Goa Tourism – A Complete Holiday Travel Guide Just For You

Goa is the land of idyllic beaches, tranquil seas, and happy locals. Goa tourism has long been a favourite among those who wish to party late into the night, or laze around golden sands and cool breeze.

Today, we will cover all that is to know about Goa and put together a detailed, definitive guide to help you with your Goa tourism plans.

1. North Goa, Goa tourism

North Goa is where all the action is. Be it foreign tourists, locals, or travellers from within India, and you will see hordes of people flocking to take in the scenic vistas of North Goa’s beaches, its delectable cuisines, its musical evenings, and the vibrant Goa nightlife.

Best attractions

A beautiful shot of the perfect Sunset in Goa

North Goa offers a mind blowing mix of lip smacking cuisines, clean accommodation, great holiday spots, and positive vibes associated with vacations.

• You can opt to explore any of the well-known beaches like Anjuna, Vagator, and Baga.
• You also get to discern the ancient soul of Goa at Calizz Heart of Goa museum
• Visit Aguada Fort and Lighthouse for a tranquil time.

Best beaches

Parties in Goa

North Goa takes the cake as far as popular beaches in Goa are concerned. Make sure to visit

• Calangute (known as the ‘Queen of beaches’)
• Vagator (known for its Sunburn festival), and
• Anjuna beach (known for its Wednesday flea markets)

For adventure water sports, you can try out Sinquerim beach – a well-known destination for Goa tourism. It offers a range of fun-filled activities like scuba diving and water-skiing.

There are other Goa beaches that are not as well-known but are equally satisfying. These include Candolim and Mandrem beach.

Best places to eat

Goan Food at its best

• La Plage on Ashvem beach offers an array of French cuisines, salads, seafood, and cocktails. Their home-made ice cream is an absolute relish.
• Thalassa on Small Vagator beach lets you munch on Greek food while providing a mesmerising view of the sunset. Its relaxing ambience makes it one of the best places to visit in Goa
• Curlie’s on Anjuna beach has a one of its kind vibe that offers a mix of great food (Goan, Indian, Continental, Chinese), great ambience (trance music and laser light), with incredible views of the Arabian Sea.
• Sample authentic Goan cuisine like Prawn curry, Goan fish curry, and Chicken Xacuti at Mum’s Kitchen in Panjim and at Soi in Candolim.

For a one-of-its-kind breakfast experience, it is worth trying out Infantaria at Calangute, it offers a delectable spread in the form of ‘Continental Breakfast’ and an ‘Infantaria Special’

Best places to enjoy nightlife

Image source: Food NDTV

It is no irony that the smallest state in India throws the biggest night parties in the country. Explore these options for psychedelic lights, foot stomping music, great ambience, etc.–

• Tito’s Nightclub near Baga beach
• The Pine Shack on Calangute beach
• Alcove at Vagator, and
• Lido’s at Donna Paula beach
• Love Passion Karma (LPK) at Candolim, Goa
• Club Cabana that is often known as the nightclub in the sky, has multi-storied bar floors and multi-levelled dance floors

In fact it is very likely that the beach shacks lining South Goa will have the facility for night-time parties, drinks, and dance.

Also Read: 23 Best Places To Visit In South Goa

Activities

Forts in Goa

• You can visit Chapora Fort, popularly known as the Dil Chahta Hai fort and soak in the cool breeze rising from the ocean.
• Since the last 30 years, Anjuna’s famed Wednesday flea market is attracting tourists from far and wide. It offers a diverse mix of t-shirts, bed sheets, and Tibetan shawls.
• You can check Café Looda’s beachfront restaurant after the time spent shopping at the stalls.
• Another flea market is the Friday market that sets up shop in Mapusa.
• The Earthen Pot at Valpoi is the point to go to for a scintillating white water rafting experience provided by GTDC.
• For religious souls, Saligao church at Porvorim and Basilica of Bom Jesus at Bainguinim are great stops.

Best time to visit – all seasons

Dil Chahta Hai Fort in Goa

Its tropical climate and its proximity to the Arabian Sea, make Goa a beach bum’s paradise during the hot and humid months of April and May. This time is the best to rent out a shack by the beach, put on your summer dress, and take a sip of the mojito.

For June to September, book a visit to the enchanting Chapora Fort and laze around the relatively off-season solitude of Vagator – one of the most popular Goa tourist places to visit. Since it is off-season, you can find accommodation easily and that too at discounted rates.

For October to March, you can visit the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary where you can witness migratory birds seeking residence here. Another sanctuary will be the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary near Valpoi that displays rich greenery, post the monsoon season.

Accommodations options

Owing to the massive Goa tourism demand from India and foreign tourists alike, there are a lot of accommodation options at multiple price points. You can go for beach shacks, budget resorts, 5-star hotel stays, or even homestays.

2. South Goa

Dudhsagar waterfalls in Goa

Though South Goa has far less number of holiday spots than North Goa, it is an equally mesmerising place as far as Goa tourism is concerned. South Goa remains high on the list of people who want to experience tranquility as a part of things to do in Goa.

Best attractions to see in Goa tourism

• You absolutely cannot miss out on the ethereal milky views of the 600m high Dudhsagar Waterfalls on the Mandovi River, Sonaulim.
• For wildlife enthusiasts, the 240 sq. km. Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary (also known as Mollem National Park) provides a view of exotic species like Jungle Cats, Spotted Deer, Malayan Giant Squirrels, and Leopards.
• Cabo de Rama at Canacona showcases ancient Portuguese glory amidst its fort ruins.
• Bring out your patriotic side by visiting Naval Aviation Museum at Mormugao. The military museum displays an outdoor aircraft park, housing 13 different aircrafts.

Best beaches

Clean Goa Beaches

• The 1.5 km stretch of white sands at Palolem beach makes it a must visit. It offers an incredible sail boat trip where you can spot dolphins in natural waters.
• Majorda Beach offers a range of water activities like snorkelling, surfing, water skiing, and banana ride.
• Colva Beach is another beach in South Goa that transforms to a hot party destination in the evenings. One of the oldest beaches in Goa, Colva stretches over 2.4 km of pristine white sands.

Also Read: Of These 100 Places To Visit In Goa, How Many Have You Been To?

Best places to eat

• Choose from Indian, Asian, Continental, and seafood at Fish Ka Bar & Restaurant at Salcette
• Feast on fresh seafood prepared in delectable South Indian style only at Zeebop by the Sea at Salcette. Preparations like prawn curry and kingfish are prepared with local spices and are highly sought after by tourists
• Cavatina Cuchina Grill and Bar in Benaulim is another great option for contemporary cuisine that attracts your taste buds
• Craving to eat at a vegan place? Then check out Blue Planet Café at Agonda beach. Their pumpkin cheese fritters is a great choice to order.

Best places to enjoy nightlife

Image Source: Rediff (Goa’s Night Life)

If you are opting for Goa packages, you would know that Goa is best known for its night life and hard partying that goes on till the early hours of morning. In South Goa, you will find a concentration of night parties in and around the beachfront properties. Some of the great options here are

• Taj Exotica at Benaulim
• Ziggy’s at Colva and
• Leopard Valley in Canacona. It is one of the biggest open air night clubs situated in the lush natural surroundings between Agonda and Palolem.
• Silent Noise at Palolem. Patrons use wireless headsets on the dance floor to dance to their own tunes, without disturbing anybody. This unusual theme makes it the nation’s first original headphone party destination
• Be it theme parties, flamboyant music, incredible lighting, or mind-blowing partygoers in attendance, South Goa is never far behind North Goa in terms of ambience and vibes of the night out spots.

Activities

• Explore Tsunami Island just outside South Goa for a range of monsoon water sports and activities. Activities like banana ride, jet ski ride and speed boat ride, simply elevate the experience you get from Goa tourism.
• You can alternatively look for a 3km trail of canyoning at Upper Sauri
• You can also check out winch boat parasailing and ringo ride at Mobor beach at Salcette,
• Water skiing at Majorda Beach too is a great attraction in South Goa.
• Wildlife and nature lovers will relish in the tranquil environs of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in Verlem. It houses animals and birds like great pied hornbills, giant squirrels, and Black Panther.

Best time to visit – all seasons

The Romantic side of Goa

December and January combine the festivities of Christmas and New Year with a cold morning, pleasant evening, and moderately hot day time climate. The holiday atmosphere prompts locals and tourists to go shopping or lazing around the beach.

February to April is the off-season for Goa tourism. These months are apt for budget conscious holidays as accommodation tariffs can be slashed by as much as 50% in these months.

Late April and May are the months that tourists flock to beat the heat with a beach side holiday. For road trip enthusiasts, monsoon and post monsoon drives around the state can be an exhilarating experience.

Accommodations options

For a family or a person looking for a great holiday experience, there are a lot of housing choices available in South Goa. You can check out beach shacks for a beachfront property. You can also opt for budget resorts or exquisite 5-star hotel properties. For a lower budget, you can find quite a few good budget hotels and homestays.

Book the best Goa Holiday Package and plan an exciting trip with your friends and loved ones now!