Happiness is a day at the beach.

The sky above, sand below, peace within.

An Ocean breeze puts a mind at ease.

Welcome back, guys! Wondering about the quotes on the beach. It's because this story is all about Beach. Beach with the flavor of both calm spirit and roar party mood, is only possible at one place in India and that is Goa. 

This holiday trip to Goa is going to be the most relaxing and delightful trip. If you are ready to enjoy a relaxing vacation surrounded by serene beauty and greenery, palm trees, and sandy adventure, we are here to share our experiences with you, along with the guidance tips to make your trip smooth.

Let us take you through all the beautiful destinations in Goa that you can include in your trip plan.

Shacks in Goa Beach

About Goa

Goa is the smallest state of India, located on the western coastline along the Arabian sea. This coastal part is known as Konkan. It is believed that Vasco-Da Gama discovered and recognized Goa in the year 1543. Goa was ruled by Portugals for around 450 years and was declared as an independent state of India in 1987.

Goa's capital is Panaji and the local public speaks the Konkani language here.

Goa is world-famous for being the most visited tourists spot. It can be considered as the hub of varieties of alcohols and that too at lower prices. Feni is well-known liquor, made from cashews, is only produced in Goa and you will find this alcohol only in Goa.

Goa is full of original and natural beauty. The unique culture and interesting deep history of Goa make it even more attractive. The Goan lifestyle, astounding beaches, and adventure sports are the few reasons why Goa is so famous.

Fun Fact #1:

You must be surprised to know that Goa is World known for beaches but it is one-third(1/3rd) covered with forest.

Vagator Beach, North Goa

When To Visit Goa?

Goa sees a tropical climate that is summers are really hot, the Winters are mild and the Monsoon is heavy. The peak tourist season begins from November to February. This is the season when people from all over the world land at this amazing spot to enjoy their vacations and to work on their tan lines. The mild winter in Goa gives the perfect atmosphere to stay around the beaches, enjoy the windy breeze, that too without getting cold or roasted by the burning sun.

The best season to experience the beauty of Goa is in the winters. This is the season when Goa is full of cultural events, parties, and has festive vibes. You will have a great beach experience with a cool breeze even during the day. 

Goa in summers from March to June is really hot. The high temperature along with high humidity is really not a good combination and will not give a good Goa experience. You will find most of the tourist attractions closed. Also, you may not find any shacks on the beaches. Although the hotels will be cheaper in this season due to less number of visitors.

The Rainy season starts from July to October and it is also a very good time to plan your trip to Goa but you might miss the water sports activities and few beaches due to rain.

You will find amazing picturesque scenic greenery all around Goa. The plantations and trees along the sides of the road, make a delightful route to ride your bike this time. But be careful of the slippery roads.

You can still find pocket-friendly hotels and also less crowded Goa than the festive season. I personally recommend this time of the year for Goa. In fact, we visited in the month of October and we pretty enjoyed Goa. But you can't miss the festive vibe of Goa.

Fun Fact #2: Goa is the smallest state of India, and has the highest per capita income in India.

Beautiful Sinquerim Beach Goa

How to Reach Goa?

This holiday paradise destination, Goa is very well connected via Airway, Roadway, Railway, and even Seaway with not only Indian cities but also across the world.

Airway: The most easier and time-saving way is definitely by taking a direct flight to Goa. Dabolim Airport in Goa handles both domestic and international flights.

All the flights arriving from major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata land in terminal 1 of the airport. The airport is around 26 kilometers from the Panaji capital. You can directly book a taxi to your hotel/motel. 

Railway: The other convenient and also comfortable mode to reach Goa is by catching a Train directly to Goa. Goa has two main railway stations: Madgoan station and Vasco-da-Gama station. Goa railway has remarkably good connectivity with different cities. You will enjoy this journey because of the gorgeous landscapes of Western Ghat. But this may take time, a day or half to reach Goa.

Roadway: If you choose to reach Goa by road, you will find two major highways connecting to Goa. The highways are well maintained. You can drive your own car or book a bus to Goa. You can book a Volvo bus from Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and other major cities to reach your destination.

Seaway: If you are ready for the thrill and unusual way to reach Goa, you have an option to reach here by sea. This is not a very known route but yes there is an option to take a cruise from Mumbai to Goa which will route you through the sides of Goa and Maharashtra coasts. Reach Mumbai directly via flight and catch a cruise. We will definitely opt for this option next time because it seems like some serious fun and adventure.

Since Goa is a tourist destination, the taxi or cab you take from the airport or railway station, or bus stand may charge you more than normal per Kilometer charge.

Note: You cannot book any cab from Ola or Uber in Goa. The best option is to rent a bike or car which is more convenient and budget-friendly. One can easily find the bike/car rental shops around your stay.

Where To Stay in Goa?

This could be a tricky decision, Goa might look small but there is a lot to cover here. Every direction has lots of good places, be it North Goa or South Goa or Old Goa (city). For a 3-4 day trip, I would recommend booking a hotel/ lodge in North Goa. Calangute and Candolim area would be good for picking your accommodation so that you can easily reach out to the beaches.

If you are planning to stay longer in Goa, it's better to plan your stay in South Goa and North Goa respectively, and explore both places independently. I will share the details of our trip plan to South Goa in our next blog post.

There are many options to stay in Goa. You have some good luxury hotels and private resorts like Taj Vivanta, Trident, The Leela, etc. Apart from luxury hotels, there is plenty of budget and pocket-friendly hotels where you can plan for your stay. 

You can also opt for the options from Airbnb. We booked our stay in an Airbnb.

Tip: Read the reviews before booking any stay. If planning Goa Trip on peak days, make sure you book your hotel in advance.

What to do first after reaching Goa?

After landing in Goa and reaching your hotel, you can take a rest for some time if you are tired, and then you can go out to check the options of a rented bike or car. This is the first thing you need to do because taking a taxi every time would be costlier and it's not a good option. 

You will easily get a rented vehicle nearby your stay, you can check with your hotel staff usually they will help you out in getting the rented bike/car, if not then locals are the best to guide you. You can arrange a bike or car for yourself, based on per day charge, till the time of your stay.

The cost for renting Scooty is around 400/-INR and for bullet lovers, it's 700/- INR You can always bargain to get the best deal.

Once you have your vehicle, you are ready for your 4 days mesmerizing trip in North Goa.

What are the Best Places to Visit in North Goa?

I have compiled the day-wise itinerary for you so that you can cover most of North Goa and don't miss out on anything

Day 1: Aguada Fort -> Sinquerim Beach -> Lunch in Shacks -> Night in Baga Beach & Party

Day 2: Breakfast at Artjuna cafe -> Water sports in Anjuna Beach -> Lunch at Curlies cafe -> Chapora Fort for sunset view -> Thalassa Restaurant for dinner.

Day 3: Fontainhas -> Lunch at Cremeux cafe -> San Sabastian Church in Fontainhas -> Basilica Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral (if interested) -> Night in Casino.

Day 4: Check-out from your hotel -> Back to your home

Note: In case you wondering to select out of many beaches in North Goa, Have covered it in detail in another blog Top 5 Beaches in North Goa.

Aguada Fort

Aguada Fort is a massive and majestic fort in Goa, with a marvelous and breath-taking view. This historical fort was built by the Portuguese in order to defend and guard themselves against Marathas and Dutch. The fort and its lighthouse are one of the most visited places in Goa. 

Aguada fort is situated at the verge of the Arabian sea, facing Sinquerium beach, offering a mesmerizing view.

A part of this fort was converted into a jail. However, this jail is closed for the visitors to see. Inside the Aguada jail, there is a statue that represents the freedom fighters of Goa. On 18th June every year, a small ceremony is conducted in the respect of freedom fighters and to salute them.

Aguada fort has a four-storied Asia's oldest lighthouse, built-in 1864. The lighthouse furnishes a marvelous landscape to the Fort. There is a curve staircase, which will lead you to the top of Fort and this is where you should see the view. This is actually a sunset view place if time permits you can come during the evening to this place.

Time to visit: 9.30 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: Free entry

Location: Located beside Sinquerim Beach

Places to view:  Lighthouse

                          Aguada Jail

                          St. Lawrence church

Aguada Fort, Goa

Sinquerim Beach 

Sinquerim beach is one of the finest and secluded beach in North Goa and is located very close to Aguada Fort. The vibe of this beach is really pleasant as it is one of the cleanest beach among other North Goa beaches. Sinquerim has an excellent quality of sand and has clear water.

You can try swimming or go inside the water if you want to. Sinquerim beach has a marvelous shoreline and is famous among tourists worldwide.The beach is just beside Aguada Fort. Once you reach here and enjoy the seashore, you can go to one of the shacks and enjoy drinks and food. 

Lunch in Shacks 

After so much travel you might feel hungry so there are few good shacks available here like Tony's shack, Big Blue shack Bar which serve decent sea food and Indian cusine where you can have your lunch and relax for some time. 

Note: This beach is easily accessible from Taj Fort Aguada, So if you want to enjoy the perfect sea view from your hotel you can have your stay in this beautiful Taj property.

Sinquerim Beach, North Goa

Baga Beach

Baga Beach is one of the most popular beach in North Goa among many visitors due to large number of clubs and pubs are available here. 

The beach has clear and white sand with the mesmerizing breeze that keeps playing and rolling across the tall palm trees gives an amazing spectacle to view.

The beach shares its coastal lines from Sinquerim and Candolim beach. This paradise beach is the most lively beach that stays awake the whole night. You can indulge in water sports activities here if you love to do so.

At night the view of the beach is completely different as loud music from almost all of the shacks make you feel dancing, so you can grab your seat in any shack and enjoy the cool breaze with a chilled beer.

Baga Beach, North Goa

Tito's Lane 

Tito's Lane is the most iconic lane of North Goa, You will find a number of clubs, pubs, restaurants, and many streetside vendors and souvenir shops here. 

This lane is full of crowd so be prepared and park your vehicle before entering this lane so you don't spend much time in traffic. This lane is best enjoyed by taking a walk and enjoying the goa nightlife vibe.

Mambo's Cafe & Club

This is a club for party lovers. You can come to this nightclub if you are in the mood of dancing. It is a proper disco club with drinks and dance. The club will be really crowded. You will find the huge crowd in and around this club. You can definitely add this club to your list to spend one of the nights while your stay in Goa. But remember the club would be really packed.

Artjuna Cafe

This is a unique and trendy place to go for breakfast. This cafe is set in an old Portuguese house enclosed by a beautiful garden. 

This is an outdoor restaurant with a gorgeous art gallery, shopping area, play station, workshop space, and lots more activities. It's a worth visiting garden restaurant with a lively and positive environment.

You can enjoy healthy and delicious food in Artjuna. Enjoy with your friends and family. This is open all day. You will be impressed by seeing its menu itself, they have Contemporary, European and many options. 

Do try out one of the dish here, Humshuka=Classic Hummus + Fresh Shakshuka its too good :)

Artjuna Cafe on the way to Anjuna Beach

Anjuna Beach

Anjuna beach is one of the best beaches of North Goa in terms of cleanliness, It is situated on the west coastline of the Arabian sea. The white sand, mixing with the blue sea brings an invincible view. Anjuna is the perfect beach to spend with friends and family. Other than relaxing at the seaside, water sport is the next adventure you should try.

Parasailing: You should try parasailing in Anjuna beach. You can't miss watching Aguada fort from the sky.

Bumpy banana ride: This is another fun adventure. After taking proper guidance and safety, you can try this amazing ride on Anjuna beach.

Anjuna Beach, North Goa

Curlies Beach Shack

Curlies is one of the oldest and most popular beach shacks in Goa. The superior design of interior and a satisfactory selection of food and drinks. Curlies beach shack has a great ambiance, with a uniquely stylish way of seating arrangements facing towards the mesmerizing scenery of the beach. This is a must-visit place if you wish to have a groovy and dancing party.

If you wish you can come to this exotic place at night and make your night even more memorable.

Chapora Fort

Chapora Fort is an amazing place to visit. The fort lies at the edge of river Chapora and is just 700 meters away from Vagator beach. The fort is encircled by its abrupt walls, Vagator beach, Chapora river, and the blue Ocean gives an unforgettable view.  

This fort was built for military purposes by the Portuguese, during the war between Marathas and Portuguese. Earlier the trail to reach the fort is not in good condition but now proper roads and trails are made for the visitors. To reach to the top of Chapora fort one has to do a small trek. 

You can come here during the sunset time and live your moment here, its just incredible. This fort became very popular after it got featured in one of the very famous bollywood movie "Dil Chahta Hai". Many visitors come here to recreate the scene shown in the movie. If you are a photography lover this place is heaven for you.

Thalassa 

This extremely popular, open-air restaurant is located at the edge of Vagator. A perfect place for dinner with friends, family, or partners. The Mediterranean and Greek cuisine just next to the exquisite Arabian sea is the very reason why this place is so popular.

The music will be good, the food is authentic. The cheesecake is a must-try here. I personally felt this place was a bit costlier.

Searching for empty tables as it is difficult to find sitting due to huge crowd

Fontainhas

Fontainhas, Goa's Latin Quarter, is a must-visit place in Goa, located in Panjim. After covering the coastline's beaches and waves in Goa, this would be a completely different experience. 

The colorful old Portuguese houses, which are now converted into restaurants and cafes. The small lanes across the streets. This is a must-visit place. Take a walking experience of this place, try out some bakery dishes. We will share more detail about the streets of Fontainhas in a different blog. 

Time: 3-4 hours

Fee: It's free of cost

Spot: Street of Fontainhas, St. Sabastian Church (Christ's figure has a wide-open eye, which is unique), The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church

The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Old Goa

Lunch at Cremeux in Fontainhas

After spending your time in Fontainhas, you can try lunch at this amazing place where we did, Cremeux. We were so tired and hungry after walking into the streets of Fontainhas. You will find many options of cafes and good restaurants in Fontainhas but we had a really good experience at Cremeux, we really enjoyed the food here.

Bom Basilica Church and Se Cathedral Church

After your lunch, if you have time and want to explore more in Old Goa, You can go to C'Cathoderal Church and Bom Basilica Church. Both churches are at the same location. These churches are really famous in Goa.

Make sure to reach there before 4.30 - 5 PM. Because the entry is closed after 5 PM. But the way to reach these churches is spectacular. You would see a glimpse of the greenery of Goa here.

Bom Basilica Church - This Roman Catholic Church, is one of the oldest churches in Goa and is recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is around 10 KM from Panjim and is famous worldwide. The architecture, art gallery, and the construction of the church show the craftwork of the Portuguese. 

After your visit to the old Goa. You should spend your night in one of the Casinos. This is a must experience in Goa. The different options of Casino in Mandovi river will attract you anyway.

Bom Basilica Church, Old Goa

Casino

Your Goa trip won't be complete if you don't include casino in your itinerary. Spend one night in one of the Casinos and have an experience, you might win some cash, you never know. We went to Deltin Royal Casino. We made our booking online, If you to plan to do so you can also book from their offical website.

There was unlimited food, drinks, live performances, and Game options.You can reach here by 8 PM and have a great evening and night. We tried our luck and won around 5 thousand in the casino and really had a fun evening.

Time: 3-4 hours 

Cost: 3000/- INR Entry Fee(Includes Food & Drinks) + 1500/- INR (Chips if Interested in Playing)

FunFact #3: You could see the floating casinos in Goa, it is because the casino in Indian Land was prohibited. Later only three states were allowed for casinos, Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. 

Deltin Royale Casino, Old Goa

It's going to be your last day in North Goa. If you have more days left, I would suggest you see the other side of Goa, that is South Goa. If you have at least 2-3 more days in Goa, search for a hotel or Airbnb in South Goa and give your time there.

North Goa is more of parties, clubs, music, dancing, and the crowd. South Goa is something completely different experience. You will feel peace, calm, positive vibes on the silent shore of the sea. I am going to cover South Goa in the coming blogs.

You can relax on your last day and check out from your hotel.

Latest Covid-19 Travel Guidelines in Goa?

Due to a new variant of coronavirus 'Omicron' which cause a scare, the state government has revised its travel guidelines for both domestic and international visitors:

For Domestic Travellers: All travelers need to carry a negative RT-PCR test done within not more than 72 hours or If you are fully vaccinated then do carry a vaccination certificate. In case if you are traveling from Kerala then you are subject to an additional 5 days of quarantine and you will have to undergo another RT-PCR test at the end of 5 days.

For International Travellers: Travelers who are coming from high-risk countries such as South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Brazil, United Kingdom, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Singapore have to follow the below protocol: 

1. On arrival at the airport, Traveler has to go for the Covid test and has to wait for the test result at the airport only. 

2. If the test is negative you will be advised to go for a 7 day home quarantine. 

3. If the test report is positive then the traveler is sent to an isolation facility and treated as per the standard protocols.

Note: For the latest and updated travel guidelines do check out the official government site.

If you are traveling via road need to show a vaccination certificate at Goa border check-post

Tips and Important Points to keep in Mind in Goa

1. Do not drink and drive in Goa. The police are really active especially during the night hours and peak days in Goa.

2. Keep a photo identity with you, in case of any emergency.

3. You may need to submit any identity to the vehicle lender, remember to take it back after returning the vehicle.

4. Wear a comfortable beach dress while going to the beach.

5. Take extra sunscreen, sunglasses, and a scarf (especially girls).

6. You can do shopping in the market, available outside almost every beach, you can do bargaining.

7. Do not swim till very far on the beach. The waves of the Arabian sea are tricky and sometimes really high.

8. Try to maintain cleanliness around you. Do not throw plastics or garbage into the sea. If we keep them clean, they look clean and beautiful to us.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and will plan your trip to Goa soon. We will be posting a few more blogs on Goa to cover each and every part of Goa. If you have any queries, please post in the comment section.

Thanks for Reading!

Love,