The insider's mini-guide to Mumbai: how to find the best hotels, shops and museums off the tourist-beaten track in India's most dazzling and dynamic cultural capital
India's second-largest city and its creative nexus,
Mumbai is not for the faint of heart. A sprawling metropolis with an overall population of 21.6 million people, the capital of the state of Maharashtra, formerly known as Bombay, is an attack on the senses, as overwhelming as it is exciting.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), formerly Victoria Terminus, is a Unesco World Heritage site. Photo: Shutterstock
Many visitors tend to stick to the tourist-friendly areas of Colaba and Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai or stay happily ensconced within the hallowed grounds of the city's most famous hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace – but they're missing out.
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Here's a mini-guide to where to go in India's most vibrant city.
What to do
A solo exhibition featuring works by Shailee Mehta at Chemould CoLab in Mumbai. Photo: @chemouldcolab/Instagram
Art lovers have plenty to discover in Mumbai, where dilapidated buildings often conceal beautiful art spaces overlooking lush courtyards. Most galleries are located in Colaba and Kala Ghoda, a short walk from the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea. Discover new talent at Chemould Prescott Road and sister gallery Chemould CoLab, where a recent exhibition showed Shailee Mehta's striking paintings of female figures. Those interested in Indian history should check out the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, once known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India.
For something even more special, visit the renowned Chanakya School of Craft, featuring the best in Indian textile craftsmanship. While the company behind the school has been around for more than four decades, it has been in the spotlight in recent years for its collaboration with French fashion house
Dior , which works with the firm on exquisite embroidery as well as the striking backdrops to its Paris shows. The school and the factory where all the magic happens are not technically open to the public, but those seeking an overview of India's spectacular textile heritage can arrange private tours.
Giver (2024) an artwork created by the Chanakya School of Craft for the India Art Fair 2025. Photo: Handout
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