Flights from Sydney to Mumbai

Not usually. Mumbai is a huge hub for Air India and IndiGo, but the long nonstop services from Sydney have historically focused on Delhi. So for Mumbai you'll almost always change planes once. The upside is choice: many airlines compete on this city pair, which helps keep fares reasonable outside peak weeks.

Mumbai sits on India's west coast, so both eastern and western hubs are workable:

• Singapore with Singapore Airlines or Scoot
• Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air or AirAsia X
• Bangkok with Thai Airways
• Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific
• Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi with Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad, which are less of a detour for Mumbai than they are for eastern India
• Delhi with Air India, pairing the nonstop Sydney to Delhi service (when operating) with a short domestic flight

We compare these for your dates and flag long overnight waits or separate tickets before you commit.

International flights use Terminal 2 at BOM, a large and modern building in Sahar, Andheri East. Domestic flights operate from both T1 and T2 depending on the airline, so if you are connecting within India, check your onward terminal. A transfer between the two involves a road shuttle and needs time.

Mumbai traffic is the thing to plan for. Reaching South Mumbai can take well over an hour at busy times, while the western suburbs like Bandra, Andheri and Juhu are closer. Late-night arrivals often mean a much quicker ride.

Mumbai's biggest festival is Ganesh Chaturthi, usually in August or September, when the city is at its liveliest and many Maharashtrian families gather at home. Diwali in October or November and the December to January holiday season are the other big peaks for bookings from Sydney.

The monsoon, roughly June to September, is intense in Mumbai. Very heavy rain days can cause local flooding and flight delays. It doesn't stop people travelling, but leave a buffer between your international arrival and any onward flight or train. November to February is the driest and most pleasant period.

Mumbai is the arrival point for a wide region. Pune is a few hours away by road via the expressway. Goa is a short domestic flight, as are Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities across Maharashtra. Many Gujarati families from Sydney fly into Mumbai and continue to Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara or Rajkot, although it's also worth comparing flights straight into Ahmedabad through Gulf or Southeast Asian hubs.

If you want a few days of sightseeing after family commitments, have a look at our India tour packages.

Mumbai is India's financial centre, and we book a fair number of short work trips from Sydney. For these, reliability of the connection matters more than the last few dollars. We usually suggest a single ticket with a connection of at least two hours, a fare with some flexibility for date changes, and arrival times that let you rest before meetings. Tell us which part of Mumbai you'll be working in, because it affects which arrival time makes sense given the traffic.

With so many airlines on this route, the time of day you leave Sydney varies widely, and it is worth thinking about before comparing prices. Gulf carriers often leave Sydney in the evening and arrive in Mumbai the next morning or early afternoon after a connection. Southeast Asian carriers more commonly have daytime departures and late-night arrivals into BOM.

For families with young children, an overnight long leg can mean better sleep. For people who dislike landing in the middle of the night, a morning arrival is easier, particularly with Mumbai's traffic in mind. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we'll filter the options around it rather than sending the cheapest fare regardless of timing. If you are coming from the Parramatta area or further west, allow plenty of time for the trip to Kingsford Smith.

Australian passport holders need an Indian visa, typically an e-Visa, or an OCI card. We help with online Indian visa applications and OCI, and recommend checking official sources before you travel. Add travel insurance once your dates are set.

Coming home, declare any food you are bringing back, such as sweets or spices, to Australian biosecurity. Related routes: Melbourne to Mumbai and Sydney to Delhi.

How long is the flight from Sydney to Mumbai?

With one stop, most itineraries take between 15 and 22 hours. The length of the layover is the biggest variable.

Which terminal do international flights use in Mumbai?

Terminal 2. Some domestic flights leave from Terminal 1, so check your onward booking if you are connecting.

Is it worth flying to Mumbai during the monsoon?

Plenty of people do, and fares can be lower outside festival periods. Just allow extra time for connections in case of weather delays.

Should I fly into Mumbai or Ahmedabad for Gujarat?

It depends on where in Gujarat you are going and the fares on your dates. We can quote both so you can compare.

Can you book changeable fares for business trips?

Yes. Many airlines offer fare types that allow date changes for a fee or free, and we explain the conditions before you book.