The short answer
- Best months
- November to March
- Lively
- North Goa
- Quiet
- South Goa
- Prettiest bay
- Palolem
Goa, on India's west coast, is the country's favourite beach escape, with Portuguese churches, spice farms and seafood shacks. It makes an easy, relaxing end to a tour of the north, a short flight from Delhi or Jaipur.
North Goa
- Calangute and Baga: Busy, with water sports, nightlife and plenty of restaurants.
- Anjuna and Vagator: The old hippie trail, with a famous Wednesday flea market and clifftop sunsets.
- Morjim and Ashwem: Quieter, wide sands; olive ridley turtles nest at Morjim.
- Arambol: Bohemian and relaxed, with a sweet water lake behind the beach.
South Goa
- Palolem: A perfect crescent of sand lined with palms; calm water for swimming and kayaking.
- Agonda: Long, peaceful and a turtle nesting beach.
- Colva and Benaulim: Long sandy beaches popular with Indian families, with resorts nearby.
- Cola and Butterfly Beach: Small, hidden coves reached by rough tracks or by boat.
Tip: Don't miss Old Goa's UNESCO listed churches and the colourful Latin Quarter of Fontainhas in Panaji.
Which beach suits you?
| If you want | Go to |
|---|---|
| Nightlife and water sports | Baga and Calangute |
| Markets, cafes and sunsets | Anjuna and Vagator |
| A wide quiet beach in the north | Morjim and Ashwem |
| The classic palm fringed bay | Palolem |
| Peace and quiet | Agonda and Cola |
| A family resort | Benaulim, Varca and Cavelossim |
Beyond the beach
- Old Goa: Baroque churches including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Fontainhas: Panaji's Latin Quarter of painted Portuguese houses.
- Spice farms: Tours with a traditional Goan lunch in the hills near Ponda.
- Dudhsagar Falls: A tall waterfall on the Karnataka border, best just after the monsoon.
- Hampi: The ruined temples and boulders of Vijayanagara are a long day's drive or an overnight train away. Hampi guide
Goan food
Goa's food mixes Konkani and Portuguese traditions. Try fish curry rice, prawn balchão, chicken xacuti, pork vindaloo made the Goan way with vinegar, and bebinca, a layered coconut dessert. Beach shacks grill the catch of the day every evening.
When to go
November to March is dry and sunny with calm seas. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive. From June to September the monsoon brings rough seas, swimming is unsafe and many beach shacks close.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | Goa |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32° / 20°1 mm |
| Feb | 32° / 21°0 mm |
| Mar | 32° / 23°1 mm |
| Apr | 33° / 25°10 mm |
| May | 33° / 27°100 mm |
| Jun | 30° / 25°900 mm |
| Jul | 29° / 24°1000 mm |
| Aug | 29° / 24°600 mm |
| Sep | 30° / 24°270 mm |
| Oct | 32° / 24°120 mm |
| Nov | 33° / 23°30 mm |
| Dec | 33° / 21°5 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
Adding Goa to a tour
Goa is a two to two and a half hour flight from Delhi and about an hour from Mumbai. Three or four nights at the end of a Golden Triangle or Rajasthan tour makes a relaxing finish before the flight home.
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Frequently asked questions
Is North or South Goa better?
North Goa suits travellers who want nightlife and a social scene. South Goa is quieter, cleaner and better for couples and families.
When is the best time to visit Goa?
November to March. Avoid June to September, when the monsoon makes the sea unsafe for swimming.
Sources we checked
India month by month
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