Best neighborhoods in Mumbai

6 areas in Mumbai, India — what each one feels like, who it suits, and roughly what it costs.

Fort & Kala Ghoda ($$) — Victorian gothic, galleries Best for Architecture + art. CSMT station, museums and the art district within a few blocks. The business heart of old Bombay; empty on Sundays. Getting around: Harbour and Western lines + walkable
Colaba ($$) — Gateway of India, colonial arcades Best for First-timers. The Gateway, the Taj and the causeway stalls, all on foot. Old Bombay at its most photogenic, and its most touristed. Getting around: Taxis + walkable; ferries at the Gateway
Lower Parel ($$) — Mill towers, malls, offices Best for Business. Converted mills full of restaurants, and central on the map. The new business district built on old textile land. Getting around: Western Line at Lower Parel
Juhu ($$) — Beach chaat, film bungalows Best for Beach + families. Sunset crowds, bhel puri, and the airport twenty minutes away. Where Bollywood lives; beachfront and traffic-bound. Getting around: Metro Line 2A + taxis
Bandra West ($$) — Sea promenade, bars, film money Best for Dining + nightlife. Bandstand, Carter Road, and the city's best restaurant strip. Queen of the suburbs — creative, expensive, congested. Getting around: Western Line + Metro Line 2A
Andheri East ($) — Airport hotels, business parks Best for Layovers. The closest reliable base for an early flight. Functional and busy; nobody chooses it for charm. Getting around: Metro Line 1 + Western Line