Mumbai is huge — nearly 21 million people living cheek-by-jowl in a sprawl of 603 square kilometers — so to explore it in only two days seems like madness. But if that’s all the time you have, this culture-focused 2-day Mumbai itinerary covers the best architecture, museums, markets, and waterfront walks.

Day 1: Architecture, Museums, and Kala Ghoda

Take a Mumbai Architecture Tour

Mumbai boasts a fascinating mix of neoclassical, Victorian Gothic, Indo-Saracenic, and Art Deco buildings (sometimes with multiple styles blended into one).

A tour with Bombay Heritage Walks will give you a glimpse of a wide range of Mumbai’s architectural wonders — and will also give you a great opportunity to ask questions about the city’s history and culture.

Head to Mumbai’s Zero Point

Marking the original center of the city, St. Thomas Church sits at the point from which all distances in Mumbai were once measured. It’s well worth a peek inside this 1837 church.

Stop for a Snack in Kala Ghoda

Mumbai’s artsy Kala Ghoda area is a great spot to pop in for a quick bite and a cup of tea. I enjoyed the wild decor at Bake House Cafe.

Visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

If “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya” is too much of a mouthful for you, just say “The Museum,” and you’ll be fine. Also known as CSMVS, this is one of the most significant museums in Mumbai. And it’s delightfully random — in addition to traditional statuary and paintings …

… you’ll find jewelry and gems (both real and fake) …

… plus natural history dioramas and (sometimes terrible) taxidermy.

You can easily spend a couple of hours here — and if you get tired of looking at objects, you can always enjoy the architecture.

Day 2: Marine Drive, Markets, and Monuments

Stroll Along Marine Drive

Walking down this 3-kilometer-long promenade will give you extensive views of Back Bay (and plenty of stray dogs) on one side and a string of UNESCO-recognized Art Deco apartment buildings on the other.

There are always plenty of people ambling down the wide sidewalk, but if you’re lucky enough to be there on a Sunday morning, you’ll be in for dancing, games, and merry-making of all sorts.

Explore a Mumbai Spice Market

Mumbai boasts many spice markets, so you have a multitude of options, but we chose to visit Lalbaug. Here, you can watch as people buy their spices at one shop …

… have them roasted out on the streets in giant pans at another …

… and then have them pounded within an inch of their little spice lives so that they’re ready to go home in giant bags and jars.

This is one of the most wonderful-smelling places in the world — I can’t recommend it highly enough. You’ll find spices galore …

… as well as all sorts of other things to capture your attention.

Make sure to stop for snacks at one of the snack stalls lining the market area for a special treat.

If you’re interested in Indian culture beyond India itself, you might also enjoy exploring Singapore’s Little India, where markets and temples still shape daily life.

Visit Two Grand Monuments

On your way back from the market, it’s worth swinging by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (still commonly known as Victoria Terminus), an Italianate Gothic train station wonder completed in the fiftieth year of Queen Victoria’s reign. From there, it’s a short drive to the Gateway of India:

I have no idea why a visit to this massive arch is a must-do on the Mumbai tourist agenda, but it’s a major attraction. Most people just seem to mill around and take pictures in the plaza, but the Indo-Islamic architecture of the Gateway is actually pretty interesting if you take a closer look.

Take Tea at the Taj

The 1903 Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is the height of Mumbai luxury. You don’t need to book a room to admire the architecture …

… or to pay unreasonably high prices for an excellent Victoria Sponge with a view out over the Gateway of India and the sea.

At this point, you’ll probably be ready for a well-earned nap. If you’re venturing out for dinner later on in the evening, we would recommend a meal at Status, which I can best describe as an amazing vegetarian diner. Try the Gujarati Thali!

If this kind of culture-focused travel appeals to you, you might also enjoy my post on underrated Sri Lanka, where I explore why this nearby country deserves far more attention than it gets.