Goa Travel Guide: Beaches, Churches, Food, Markets and Tips
Welcome to our Goa travel guide. Goa is India’s smallest state, on the Arabian Sea coast, and its most loved beach holiday place. More than 450 years of Portuguese rule left white churches, pastel houses and a cuisine all its own, and today Goa mixes sunny beaches, green hills, spice farms and a relaxed way of life. This guide covers the best beaches, sights, food, markets, the best time to visit, how to get there and travel tips.
Goa at a Glance
Here are the key facts in our Goa travel guide.
- Capital: Panaji (Panjim)
- Airports: Dabolim (South Goa) and Manohar International, Mopa (North Goa)
- Languages: Konkani; English, Hindi and Marathi are widely spoken
- Known for: beaches, Old Goa churches, Goan seafood, Carnival and Christmas
- Days needed: four to seven
- Best time: November to February
North Goa vs South Goa
This part of our Goa travel guide helps you choose where to stay.
North Goa: Lively Beaches and Markets
Calangute and Baga are busy beaches with water sports and shacks. Anjuna and Vagator have cliffs and cafes, Morjim and Arambol are calmer, and Fort Aguada and Chapora Fort give views over the sea. Visit the Anjuna flea market on Wednesdays, the Saturday night market at Arpora and the Friday market at Mapusa.
South Goa: Quiet Bays and Resorts
Colva and Benaulim have long, clean beaches, Palolem and Agonda are pretty crescent bays, and Cola and Butterfly Beach feel hidden. See the clifftop Cabo de Rama fort and the old Portuguese mansions of Chandor.
Old Goa and Portuguese Heritage
No Goa travel guide is complete without Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its churches and convents. The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the relics of St Francis Xavier, and the Sé Cathedral is one of the largest churches in Asia. Nearby are the Church of St Francis of Assisi and the Church of St Cajetan. In Panaji, walk the Latin Quarter of Fontainhas, with its pastel houses and balconies, and see the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Shamrock travel tip: cover your shoulders and knees in churches and temples, and keep quiet during services. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Temples of Goa
Near Ponda, visit the Mangueshi and Shanta Durga temples, with their lamp towers and mix of Indian and Portuguese styles.
Nature and Adventure in Goa
Our Goa travel guide lists the best outdoor trips:
- Dudhsagar Falls: a four-tiered waterfall in the Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary, reached by jeep from October to May.
- Spice plantations: guided walks and a Goan lunch near Ponda.
- River cruises: sunset cruises on the Mandovi and backwater trips through mangroves.
- Dolphin watching: boat trips from Sinquerim and Palolem.
- Grande Island: snorkelling and diving trips.
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Divar island: mangroves, birds and village life by ferry.
Goan Food
Every Goa travel guide should talk about food. Try fish curry and rice, prawn balchão, chicken xacuti, vindaloo, cafreal and fresh seafood at a beach shack, and finish with bebinca, a layered coconut dessert. Goa is also known for its cashews.
Shopping in Goa
Buy cashews, spices, kokum, azulejo tiles, shell crafts and beachwear at the Anjuna, Arpora and Mapusa markets, and boutique clothes and art in Panaji and Assagao.
Festivals of Goa
The Feast of St Francis Xavier on 3 December, Christmas and New Year, Carnival in February with parades in Panaji, and Shigmo, the spring festival, in March are the highlights of the year.
How to Reach Goa
This part of our Goa travel guide explains how to get there.
By Air
Goa has two airports: Dabolim in the south and Manohar International at Mopa in the north, with flights from all major Indian cities and some international routes.
By Train
Madgaon, Karmali and Thivim stations on the Konkan Railway have trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kerala.
By Road
Good roads link Goa with Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hampi and Kerala.
Best Time to Visit Goa
Our Goa travel guide suggests November to February as the best time, with sunny days and calm seas. March to May is hot and humid. June to September is the monsoon: green and peaceful, with lower prices, but the sea is rough, swimming is not safe and many shacks close.
Goa Travel Tips
Before you go, read these tips from our Goa travel guide.
- Swim only at beaches with lifeguards, and never in the monsoon.
- Rent scooters only with a licence and a helmet, or use a car with driver.
- Carry sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.
- Dress modestly away from the beach, especially in churches, temples and villages.
Goa Travel Guide FAQs
How many days do I need in Goa?
Four days for North Goa and Old Goa; a week to add South Goa and Dudhsagar.
Where should I stay, North or South Goa?
North Goa for lively beaches and markets; South Goa for quiet beaches and resorts.
Is Goa good for families?
Yes. Choose calm South Goa beaches and family hotels, and add boat trips and a spice farm.
When is the Anjuna flea market?
On Wednesdays in the season, usually from November to April.
Is Goa worth visiting in the monsoon?
Yes, for green hills, waterfalls and low prices, but not for beach holidays.
Ready-Made Goa Tours
If you want us to plan everything, these private tours include hotels and transfers. See all our Goa tour packages.
- 4-day Pleasing Goa tour: North Goa beaches and forts, Old Goa churches and a spice farm: the Goa 3 nights 4 days tour package.
- 5-day Mesmerising Goa tour: adds Fontainhas and Dudhsagar Falls: the Goa 4 nights 5 days tour package.
- 7-day Goa Taj Mahal tour: Goa’s beaches with Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal.
- 9-day Goa Golden Triangle tour: Goa with Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Plan Your Goa Trip
We hope this Goa travel guide helps you plan. Explore more of India with our Kerala travel guide, our Agra and Varanasi guides, our Golden Triangle tour, our honeymoon packages and all our India tour packages. Request your free quote
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