Mumbai

Is Mumbai safe for tourists?

UK government travel advice does not advise against travel to Mumbai: the parts of India it warns about are elsewhere. The risks here are those of any very large city (theft in crowds and on trains, scams, spiked drinks, getting home late) plus two that are Mumbai's own: the monsoon, which floods streets and stops trains, and the sea.

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

wear the life jacket

What the official advice says

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel within 10 km of the India–Pakistan border and to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except flying to and staying in the city of Jammu), and against all but essential travel to Manipur. Mumbai is not on that list. Maharashtra appears only in a note on Maoist (Naxalite) insurgents, who target police and officials in parts of several states.

The India-wide warnings apply:

Terrorism: the FCDO says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in India, and attacks could be indiscriminate, including at hotels, restaurants, markets, stations, places of worship and beaches. Security has been strengthened at major hotels and transport hubs. Carry ID and follow the advice of local authorities.
Crowds: avoid protests, rallies and large gatherings, including at religious sites; strikes (bandh) can disrupt transport at short notice.

The India-wide picture is in is India safe. Check the FCDO page before you fly.

Getting around safely, day and night

A few habits cover most of the risk.

Taxis run the meter; apps are safer at night — Mumbai is the rare Indian city where the black-and-yellow cabs really do use the meter. The FCDO still advises against hailing taxis on the street alone, especially at night: Uber and Ola work everywhere, and an app ride lets you share the trip with someone.
No autos in the south — Auto-rickshaws are barred south of Bandra and Sion, so in Colaba and Fort it is taxis, the metro or the trains. North of Bandra, book autos through an app.
Avoid local trains at peak hours — Outside the peaks (8:00–11:00 and 17:30–21:00) suburban trains are the fastest way across the city; at peak they are a crush. First class is far calmer, and every train has marked women-only coaches. The FCDO notes that theft is common on Indian trains: keep your passport and phone on you, not in an outer pocket.
Check which airport is yours — Mumbai has two airports, BOM in Santacruz and NMI in Navi Mumbai, about an hour apart by road; the FCDO also flags this. At either, use the prepaid counter or an app pickup bay.
Wear the life jacket on ferries — After a navy boat collided with an overcrowded Elephanta ferry and 15 people died, the Maharashtra Maritime Board made life jackets compulsory for all ferry passengers in the state. In the monsoon, Elephanta sailings are cancelled by weather.

Theft, scams and drinks

The FCDO warns that pickpockets, ticket touts and scammers work tourist areas, and thieves on motorbikes snatch bags and phones. Keep copies of your passport and visa apart from the originals; report a lost or stolen passport to the police at once, because you need the police report for the exit visa.

At stations, ignore people offering tickets and tours. Card and online fraud is common: report cybercrime on the national helpline 1930.

In bars, do not accept drinks from strangers or leave a glass unattended: there are reports of spiked drinks and food followed by robbery or assault. The FCDO also warns of methanol poisoning from alcoholic drinks in popular travel destinations; methanol cannot be detected by taste or smell. Drinking in public places such as parks is illegal; vapes are banned outright. Photography near military sites, airports and stations can be misunderstood, and parts of Colaba (Navy Nagar) are a naval area.

The common tricks across the country are collected in scams in India.

The monsoon and the sea

From June to September Mumbai gets most of its rain, about 2,200 mm a season; July alone averages around 920 mm over some 23 rainy days. During IMD red alerts roads flood and trains and flights are disrupted: check the India Meteorological Department forecast and follow local authorities. November to February is the dry, comfortable season.

The FCDO warns of strong currents off many Indian coasts and notes that most beaches have no warning flags, lifeguards or rescue equipment. The causeway to Haji Ali Dargah disappears under the sea at high tide: check the tide table before walking out, and come back before the water rises.

Women travelling alone

The FCDO reports a risk of sexual assault across India, including in tourist areas and cities, and says female travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment. Its advice is to avoid isolated areas, including beaches, when alone at any time of day.

In Mumbai: use the women-only train coaches, take app cabs after dark and share the trip, and dress modestly at Haji Ali and the temples. The women's helpline is 1091.

Numbers to save before you land

112: India's single emergency number for police, fire and ambulance, with support in English, Hindi and other languages; there is also a 112 India app that can share your location.
100: police.
1091: women's helpline.
1363 (toll-free 1800-11-1363): the Ministry of Tourism's 24/7 tourist helpline, in Hindi, English and ten foreign languages including Russian.
1930: national cybercrime helpline.