Popular Places to Visit in Goa

Colva Beach

One of Goa’s most famous beaches, Colva attracts crowds of tourists during high season (mid-November through mid-February) — for good reason. The 2.4-kilometer-long beach in south Goa offers an endless array of aquatic adventure sports (including jet skiing, banana boat rides, and parasailing), sand that’s as soft and as white as baby powder, and a well-developed tourism infrastructure that can cater to your every need. See for yourself at the incredible beach resorts in this area.

Colva Beach is a favorite among Indian tourists, so if you’re looking for a local experience, you’ll find it here. Consider staying overnight at one of the many homestay accommodations offered by families in the village for an even more authentic trip.

Dona Paula Beach

Morjim Beach

This beach in north Goa offers a more wild, rustic feel than others in the state. It’s a tranquil escape, lined with beach huts and sun beds, where you can spend hours on end. Morjim Beach has earned the nickname “Little Russia” for the large influx of Russians who stay here for weeks at a time. Its abundance of Russian restaurants can be a welcome change of pace from the rest of the food in Goa.

One of the top things to do in Morjim Beach is check out the wildlife. A variety of feathered species, including kingfishers, cuckoos, bay-backed shrikes, and sand plovers, create a bird-lovers’ utopia. Olive ridley sea turtles can be found along the beach and offer unique photo opportunities. However, local laws prohibit tourists from disturbing the creatures, so be respectful and avoid getting too close. Look out to sea and you may see dolphins swimming along the horizon.

Palolem Beach

Accommodations in Goa don’t get much quirkier than what you’ll find at Palolem Beach. Every year, locals in the hospitality industry erect temporary coco huts in which travelers can spend the night. The rustic rooms make up for their lack of luxury with premier access to one of Goa’s best beaches, dedicated lounge chairs right on the sand, and a one-of-a-kind experience that make for a lifetime’s worth of memories.

Make the most of your time at stunning Palolem Beach by taking part in the many activities offered here. You can dance all night long to your choice of tunes at the beach’s regular silent discos. Test your balance and find your zen in beach yoga classes. And sample traditional Goan flavors at one of the many well-reputed restaurants on Palolem Beach.

Beaches Off the Beaten Path

While known for their spectacular scenery, the popular beaches in Goa tend to get crowded during high season, leaving some travelers eager for a quieter natural escape. Fortunately, Goa brims with undiscovered beach attractions that give you some distance from the throngs of tourists while still treating you to glorious sand and surf.

One of the best hidden gems in Goa is Butterfly Beach. It has a curving expanse of sand flanked by boulders that create a postcard-worthy cove, brimming with butterflies and blossoms. It’s also a great spot to watch dolphins swim in the distance.

Tanshikar’s Working Spice Farm

South India has been known for its abundance of spices, like black pepper, cardamom, and cloves, for centuries. In fact, these natural flavorings were a major appeal for Portuguese traders who came to Goa hundreds of years ago.

Tourists can see what the local spice scene is all about by touring Tanshikar’s Working Spice Farm & Ecological Rest House. This agritourism attraction grows seven different spices: pepper, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, and chili, using totally organic farming methods.

Portuguese-Indian Restaurants

Food is a major attraction in Goa. This part of India has a distinctive cuisine that blends Portuguese and Goan flavors, setting it apart from all the other food around India. Expect fiery flavors, fresh-caught seafood, and an abundance of coconut in the dishes.

You can’t leave Goa without trying its signature dish, vindaloo, a super-hot meat curry made with palm vinegar and dried red chili peppers. Hospedaria Venite in the capital of Goa, Panaji, wows tourists with its mouthwatering vindaloo. Dominick, a Benaulim Beach mainstay, is another favorite spot for vindaloo — plus it offers front-row seats for world-class sunsets.

Basilica de Bom Jesus

While many tourists visit Goa for the beaches, countless others consider the trip to be a pilgrimage to important religious sites, like the Basilica de Bom Jesus.

This Old Goa attraction dates back to the late 16th century and contains the remains of the St. Francis Xavier. The “Apostle of the Indies” co-founded the Society of Jesus religious order with friend St. Ignatius Loyola and spearheaded an extensive mission in India. The basilica has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

Dudhsagar Falls

Aquatic adventures go beyond the beach in Goa. The state is also home to Dudhsagar Falls, a spectacular four-tiered waterfall that towers some 310 meters above the earth. It’s one of India’s tallest waterfalls and a perpetually popular attraction for day trips around Goa and Karnataka.

To reach the falls, you’ll need to make your way to the village of Colem by taxi or train. Depending on which train route you take, you may get a glimpse of Dudhsagar Falls along the way. Then, you’ll hop aboard a shared jeep through the jungle, passing Devil’s Canyon along the way. Around 45 minutes later, you’ll scurry over some boulders to finally reach the falls.

Anjuna Market

Goa is home to a ton of markets, but none offer the liveliness or selection of products found at Anjuna Market. For roughly 50 years, hundreds of vendors have been setting up shop on Anjuna Beach every Wednesday to tempt free-spirited travelers with hippy-inspired trinkets and souvenirs.

Ornate textiles, woven bikinis, sculptures of deities, dreamcatchers, hammocks, magnets, t-shirts with sassy slogans, beaded jewelry, toys — you name it, you can probably buy it here.