Shoppers have a wealth of opportunities to indulge in Mumbai, with districts for fabrics, gold, haute couture, antiques and more. Smart shoppers will plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time to browse, haggle and buy.

“Mumbai is a huge city that requires plenty of travel time, as traffic can be a problem,” says Sharell Cook of About.com’s Guide to India Travel. “It can also be difficult to find your way around. … So depending on what you’re interested in buying, it’s a good idea to plan out your shopping trip in advance and allocate a full day for it.”

Seema Prakash, destination manager of the Indian subcontinent for luxury travel company Cox & Kings, agrees. “[Whether] you are shopping on the streets or in the marketplace, take your time, sift and sort, establish authenticity and, if necessary, don’t be afraid to bargain hard,” Prakash says.

The travel guides have plenty of tips to make the most of Mumbai shopping, starting with what to wear. Think casual but conservative: linen or cotton pants, a long skirt or dress, comfortable shoes.

Then, pick your passion. Our pick for high-end shopping is Colaba in south Mumbai. Among Cook’s picks in Colaba: The Courtyard on Minoo Desai Marg for hip Indian fashion. Rub shoulders with Bollywood stars at Bombay Electric, billed as India’s first concept store. International brands share space with emerging and established Indian designers, including Manish Arora.

Opposite Bombay Electric is The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel, which is impressive enough but even more majestic as back-dropped by the Gateway of India. Here, Cook says, travelers can check out “a high-end shopping arcade featuring many sought-after designer brands.”

Check out the stores behind The Taj Mahal Palace or brave the crowds of Chor Bazaar (“Thieves’ Market”) for antiques, curios and furniture, Prakash says. Be ready to haggle, aiming to spend about half the ticketed price for vintage items and antiques.

Continue on to central south Mumbai — or carve out an entire day — for High Street Phoenix Mall in Lower Parel.

“High Street Phoenix Mall stands out in terms of luxury shopping, as it has a dedicated four-level luxury shopping precinct, called the Palladium, as part of it,” says Cook, who adds that luxury hotel chain Shangri-La also opened here recently. Think Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Tumi and more. “You’ll be able to shop ’til you drop!”

All that shopping can be exhausting. Cook suggests heading to nearby Todi Mathuradas Mill Compound to Café Zoe to refresh with European and continental cuisine.

For Southeast Asian cuisine she suggests Busaba, a perfect place for foodies, especially if they’re lucky enough to visit during the weekday unlimited lunch specials. And if Indian-style seafood tempts your palate, Cook recommends Gajalee. As a bonus, shoppers won’t even have to leave the mall.