Local Trains & Dabbawalas Tour
How twenty million people move, and how 200,000 lunches reach the right desk
- 3 hrsDuration
- Small groupor private
- English, HindiLanguages
- Free cancellationSee policy below
Led by one of our local guides
Meera, Rohan, Asha · all trained to lead every tour · Meet the team
Highlights
- A city bus to Victoria Terminus
- A suburban train to Dadar
- Dadar flower market
- Chor Bazaar by taxi
- The dabbawalas at work
About this tour
Twenty million people move around Mumbai every day, and hardly any of them drive. This tour puts you inside that system: the city buses, the suburban trains, the shared taxis and the dabbawalas, who deliver 200,000 home-cooked lunches across the city without a computer.
It's for travellers who want to understand how a city this size actually works, not just photograph it from outside. You travel the way locals do, with a guide who has made this commute all their life.
Itinerary
3 hrs in all. Times are a guide: they shift a little with traffic and your group's pace.
-
1
Meet at Churchgate
10 min
Meet your guide outside Burger King, Churchgate Station (west side).
-
2
City bus to Victoria Terminus
25 min
A red BEST bus through Fort to the great station.
-
3
Suburban train to Dadar
30 min
Ride the local train like a commuter, with tips on how millions of people use it every day.
-
4
Dadar flower market
25 min
A quick walk through the flower lanes next to the station.
-
5
Taxi to Chor Bazaar
45 min
A black-and-yellow taxi to the old "thieves' market" of antiques and curiosities.
-
6
The dabbawalas at work
45 min
Watch thousands of home-cooked lunches sorted and sent on to the right desk, with an almost perfect record.
What's included
- English-speaking local guide
- Bottled drinking water
- All local train and bus fares on the route
- All bus, train and taxi fares
- Personal purchases
Where we'll meet
Outside Burger King, Churchgate Station (west side)
Look for your guide holding a maroon Musafire flag. Please arrive 10 minutes early.
Reviews
This tour is new — be one of the first to review it!
Things to know
Guest requirements
- All ages welcome
- Child price: 6–12 years
- Bring: Comfortable shoes
- Bring: Water bottle
- Bring: Sun protection
Accessibility
Contact us about mobility needs; most tours can be adapted as a private tour.
Free cancellation
Plans change, we understand. Cancel for free until 24 hours before your tour and get every rupee back, or move to another date in two clicks from your booking page.
Good to know
- Children aged 6–12 pay the child price; under 6 travel free (please include them)
- Dress modestly for temple visits (shoulders and knees covered)
- Tours run in light rain
Questions about this tour
Is the local train safe for visitors?
Yes, outside rush hour and with your guide.
Often booked together
Booking more than one tour? Contact us and we'll build a combined itinerary with a single guide across your day.
Travel tips
Good to know before your tour
3 Oct 2026
Best time to visit Mumbai: weather and festivals, month by month
When to visit Mumbai: the dry season, the hot months and the monsoon, plus the festivals worth planning a trip around. A local's month-by-month guide.
11 Sep 2026
Mumbai street food: 15 dishes to try (and how to eat them safely)
Vada pav, pav bhaji, pani puri, bun maska and more: the 15 Mumbai street foods our food guides love, where locals eat them, and how to enjoy them without worry.
1 Sep 2026
48 hours in Mumbai: the perfect two-day itinerary
Two well-paced days in Mumbai: the Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive, Dhobi Ghat, Dharavi, Bandra and the best street food, planned by local guides.