Mumbai Hotels

Mumbai Hotels

Surf the ocean waves on a morning spent at the beach, and shop the colorful bazaars of the city’s crowded heart in the afternoon. By evening, stretch your legs on a refreshing oceanfront promenade, or sample freshly caught seafood in an al fresco marina-front bistro - a day spent in the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai can be varied, and very exciting. A city of two halves, it offers ancient history combined with modern culture, all tightly packed into hectic urban streets.

Things to see

On the very tip of Mumbai, where the Arabian Sea closes in on the city walls, the 3 archways of the imposing Gateway of India proudly overlook the harbor. Its days spent welcoming royalty and dignitaries to Mumbai are certainly over, but now it contents itself with welcoming throngs of tourists to hop on board waiting ferries, and disappear across the glittering waters of the ocean on tours of the nearby Elephanta Caves. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a remarkable example of Victorian Gothic architecture. This still-working railway station is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and attracts budding photographers to snap its elaborate pillared open-air corridors, rising turrets, and intricate domed roof. In the Colaba district, the sweeping arc of Marine Drive is lined with a fast-paced 6-laned boulevard, multi-storey apartment blocks, urban restaurants, and towering hotels. At night, their lights glitter on the calm coastline, competing with the hazy orange glow of the setting sun. It’s a tourist haven of trendy bars, and nightclubs, and late-night ethnic eateries.

Hotels in Mumbai

There’s a great deal of choice when it comes to accommodation in Mumbai, whether you’re looking for a modern high-rise hotel or an ancient Temple-styled guest house. Luxury hotels in Mumbai follow the bay from the tip of the city at Colaba, to its exotic northern coastline. They’re a great choice in a city where colourful flamboyance is a way of life. Rooftop bars with stimulating panoramic views over the chaotic city streets below, atmospheric urban bars, and upscale fine dining restaurants are all on offer. There are plenty of cheap hotels in Mumbai too, and although the rooms are usually small and basic, you can still find some great places to stay in the heart of the city, where a few blocks in any direction bring you to a wide choice of museums, and buzzing bazaars.

Where to stay

Juhu Beach close to the east coast of Mumbai, overlooks the sparkling deep blue waters of the Arabian Sea. This long stretch of golden sandy shoreline is a haven for tourists, sun-worshippers, and local water sports enthusiasts, all escaping the hectic inner-city streets for an afternoon of relaxation on this heavily commercialized beach. In the cramped streets of Colaba, narrow town houses dating back 2 centuries huddle between gothic inspired churches, elaborate 18th century Temples, and hotels in Mumbai. It's the perfect spot to stay for discovering the best souvenir shopping in the city, along with impromptu street markets where burgeoning stalls spill sacks of locally grown produce onto the teeming sidewalks.

How to get to Mumbai

International flights deposit travelers at the Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, less than 25 miles from the city center. There are some buses that run shuttles into Mumbai, but in general, taxis are the most convenient form of travel. You’ll find several taxi offices located just outside the arrivals lounge. If you’re staying in one of the luxury hotels in Mumbai, check to see if they offer airport transfers which can work out cheaper.