Mumbai

Central Mumbai

The heart of Mumbai is alive with commerce, which makes it the best place to shop and eat. It's a great place to get a hotel as well. The bustling area of Mahalaxmi is right on your doorstep, with the famous Dhobi Ghat open air laundry. Other attractions in the area are the Nehru Planetarium, the Veermata Jijamata Udyan Zoo and the stunning mosque of Haji Ali. Evenings in this area are all about heading to Chowpatty Beach, where food and entertainment await.

Southern Mumbai

South of central Mumbai is the heart of the tourist area, with heritage buildings aplenty. Staying here is more expensive, but the Fort area is pretty quiet, especially compared to Colaba. The Prince of Wales Museum, the Rajabai Clock Tower, modelled on Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence, and the Gateway to India showcase the architectural side of the area. You can shop 'til you drop at the Chor Bazaar and find souvenirs aplenty at Colaba Causeway. Nature lovers can head to the Taraporewala Aquarium and for the best views of the sunset around head to the Hanging Gardens where you'll also find animal-themed topiary.

Northern Mumbai

Mumbai sprawls out far to the north, with plenty of attractions to tempt you to make the journey. Linking Road is the place to buy shoes and clothes; it's extremely popular with people flying over to Mumbai for their wedding shopping. Fantasy Land Theme Park holds plenty of thrills for all generations, head into the heart of Bollywood at Film City, or get away from it all at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park where you can spot lions and leopards.

Further Afield

You can reach Elephanta Island from the ferry terminal by The Gateway of India, as well as visit some of the other islands off the coast. Essel World is a great theme park out in the most northern suburb of Mumbai, with rides and attractions as well as a water park. A reported 10,000 people flock there per day so why not see what the fuss is about?