Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, also known as Mumbai Airport, is the main airport of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is one of India's busiest airports and one of the main international gateways to the country.

Understand
Mumbai has excellent connectivity with most of the major cities around the world, including New York City, London, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur to name a few. If you are flying from Europe it is generally cheaper to fly from London, and there are many frequent flights available. All domestic sectors are linked to Mumbai, making it the second busiest hub in the country next to Delhi.

Formed in the 1930s as an air force base, Mumbai Airport used to have only one terminal at Santacruz till 1981 and was the most crowded airport in India. A new terminal was formed in 1981 to reduced the crowd.

Flights
Mumbai Airport is divided into two commercial terminals. Terminal 1, locally known as Santacruz Airport, is used for domestic flights primarily operated by budget airlines. Terminal 2, locally known as Sahar Airport, is used for both international and domestic flights.

Although both terminals are part of the same airport, they are 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away from each other, requiring a 15– to 20-minute drive between them.

As of 2023, the two terminals have been assigned as follows:

By taxi
You should take a prepaid coupon taxi to minimise hassle. Never pay more than ₹600 for a prepaid taxi. This amount should suffice to arrive at the southernmost point of Colaba, the main tourist district. While it is possible to take metered taxis to a destination, it is always a safer bet to take the prepaid taxis, in order to avoid the use of a longer, indirect route to increase the fare! While it is not mandatory to pay extra charges for luggage, a tip of ₹50-100 will be appreciated. Be careful with the main prepaid counter on the left upon leaving the terminal. The ₹100 bill and the ₹500 bill were very similar at one time. The old ₹100 is still valid, but the old ₹500 is not, so inspect the bills being paid with and being received.

There are many prepaid taxi offices lined up near the airport's exit. If one offers a high rate, search for a fair fare at other offices. Go to the taxi office and purchase a coupon to give to the driver. The coupon will have the taxi registration number written on it; only enter that taxi. Do not accept a lift from someone claiming to be a taxi driver as they may charge much higher prices to tourists. The charges will depend on the general area you need to get to and will include all tolls to be paid.

While most drivers should not have any problem delivering you to major hotels and intersections, do not assume your driver will be familiar with lesser-known hotels. Before departing, indicate the full address of your destination, thus avoiding delays. If a driver insists on agreeing on a fare before boarding the vehicle, insist using the meter.

A common scam directed at tourists is when a taxi arrives at the airport, a man will remove luggage from the trunk, put it in a cart, transport it towards the terminal and along the way ask for a ₹500 baggage fee. There is no baggage fee, so decline to pay and push the cart without assistance.

By local train
The nearest railway station is and it is possible to take a bus, taxi or an auto to the station. This may require walking to the intersection of the road to find an auto. Travel first class to avoid hassle. Do not try this during the morning rush. It's a good option in the evening, since it's off-peak direction then.

By bus
BEST operates air-conditioned buses between Mumbai Airport and Andheri railway station. Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) runs bus services between the airport and Navi Mumbai.

By car
The airport is some 10–12 kilometres (6–7.5 miles) north of South Mumbai. Most premium hotels arrange private chauffeur driven cars. They are the most trusted, secure and comfortable way to get in the airport.

Parking
Paid parking is available at the airport. The charges are ₹60 per four-hour block for cars. Longer-term parking is available in a "premium" area but it is expensive, costing up to ₹600 per day.

By metro
The nearest metro station is, which is not directly connected to the airport. While it might make for a cheaper taxi ride, it is still quite inconvenient.

Get around
A free shuttle bus runs between T1 and T2 for those who have a valid ticket. As the terminals are far apart and separated by runways, the bus has to go outside the airport and drop passengers at the departure complex. You will need to re-clear security, when changing terminals, have a long enough layover, as the transfer process can take hours. Going from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 requires leaving the airport and re-entering through International Departures.

Sleep
It is almost impossible to find good budget hotels near the airport and most hotels are either mid-range or splurge. So if you want to book a hotel and you don't have the budget to stay near the airport, you should head to the nearby suburbs. However, if money is no object, you can stay at the following hotels.

Nearby

 * South Mumbai — the obvious destination for the travellers who are still trapped in this airport.
 * Western, Central and Harbour Suburbs — for good budget hotels and nice beaches.