Not to miss

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum

Also known as the Prince of Wales Museum, this institution is set in an ornamental garden and boasts a galleried central hall topped by a huge dome, said to have been inspired by the Golgumbaz in Bijapur. The gallery's collection includes impressive sculptures, terracotta figurines, miniature paintings, porcelain and weaponry.

Gateway of India

This yellow basalt arch of triumph is an exaggerated colonial marker conceived after the visit of King George V in 1911. These days the gateway is a popular emblem of the city and a favourite gathering spot for locals in the evening and on weekends. Touts, balloon sellers, photographers and snake charmers give the area the feisty hubbub of a bazaar.

The arch's design was derived from the Muslim styles of 16th-century Gujarat. The arch was officially opened in 1924, only to be made redundant just 24 years later when the last British regiment ceremoniously departed India through its archway.

Nehru Planetarium and Nehru Centre

The most striking thing about this cultural complex is the bold modern architecture. The tower looks like a giant circular honeycomb and the planetarium looks like a UFO. There's a theatre and restaurant here plus an interesting, and free, history exhibition.

Don't miss the fantastic free Discovery of India exhibition, which uses audiovisual displays, photographs, cut outs, dioramas and mock-ups of famous monuments and temples to tell the national story.