Goa

About Goa

Goa, India's smallest state, is also its most liberating. A Portuguese colony for 450 years (1510–1961), it carries a distinctly Latin flavour — whitewashed baroque churches, terracotta-roofed houses, feni (cashew spirit), and a relaxed pace of life utterly unlike the rest of India. Its beaches range from the famously busy Baga and Calangute in the north to the quieter, more bohemian stretches of Palolem and Agonda in the south. Goa is equally beloved by UK and European backpackers seeking ₹500 beach shacks, families checking into five-star resorts, and everyone in between. Daily budgets run from $30–50 USD (₹2,500–4,000) on a shoestring to $150–400 (₹12,500–33,000) at luxury resorts.

Top Attractions

6 must-visit sights in Goa

Temple

Basilica of Bom Jesus

A UNESCO World Heritage baroque church (1605) housing the preserved remains of St Francis Xavier. One of the best-preserved Portuguese churches in Asia. Free entry.

Free entryOpen 9am–6:30pm Monday–Saturday; 10:30am–6:30pm Sundays

Other

Palolem Beach

South Goa's most beautiful beach — a crescent of white sand flanked by jungle headlands, with calm waters safe for swimming. Free.

Free entryBest October–April

Market

Anjuna Flea Market

Goa's legendary Wednesday market — Kashmiri handicrafts, spices, clothing, antiques, and jewellery spread across a beachside field. Free entry.

Free entryEvery Wednesday, 8am–6pm (November–April only)

Fort

Fort Aguada

A 17th-century Portuguese sea fort with a lighthouse — commanding views over the Arabian Sea and Mandovi River estuary. Entry ₹25 (~$0.30).

₹25 entryOpen 9:30am–5pm daily

Other

Dudhsagar Waterfalls

A four-tiered, 310-metre waterfall on the Goa–Karnataka border — one of India's tallest. Accessible by jeep safari through jungle. Entry ₹300 (~$3.60).

₹300 entryOpen June–January

Temple

Old Goa — Se Cathedral

The largest church in Asia (1619) — a soaring Portuguese baroque cathedral dedicated to St Catherine. UNESCO listed. Free entry.

Free entryOpen 7:30am–6:30pm daily

How to Reach Goa