A travel Guide to Goa

Goa Tourism

Goa, a state located on the west coast of India, is famous for its serene beaches, party hubs and exotic seafood. Besides, Goa attractions also include many soothing meditation and yoga centres that will give you a chance to enjoy a holistic tour. That’s not all. There’s a whole lot of fun-filled activities for adventure and watersports lovers.

It is said, everyone makes a Goa plan at least once in their lifetime. Goa tours are not just about the serene beaches or nightlife but also the tropical weather of Goa makes you fall in love and compel you to visit the spot again and again. It is a place to enjoy with your partner, family, friends and even solo.

All that contributes to making Goa India so famous are beautiful beaches, soothing sunsets, delightful villages, and a joyful atmosphere. It is a great spot for several trendy beach shacks, bars, classy cafés, and nightclubs.

This Goa travel guide covers all you can do to make your trip unforgettable even if you are here on a short trip.

Places to visit in Goa

1. Goa Beaches

Beaches hold a key role in Goa tourism. Almost every traveller who comes to visit the region spends a day at Palolem Beach, amid the white sand and beautiful homely coco huts to spend your nights. Next is Colva Beach with swinging palms and a wide-bronze sand area. Surrounding areas offer you an authentic perspective of the regional style. Butterfly Beach is another beautiful Goa attraction. The sand flanked by rocks creates a beautiful postcard bay, full of butterflies and flowers. It is also a great place for dolphins to swim afield.

2. Goa Flea Markets

The Anjuna flea market is organised on Anjuna Beach every Wednesday. Tourists from all over visit this market to get great bargains. There’s a wide range of goods to buy. After a day full of shopping, you can go to a beach shack and enjoy the sunset episode. The Saturday Night Market and Mackie's Night Bazaar at Baga beach are also worthy Goa tourists places for shopping lovers. These markets offer entertainment and an exotic range of products along with live music.

3. Chapora Fort

It is amongst the most popular places to visit in Goa and is particularly a favourite place to spend evenings. The Chapora Fort shows up over the River Chapora and thus the name. Blowing sea breezes make this spot a wonderfully serene place to relax and sit with your beloved ones and cherish some sweet time. It is also a famous spot for clicking photographs.From the time of the shooting of the iconic Bollywood movie "Dil Chahta Hai", the fort has become a lot famous and people began to call it the "Dil Chahta Hai Fort."

4. Se Cathedral Church

Showcasing an elegant architectural style, Se Cathedral is recognised as the largest church throughout Asia with a Giant Golden Bell. Because of such a majestic aura and splendour, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage and is one among the most famous Goa tourist places.The church's blend of peace and artistry will revive you, and you’ll have the pleasure of witnessing the detailed design on wood inside of the church which adds to its charm and glory. You can as well explore the bell tower on the south foot of the front of the Se Cathedral Church.

5. BigFoot Museum

BigFoot Museum is situated at Loutolim. This open-air museum retells the rural life of Goans' and how they lived a hundred years ago. You’ll see various miniature homes in this model design, where traditional occupations, as well as social classes with a music school, farmers, fishermen, village market, and liquor shops, are displayed. However, the key attraction here is the 14-meter-large Sant Mirabai sculpture by M.J.A. Alavres, the artist cum museum's owner. This marvel of Goa tourism is mentioned as the lengthiest laterite sculpture in India in the Limca Book of Records.

Things to do in Goa

Goa is a place with endless opportunities for fun and exploration. Travellers from all around the globe consider it a great place to enjoy many activities both on and off the water. Let's take a look at things to do in Goa.

Kayaking In South Goa Beaches

Among all the Goa tourist places, South Goa beaches are known for offering the best water sports activities. You can enjoy kayaking here during the months from October to May, when the sea is calm, and the weather is enjoyable.

Dona Paula jetty, Palolem Beach, Hollant Beach, and Zuari backwaters are also a few of the popular places to go for kayaking. Organised in groups, you would be constantly thrilled by numerous sounds even from below the ocean in this adventure.

Kayaking tours also let you paddle quietly while you view the sunrise as well as some exotic birds along the way. More exciting options are available at distinct Goa clubs, like moonlight kayaking.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling at Grande Island

Goa tourism offers a thrilling experience with a close-knit perspective of marine life at Grande Island. It lets you explore underwater life with activities like Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.

Both sports are carried out with appropriate equipment using world-class and approved safety gear. You would be properly instructed for the activity before they actually take place.

In case of unfavourable environmental conditions and during monsoons, these activities are halted. Agatti Island, Sail Rock, and Turbo Tunnel are some other top-notch sites in Goa for such sports.

You’ll visualise the adrenaline thrill when you’ll dive into the clear, turquoise waters of Goa with plenty of aquatic fauna and flora.

Adventure to Tambdi Surla Waterfall

Tambdi Surla is known as one of the oldest temples in Goa. The intricate engravings decorate the temple's interior and the Surla River flows in front of the temple. A 90-minute walk from the temple lays the waterfall.

A few snakes with some other small animals are found during the trek in the jungle. You also get to seek colourful birds and multi-hued butterflies which are not generally seen in crowded towns. You would be amazed when you look at the waterfall. What a mesmerising sight it seems when the water cascades from 50 meters' height in a zigzag manner.

Best Time to Visit Goa

The best time to visit Goa is between November and February. These months have beautiful weather on the Goa beaches making it ideal to wander. The Sunburn Festival, blowing parties on New Year and Christmas in December make all Goa tourist places to be occupied to full. Because of several events in February, Goa becomes a hot spot around Valentine's week making it the best season to visit Goa.

Another ideal season to view Goa tourist attractions is during the monsoon i.e. between June-October. The town at this time is majestic green and its lovely waterfalls are flowing in full. The climate is then usually calm and cool and the passengers have access to all amenities. Another cause to travel is the Sao Joao Event in June, where men jump into wells to recover the regional alcohol drink, Feni.

How to reach Goa

Goa is well connected to the rest of the nation as well as the world. You can grab airlines, trains, or buses to go to see all the Goa tourist places. Here are a few ways of how to reach Goa.

By Airlines

That's the most comfortable way to go Goa. Goa's Dabolim Airport manages flights both nationally and internationally. Daily flights to Goa are available to all the passengers. You may rent a taxi or schedule one to take you to your desired Goa attractions when you leave the airport.

By Roadways

The road to Goa is an idyllic route that flourishes during the rainy season. This is another way to reach Goa which is widely maintained. You can also pick a bus from Pune, Mumbai, or Bengaluru when you don't want to drive but still wish to explore Goa tourism.

By Railways

In Goa, Madgaon and Vasco-da-Gama are two major railway stations. A comforting journey via railway to Goa carries you through a few of Western Ghats' immensely gorgeous landscapes.