Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata are on the sea, and Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad are within a day's drive or a short flight of it. Even from Delhi, a Goa beach weekend is a two-hour flight. This guide lists the best beach trips from each city, with rough travel times and what each suits.
Travel times are approximate and depend on traffic and route. For longer holidays, see beach holidays in India.
Quick answer
The best beach trips from major Indian cities are Alibaug, Kashid and the Konkan from Mumbai and Pune; Gokarna, Udupi and Pondicherry from Bengaluru; Covelong, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry from Chennai; Vizag and Goa from Hyderabad; Digha, Mandarmani and Puri from Kolkata; Diu, Daman and Shivrajpur from Ahmedabad; and Goa by air from Delhi. Weekends suit trips under five hours; take a long weekend for more.
Key takeaways
- From Mumbai, Alibaug is reachable by ferry and road in two to three hours.
- From Bengaluru, Pondicherry is about six to seven hours by road; Gokarna is an overnight journey.
- From Chennai, Covelong and Mahabalipuram are day trips on the East Coast Road.
- From Kolkata, Digha and Mandarmani are about four to five hours away.
- From Delhi, the practical beach weekend is a flight to Goa.
From Mumbai and Pune
Alibaug, Nagaon and Kashid
The closest good beaches to Mumbai, by ferry to Mandwa plus road (ferries stop in the monsoon), or about three to four hours by road. From Pune, about three to four hours by road.
- Trip
- Weekend
Diveagar, Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar
Quieter Raigad beaches, about four to five hours by road.
- Trip
- Weekend
Ganpatipule and Guhagar
Temple and Blue Flag beaches in Ratnagiri, about six to eight hours by road or by Konkan Railway to Ratnagiri or Chiplun.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Tarkarli and Malvan
Clear water and snorkelling in Sindhudurg, an overnight train or long drive.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Daman and Goa
Daman is about four hours north by road; Goa is an overnight train or a one-hour flight.
- Trip
- Weekend or long weekend
From Bengaluru
Pondicherry
About six to seven hours by road, for the French Quarter, Paradise Beach and Serenity.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Gokarna and Murudeshwar
Overnight bus or train, for coves and Netrani dive trips.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Udupi and Malpe
Overnight, or a flight to Mangaluru, for St Mary's Island and temple towns.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Goa, Varkala and Kovalam
A short flight to Goa or Thiruvananthapuram makes a beach weekend possible.
- Trip
- Weekend by air
From Chennai
Kovalam (Covelong) and Mahabalipuram
About one to one and a half hours along the East Coast Road, for surfing and the Shore Temple.
- Trip
- Day trip or weekend
Pondicherry
About three hours along the East Coast Road.
- Trip
- Weekend
Tranquebar
About five to six hours, for a quiet Danish-era beach town.
- Trip
- Long weekend
From Hyderabad
Visakhapatnam
A short flight or an overnight train to Vizag's beaches at Rushikonda, Yarada and Bheemili.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Goa and Gokarna
Flights to Goa, or an overnight journey towards Gokarna.
- Trip
- Long weekend
From Kolkata
Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur and Mandarmani
About four to five hours by road, or by train to Digha.
- Trip
- Weekend
Bakkhali
About three to four hours, a quieter beach near the Sundarbans.
- Trip
- Weekend
Puri and Chandipur
Overnight trains to Puri; Chandipur is reachable via Balasore.
- Trip
- Long weekend
From Ahmedabad
Diu
About seven to eight hours by road, or a short flight, for Nagoa and Ghoghla.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Dwarka and Shivrajpur
About seven to eight hours by road or overnight train, for the Blue Flag beach and temple.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Daman and Tithal
About five to six hours south by road.
- Trip
- Weekend
Quickest beach escapes by city
| City | Nearest good beach | Getting there | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | Alibaug, Nagaon, Kashid | Ferry and road, 2 to 4 hours | Weekend |
| Pune | Kashid, Diveagar | Road, 3 to 5 hours | Weekend |
| Bengaluru | Pondicherry | Road, 6 to 7 hours | Long weekend |
| Chennai | Kovalam (Covelong), Mahabalipuram | Road, 1 to 1.5 hours | Day trip |
| Hyderabad | Visakhapatnam | Flight or overnight train | Long weekend |
| Kolkata | Digha, Mandarmani | Road or train, 4 to 5 hours | Weekend |
| Ahmedabad | Daman, Diu | Road, 5 to 8 hours, or a flight to Diu | Long weekend |
| Delhi | Goa | Flight, about 2.5 hours | Long weekend |
Planning a beach weekend
- Leave on Friday evening or very early on Saturday to make the most of two days.
- Avoid long weekends and holidays if you can; coastal roads and ferries get very busy.
- Book stays early for December to February weekends.
- Check whether ferries are running: most harbour ferries stop in the monsoon.
- Pick one beach and stay put rather than hopping between several.
From Delhi
Delhi is far from the sea, so beach weekends mean flying. Goa is about two and a half hours by air, and a three-day weekend is enough for one area. For longer breaks, fly to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) for the Andamans, or to Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi for Kerala's beaches.
Goa by air
The most practical beach weekend from Delhi; choose one area to avoid long transfers.
- Trip
- Long weekend
Safety
- Swim only at beaches with lifeguards, inside the flagged zone, and never when a red flag is up or during the monsoon.
- Weekend crowds at popular beaches can make water sports busy; choose licensed operators.
- Check ferry and boat schedules; many coastal ferries stop in the monsoon.
- Avoid driving long coastal and ghat roads at night.
Ready for your beach escape?
FAQs
Which is the nearest good beach to Mumbai?
Alibaug, Nagaon and Kashid, reachable by ferry and road in two to three hours.
Which beach is nearest to Bengaluru?
Pondicherry is about six to seven hours by road; Gokarna and Udupi are overnight journeys.
Which beaches can I visit from Kolkata on a weekend?
Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur, Mandarmani and Bakkhali.
Is there a beach near Delhi?
No. The nearest practical beach weekend is a flight to Goa.
Which beaches are near Chennai?
Kovalam (Covelong), Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry along the East Coast Road.
