The bustling central belt just north of the colonial core — a warren of teeming bazaars, temples, textile markets and everyday Mumbai life, close to Chowpatty and the seafront. Chaotic, colourful and authentic, well-connected and central; the base for travellers who want to be amid the real, buzzing city and its markets, a short ride from the main sights. Intense and vivid; Mumbai life at full tilt.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€55–130
typical per night in India
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Mumbai — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Girgaon & the bazaars and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Mumbai street food8 min walk663 m
- Chowpatty Beach8 min walk663 m
- Marine Drive17 min walk1.4 km
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus7 min taxi2.4 km
- CSMVS Museum11 min taxi3.5 km
- Gateway of India12 min taxi4.1 km
- Colaba Causeway13 min taxi4.4 km
- Elephanta Caves35 min taxi11.7 km
- Juhu (beach)47 min taxi15.6 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 6.Dhobi Ghat — One of Mumbai's most extraordinary sights — Dhobi Ghat, the world's largest open-air laundry, where hundreds of washermen (dhobis) scrub, beat and dry the city's clothes in endless rows of concrete pens, a mesmerising, choreographed spectacle of colour and labour. View it from the Mahalaxmi railway bridge above for the classic panorama, or take a guided walk down among the pens. A fascinating, humbling window into the city's working life; unlike anything else. A remarkable, photogenic must-see.
- 11.Crawford Market & bazaars — Dive into old Mumbai's teeming bazaars — the historic Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai), a grand Victorian hall piled with fruit, spices and goods, and the labyrinthine lanes of nearby markets selling everything from textiles to trinkets. A sensory overload of colour, noise, smells and haggling that reveals the city's trading soul; browse the spice and produce stalls and lose yourself in the chaos. A vivid, authentic plunge into everyday Mumbai commerce. Intense, colourful and fascinating.
- 13.Temples & the Haji Ali shrine — Mumbai's spiritual side spans faiths — the beautiful Haji Ali Dargah, a white Islamic shrine and mosque reached by a causeway that floods at high tide, sitting out in the sea; the famous Siddhivinayak Hindu temple; and countless others. Visit Haji Ali for its striking setting and atmosphere (dress modestly), and the temples for a glimpse of the city's devout heart. A moving, colourful window into Mumbai's diverse religious life. Serene and photogenic; a lovely contrast to the city's bustle.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Girgaon & the bazaars; flights via Google Flights.