Beachin' Around: Plan A Weekend At Some Of The Prettiest Beaches In Mumbai

Marine Drive adorns the rock-strewn seaside, also known as ‘The Queen’s Necklace’, and is home to a number of notable restaurants, five-star hotels as well as food shacks and hawkers providing varied services including tea-coffee, snacks and even massages.

At one end of this iconic street is Chowpatty beach, where you can sit by the waves during the day, or simply unwind at one of the numerous food shacks that offer a number of local delicacies. Meant as a family outing, you'll always find a huge crowd finding its way to this beach, which is now being cleaned quite often. What's fascinating is how it lies in sharp contrast to what is one of the most expensive residential and commercial districts of the city.

Juhu Beach which is also the longest beach in Mumbai, is located in the posh western suburbs of the city. It is considered to be a hub for the who’s who of Mumbai including celebrities. If you’re lucky, you may even spot one jogging in the wee hours of the morning. There are a number of activities that you can do at the beach, from playing games to munching on some delicious street food. 

Yet another sand strip, Versova Beach lies quite close to Juhu Beach and is known for the Versova Fort. A hub for the fishermen to exhibit their fresh catch, this is a unique experience that truly adds to the versatile dreamland that Mumbai really is. Once dubbed as one of the filthiest beach in the city, is now a pretty clean and fresh place to chill in. There's tons of cafes close by, too!

Madh Island, a group of villages and comparatively cleaner beaches situtated in the northern side of Mumbai, is a great place for a staycation. Located away from the humdrum of the city, it has a peaceful vibe and beautiful surroundings to keep you entertained.

You can stroll the beaches while you gobble up some local fruits, dried fish and roasted corn cobs, with sand under your feet and the sea in sight. It often makes for a quick, short getaway, and the fact that the beaches are clean, adds to its appeal. We also suggest dropping by the 500-year-old St. Bonaventure Church to take a glance at some beautiful Portuguese architecture.

Remember Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra dancing on 'Tujhe Aksa Beach Ghuma Dun' in the movie God Tussi Great Ho? Well, this is the beach they're talking about. 

With a backdrop of coconut trees and palm groves, the Aksa Beach in Malad is one of the quieter beaches in the city. One of the things we've loved doing is (apart from populating our Instagram feed) walking barefoot on the beach during sunset. The sea breeze and the serenity add to the charm.

You will also get a number of local food options here, in the form of chaat, pav bhaji, locally-grown fruits with spices and so much more. Although stepping into the water always sounds like a dream, it's better to be safe as the waves are known to be highly unpredictable. 

A short drive away from Aksa is a smaller beach that has a rock-lined entrance, and a beautiful promenade that is usually filled with people there to enjoy the sunset. A well-known beach with a smaller strip of sand but lovely none the less! You're promised a dramatically pretty sky, lots of quiet corners to relax in, and ample parking space, which is frankly a miracle in this specific part of town.