We don’t need to sell you the Goa holiday. The exquisite beaches, azure sea and hippie culture has already made Goa a very happening tourist place. Many tourists not only from India, but Russia as well come here. Known as the “party capital” of India, Goa has always been one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country. Here are the best things to do in Goa:
North Goa or South Goa? Which one should you go to?
While North Goa is known for its scintillating parties and happening night life, South Goa is known for it’s picture perfect secluded beaches and a more relaxed lifestyle.
North Goa is known for it’s happening beaches like Baga and Calangute which host parties almost every night. The mood here is electrifying and will make you want to party. The Old Goa settlement, which is basically the Portuguese settlements are also in North Goa. You will see exquisite examples of Baroque Architecture in the Churches and heritage homes as well. This is the best place to explore Goa tourist places.
However, North Goa has now become a bit oversaturated with hoards of tourists coming here and people who want to experience the true Goan lifestyle have now started drifting towards South Goa. South Goa is known to have some of the best beaches in Goa.
South Goa has a much more relaxed vibe and still retains the original Goan lifestyle that tourists want to experience. The beaches are less crowded and are much more clean as well. While they may lack shacks and usual shopping centres, but just the peaceful vibe of the place is enough to make your day. If you want to go away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded places in Goa, then South Goa is perfect for you. Palolem, Colva and Cavelossim are some of the best beaches in Goa.
Read Next: Top 7 Unexplored Places To Visit In Goa
Best Things To Do In Goa
While one can spend days relaxing on a beach and getting the tan on, but Goa has so much to offer that you will be left confused as to what to do! Here are some of the best things to do in Goa:
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Casinos
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This going without saying, that if you’re into poker, slots, roulette and more, then Goa is one of the very few places in India where Casinos and gambling is legal. Hence, many youngsters come here just to try their hand at poker. Even if you’re not a gambler, then also trying your hand at one of these Casinos is an experience in itself. There are a lot of Casinos in Panjim, so you must go there.
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Water Sports
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Where there’s sea, there has to be some water sports. Diving, jet skiing, parasailing; you can take a pick from any of these water sports. There are plenty of water sports operators in Goa. The busy beaches like Baga have lots of these opportunities. This is one of the best things to do in Goa.
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Experience Goan cuisine
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Goa is known for it’s splendid sea food and rich cuisine. When in Goa, you must indulge in their local delicacies. You should try Vindaloo, Crab Xec Xec and Bebinca. Bebinca is a very famous Goan dessert, which is actually a pudding of 7 layers!
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Yoga retreats
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Many foreigners come to Goa for a peaceful retreat by the beach and also to learn Yoga. Goa is also the most western-friendly place to learn the discipline. You can try Yoga Magic near Anjuna, which offers some great retreats. Otherwise, you can also try Kyo Spaces who are a newbie but offer some really great yoga retreats They offer 5 day retreats where they combine yoga with acupuncture, visualization and breath work to heal the body, mind and spirit. Know more at kyospaces.com
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Trance parties
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Though the entire Goa is full of opportunities and places to party, an underground phenomenon, which is trance parties have come to play these days. These underground parties take a bit of finding. You can look for these at Vagator beach, and other surrounding beaches. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Goa.
Where To Stay
There are many 5 Star hotels in Goa which you can stay at. From the Club Mahindra Resorts to Deltin Suits and Radisson as well. Goa has many places to stay for people who have varied budgets. They are all centrally located and hence the best place to explore Goa tourist places.
If you want to experience the local culture and stay at a heritage property, then try this Goa Homestay website. AltHomes.co has some of the most hand-picked premium homestays from all over India. They have a great selection of properties in Goa as well.
When To Go
Church Panaji
The best time to visit Goa is during November to January, when it’s officially the party season as the year end begins to kick in. This is the season of concerts, gigs and parties like the Sunburn begin to happen as well. Though lot of visitors come here for the party season, hence it’s best to book everything in advance.
If you want to visit for some peace and quiet, then you can visit during March to May or June to October. Though March to May gets hot, however the crowds fade and it’s a great time to explore Goa.
Getting There
Goa is well connected by air, roads and rail.
The Dabolim airport is 29 kms from the state’s capital Panjim. It has daily flights from Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Cochin and Bangalore.
If you want to take the train to Goa, then there are two stations in Madgaon and Thivim.
You can take the bus as well if you’re coming from cities like Mumbai or Pune. There are many intra-city and inter-city conveyance as well. KSRTC, MSRTC and KTC are some of the Government undertakings that operate from Panaji, Madgaon and Vasco Da Gama.
What To Pack
Needless to say, pack lots of beachwear! Other than than, light cotton based shirts and loose dresses are perfect for Goa. Since the weather is mostly hot and humid, nothing too body fitting works here.
Do make sure to pack one good walking sandal or shoes. They should be waterproof as well!
Do you want us to add some more tips? Tell us if you have any questions regarding Goa and we will try our best to answer it!
