Best Things to Do in Goa

Goa is famous around the world for its beaches and nightclubs. There are 35 beaches in the 100-kilometer long coastline, many of which draw thousands of tourists. The nightclubs too draw many people. There are rave and trance parties, live music clubs, dance clubs, karaoke parties, and even silent noise parties. However, Goa is not just about parties and beaches. There are so many other attractions and things to do.

You can choose from plenty of water sports activities like banana boat rides, jet skiing, water scooters, paragliding, windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, river cruising, and others. There is also snorkeling and scuba diving. Most of the beaches are good for swimming. There are lifeguards in many places. In the hills, you can try white water rafting as well.

Away from the beach, you can visit spice plantations, which look especially lovely during the monsoon. You can also visit casinos. In Goa, you will find both land-based and over-water casinos offering a range of games and live entertainment programs. Then there are many churches, forts, and UNESCO Heritage sites you can visit as well.

This can be your typical day in Goa –

You can start your day with a walk or run on the beach and then get your morning coffee and breakfast at Starbucks or in one of the beachside shacks. After a sumptuous breakfast, you can head out to see one of the forts or to a spice plantation. Alternatively, you can try paragliding before breakfast, as the early morning is the best time for this adventure sport. A bit later, you can try water sports. There are many options. You can also go on a cruising holiday on the sea or a river in Goa.

Later in the evening, you can go to a casino. You can also party on the beach if you like. Many beach shacks have music and dancing. Some of them also have DJ shows. There is something for everyone at Goa. You can enjoy a relaxing, laid-back holiday or pack your itinerary with many activities. Here are the best things you can do in Goa –

#1 – Rent a Private Villa in Goa

Stay in a luxurious holiday villa with complete privacy. We have a hand-picked collection of private villas in Goa to rent in beautiful locations. Enjoy your villa stay with a private pool, garden, barbecue, well-equipped kitchen, air-conditioned rooms, games, and more. Many villas come with concierge service. Housekeeping is included. Rent starts from Rs. 19 000/- per night .

#2 – The Beaches

The beaches of Goa will always top the list of any tourist. There are many beautiful beaches in Goa, from the North to the South. Select wisely because you cannot possibly visit them all. North Goa beaches are busier with a lot more activities, parties, and shopping. The beaches in the south are more serene and peaceful. There is more nature in the South too. Relax on the beach at a shack, get a massage, enjoy food and drinks, and go for a swim.

Top Goa Beaches – Baga, Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator, Palolem, Colva, Cavelossim, Benaulim, Majorda, Chapora.

#3 – Water Sports

There are many water sports activities to choose from, almost throughout Goa. There is parasailing, windsurfing, speed boat and banana boat rides, waterskiing, water scooters, boogie boarding, dinghy sailing, and more. Of course, there is swimming too at the beaches. But remember, there are rocks in many Goa beaches. Also, watch out for riptides. There are lifeguards at the most popular beaches, but not all. You can also try deep sea fishing in Goa.

Best time for water sports – Try early morning for windsurfing or parasailing as the morning breeze is light and calm. You can do boating throughout the day. Water sports activities are mostly closed during the rainy season, as it can be too risky.

#4 – Kayaking

Kayaking in the backwaters of Goa could be an experience of a lifetime. Gently glide through the calm waters as you get close to the birds, bats, and the occasional dolphins. This tranquil experience will give you beautiful memories. You can see the villages, churches, and the daily life of the Goanese people as well.

Best time for kayaking – A kayak ride will be most comfortable in the winter. Kayak early in the morning to see the birds. They will go under shade as the day progresses.

#5 – Whitewater Rafting

Try white water rafting for an exciting and fun-filled holiday. In Goa, there are many rivers with rapids of different levels, which will please both beginners and experienced rafters. Riding over the rapids will surely give you an adrenalin rush. You can enjoy this adventure activity at Valpoi River, Mhadei River, and the Mandovi River. The cost varies depending on the place and the number of tourists. It includes basic lessons, safety briefing, lifejackets, and rafting gear.

Best time for whitewater rafting – The monsoon season between June and September when the rapids are the wildest.

#6 – Snorkeling, Scuba Diving

Grande Island just off the coast is the best place for diving and snorkeling in Goa. There are many good dive spots like Suzy and Davy Jones Locker that are both sunken ships, Sailing Rock where you can see many corals and marine life, and the Umma Gumma Reef where you can view lobsters, turtles, needlefish, sea cucumbers, reef sharks, and many other marine species. Once back on the Grande Island, you can enjoy your lunch, relax, or try the many water sports.

Best time for snorkeling, scuba diving – Between November and April.

#7 – Dolphin Tours

Goa is the best place to see dolphins in India. You can see them at many places like Palolem, Cavelossim, Coco beach, Sinquerim and Morjim. At Butterfly beach close to Palolem, they come very close to the shore as this beach almost always remains deserted. You can also go on a cruise to see them play on the water. The operators are so confident that they offer a ‘no dolphin, no pay’ guarantee.

Best time to see the dolphins – Between October and May.

#8 – Cruising

There is cruising on the Mandovi River and on the Sal River in the south. There are all types of cruises to select from, such as dinner cruises with Goan music, food, singing, and dancing. Goa Tourism Department runs popular river cruises, but there are also private operators. Try a candlelight dinner cruise for a more private and memorable experience. There are 1 hour and 2 hour river cruises and sunset cruises as well. You can also go on a backwater or a houseboat cruise, or hire a yacht or catamaran for a few hours or the entire day for exclusive cruising.

Best time for cruising – Throughout the year, except the monsoon. Cruising is most popular in the winter season, though.

#9 – Spice Plantation

Witness the aroma of spices, and learn how they are grown at the spice plantations in Goa. See some exotic spices that became India’s first exports. See cardamom, Peri Peri, which is one of the world’s hottest chilies, and more. You will also see many exotic birds. A spice plantation is a photographer’s delight. Ride an elephant or splash water with them, giving them a bath. Before leaving, enjoy a traditional Goan lunch that is cooked with farm spices.

Best time to visit a spice plantation – You can visit throughout the year. Try to visit just after the monsoon season because the plantation will be lush green.

#10 – Paragliding

Paragliding is a fun and adventure sport for the thrill seekers. You can enjoy paragliding at Arambol beach in north Goa for just 3,000 INR an hour. There are shorter duration trips as well. Take off after some basic instructions and safety check and glide gently up in the sky, helped by your instructor, of course. The flight will actually start from a cliff between the Arambol and Harmal beaches. See wonderful views of the sea, the cliffs, beach, and the countryside of Goa.

Best time for paragliding – Anytime of the day except late afternoon when the wind may pick up. Avoid the monsoons months – June, July, and August.

#11 – Casino Gambling

Goa is the only place in India where gambling is legal. You can try your luck at roulette, slots machines, Indian Flush, poker, black jack, baccarat, and other games. There is live music and dancing, Russian dancers, stand-up comedy shows, and separate entertainment zones for the kids as well. Deltin Royale, Casino Paradise, Deltin Jaqk, Casino Carnival, Casino Pearl, Casino Pride, and Casino Paradise are some of the biggest names.

Where in Goa, best time – The casinos are open throughout the year, but the winter season is the most popular. Most of them are floating casinos on ships. There are casino games at a few land-based private resorts as well.

#12 – Party on the Beach

There are many nightclubs in Goa. But there is nothing like a party on the beach. The fresh air, sound of the waves, and the starlit night sky will make the parties special. In North Goa, you can party on the beach at Baga, Candolim, Calangute, and Anjuna. Arambol Beach, once popular with the hippies, still have drum-circle parties. St. Anthony’s Bar in Baga is a great place. There is live music at Curlie’s and Café Lilliput in Anjuna. Many beach shacks transform into nightclubs after dark. South Goa is quieter. But you will still find a few nightclubs in Palolem and Colva.

Best time for beach parties – Beach parties are held during the winter.

#13 – Unleash the Hippie in You

The countercultural movement of the 1960s and the 1970s gave birth to the hippies. They revolted against the mainstream American lifestyle. Goa first became popular in the western world with the arrival of the hippies. You will not see them anymore, but you will still find their laid-back and bohemian ways at Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, and Arambol. They are all in north Goa. You will see this at the Drum Circles of Arambol and beach parties elsewhere.

Where in Goa – You will find beach parties, tattoo stores, hair clinics, massage parlors, yoga and meditation centers throughout Goa.