Best beaches in Goa — the Top 25 Best Beaches of Asia

Goa has some of Asia’s best beaches in terms of natural beauty, infrastructure, and facilities for the tourists. Many international lists have consistently ranked Goa’s beaches among the best in Asia. For example, the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® awards rated Agonda as Asia’s #1 beach for 2018. CNN ranked Patnem at #3 and the Financial Express ranked Benaulim Beach at #2. Agonda especially have been ranked in the top many times. In 2016, it ranked at #4 in the TripAdvisor rating. Benaulim Beach has achieved good rankings in multiple lists.

• TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® awards ranks Benaulim at #3
• WorldBeachGuide.com ranks Querim, Ashvem, Bogmalo, Baga, Agonda, Palolem, Polem, Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Anjuna, and Patnem in their list of Asia’s Top 50 Beaches
• CNN has ranked Patnem at #3
• Financial Express has ranked Benaulim at #2
• Skyscanner mentions Mandrem, Agonda, Baga, and Anjuna
• Insider Magazine rates Agonda at #3 above Boracay, Langkawi, and Indonesia’s Gili Islands
• Telegraph UK has ranked Arambol at #5

There is a Beach for Everyone in Goa

Goa has a variety of beaches for every type of tourist, which is one major reason why it is so popular. Some of them are busy beaches where you will find shacks, restaurants, cafes, bars, water sports, hotels, resorts, sunbeds, and even nightlife. The others are serene and beautiful. They are lined with coconut palms and remain almost completely empty. They are perfect for relaxing and sunbathing. Luckily, you will find many villas in Goa that are beachfront properties. You will also find luxury villas in Goa that are just one or two lanes away from a beach.

Many beaches also have small creeks or rivers meeting the Arabian Sea, which makes them even more beautiful. For example, in the Cavelossim Beach, you will find the Sal River meeting the Arabian Sea. Morjim Beach is at the confluence of the Chapora River. It is also a sanctuary for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles. Many beaches like Arambol and Vagator have beautiful hills.

Characteristics of Goa Beaches

1. All beaches are free to visit. There is no entry fee.
2. Most Goa beaches are flat and good for swimming. It slopes down gently into the sea.
3. The sea water is warm and comfortable, except the rainy season. Riptides are rare
4. There are lifeguards in many places.
5. The South Goa beaches are more serene
6. Baga, Candolim, and Calangute are the busiest places
7. Grand Island has Goa’s most popular island-based beach

Goa has a 100-kilometer long coastline with 35 beaches. Here is our lost of the top 25 beaches in Goa.

1. Palolem – Many call in Paradise Beach. It is a serene beach in South Goa lined with coconut palms. There is a small backwater in its northern end, which is a bird-lovers paradise. There is also a small island just off the beach.
2. Arambol – Once a hippie paradise, Arambol in North Goa is laid-back and still retains its bohemian vibe. On the hills, you will find the famous Banyan Tree, where The Beatles meditated. There is also a sweet-water lake with curative water.
3. Cavelossim – A long and serene beach with soft sand. It is one of the quietest corners of Goa.
4. Mobor – The southern portion of Cavelossim is called Mobor. This is where Goa’s third largest river Sal, meets the sea. You can see dolphins. There are many riverside restaurants and bars. There is also the small Betul Fort on the opposite side of the river.
5. Agonda – Many lists have rated Agonda as one of Asia’s best beaches, including TripAdvisor. It is a long beach between two rocky headlands in South Goa. There are yoga studios and ayurvedic spas. Beautiful rock formations in the southern end.
6. Vagator – Vagator in North Goa is gorgeous. Vagator Beach is surrounded by greenery and hills with the 500-year-old Chapora Fort on top. The Chapora River meets the Arabian Sea here.
7. Ashvem – Ashvem is a clean and green beach with many casuarinas and coconut trees. You will also find yoga retreats and meditation centers. There are many restaurants and bars but it is still quiet.
8. Morjim – Morjim Beach has pristine nature. It is at the confluence of the Chapora River on the other side of Vagator. The southern part of the beach is a sanctuary for Olive Ridley Turtles. It is a protected site. They come to lay their eggs here.
9. Anjuna – Surrounded by rocks, Anjuna in North Goa has water sports, food, drinks, shopping, and parties. It was popular with the hippies. Even today, it has a liberal spirit. There is a famous flea market that was started by the hippies.
10. Colva – In South Goa, Colva is popular with Indians. Many foreigners too in its northern end. You will find many shops, restaurants, and spas around the Beach Circle.
11. Baga – A busy beach and a top choice. There are many restaurants and nightclubs like Britto’s and Club Tito’s. You will also find a river that meets the sea at Baga.
12. Calangute – Located next to Baga, Calangute is another busy beach. It is a commercial beach with many hotels, resorts, villas, shops, restaurants, spas, and water sports activities.
13. Candolim – It is North Goa’s first major beach. The beachside and the main road are both lined with many places to eat and drink. You will also find many beach shacks with loungers. The Baga-Calangute-Candolim is Goa’s most famous stretch. The Aguada Fort is close.
14. Benaulim – It is next to Colva. It is a wide, sandy beach with just one large hotel and a few small places to stay. Benaulim Beach thus remains quiet and peaceful. The nearby villa has churches and temples.
15. Varca – This beach has a small creek running along the sea. Located next to Benaulim, Varca Beach is also very quiet and perfect for relaxation. It is surrounded by palm and bushy groves.
16. Majorda – One of South Goa’s biggest beaches. Majorda Beach is surrounded by high and beautiful palm groves and fruit trees.
17. Utorda – Utorda Beach is next to Majorda. It is a fishing beach. You will see many boats and the locals drying their fishing nets. There are a few shacks as well.
18. Mandrem – A quiet beach in North Goa between Ashwem and Arambol. A small river meets the sea here. You will find various bridges on the river connecting Mandrem Beach.
19. Betalbatim – Very close to Colva in South Goa, this is a fast developing beach. Many resorts have up in recent years.
20. Miramar – This is the most popular beach in Panaji. It has many attractions like a beautiful garden, the Goa Science Planetarium, Kala Kendra, and the National Institute of Water Sports.
21. Dona Paula – Dona Paula is on the other side of Miramar. It has the National Institute of Oceanography and a yacht marina. You can stay here if you prefer a central location.
22. Baina – Baina Beach is very close to Goa’s airport and the port. But it still remains quiet as there are no places to stay on the beach.
23. Querim – Querim is the northernmost beach of Goa. It ends at the Terekhol River, which has a small mangrove. The beach has a cave where sea water enters during high tide. It is popular with paragliders.
24. Cola – Cola Beach is a secluded heaven in the south. A striking feature is the sweet water lagoon, which is completely surrounded by greenery. It is a popular place for kayaking. The Small Cola Beach nearby is even more serene.
25. Butterfly – This is a small beach close to Palolem in the south. There are no motorable roads. You have to trek through forest or reach the beach by a boat. The beach gets its name from the many butterflies you will see here. You can also see dolphins.