Many of the most memorable experiences in Mumbai cost little or nothing and are about watching the city at work and at play. Walk Marine Drive at sunset, ending at Girgaum Chowpatty for bhel puri, and you will see Mumbaikars of every kind enjoying the sea air. Kala Ghoda, the art district in the Fort, rewards a slow morning of galleries, heritage buildings and cafes, and becomes the stage for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival every February.
The markets show a different side of the city. Crawford Market, completed in 1869, is best in the morning for fruit and produce, while Chor Bazaar on Mutton Street is the place to hunt for antiques, old film posters and curiosities, with bargaining expected. The Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, an open-air laundry dating from 1890, is fascinating to see from outside or with a guide. Plan these around the heat: mornings for markets, late afternoons for the seafront. Wear comfortable shoes, keep valuables secure in crowds, ask before photographing people, and use taxis to link areas rather than trying to walk between them.
5 places · Updated October 27, 2026
Our top 3 things to do in Mumbai
Thing to do
A three-kilometre seafront promenade curving from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty beach, best walked at sunset when the Queen's Necklace lights come on.
View details — Marine Drive and Girgaum ChowpattyThing to do
A compact art and heritage quarter in the Fort, packed with galleries, museums, a historic synagogue and Victorian buildings, and home to an annual February arts festival.
View details — Kala Ghoda Art DistrictThing to do
A Victorian market hall of 1869, now Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, selling fruit, vegetables, household goods and pets just north of CSMT.
View details — Crawford MarketThing to do
A huge open-air laundry beside Mahalaxmi station, dating from 1890, where thousands of washers clean, dye, dry and press clothes for the city.
View details — Mahalaxmi Dhobi GhatThing to do
A long-established second-hand market on Mutton Street in South Mumbai, where dealers sell antiques, vintage Bollywood posters, old furniture and spare parts.
View details — Chor Bazaar