First Impressions of Mumbai: What Surprised Me Most
My first time in Mumbai felt intense, crowded, and like a lot to take in all at once. I arrived early in the morning after flying from Chicago to Istanbul, and by the time I got to my hotel in Colaba, I was already dealing with new systems, heavy traffic, and the general chaos of arriving in a city I had never visited before.
What surprised me most about Mumbai was how quickly that initial feeling started to change. At first, Mumbai felt overwhelming. The streets were packed, the traffic seemed nonstop, and even crossing the road felt like something I had to figure out quickly. Still, after a few hours in the city, I realized that while Mumbai can feel chaotic at first, it also becomes much more manageable once you start getting used to the pace.
First Impressions of Mumbai: What Surprised Me Most - Table of Contents
- Arriving in Mumbai
- My First Reaction to Mumbai
- Walking Around Colaba on My Own
- What Surprised Me Most About Mumbai
- Is Mumbai Safe for First-Time Visitors?
- Food, Cash, and Small Logistics
- My Overall First Impression of Mumbai
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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Arriving in Mumbai
I landed in Mumbai at 6:10 a.m. after flying from Chicago to Istanbul. Passport control was a little confusing because there were kiosks asking me to register my e-visa as a first-time e-visa user. I could not get past the photo step, so I ended up going directly to passport control instead. The immigration officer told me it was no problem and that he could register me there. After filling out an arrival form using a QR code, I waited in a long line to see an immigration officer.
The process moved slowly because there seemed to be an issue with one of the travelers in front of me. Once it was finally my turn, the officer scanned my visa, checked my passport, took my photo and fingerprints, and told me I was “brave” for traveling solo to India.
Outside the airport, I met my prearranged driver and headed to Hotel Antique in Colaba. I had chosen Colaba because it was close to the Gateway of India, where my tour would meet the next morning. Even from the drive in, it was obvious that Mumbai moved at a completely different speed than most cities I had visited before.
My First Reaction to Mumbai
My first reaction to Mumbai was honestly that it was a lot. There were people everywhere, traffic came from all directions, and the sidewalks often felt crowded to the point that walking could be difficult. Crossing the street felt especially challenging at first. The traffic did not seem to hesitate much, so I quickly realized that standing still and waiting for a perfect opening was not going to work. You had to move with confidence and trust that things would somehow sort themselves out.
That first afternoon and evening, I definitely felt overwhelmed, but not in a way that made me want to leave. It was more that my brain needed a few hours to adjust to how much was happening at once. Once I accepted that Mumbai was going to be crowded, noisy, and fast-moving, I started to relax a bit more.
Walking Around Colaba on My Own
After checking into my hotel and getting some sleep, I headed out on my own in the late afternoon. I wanted to do a practice walk to the Taj Mahal Palace so I would know exactly where to meet my guide the next morning. With only one full day in Mumbai, I had opted to book a full day tour of Mumbai.
This ended up being one of the most important parts of my first day because it helped me get comfortable with the area. I walked through Colaba, made my way toward the Gateway of India, and spent about 90 minutes exploring on foot.
The area around the Gateway of India was incredibly busy. There were street vendors everywhere, and in some places it felt like the sidewalks were barely walkable. I also saw laser lights and heard music around the Gateway of India, which made the whole area feel even busier and more memorable.
At first, it felt like sensory overload. But once I had spent some time walking around, figuring out where I was, and getting used to the pace, I started to feel more comfortable.
What Surprised Me Most About Mumbai
The biggest surprise was how quickly Mumbai started to feel manageable. At first, the city felt chaotic and overwhelming. But after that first evening, once I had successfully ordered dinner, found an ATM, bought snacks, and made it back to my hotel without any issues, I felt much more confident.
Another thing that surprised me was how helpful people were. There were definitely some street sellers who could be pushy, especially in crowded areas, but most people I dealt with were actually very helpful. More than once, people asked if I needed directions or if I knew where I was going.
I was also surprised by how safe I felt. Mumbai safety was something I had wondered about before arriving, but there were police all over the place, especially in the busy tourist areas, and that made me feel much more comfortable walking around on my own. For a city that felt so intimidating at first, I actually felt pretty secure once I got used to it.
Is Mumbai Safe for First-Time Visitors?
Before arriving, safety was definitely something I had thought about. Once I was actually in Mumbai, I was surprised by how safe I felt, especially in the busy tourist areas around Colaba and the Gateway of India. Seeing police all over the place made me feel much more comfortable walking around on my own.
That said, Mumbai for first-time visitors can still feel overwhelming because of the crowds, traffic, and number of people trying to get your attention in busy areas. For me, the city felt intense, but not unsafe. There were some pushy street sellers, but most people were either neutral or genuinely helpful. If you are visiting Mumbai for the first time, I think it is smart to stay aware of your surroundings, but I would not say I felt uneasy walking around the main tourist areas.
It is always wise to check for any safety updates as conditions can change quickly when traveling internationally. Many governments issue travel warnings when situations become unsafe and it is highly recommended to check for any warnings before traveling.
Food, Cash, and Small Logistics
A lot of my first impressions of Mumbai came from small everyday things. When I went looking for dinner, I was initially drawn to fast-food places like KFC or McDonald’s, but the lines were so long that I ended up going to a local Indian restaurant instead. I ordered tikka masala, which was good, although I was surprised when it came with no sides, just a few pieces of chicken. After that, I made sure to order extras like rice or potatoes for the rest of the trip, since they were often separate add-ons.
After dinner, I went looking for an ATM because my hotel wanted to be paid in cash. It took me two separate visits to successfully withdraw 20,000 rupees, which was frustrating at the time but also part of the learning curve of being in a new place.
Before heading back to my hotel, I stopped to buy snacks and drinks, including two liters of water, two Coke Zeros, chips, cookies, and snack cakes. I was surprised at how cheap everything was. The total bill was only 280 rupees.
Those little wins mattered more than I expected. By the end of the evening, I felt like I had already learned a lot just from handling food, cash, and basic navigation on my own.
My Overall First Impression of Mumbai
My first impression of Mumbai was that it was crowded, chaotic, and intense, but not in a bad way. It took me a few hours to adjust to the crowds, traffic, and pace of the city, but once I did, I started to enjoy the experience much more.
What stood out most was how much more manageable Mumbai felt once I gave myself time to adjust. The city did not exactly slow down, but I got better at moving with it. Between the helpful people, the strong police presence, and the confidence I gained from figuring out my first evening on my own, I felt much more comfortable by the end of the night than I had at the beginning.
Since this was my 52nd country, I think I adjusted to Mumbai faster than I would have earlier in my travels. If I had visited a city like this much earlier on, I probably would have found it far more overwhelming.
If you are visiting Mumbai for the first time, I think it is normal to feel overwhelmed at first. Mumbai for first-time visitors can be a lot to take in, but for me, that feeling faded pretty quickly once I started exploring and learning how the city worked.
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