17 Things to Know Before You Travel to Mumbai
Getting ready to travel to Mumbai? These tips will help you feel comfortable and prepared to visit the lively, bustling city and have a great trip!
If you’ve never visited India, there are a few things to know before you travel to Mumbai that will help you out! The city is huge, beautiful, chaotic, and unlike any other place in the world.
Out of the major cities in India, Mumbai is honestly one of the best places to visit. I may be biased (surely I am) because I lived there for 6 years and it stole my heart.
But before I went to Mumbai, I really didn’t know what to expect, but I had a million questions.
This post has all you need to know to be ready for your trip, from what to wear to how to get around, to the very basics like money and food. These tips will help prepare you for the shock, confusion, and excitement that you’re bound to experience in the city!
This post is all about things to know before you travel to Mumbai.
Tips for Your Travel to Mumbai!
#1 It’s safe, even for women
This is one of the most common questions about traveling to India in general. Mumbai is completely safe for travelers! If you travel to Mumbai you’ll see it’s relatively progressive compared to other parts of the country.
Of course, you’ll want to exercise basic common sense safety like you would in any new place or even your hometown. But you’re not going to get mugged or probably even pick-pocketed.
While it’s safe, there are some things to expect if you’re a woman. Mainly you can expect men to stare (and there are a lot of men). You might come across some creepy guys who might say hi or try to talk to you. Of course that doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen, but it is overall quite safe. In my 6 years of living there I’ve never had any threatening situation.
#2 You don’t have to dress SO conservatively (like you might have read online) when you travel to Mumbai
Contrary to what you might hear about India, you can dress quite freely as a woman when you travel to Mumbai. I would still recommend pants over booty shorts, and if you’re visiting conservative areas then it’s better not to wear anything too low-cut.
But in general, dress what makes you feel comfortable. My go-to look is jeans and a tank top. Most women wear pants rather than shorts in general. When my mom came to visit on two occasions, she always wore sleeveless summer dresses (she really didn’t like the heat) but she always felt comfortable fitting in.
If you’re going for a night out in Bandra West or in South Mumbai, you’ll see a lot of people with great fashion and all types of outfits.
#3 There’s many options for transportation and it’s super easy to get around the city
Seriously, it’s easy to get around Mumbai in terms of finding transportation. There are rickshaws, cabs, Uber, buses and trains. They are all quite cheap too.
I recommend downloading Uber or Ola (similar to Uber). It’s easy because you can put your location and exactly where you want to go. They can carry a group of people unlike rickshaws. Another plus is that you can enjoy the AC and avoid the heat or pollution from outside the car. The drivers often know English too so it makes communication easier.
There are also regular taxi cabs. If you’re staying or visiting in South Mumbai then these will be common. Don’t negotiate any price (they will rip you off), all cab drivers use meters so ask the driver to turn it on and go by that price.
Buses and trains are also available. To be honest in all my years of living in Mumbai, I never took a bus. But if you’re adventurous and want to try it out then totally go for it! Trains are nice if you are traveling far, don’t want to spend much money, and want to avoid traffic.
Rickshaws are also very common, cheap, and quick to use. This was my main source of transportation while living in Mumbai. You can even get rickshaws through Uber and Ola apps which is nice because you can put your exact drop off location.
A last note, you could rent a car or scooty (moped), but that’s a terrible idea unless you have visited Mumbai before and understand how to navigate the chaos.
#4 Tips for riding in Rickshaws
If you travel to Mumbai, you have to take a rickshaw at least once for the experience! But in general they are efficient and cheap to get around. Just note that rickshaws do not travel in South Mumbai.
When taking a rickshaw, always use the meter! In Mumbai the rickshaws always use the meter (this isn’t always true for other places in India).
Especially as a foreigner, they might try to bargain a price, but all rickshaws use meters and are just trying to fool you. I didn’t know this when I went in my first rickshaw and I paid 500 INR to go 5 minutes away, it would’ve really been less than 30 INR. Lesson learned LOL.
Most likely the rickshaw driver won’t know English, so here are the most basic words to help you out. You’ll need to tell the driver the general area or well-known landmark of where you want to go, or else follow directions on your phone.
Meter se (pronounced ‘say’) = by the meter… if they are trying to tell you a price, you can say “meter se”
Left leylo (pronounced ‘lay-low’) = turn left
Right leylo = turn right
Bus = stop
#5 Traffic is wild and pedestrians don’t have the right of way
In a city with over 20 million people, traffic is no joke! When you travel to Mumbai you’ll see driving unlike anywhere else. It really feels like there are no traffic rules, but somehow it all works out.
Of course traffic can be heavy, especially during rush hour times and monsoon season. Otherwise, it’s all part of the journey. Because there’s so much traffic, you should never reach your arm or hand out of the vehicle. They go so close to each other you really could get hurt.
One of the most important notes for travelers: pedestrians don’t have the right of way! I think this is so important to say because it’s different from what we are used to in the US. Always be watching when you cross a street and never expect anyone to stop for you.
#6 You will see poverty when you travel to Mumbai
While this can be true in many big cities around the world, it can still be overwhelming. If it’s your first time to travel to Mumbai or India, then just be prepared that the poverty you see is different than what you might’ve ever witnessed in the US.
While it is definitely sad and eye-opening to see, it’s also part of life in Mumbai. Be prepared to have beggars approach you while in the car or going out, it’s easy to keep 10 rupee notes to give if you wish to.
#7 You can find all types of food and drinks (yes, you can totally drink alcohol and the nightlife in Mumbai is great!)
The food in Mumbai is amazing and there are a million options! You can find all types of international cuisines. There are popular American fast food and pizza chains as well. In case you are craving some western dishes, they are super easy to find.
You can easily order food to your doorstep through apps like Zomato and Swiggy. So if you plan to order-in, download these. They deliver groceries and miscellaneous things you might need too.
Drinking alcohol is also completely allowed and there are a ton of cute restaurants and bars to serve drinks. The nightlife is great if you like to party and even if you don’t, it’s easy to find a drink to go along with dinner. They are even starting to get some breweries around the city!
There are also liquor stores, known as wine shops, where you can buy alcohol. They generally close by 11pm. There are also dry days on holidays where wine shops and restaurants won’t serve alcohol.
#8 Drink bottled or filtered water
This is pretty straight forward, but don’t drink from the tap. You can also buy large containers of water that you can keep at your hotel/stay and use to refill your water bottle so you aren’t wasting so much plastic.
#9 It’s worth trying the street food!
Honestly there is some seriously delicious street food and you don’t want to miss out! If you’re not sure if a place is clean or safe, I recommend looking for places that have a crowd of people eating there already.
It is true that at some point on your trip to India, you’ll experience the infamous stomach issues and diarrhea. But honestly, I think that’s just kind of inevitable and shouldn’t deter you from trying street food!
#10 You won’t swim in the sea when you travel to Mumbai, but the coastline is beautiful
Once you travel to Mumbai, this might seem kind of obvious, but don’t swim in the sea. It’s not very clean to swim in and aside from that, there’s lots of jellyfish.
It is totally worth going for a walk along the coast though or sitting to see the sunset! Most of the popular beaches like Chowpatty and Marine Drive, Carter Road, and Juhu Beach are very upbeat and lively.
I do have one friend who used to go swimming regularly in the sea and always took deworming pills to do so. So if you are an avid swimmer and really want to, then it is possible.
#11 Be prepared to bargain and expect to get ripped off
It’s normal for even locals to bargain, but as a foreigner you will be a prime target for sellers to make money. If you are shopping for things like clothes or souvenirs, or mostly anything from the street, don’t ever accept the price they give.
Expect them to charge you something ridiculously high (and honestly, compared to shopping in the US, the price might even seem reasonable to you). My general rule of thumb is to counter-bargain 50% of whatever their original price is and go from there.
It can be hard to bargain as a foreigner because chances are, you don’t know what a reasonable price would be. In established stores with price tags though, you won’t need to bargain (for example, a mall or a proper store in a building).
Fruits and vegetable stalls can be hard to tell because some people will be honest but others might try to rip you off, and it’s all relatively cheap compared to the US. I usually just accept whatever they say in this case, although I’m sure I’ve gotten fooled at times. But otherwise anything in a market or sold on the street, be ready to negotiate a price.
#12 Mumbai has endless options for accommodation
There are budget hostels, Airbnbs, luxurious hotels. When you travel to Mumbai you can really find any kind of accommodation to fit your budget and style. You can travel to Mumbai and hardly spend any money if you’re trying to keep a tight budget, or you can indulge in all sorts of luxurious activities.
#13 Many people know English
While language can sometimes be a barrier, it is extremely easy to find anyone who speaks English. If you’re having trouble communicating with someone, want directions or need help in a situation, you can simply ask around and people will help you.
#14 Expect to be stared at when you travel to Mumbai
All the stares! Unlike in the U.S. where it would be considered rude to stare at someone, that doesn’t hold up in India. You will stand out as a foreigner and be prepared that some people will watch you. It can be uncomfortable to experience.
It’s possible that you may even get asked for a selfie because of the way you look as a foreigner.
#15 Wifi is usually available everywhere, but you can get a SIM
Most restaurants, cafes and hotels will all have wifi. It’s very easy to get a SIM card though if you want service 24/7. You can get a SIM card at the Mumbai airport when you land, or stop at a service shop like Jio, Airtel or Vodafone to get one.
Depending what plan you get, expect to pay around $5-8 USD. I wouldn’t pay more than $10 for one or else they are ripping you off, unless you are getting a plan to cover your travel for several weeks/months.
#16 You can pay with cards or cash, or make your life easy with Google Pay
If you are at a market or shopping from street vendors, cash could be necessary as they wouldn’t likely accept cards. GPay is super convenient to use because most people, even rickshaws nowadays, accept GPay (you need internet and a SIM card to use this app).
Restaurants, cafes and hotels will all accept cards typically. And as a side note, you do not need to tip! Most places include a 10% service charge in your bill and it’s not expected you leave anything else.
#17 Check the weather before you travel to Mumbai and pack accordingly
June – September: Monsoon season, so know that it’s probably going to rain a lot every single day.
October – February: The ideal weather. Still warm, but considered winter and the coolest time to visit.
March – May: H-O-T. It gets really hot before the rain comes, so be ready. Average daily temperatures will be around 90F and the air is mostly still which just makes it feel hotter.
Be prepared to travel to Mumbai depending on the time of year you go!
This post was all about things to know before you travel to Mumbai.
With these tips, you’ll be ready to travel to Mumbai! Be sure to check out these 15 unique things to do in the city for an amazing trip! You can expect to be overwhelmed but in a once-in-a-lifetime-experience type of way that you’ll never forget. It’s a vibrant city with a million different things to do and the people are kind and helpful.
