5 Best Places To Stay In Mumbai (for all budgets)

best places to stay in mumabi

5 Best Places To Stay In Mumbai (for all budgets)

Mumbai is an endlessly fascinating and buzzing metropolis. But as it’s the biggest city in India, it’s important to choose where to stay in Mumbai carefully to ensure you have the best experience.

The city of dreams, Mumbai, often still referred to as Bombay, is one of the contrasting and captivating cities in the world. Bombay sees countless stories being enacted every single second as people celebrate life and its complexities in the most intriguing and colorful manner.

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From the slums of Dharavi to modern and trendy Bandra, to the crumbling colonial architecture in South Mumbai, nowhere else on the planet can you witness contrasts so stark and a balance so beautiful.

Mumbai is a buzzing, endlessly fascinating but huge and sprawling city, so choosing the right area to base yourself is really important if you don’t want to spend hours in traffic.

Mumbai is easily my favourite Indian city, I’ve got many friends in Mumbai and I’ve visited so many times I’ve lost count.

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Where to Stay in Mumbai

I think the best places to stay in Mumbai are Colaba, in the far South, or Bandra, nearer to the airport.

South Mumbai areas such as Colaba and Fort are most popular with tourists as this area is where most of the colonial architecture and tourist sights are located, including the famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and other iconic landmarks of the city. (Read this post for 21 things to do in Mumbai.)

You can also stay in the popular, trendy, more modern areas of Bandra or Andheri for a taste of modern Mumbai life or to be closer to the airport and central and northern parts of the city.

Read on for my recommendations of the 5 best places to stay in Mumbai – from backpacker to luxury, there’s something to suit all budgets.

Here are the 5 best places to stay in Mumbai

Backpacker:  Backpacker Panda, Colaba

This backpacker hostel is my favorite, thanks to its amazing location. At merely a 5-minute walking distance from the Gateway of India, this is one of the very best places to stay in Mumbai for backpackers.

The coolourful common area is a great place to meet and make friends with other travelers. The staff are very courteous and will make your stay comfortable and memorable! There are female-only dormitories as well as beautiful private rooms so it’s good for solo female travellers. The hostel also has a restaurant and a bar too.

The location is the best thing though – explore buzzing Colaba Causeway, hang out at Leopolds (made famous by the book Shantaram) see the sunset at the Gateway of India or walk up to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya which is home to a beautiful collection of rare miniature paintings and sculptures.

Click here to see prices, photos, reviews and to book!  or click here for more  backpacker hostel recommendations for Mumbai

 

Budget: Travellers Inn, Fort

Hotels in Mumbai are more expensive than elsewhere in India and finding a decent budget hotel in Mumbai is rare but if your on a budget then Travellers Inn is one of the best places to stay in Mumbai.

It’s located in the Fort area, just a 5-minute walk away from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus’ Gothic charms so it’s also easy to explore the rest of the city by rail. You’ll find basic but clean air-conditioned private rooms (that are big enough and comfortable) with attached bathrooms.

There’s a newly constructed common area where you can chill and chat to other travellers. If you’re too tired to get up for some food, ask the amazing staff and they’ll be happy to arrange a special meal for you to enjoy at the rooftop space!

They’ll also happily divulge information about secret destinations and hidden gems in the region so don’t hesitate to ask! Click here to see prices, photos, reviews and to book!

 

Mid Range/ Heritage: Residency Hotel, Fort

Originally a fire station and a barrack during the British rule, the Residency Hotel still retains its old world charm whilst also being super comfortable for the modern day traveller.

The heritage property is just a stone’s throw away from the CST building and they are building a new metro station next to the hotel which means it’s a little noisy now (Feb 2018) but the location will be unbeatabley convenient once the metro is open.

The rooms are plush and well equipped, a little on the small side, but it’s the best mid range place to stay in Mumbai and the location can’t be beaten. There’s also a nice European and Indian breakfast buffet included in the elegant lounge and cafe. Click here to see prices, photos, reviews and to book! 

 

Boutique: Abode, Colaba

This one will take you by surprise! It’s truly unmatched in its boutique style and hospitality and is located within a walking distance of the Gateway of India, which makes it a strong contender in my list of the best places to stay in Mumbai.

The Adobe is regarded by many as the best boutique hotel in Mumbai. Check out the hotel’s beautiful interiors adorned with original artworks and character-filled vintage furniture, pay a visit to the amazing library or check into the spa and wellness center for a rejuvenating experience. Click here to see prices, photos, reviews and to book!

 

Luxury: Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba

The iconic Taj Mahal Palace has, over the years, become synonymous with the city itself and is located on Apollo Bunder, next to the Gateway of India in one of Mumbai’s most picturesque locations. You can take a boat from the Gateway to explore the Unesco listed rock cut caves and temples on Elephanta Island.

A heritage hotel originally constructed in 1903, the property offers panoramic views of the mighty Arabian Sea. The hotel enjoys the privilege of being India’s first luxury hotel and will delight you with the live music performances every evening.

Chill out at the pool-side restaurant or explore the historic corridors that have seen great monarchs and dignitaries walk past when you stay at the Taj Mahal Palace which is one undoubtedly one of the very best places to stay in Mumbai.

If you can’t afford to stay here – at least treat yourself to afternoon tea! Click here to see prices, photos, reviews and to book!

 

Have you stayed in a great hotel in Mumbai? Leave a comment below and your recommendations can help out other travellers 🙂

By the way, there are affiliate links in this post. If you found my recommendations for the best places to stay in Mumbai useful and want to book using my links then I can earn a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps to keep this blog running and me exploring so thank you! 🙂

 

 

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