There's no denying that Mumbai is an expensive city! But there are myriad things to do for free, all you have to do is be ready to explore and keep some change handy for train or bus travel. Exploring Mumbai is easy! After all, there are ample monuments you can gawk at, beaches where you can spend the day, and even parks worth having a picnic in.
We tell you how to explore the city of dreams, even if you have only a few pennies in your pocket.
The quaint fishing village in Bandra West is charming. Goan-Portuguese-style bungalows dot the village, there's a small church, and even graffiti worth taking a photo of. Divided by Veronica Street, stray from the usual route and you’ll stumble upon something magical. The streets of Ranwar Village are like a river’s tributaries, the more you walk, the more you find!
The walk will lead you to the Ranwar Square – the main hub of cultural activities in the past. It was erected in 1866, and the Ranwar square cross was host to the Cross feat, community rosary recitals and wells where gold was hidden to save them from Arab pirates.
On Waroda Road, you'll find large paintings of yesteryear actress by The Bombay Art Project. Walk along the tiny lanes and you'll spot several murals and other noteworthy graffiti.
Closest station: Bandra West
Read more about Ranwar village and its history here.
Yet another village inside the city, Khotachiwadi is a small Portuguese-Catholic hamlet in Girgaon. Colourful bungalows, a small community church and Portuguese-style homes are what make the village. If you want to know more about its history, ask the locals or try to grab a hold of James Ferreira at Ferreira House, who is a fashion designer but is also actively trying to save the village from getting succumbed to redevelopment.
The village consisted of 45 bungalows, of which only 15 remain. The cottages that remain each have an identity of their own. You’ll find orange walls with a blue railing or turquoise-coloured wooden doors with humbler teak outer doors, blue and white houses and a bright yellow face with awnings and railings of red.
Closest station: Charni Road
Read more about Kotachiwadi here.
Explore the city's biodiversity! Every year flocks of flamingos migrate to Mumbai and the best time to spot them is from December to May. It's a sight to behold! Thousands of flamingos can be seen from the Thane Creek to the Sewri jetty area till the Elephanta caves area, which is a 15-20 km stretch.
You can visit the Sewri Mangrove Park or the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary for the best views. Carry a pair of binoculars and head out early morning between 6am to 10am for the best views. These tall-legged birds will look like a sea of pink. You can also join one of the many tours that are hosted in the city for flamingo spotting. But, it's free if you do it by yourself.
Closest station: Sewri Road or Thane (depending on which spot you want to visit)
Read a guide to flamingo spotting in Mumbai here.
Hidden in plain sight, the Sion Fort is one of Mumbai's well-kept secrets. It's a hillock that's easy to climb and was built in the 17th Century by then Governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier. The British built it to mark the boundary between the British-owned and governed Bombay and the Portuguese-held Salsette Island.
Climb up here for beautiful views of the city and get a view that's not the regular sea link or marine drive. There's also a park at the foothill that's worth taking a stroll in. Sion Fort and the park is open from morning till noon, and later 4pm onwards.
Closest station: Sion station
Read more about it here
Several contemporary art galleries in Mumbai have no entry fee. That's why it's a treat to visit Jehangir Art Gallery, the most iconic one in the city, which is open to visitors at zero cost. The gallery hosts several contemporary art exhibitions worth checking out. You can check out the event calendar on their website before you head out, but the gallery is usually home to local artists.
As it is located in Mumbai's art district, don't forget to pay a visit to the artists outside the gallery. Most of them are self-taught and sell some of their works too, at extremely affordable prices. We love the guy who creates art using old BEST bus tickets.
Closest station: Churchgate
Read more about Jehangir Art Gallery here.
Tucked away in Mazgaon, Mumbai’s Chinatown is currently home to about 3,000 Chinese families. But in the 1960s, when it was first built, it was a thriving community of tradespeople from China. While modern-day buildings have taken over the neighbourhood, you can visit the Kwan Tai Shek Chinese temple and cemetery.
Knock on the temple door and the caretaker will let you in. You can spend some time here and learn about the history of the neighbourhood. Outside and around the temple, you'll find houses with typical Chinese names and if you're lucky, one of the locals can show you around.
Closest station: Dockyard Road
Read more about Mumbai's Chinatown here.
Walk along Marine Drive, and enjoy one of the most sought-after views of Mumbai. You can walk towards Nariman Point or the other way towards Walkeshwar. Sit down and enjoy the views of Mumbai's skyline (you can see Malabar Hill and even Saifee Hospital's gorgeous dome) and look across the road to admire the symmetry of the Art Deco buildings that run along the Queen's Necklace.
You can walk or cycle here, sit by the sea for a chat and chai (carry some in a flask!), and even take your pets along (although, remember to dispose off their poo!). Admire buildings like Soona Mahal, Sea Green Hotel (one of Mumbai's only Art Deco hotels), Zaveri Mahal, among other buildings.
Closest station: Churchgate
You can walk along the Bandstand promenade and head to Bandra Fort right after. Built by the Portuguese as a watchtower, Castella de Aguada, Portuguese for “Fort at the Waterpoint” is now commonly called Bandra Fort. Most of it was destroyed by the British lest it falls into the hands of the Marathas. Today, its stone walls and ruins are where you can sit and catch the sunset while looking out at the magnificent Bandra-Worli Sea Link and catch some views of Mahim Bay.
You can sit here and take several photos of the gorgeous views, and also stroll along Bandstand. And, don't forget to visit Mount Mary Church while you're here, as it's only just a few minutes away.
The Basilica of our Lady of the Mount, commonly called Mount Mary Church is a Roman Catholic church people frequent regardless of their beliefs. It sits on a hillock, overlooking the sea, and you can get a peaceful view from here. In 1570, when it was first built, it was a small chapel fashioned out of mud. Today, after having been rebuilt several times, it stands tall with Gothic arches, and pillars of Malad stone dating back to 1904 and has fibreglass murals of the life of Mary on its blue interiors.
Closest station: Bandra West
Read more about what you can do in Bandra here.
Pack a picnic and walk to Cross Maidan from Churchgate station. While there are more interesting parks in the city (like Maharashtra Nature Park in Sion), Cross Maidan has free entry and allows eatables inside. Be mindful and don't litter, but enjoy the modern art structure here and have a picnic under it. There's also a crucifix inside the maidan, attested to have miraculous powers. And, the Bhika Behram Well, which is a perennial source of sweet water and is declared a heritage structure that's sacred to the Parsi community.
Closest station: Churchgate
Plan a beach day at Suruchi beach in Vasai! Wondering why you'd commute all the way? Trust us it's worth it. Suruchi beach is a rickshaw-ride away from Vasai station and is quite secluded. Barring a few local kids who frequent the beach for a game of football or cricket, not many are aware of how beautiful the beach is.
Suruchi beach is rated one of the cleanest and most environment-friendly beaches in and around MMR. It has a long line of Suru (Casuarina) trees, which adds to the magnificent views of the beach. It's ideal to be here around sunset, but it gets quiet quick.
Pack a picnic and spend the day here. The beach doesn't have any stalls and very few hawkers come by with food. Although there are smaller resorts near the beach.
Closest station: Vasai