Emergency

As of 2017, a single number for emergencies (%112) will be in operation across India, though the following will continue to work until 2018.

Ambulance	%102 (public) or %1298 (private)
Police	%100
Fire	%101

Internet Access

While cyber cafes are increasingly scarce, all but the simplest hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars now have wi-fi. Commercial establishments generally require a connection via social media accounts or via a mobile phone number, to which a unique one-time password (OPT) is sent.

Media

Newspapers The Hindustan Times is the best paper; its Ht Café insert has a good what’s-on guide.

Websites Time Out Mumbai (www.timeout.com/mumbai) no longer publishes a Mumbai magazine but its website is worth consulting.

Medical Services

Money

ATMs are everywhere, and foreign-exchange offices are also plentiful.

Thomas Cook has a branch in the Fort area with foreign exchange.

Post

Telephone

Call 197 for directory assistance.

Tourist Information

Travel Agencies

Visas

Air

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport ( GOOGLE MAP ; %022-66851010; www.csia.in), about 30km from the city centre, was recently modernised to the tune of US$2 billion. Now handling all international arrivals is the impressive, remodelled international Terminal 2 (T2), which includes India's largest public art program (a skylighted, 3.2km multistorey Art Wall along moving walkways, boasting over 5000 pieces of art from every corner of India).

Domestic flights operate out of both the new T2 and the older Terminal 1B (T1B), also known locally as Santa Cruz Airport, 5km away. An inter-terminal fixed-rate taxi service (₹230 from T1B to T2, ₹245 from T2 to T1B) operates between the terminals. Both terminals have ATMs and foreign-exchange counters, and T2 also houses a luxurious transit hotel.

Air India ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-27580777, airport 022-28318666; www.airindia.com; Air India Bldg, cnr Marine Dr & Madame Cama Rd, Nariman Point; h9.15am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9.15am-1pm & 2-6pm Sat), Jet Airways ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-39893333; www.jetairways.com; B1, Amarchand Mansion, Madam Cama Rd, Colaba; h9.30am-6pm Mon-Sat) and Vistara ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %0186-1089999; www.airvistara.com) operate out of T2, while GoAir ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-26156113; www.goair.in), IndiGo ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %call centre 099-10383838; www.goindigo.in) and SpiceJet ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %airport 0987-1803333; www.spicejet.com) operate out of T1B – be sure to check ahead for any changes on the ground. Travel agencies and the airlines' websites are usually best for booking flights.

There are also normally MTDC tourist information booths at both terminals but these had been removed at the time of research due to the airport renovations, with no planned time frame for their return.

Bus

Numerous private operators and state governments run long-distance buses to and from Mumbai.

Long-distance government-run buses depart from the Mumbai Central bus terminal ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %enquiries 022-23024075; Jehangir Boman Behram Marg, RBI Staff Colony) right by Mumbai Central train station. They’re cheaper and more frequent than private services, but standards are usually lower. The website of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC; %022-23023900; www.msrtc.gov.in) theoretically has schedules and is supposed to permit online booking, though in practice it’s next to useless.

Private buses are usually more comfortable and simpler to book (if a bit more costly). Most depart from Dr Anadrao Nair Rd near Mumbai Central train station, but some buses to southern destinations depart from Carnac Bunder near Crawford Market or Dadar TT Circle (free transport is usually provided to both by ticketing agents). Check departure times and prices with Citizen Travels ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-23459695; www.citizenbus.com; G Block, Sitaram Bldg, Palton Rd) or National NTT/CTC ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-23074854, 022-23015652; Dr Anadrao Nair Rd; h6.20am-11.30pm). Fares to popular destinations (like Goa) are up to 75% higher during holiday periods.

Private buses to Goa are more convenient; these vary in price from as little as ₹450 (a bad choice) to ₹1000. Many leave from way out in the suburbs, but Naik Bus ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-23676840; www.naibus.com; h6pm, 7pm, 8.30pm & 9pm), Paolo Travel ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-26433023; www.paulotravels.com; h5.30pm & 8pm) and government-run Kadamba Transport ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %9969561146; www.goakadamba.com) are convenient for the centre, leaving from in front of Azad Maidan. The trip takes 14 hours.

Private long-distance bus stands and ticket agents are on Palton Road ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Paltan Rd) and Dr Anadrao Nair Road ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Dr Anadrao Nair Rd, RBI Colony).

Train

Three train systems operate out of Mumbai, but the most important services for travellers are Central Railways and Western Railways. Tickets for either system can be bought from any station that has computerised ticketing.

Central Railways ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %139; www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in), handling services to the east, south, plus a few trains to the north, operates from CST (also known as ‘VT’). Foreign-tourist-quota tickets and Indrail passes can be bought at Counter 52 on the 1st floor of the reservation centre ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in; h8am-8pm Mon-Sat, to 2pm Sun). There is a prepaid taxi scheme near the MTDC tourist information booth (₹160 to Colaba, ₹360 to Bandra, ₹430 to the domestic terminal and ₹500 to the international terminal).

Some Central Railways trains depart from Dadar (D), a few stations north of CST, or Lokmanya Tilak (LTT), 16km north of CST.

Western Railways ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %139; www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in) has services to the north from Mumbai Central train station, usually called Bombay Central (BCT). The reservation office ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in; h8am-8pm Mon-Sat, to 2pm Sun), opposite Churchgate station, has foreign-tourist-quota tickets.

To/From the Airports

Boat

PNP ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-22885220) and Maldar Catamarans ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-22829695) run regular ferries to Mandwa (one way ₹125 to ₹165), useful for access to Murud-Janjira and other parts of the Konkan Coast, avoiding the long bus trip out of Mumbai. Buy tickets at their Taj Gateway Plaza offices.

Bus

Few travellers bother with city buses but BEST ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.bestundertaking.com) has a useful search facility for hardcore shoestringers and masochists – you’ll also need to read the buses’ Devanagari numerals and beware of pickpockets. Fares start at ₹8.

BEST bus stands are on the east ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.bestundertaking.com) and west ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.bestundertaking.com) sides of Mahatma Gandhi Rd and at CST.

Car & Motorcycle

Cars with drivers can be hired for moderate rates. Air-conditioned cars start at ₹1550/1800 for half-/full-day rental with an 80km limit. For long-distance treks out of Mumbai, prices vary by type of car and service but expect to pay between ₹13 (non-AC) to ₹15 (AC) per kilometre. Clear Car Rental (%8888855220; www.clearcarrental.com) is a handy online car-booking service.

Allibhai Premji Tyrewalla ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %022-23099417, 022-23099313; www.premjis.com; 205/20 Dr D Bhadkamkar (Lamington) Rd; h10am-7pm Mon-Sat) Sells new and used motorcycles with a guaranteed buy-back option. Long-term rental schemes (two months or more) start at around ₹35,000, with a buy-back price of around 60% after three months.

Metro

Line 1 of Mumbai’s metro (www.mumbaimetroone.com) opened in 2014, the first of a long-phase project expected to finish by 2020. It connects 12 stations in the far northern suburbs to Ghatkopar Station in the east, mostly well away from anywhere of interest to visitors save the growing nightlife hubs of Andheri West and Versova, accessed by DN Nagar and Versova stations, respectively. However, Line 1 of the monorail was scheduled to be extended south as far as Jacob Circle (5km north of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) by early 2017 (after missing deadlines in 2010, 2011 and 2016), bringing it past nightlife hub Lower Parel.

Single fares are based on distance and cost between ₹10 and ₹45, with monthly Trip Passes (₹725 to ₹950) also available. Access to stations is by escalator, carriages are air-conditioned, and there are seats reserved for women and the disabled.

Line 3 (a 33.5km, 27-station underground line connecting Cuffe Pde south of Colaba, all the main railway terminals, Bandra and the airport) is the next line to be constructed. It’s been approved and contracted but won’t open until at least 2020.

Taxi & Autorickshaw

Mumbai’s black-and-yellow taxis are very inexpensive and the most convenient way to get around southern Mumbai; drivers almost always use the meter without prompting. The minimum fare is ₹22 (for up to 1.5km); a 5km trip costs about ₹80. Meru Cabs (%022-44224422; www.merucabs.com) is a reliable call-ahead taxi service.

Game-changing taxi apps in play include Uber (www.ubercom) and Ola (www.olacabs.com); the latter is good for booking autorickshaws as well – no more rickshaw-wallah price gouging!

Autorickshaws are the name of the game north of Bandra. The minimum fare is ₹18, up to 1.5km; a 3km trip is about ₹36 during daylight hours.

Both taxis and autorickshaws tack 50% onto the fare between midnight and 5am.

Tip: Mumbaikars tend to navigate by landmarks, not street names (especially new names), so have some details before heading out.

Train

Mumbai’s suburban train network is one of the world's busiest; forget travelling during rush hours. Trains run from 4am to 1am and there are two main lines of most interest to travellers:

AWestern Line The most useful; operates out of Churchgate north to Charni Rd (for Girgaum Chowpatty), Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi (for the Dhobi Ghat), Bandra, Vile Parle (for the domestic airport), Andheri (for the international airport) and Borivali (for Sanjay Gandhi National Park), among others. Make sure you don't catch an express train when you need a slow train – the screens dictate this by an 'S' (Slow) or 'F' (Fast) under 'Mode'.

ACentral Line Runs from CST to Byculla (for Veermata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan, formerly Victoria Gardens), Dadar and as far as Neral (for Matheran).

From Churchgate, 2nd-/1st-class fares are ₹5/50 to Mumbai Central, ₹10/55 to Vile Parle, and ₹15/75 to Borivali. ‘Tourist tickets’ permit unlimited travel in 2nd/1st class for one (₹75/275), three (₹115/440) or five (₹135/515) days.

To avoid the queues, buy a rechargeable SmartCard (₹100, ₹52 of which is retained in credit), good for use on either train line, then print out your tickets at the numerous automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) before boarding (place your card on the reader, touch the zone of your station, pick the specific station, choose the amount of tickets, choose 'Buy Ticket' and then 'Print').

Watch your valuables, and gals, stick to the ladies-only carriages except late at night, when it’s more important to avoid empty cars.