Mumbai

How to reach Mumbai

Most travellers reach Mumbai by air, and the first thing to check is the airport code on the ticket. BOM, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International in Santacruz, is the long-standing main airport and has the Aqua Line metro to the south of the city; NMI, the new Navi Mumbai International in Ulwe, lies about 40 km from South Mumbai across the harbour. By rail the city is a terminus for trains from Delhi, Goa and Pune, and from Pune the coach corridor is one of the busiest in the country.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM)

The city's long-standing main airport, in Santacruz. T1 and T2 stand about five kilometres apart, so the terminal on your ticket is worth reading twice.

Best option

Navi Mumbai International (NMIA)

The city's second airport, opened for domestic flights in December 2025 and for international ones from July 2026. It sits in Ulwe, some 40 km from South Mumbai across the Atal Setu bridge, so check the code on your ticket before you plan the day.

By train

Several termini: CSMT, a UNESCO site and a station at once; Mumbai Central for Delhi; plus Dadar, LTT and Bandra Terminus.

By bus from Pune

The busiest coach corridor in the country: the Shivneri leaves every half hour and the electric e-Shivneri now runs it too.

There are two airports now, an hour apart by road. Check whether your ticket says BOM or NMI.

By air: BOM or NMI

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM) has two passenger terminals that share the runways but stand about five kilometres apart by road: Terminal 1 in Santacruz handles domestic flights by low-cost airlines, and Terminal 2 in Sahar handles international and other domestic flights. Read the terminal on the ticket as carefully as the airport. More in Mumbai airport.

Navi Mumbai International (NMI), the city's new second airport, stands in Ulwe, on the mainland side of the harbour. It mostly serves domestic routes, with a few international ones. From South Mumbai it is about 40 km by road across the Atal Setu sea bridge, and it has no metro link yet.

From the airport into the city

Fares are approximate.

BOM: Aqua Line metro
Line 3 (Aqua) has stations at both T1 and T2 and runs underground through BKC, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, CSMT and Churchgate to Cuffe Parade, so Fort and Colaba are reached without traffic, for about ₹10–80. QR tickets can be bought through WhatsApp. More in Mumbai metro.
BOM: taxi
There is a prepaid taxi counter in arrivals, and Uber, Ola and Rapido pick up from marked bays. When traffic to the south is heavy, the metro often wins on time.
NMI: taxi across the Atal Setu
About ₹1,200–1,800 and roughly 50–110 minutes to South Mumbai; the fare already includes the bridge toll of about ₹250. Uber, Ola and Rapido work here, and there is a prepaid counter.

By train

Mumbai has several long-distance termini, and the one on your ticket decides where you arrive: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a UNESCO site that is also a working station; Mumbai Central, the usual terminus for Delhi; and Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Bandra Terminus.

From Delhi: the overnight Rajdhani Express runs to Mumbai Central; check current times on NTES. See Mumbai–Delhi.
From Goa: the Vande Bharat 22230 runs from Madgaon to CSMT in about 7 hours 45 minutes outside the monsoon (longer on the monsoon timetable), for roughly ₹1,595–3,115. See Mumbai–Goa.
From Pune: trains to CSMT include the old Deccan Queen and the Vande Bharat from Solapur; current times are on NTES.

More on the stations in Mumbai railway stations.

By bus from Pune

The Mumbai–Pune road is the busiest coach corridor in the country. The state transport MSRTC runs the air-conditioned Volvo Shivneri about every half hour, and the electric e-Shivneri now works the route too. The trip takes about 3–4 hours and costs roughly ₹550–650.

Once you are in the city

Local trains on the Western, Central and Harbour lines are the fastest way around outside rush hours (about 8:00–11:00 and 17:30–21:00), from about ₹5; tickets come from the RailOne app or the station window, not on board, and there are marked women-only coaches. Black-and-yellow taxis run on the meter, and Uber and Ola work everywhere. Auto-rickshaws are not allowed south of Bandra and Sion, so in Colaba and Fort you will only find taxis. Details in getting around Mumbai.

Monsoon travel

From June to September Mumbai gets around 2,200 mm of rain, with red alerts that can disrupt trains and flights. Leave slack in connections in those months. November to February is the most comfortable time to visit; more in best time to visit Mumbai.

FAQ

Which airport is closest to central Mumbai?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM) in Santacruz, which has the Aqua Line metro to Fort and Colaba. Navi Mumbai International (NMI) is about 40 km from South Mumbai by road.

How do I get from Mumbai airport to Colaba or Fort?

From BOM take the Aqua Line metro from the T1 or T2 station to CSMT, Churchgate or Cuffe Parade, for about ₹10–80. A prepaid taxi or an app cab is the alternative, but slower in traffic.

How do I get to Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport?

Terminal 1 in Santacruz handles domestic low-cost flights and is about five kilometres by road from Terminal 2. The Aqua Line metro has a separate station for T1.

How do I reach Mumbai by train from Delhi?

The overnight Rajdhani Express runs to Mumbai Central; current times are on NTES. See also the Mumbai–Delhi route page.

What is the best time to travel to Mumbai?

November to February, when it is dry and comfortable. June to September is the heavy monsoon, when rain can disrupt trains and flights.

Sources (4)

Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.

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