.

Hotels in Juhu

Bandra

(seafront, celebrities, with girlfriend)

This suburb is another decent area to stay in due to the amount of thing to do and see, which is located along the seafront in the west of the city and is also home to many Bollywood celebrities like Juhu.

There are various religious places including churches and temples as well as remains of a Fort, which was built back in 1640 by the Portuguese. There are gardens, parks, movie theatres, shops, malls, entertainment complexes as well as chances to meet original Bandra natives too.

Hotels in Bandra

Powai

(nightlife, family, business, restaurants, and cafes 1 day)

Located along the bank of pleasing Powai lake, this upbeat location is an amalgamation of budding mansions and upkept natural surroundings. There has been an increase in one of the best eateries, cafes, restaurants and updated infrastructural features with time, here.

Having safe environs, the nightlife of this location is one to not be missed. The spaces are well built for the families to spend time, couples to walk hand in hand around the vicinity apart from organized parking lots, well-arranged security, and maintained roads.

The locale of Powai is so fresh and friendly that one feels like staying in Colaba.

Hotels in Powai

Gorai

(family, solo backpackers, leisure and entertainment, 2 days)

Gorai is situated in the northern suburbs of Mumbai. It is a sheer representation of local life and displays rich fisherman folklife. Here, a family or a solo backpacker can spend an entire day visiting entertainment venues like Esselworld and Water Kingdom. Kids are bound to have the most exhilarating moments enjoying adventurous rides. A boat ride from the Gorai port is worth a try, indeed.

If you look forward to learning mindfulness, one can spend half a day at Global Vipassana Pagoda. This long spired-structure, golden painted Pagoda propounds a meditation technique of Vipassana discovered by Gautam Buddha.

Moreover, Gorai beach and the neighborhood beaches of Marve and Aksa are amazing localities to hang out with your friends while savoring the local marine cuisine.

Bandra is blessed with a vast amount of hotels, restaurants, clubs and pubs, which appeal to all sorts of budgets.

Hotels in Gorai