Mumbai Airport Guide

Mumbai airport is the second-busiest airport in India after that in Delhi. It is one of the main entry points of India and handles more than 45 million passengers a year. Mumbai airport, or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, was formerly known as Sahar International Airport that serves as the primary international airport of the Maharashtra region in India.

The airport has gone through various renovations and upgrades since 2006 as the airport was leased to a private operator. The domestic terminals along with the new international terminal, Terminal 2, opened in February 2014. The World’s best airport title has been awarded to Mumbai airport at the Airport Service Quality Awards 2017, along with IGI Delhi.

Two Terminals & Facilities at Mumbai Airport

There are two terminals at the Mumbai airport, Terminal 1 at Santacruz for domestic flights and the Terminal 2 for international and domestic flights from Air India and Vistara along with few GoAir, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. Mumbai Airport is good for a layover, overnight sleepover or when you’re just passing through. At the airport, you will find information for the services and facilities available at every corner. The facilities in the airport include WiFi, mobile charging points, airport lounges, lockers, nearby hotels, and food joints service food all the time.

There is a grand museum at Terminal 2 that showcases Indian art on a long wall. The dancing white peacocks are present on the roof of Terminal 2. There are 188 check-in counters, 60 immigration counters for departing passengers, 76 immigration counters for arriving passengers, 52 boarding bridges, 73 elevators, and 47 escalators. At the Mumbai airport, the security checks take place before the immigration at Terminal 2.

The reserved parking slots, ramps, lifts, and bathrooms are present at both the terminals. Wheelchairs and attendants are already available inside the terminals. ATMs and money exchange counters are also present inside these terminals. The designated parking is located near all the terminals. Frequent travelers can also have the option to buy a monthly parking pass. The domestic terminal has 750 slots for parking and the international terminal holds 1,500 slots for autos.

Food Joints

At the airport, cars and taxis can be directly accessed from Sahar Elevated Road that is connected from Western Express Highway in Mumbai.

There are many types of food options available at Mumbai airport for all types of budget travelers. At Terminal 1, you can visit Cafeccino that is a low budget option for sandwiches and drinks. Chai Time is a good place for tea. Ultra Bar is a local shop to grab a cocktail or beer. Curry Kitchen is also a choice for north Indian cuisine and the famous Bombay Chaats.

At Terminal 2, you can find Indian Kebab Grill that has both non-veg and vegetarian options. Baker Street is a low budget pastry shop. Olive Bistro is also a nice restaurant with Italian mid-priced menu.

Mumbai Airport Lounges

Mumbai Airport provides many amenities and modern services. The Terminal 2 has a number of airport lounges such as the GVK Lounge for first-class and business class passengers. It has facilities that include concierge, business center, spa, food, and beverages.

The CIP Lounge is another place located on the level 3 and 4 of Terminal 2. The Loyalty Lounge is for holders of Visa, MasterCard, Priority Pass, Lounge Key, Diners, and Amex cards. It has facilities of buffet, reading materials, alcoholic beverages, and wireless internet. There is a Pranaam Lounge too that is not quite a glamorous option for passengers. Buffet, baby care room, luggage storage, and non-alcoholic beverages are provided in the lounge.

How to Reach Mumbai Airport

The Mumbai international airport has different entrances for the domestic airport and international airport. The distance between the two terminals is just 500 meters. Taxis usually reach the airport entrance (departure gates) at both the places.

If travelling by buses, the BEST buses serve at the airport while MSRTC private buses that serve in the Mumbai outskirts. Bus 312 rides from the Domestic Terminal to Vile Parle (East) and Andheri (East) railway stations. It takes only 30 minutes to reach the airport from Andheri East railway station if you’re travelling by Bus A16 and the fare is only RS. 10. The bus 321 from the International Terminal to Vile Parle (East) railway station is also available. It takes only 10 minutes and the fare is around Rs. 10-20. The bus 308 also travels from International Terminal to Andheri (East) railway station. The distance between Mumbai International Airport and Andheri East railway station is 5 kilometers (3 mi) and from Vile Parle.

The airport also provides shuttle services between the terminals. The Mumbai Suburban Railway Network has three railway lines called the Western Line, the Central Main Line, and the Harbour Line. The closest train station is from Vile Parle (East) and to the international terminal from Andheri (East).

Hotels near Mumbai Airport

For passengers travelling for businesses and other purposes, there are various exquisite hotels offering a comfortable and royal stay. Hotels such as Niranta Airport Transit Hotel & Lounge, The Lalit Mumbai, Hilton Mumbai International Airport, the Orchid Mumbai Vile Parle, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Hotel Le Grande, ITC Maratha, etc. are the famous hotel accommodations for an easy and peaceful stay after a long tiring journey.

If you’re planning to enjoy your stay in a luxury hotel, a five-star one, you’ll need to shell out at least Rs. 5,000 per night on average. For budget hotels, you will need to spend around Rs. 2,000 to 3,000 per night.

Nearby Attractions

While many airports in India are situated too far from the city, Mumbai Airport, on the other hand, is surrounded by some of the key areas of the city. Mumbai's famous Juhu Beach is just 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) from the airport. ISKCON Temple is also at the same distance from this place. Another interesting place called Jogeshwari Cave is also located at just 6 kilometers from here.