8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Pune Over Mumbai

The “Pune versus Mumbai” debate is never-ending. Both these cities were the first metropolises of Maharashtra, and still hold the pride of the state. Mumbai and Pune are similar and also different. In fact, the two cities are so different that in some aspects that it could be impossible for many people to love them equally. Some claim that both Pune and Mumbai have their own charm. While it isn’t fair to declare one city better than the other, we can obviously give you eight reasons why you must visit Pune over Mumbai any day.

The weather is perfect

When you’re visiting a place as a tourist, you’d like to go around and explore as best as possible. But when you encounter warm, humid, uncomfortable weather all the time, it ruins your mood and drains your energy. That’s what Mumbai is like—humid and sweaty. Pune, on the other hand, is cool and pleasant at any time of the year, with occasional drizzles and a pleasant breeze bringing alive the romantic in everybody. Pune’s weather beats Mumbai’s any day.

Mutha River in Pune that runs through the city

The traffic is manageable

The Garware Bridge in Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

Pune is cleaner and greener

Mumbai is a concrete jungle with highrises dotting the skyline. When there are too many people at one place, it is bound to get crowded, stifling, and dirty. In comparison, Pune has managed to save its greenery and open spaces. The city is cleaner and greener, and much less crowded than Mumbai. Being a tourist in Pune is always a pleasant experience.

The food has variety

Pune is home to cuisine from all over the world. From high-end restaurants to street food and Parsi cuisine to Italian food, there’s so much variety. Whether you are a non-vegetarian, vegetarian, or vegan, you will find a wide range of food available to your delight. Eating out is cheaper than in Mumbai, which makes sampling the different kinds of food much more enjoyable.

Shopper’s paradise

Tourists love to shop, and there are few places better or cheaper than Pune when it comes to shopping. From high-end designer labels to budget options, Pune offers a wide variety to suit every taste. Unlike Mumbai, where things are generally on the higher side, Pune is affordable, and shopping to your heart’s content will not drain your bank account.

Happening nightlife

Mumbai might be the more glamorous cousin of Pune, but when it comes to music and nightlife, the latter is hard to beat. The happening nightlife even manages to draw many people from Mumbai to Pune. Over the years, the city has hosted some impressive music shows, including events featuring David Guetta, Akon, and Enrique. Also, Pune hosts two EDM festivals—Bacardi NH7 Weekender and The Sunburn.

Nucleya closing Day 1 at NH7 Weekender Pune 2016

Low cost of living

Pune is more affordable than Mumbai, so if you are looking to rent a home or hotel for your stay, it could be well within your budget. Eating out, shopping, visiting tourist attractions, and even splurging on luxury items will not burn a hole in your pocket. Those visiting Pune from other states will find it easier to have a good time on a budget as compared to its more expensive counterpart, Mumbai.

Proximity to hill stations

Pune serves as the gateway to various other beautiful places, many of them hill stations. Lonavla, Lavasa, Khandala, and Mahabaleshwar are some of the scenic destinations easily accessible from Pune. All of these places are a few hours drive from the city and make for perfect weekend getaways. If you’re visiting Pune, you can easily drive to these nearby regions for a rejuvenating experience.

While Mumbai has its own charm, there are reasons why Pune scores bigger. Visit Pune any time of the year to find out for yourself.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.