India’s most famous beach destination, Goa is a small state on the country’s west coast that draws in millions of foreign visitors each year. Consisting of about a dozen different beach communities that are mostly quite different from each other, Goa has something for almost everyone, but it is also important to do your research before you choose where to stay.
Goa has a reputation for beach parties and hippies listening to dance music in some circles, but it’s also a family destination for many others. Fortunately, both things are true and possible, depending on where you stay. Goa has many gorgeous beaches and very reasonable prices along with interesting nightlife and alcohol that is more widely available than almost anywhere else in the country.
| Population | 1,400,000 |
| Area | 1,400,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+5:30 |
| Currency | Indian rupee |
| Airports | Dabolim Airport (GOI) |
Most people come to Goa to relax on the beaches. There are some water sports and activities, but it’s not as well organized as many other Asian beach areas.
Honestly, there aren’t many major tourist sights in Goa so it’s really just about the beach culture during the day and the party culture in the evenings for most visitors.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 2.72 - 6.65 |
| 7.84 - 25.72 |
| 10.70 - 63.93 |
| 24.28 - 79.77 |
| 61.32 - 135.21 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 1.15 - 1.81 |
The main attractions are sitting around on the beach all day, and going to bars and clubs or even beach raves at night. All of it is either free or quite cheap, so once you get here you can get by on very little. Even the food and drinks at the many beach restaurants are in line with places in town, so having drinks and a meal on the beach is definitely a bargain compared to Europe.
| Budget breakfast | A simple breakfast comes with many hotel rooms. There are also cafes and some street food options if you need them. | $1.93 - $3.14 |
| Budget lunch | Since Goa consists of so many cities, it's hard to pin down prices. Many beach huts serve good and cheap food. | $2.66 - $4.59 |
| Budget dinner | Those on a budget can find good options, but lot's of great choices for more exist, including plenty of beef. | $4.23 - $7.26 |
| Beer (.65l bottle) | Beer is cheap and easy to find in Goa, especially near the beach. Kingfisher is by far the most popular, with the Strong version available most places as well. | $1.45 - $2.06 |
| Feni (bottle) | This local spirit is made of either cashew or coconut, and can be a very cheap buzz. | $1.45 - $3.63 |
You can hire a taxi for the day to take you to some notable sights and the price will be very reasonable as long as you bargain.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 89 | 67 | 0.1 |
| February | 89 | 69 | 0.0 |
| March | 90 | 74 | 0.0 |
| April | 91 | 78 | 0.3 |
| May | 91 | 79 | 2.3 |
| June | 87 | 76 | 32.5 |
| July | 84 | 75 | 35.1 |
| August | 84 | 75 | 19.1 |
| September | 85 | 75 | 9.7 |
| October | 89 | 72 | 4.6 |
| November | 90 | 72 | 1.3 |
| December | 91 | 69 | 0.3 |
The weather averages here are for the capital city of Panaji, which is slightly inland, so beach temperatures might be a bit lower. The weather is very pleasant and dry during the main travel season from December through April, although it is fairly humid even with no rainfall. In April things really heat up, and in June the monsoon season begins with awesome amounts of rainfall, which last through mid August. It’s really better to avoid visiting during those months unless you are coming specifically to see rain and flooding.
| 21 Mar | 6:38am | 6:45pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:05am | 7:07pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:23am | 6:31pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:55am | 6:09pm |
During the peak travel weeks from Christmas to New Years the prices do go up and hotels are packed so if your schedule is flexible that is the time to avoid, or be prepared to pay more. Still, hotels in Goa are cheap and fairly good standard for a beach resort area. Hotels at the bottom end of the range will be quite minimalistic though, so be prepared. Also, choose the city you stay in carefully. Some are more known for parties and others are more known for family holidays.
Hotels in Goa can have a fairly big shift between seasons. High season, which is when many Europeans and Israelis flock to the beaches here, is from November through March, with a major spike during the weeks around Christmas and New Years. During this peak season Goa hotels will often double or even triple their rates, and still most things get booked up, so if you are coming then it’s best to book early. During April and May it’s mostly domestic tourists, and from June through August the area is mostly empty due to the dramatic monsoon season.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 2.72 - 6.65 |
| 7.84 - 25.72 |
| 10.70 - 63.93 |
| 24.28 - 79.77 |
| 61.32 - 135.21 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 1.15 - 1.81 |
Dabolim airport (GOI) is Goa’s only major airport and it’s where most international visitors arrive. Taxis from the airport to the various beach areas all have fixed prices, but it’s still a good idea to book transfers in advance if you can.
There’s a major train station in the town of Margao and it has direct trains from Mumbai that either leave in the morning and arrive in the evening, or leave in the evening and arrive the following morning. They are popular for those who want to visit Mumbai on their way to Goa, but probably not worth the hassle if you are just trying to save a bit of money.
Goa’s main beach area are all little towns and are generally pedestrian friendly and mostly self contained. To get from the airport or train station to the beach areas you can take taxis or shuttle buses that all have fixed fares.
You can take taxis between towns as well and they are cheap, though you might have to haggle a bit.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to popular beaches | 14.51 - 15.72 |
| Taxi from train stations to beaches | 7.26 - 12.09 |
| 3km auto-rickshaw ride in Goa | 0.73 - 1.45 |
| Public bus ride | 0.10 - 0.17 |
| Motorbike rental (per day) | 2.42 - 4.84 |