Things to Do in Goa: Beaches, Old Goa, Markets, Forts & Beyond the Sand

Relax in South Goa

Palolem is a crescent of sand with calm water, beach huts and boat trips to Butterfly Beach and dolphin-spotting. Agonda, next door, is quieter and a nesting site for olive ridley turtles. Further north, Colva, Benaulim, Varca and Cavelossim are long, open beaches; Cola has a lagoon meeting the sea. South Goa suits couples, families and anyone wanting calm.

Best time

November to March

Good for

Couples, families

Palolem guide · Agonda guide

Enjoy North Goa's beaches

Calangute and Baga are busy beaches with water sports, shacks and nightlife. Anjuna and Vagator have red cliffs, rocky coves and a long association with Goa's party scene. Further north, Morjim, Ashwem, Mandrem and Arambol are more relaxed, with yoga retreats and drum circles at sunset in Arambol.

Good for

Friends, nightlife lovers

Baga guide · Vagator guide

Try water sports and scuba

Parasailing, jet skis and banana boat rides are offered at Baga, Calangute and Candolim. Scuba diving and snorkelling trips go to Grande Island off the Mormugao peninsula. Choose registered operators with safety equipment, and avoid the sea when red flags are up.

Best time

November to April

Good to know

Water sports stop in the monsoon

Visit the churches of Old Goa

Old Goa, once the capital of Portuguese India, has a group of churches and convents listed by UNESCO in 1986. The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the relics of St Francis Xavier, and the vast Sé Cathedral has one of the largest church bells in Asia. The Church of St Francis of Assisi, the Church of St Cajetan and the Archaeological Museum are close by.

Time needed

Half a day

Good to know

Dress modestly

Good for

History lovers

Old Goa guide

Walk through Fontainhas

Fontainhas, the Latin Quarter of Panjim, is a neighbourhood of narrow lanes and colourful Portuguese-era houses with tiled roofs and balconies. Heritage walks, art galleries and small cafés make it a lovely morning. The white Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church stands above Panjim's main square.

Best time

Early morning

Good for

Photographers, couples

Panjim guide

Watch sunset from Chapora Fort

Chapora Fort, above Vagator, is a ruined 17th-century fort made famous by a Hindi film. Its ramparts look over the Chapora river and the sea, and it is a popular sunset spot.

Best time

Sunset

See Fort Aguada and Reis Magos

Fort Aguada, built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century at the mouth of the Mandovi, has a lighthouse and sweeping views. The restored Reis Magos Fort across the bay has exhibitions on Goan history. Cabo de Rama in South Goa is a quieter fort with cliffside views.

Shop at the flea and night markets

The Anjuna flea market, held on Wednesdays in season, sells clothes, jewellery, crafts and souvenirs. The Saturday night market at Arpora adds live music and food stalls. Mapusa's Friday market is a local affair with spices, sausages and pottery.

Best time

November to April

Take a Mandovi river cruise

Evening cruises on the Mandovi from Panjim offer Goan folk dances and music. Floating casinos are moored on the same river.

Best time

Evening

Go out in North Goa

Baga, Anjuna, Vagator and Assagao have beach clubs, bars and live music venues. Large music festivals are held in December. Follow local rules on noise and drugs; drug offences carry heavy penalties.

Take a jeep to Dudhsagar Falls

Dudhsagar, a four-tiered waterfall of about 310 metres on the Goa–Karnataka border, lies inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary. Jeeps run from Kulem through the forest in the dry season; the falls are closed to visitors during the monsoon for safety. Tambdi Surla, a 12th- or 13th-century stone temple of the Kadamba period, is in the same area.

Time needed

Full day

Best time

October to May

Dudhsagar Falls guide

Tour a spice plantation and Ponda's temples

Around Ponda, spice farms offer guided walks through pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and cashew trees, often with a Goan lunch. The area also has Goa's most important Hindu temples, including Shri Mangeshi and Shri Shantadurga, moved inland during the Portuguese period.

Time needed

Half a day

Good for

Families

Cross to Divar and Chorao

Free ferries cross the Mandovi to the islands of Divar and Chorao, with quiet villages, old churches and paddy fields. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary on Chorao protects mangroves and their birds; canoe rides are available.

Good for

Slow travellers, birdwatchers

Eat Goan food

Goan food blends Konkani, Portuguese and other influences: fish curry rice, prawn balchão, chicken xacuti, pork vindaloo and sorpotel, choris pão (sausage bread), and bebinca, a layered coconut dessert. Try feni, the local spirit made from cashew or coconut.

Good for

Food lovers

Catch a festival

The Goa Carnival, before Lent in February or March, fills the streets with floats and music. Shigmo, the Hindu spring festival, follows. The Feast of St Francis Xavier on 3 December draws huge crowds to Old Goa, and Christmas and New Year are the busiest time of the year. São João in June celebrates the monsoon with people jumping into wells and streams.

What are the best things to do in Goa?

Relax on North and South Goa beaches, visit Old Goa's churches, walk through Fontainhas, watch sunset at Chapora Fort, shop at the flea and night markets, visit Dudhsagar Falls and a spice plantation, and eat Goan food.

Is North Goa or South Goa better?

North Goa is livelier with more nightlife; South Goa is quieter with cleaner, calmer beaches. Many visitors split their stay.

How many days are enough for Goa?

Four to five days covers North and South Goa with a day inland.

What can I do in Goa during the monsoon?

Visit waterfalls and spice farms, drive through the green countryside, enjoy Goan food and festivals such as São João. Beaches are unsafe for swimming.