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Planning to visit Mumbai and want to see the top historical sites?
You’re in the right place because the 6 best historical Mumbai tours are all listed here.
Mumbai is a fantastic destination for history buffs. Not only is the city centre brimming with modern historical places, but it also has 2 ancient historical sites right on its doorstep.
The best way to experience all the amazing historical places in Mumbai is on a guided tour. It takes away all the hassle involved in reaching all these different places, and gives you a knowledgeable guide to explain the historical background along the way.
So which Mumbai tours are the best for history buffs? Well, I’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
In this article, you’ll find the best historical Mumbai tours on offer, with each one offering something a little different.
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s the quick version:
⭐️ Best for modern history: Full-Day Sightseeing Tour of Mumbai
⭐️ Best for ancient history: Kanheri Caves and The Golden Pagoda Temple
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (from over 800 reviews!)
⏱ Tour Length: 7 hours
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This highly-rated tour offers a great mix of modern historical sites in downtown Mumbai.
The tour starts off at the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace, 2 iconic remnants of the British Raj.
You’ll then check out Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, another incredible colonial building that’s since become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After exploring a couple of culturally fascinating sites, like Dhobi Ghat, you’ll then visit the former residence of Gandhi, which is now a museum.
At the end of the day you’ll visit Banganga, a temple tank that’s been in use for hundreds of years, before heading to Marine Drive to watch the sunset.
Overall, you get a great mix of historical places in downtown Mumbai, and their guides are highly-touted for the knowledge they share about these sites along the way.
We had an amazing day tour in Mumbai! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and provided us with fascinating information about every attraction we visited. His explanations were engaging and gave us great insights into the city and its history. The transportation was also very comfortable and well-organized, which made the tour even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a fantastic experience – highly recommended!
-Bharti, from Germany (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
✅ Private AC car
✅ Knowledgeable, English-speaking guide
✅ All entrance fees
✅ Free bottled water
⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
⏱ Tour Length: 6 hours
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If you want to see ancient history on Mumbai’s doorstep, this tour is for you.
The Kanheri Caves are a group of cave-temples carved into the side of a hill just north of the city. The impressive rock-carved temples date back as far as 2000 years and are one of the best historical sites that Mumbai has to offer.
Despite their location, reaching the Kanheri Caves can be a bit of a mission. First you’d need to reach the entrance to Sanjay National Park, then either wait (possibly for some time) for the shuttle bus, or ride a bike a few kms through the park to reach the Caves.
That’s why a Kanheri Caves tour is so worth it.
With this Kanheri Caves tour you’ll be picked up from your hotel in a private AC car, driven to the park entrance and all the way through to the caves. Your guide will then take you around the site, giving you the historical background as you go.
After the Kanheri Caves tour, you’ll see a more modern side to Buddhism with a visit to the Global Vipassana Pagoda.
Our tour guide and driver made sure that we spent just enough time at each site to experience our full itinerary. I left the tour feeling more knowledgeable about India’s rich history and just had a blast of a time! Highly recommended for all travelling styles.
-Renata, from Switzerland (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
✅ Private AC car
✅ Knowledgeable guide
✅ Entrance fees to all sites (including entry to Sanjay Gandhi NP)
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
⏱ Tour Length: 5 hours
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Located on an island in Mumbai Harbour, the Elephanta Caves are one of the city’s most popular historical sites.
These rock-cut temples, similar to the Kanheri Caves, were built about 1500 years ago. Thanks to their location near the downtown area, they’ve become one of Mumbai’s most popular historical attractions.
The itinerary for this Elephanta Caves tour is simple, it takes you to the island and back.
But what makes this Elephanta Caves tour worth it is the pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, having an experienced guide that explains the history, and skipping the queues (Elephanta Island can get very busy).
Our tour to the Elephanta Caves with Devi was a memorable experience from start to finish…Our knowledgeable guide, brought the caves to life with captivating stories and insights into their history and religious significance…A truly enriching experience—highly recommended!
-Carola, from Austria (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
✅ Private AC car to and from ferry
✅ Ferry tickets
✅ Skip-the-line entrance tickets
✅ Knowledgeable guide
✅ Free bottled water
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
⏱ Tour Length: 4.5 hours
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This is a Mumbai tour that shows a different side to the city.
Rather than visit the traditional historical sites, this tour takes you off the beaten path and to some of Mumbai’s unique places that are difficult to visit without a guide.
First you’ll explore the suburb of Dharavi, a densely-packed area created in the 1800s after the British forced many locals out of the peninsula. While technically considered a slum, don’t let it fool you. Dharavi is full of life and has developed its own unique culture.
Next you’ll visit Mumbai’s Dhobi Ghat. This large open-air laundry was created in 1890 and has since become one of the city’s most iconic sites.
Finally you’ll head to Churchgate to see the famous Dabbawalas in action.
What I love about this tour is that it doesn’t take you around in a private car. It immerses you in Mumbai’s city chaos by taking you to these sites via train, travelling like a local.
The only downside to this is there’s no hotel pick-up or drop-off. You have to meet at Churchgate to begin the tour.
[Our guide] was wonderful and the tour was amazing. I highly recommend this experience as it delivers a true feel of the slums and surrounding area. The people are wonderful and friendly. You will not regret taking this tour. Highly professional and well run.
-Harry, from Australia (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Transportation costs (train tickets)
✅ Knowledgeable, English-speaking guide
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
⏱ Tour Length: 2.5 hours
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This quick Mumbai tour offers something a little different.
Instead of being driven around in a private car, with this tour you can explore the city’s heritage on a bike.
The tour is simple. You’ll wake up bright and early and meet your guide in downtown Mumbai, where you’ll ride around Fort and Churchgate.
You’ll then ride around downtown Mumbai and visit a couple of historic sites, such as the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the 400-year-old Mumbadevi Temple, while your English-speaking guide gives you the historic background as you go.
At the end of the tour you’ll ride to the scenic Marine Drive where you’ll be given an authentic Indian breakfast.
It makes for an active and unique way to experience Mumbai.
I recently had the pleasure of joining a bicycle tour in Mumbai…and it was an outstanding experience. The tour was perfectly organized, and [the guide’s] friendly demeanor made it even more enjoyable. The stops we made were fascinating, providing unique insights into the city’s culture and history. Overall, I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore Mumbai in an engaging and informative way.
-Niko, from Germany (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Bike
✅ Helmet
✅ English-speaking guide
✅ Breakfast
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
⏱ Tour Length: 4 hours
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The historical places in Mumbai are impressive during the day, but they really come alive at night.
This tour shows you that different side to the city, showing you the city’s top historical and cultural sites under a different light (quite literally).
With this Mumbai tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel as the sun goes down. Your English-speaking guide will then drive you around to the top modern historical places in downtown Mumbai, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Gateway to India, Taj Mahal Palace, Banganga and Rajabai Clock Tower.
At the end of the tour you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel, ending the night without the effort of having to find your way back on your own.
It’s a truly unique tour that shows a side to Mumbai that others don’t.
[Our guide and driver] whisked us away on a fantastic introductory tour of Mumbai, with the lights, fireworks, and celebrations of Diwali happening all around us. [Our guide] was extremely knowledgeable of both the history of Mumbai, and the current and evolving culture and lived experiences of locals. Seeing Mumbai in lights is a must do!!
-Sophie, from the UK (read more reviews)
This historical Mumbai tour includes:
✅ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
✅ Private car & driver
✅ English-speaking guide
Mumbai Travel FAQs
Best time to visit Mumbai
While there’s nothing stopping you from visiting Mumbai all year round, choosing the right time of the year can make your experience even better.
Even though most of the Mumbai tours in this article include a car with AC, you’re still going to be doing a lot of walking around outdoors, especially if you’re visiting places like the Kanheri Caves or Elephanta Island.
The best time to visit Mumbai is during the winter months from November to February. The weather is cooler and more pleasant compared to the hot summers or the heavy rains during the monsoon season (June to September).
How to get to Mumbai
Being India’s 2nd largest city and its primary economic centre, Mumbai is well connected and easy to reach no matter where you’re coming from.
If Mumbai is the first stop on your India itinerary, you can fly directly into the city at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. You can also find cheap domestic flights that arrive here too.
If heading to Mumbai from nearby tourist destinations, like Pune, Ahmedabad, or Rajasthan, then you can easily reach the city by booking a bus or train.
Where to stay in Mumbai
Mumbai is a massive city, and it can take a long time to get from one side to the other. So choosing the right area to stay in matters.
Most of the top historical tourist attractions in Mumbai are located in the ‘peninsular city’, which means the southern area of the city towards the end of the peninsular.
Ideally, this is where you want to be.
Area’s like Fort or Colaba would put you closest to the top tourist attractions, but will be more expensive. Otherwise, you can find more affordable places further out.
So long as you’re in the ‘peninsular city’ area, you’re in the right spot to visit Mumbai’s top historical places.
Is Mumbai safe?
If you’ve never been to India before, this might be a question that’s on your mind. To first time visitors, Mumbai can seem a daunting and overwhelming place.
Despite its chaotic nature, Mumbai is a safe city to visit.
There are plenty of things that may make you uncomfortable as a traveller, like being hassled by potential scammers or constantly being stared at (especially if you’re a woman), but in terms of your physical safety there’s little to worry about.
You’ll still need to exercise the same safety precautions that you would when travelling to any destination, but otherwise you can freely explore the city without concern.
The vast majority of the locals in Mumbai are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
More on Mumbai
Since you’re thinking about visiting Mumbai, here’s a couple of other articles you might be interested in:
