7 Best Goa Beaches for the Perfect Vacation
Planning a trip to Goa? With so many fun-filled beaches to choose from, the options are overwhelming! These are the 7 best Goa beaches that you won’t want to miss.
Goa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, and for good reason! The beaches are beautiful and it’s the perfect place to relax with breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.
As someone who has traveled to Goa for countless vacations and spent months there during different waves of Covid, I’ve been to many places around and these are the best Goa beaches worth visiting.
There are a variety of reasons why these are the best Goa beaches, from breathtaking views, fun social scenes, relaxing vibes, and memorable things to do there.
This post is all about the best Goa beaches.
First, North Goa & South Goa, what’s the difference?
Before we dive in, there’s one common question that comes up while deciding on the best Goa beaches to visit! What’s the difference between traveling to north or south Goa?
To put it simply, North Goa is better known for its lively atmosphere with a wide range of activities and fun nightlife or party scene. South Goa is known for being relatively quieter and more laid back for those seeking a more tranquil and nature-oriented vacation. The south is known to have a little more luxurious or upscale options for your stay.
That being said, I think you can have an amazing trip that suits your interest whether you’re in the north or south. I have stayed in both, had amazing relaxing vacations in both, and also had some great parties in both. So it’s really up to you!
So now, let’s get to the best Goa beaches and what makes them worth visiting!
Best Goa Beaches
#1 Palolem
Palolem is one of the best Goa beaches for anyone looking for a peaceful vacation. It’s in South Goa, a 2.5-3 hour drive from the new Manohar International Airport or only a 1.5 hour drive from Goa International Airport.
What makes Palolem a popular destination is because of its relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. Unlike other bustling beaches, Palolem is laid-back and less commercialized which is what makes it an ideal spot.
The beach is beautiful with pristine waters that are perfect for swimming. You can also find boat rides to go on dolphin-watching tours.
If you walk to one end of the beach, you’ll find beautiful rocky views and a small waterway you can walk through to get to the other side. It’s worth the walk to see the view and take some stunning pictures.
There’s a lot of budget friendly options to stay at and tons of options for food. Aside from beachside shacks and restaurants, there are some cute places to get food. I loved going to a little cafe called The Mill that’s about a 10 minute walk from the beach.
I’ve gone to Palolem with my husband and also visited again when my family came to visit from the US. It’s a great place to stay for families, friends, and solo travelers who want to relax on the beach!
If you’re interested in some activities that aren’t beach related, Palolem is a great base location for day trips inland where you’ll find waterfalls and nature reserves. For more ideas on what you can do in Goa that beyond swimming in the sea, check out these things to do other than the beach!
#2 Galgibaga
Another one of the best Goa beaches in the south is Galgibaga beach. It’s a 30 minute drive south of Palolem, similarly 2.5-3 hours from Manohar International Airport or 1.5 hours from Goa International Airport.
What makes Galgibaga so unique is that it’s a nesting ground for Olive Ridley turtles! Hence, it’s also known as Turtle Beach. The government also helps to preserve the area for the turtles which is great.
Galgibaga beach is super relaxing and less-traveled than other beaches. That being said, it’s like a hidden treasure that is tranquil and quiet.
There aren’t so many options for eating and staying here compared to other beaches, but that just adds to the beauty of it. It’s got a stunning shoreline that makes for beautiful sunsets and it’s one of the cleanest beaches I’ve been to.
My husband votes Galgibaga as the best Goa beaches because he was lucky enough to visit when bioluminescent algae completely lit up the sea at night! You might see the same if you visit between November and December. It’s seriously a sight you’ll never forget.
#3 Agonda
Agonda is another one of the best Goa beaches. It’s also in South Goa and is the perfect beach for relaxing and soaking up the sun.
While it’s not overly populated or touristy, there are a lot of options for stays and food depending on whichever type of budget you want to spend. We stayed at a relatively cheap Airbnb. There are also budget friendly rooms around as well as small resorts.
I loved this beach because the vibe was chilled out and it wasn’t too commercialized. The beachline is gorgeous and ideal for swimming, beach walks and sunsets. You can also do surfing lessons here for fun. The waves are not very big so it’s perfect for beginners.
I stayed in Agonda for about a month and the highlight of my trip was Simrose Resort. While we didn’t stay there, my friends and I spent almost every day there playing card games in their beach-front restaurant and going for dips in the sea. I also tried my first aerial yoga class there which was fun!
Agonda is a great beach for families, couples, or friends. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the sea without feeling too touristy. It’s a tranquil place but also has some fun bars for anyone looking for a drink.
#4 Morjim
With a stunning coastline, Morjim is one of the best Goa beaches located in North Goa. It’s about a 45 minute – 1 hour drive from the new Manohar International Airport or 1-1.5 hours from Goa International Airport.
Morjim is a laid-back beach with plenty of food and stay options that can match your budget. It’s not over-crowded with tourists and is peaceful. It’s known for the high population of Russians who visit there.
While there’s not exactly mountains, Morjim offers beautiful views with hills in the distance. Along with swimming in the clean waters, you can also try surfing and kayaking here.
The Rice Mill is a great restaurant to check out for a coffee during the day or for some jazz music at night. It’s a really cute unique place you’ll have to check out if you’re there!
Overall, Morjim is a beautiful spot for beachgoers and has a relaxed atmosphere.
#5 Mandrem
Not far from Morjim, if you drive 15 minutes north, you’ll find Mandrem Beach. This is another one of the best beaches for a relaxing vacation with a good atmosphere.
Between Mandrem and Morjim, I can’t decide which I like more! They are quite similar and offer a lot of options for food and drinks. You can find budget friendly stays and something a little nicer if that’s what you’re looking for.
What makes Mandrem one of the best Goa beaches is the social scene. It’s a great spot for going out with neat restaurants. The crowd at Mandrem beach is chilled out and makes for a fun time!
Mandrem and Morjim are also both nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles! For a chance to see them, try visiting between November and April, and for the best luck try between December and February. The government puts in effort to protect their nesting areas and keep them safe which is commendable!
#6 Arambol
Arambol beach is right next to Mandrem, and probably my favorite of all the beaches! I stayed there for about 3 months and have taken many other trips back since.
It’s a beautiful beach that’s a bit more lively than Mandrem. It’s got a very big hippie-type atmosphere and a fun nightlife with restaurants that line the beach. I love a candle-light dinner after sunset with my feet in the sand!
While in Arambol, you can also hike up a small mountain (20-30 minute walk) which overlooks the coast. It’s a stunning sight and great place to watch the sunset.
If you go around the mountain, you can take a short walk to get to Sweet Lake. There are a few shacks for food and this is my favorite place to swim because it didn’t have much of a crowd. I didn’t swim in the lake although it was a nice view, but the beach is ideal. It’s like a secluded piece of Arambol.
So, there are plenty of things to do while staying at Arambol. It’s got a laid-back vibe to relax and lively enough for a good nightlife on the beach.
#7 Anjuna
Anjuna is one of the best Goa beaches with loads of things to do and is also in North Goa. It’s 45 minutes – 1 hour drive from the new Manohar International Airport or else an hour drive from Goa International Airport.
It’s the perfect place for adventure seekers because you can find a variety of water sports. There’s surfing, scuba diving, paragliding, windsurfing, and pretty much anything else you might be interested in.
The night life is fun and I loved shopping around while I stayed there. They have a flea market every Wednesday where you can find crafts and jewelry.
Anjuna is a relatively bigger area and I think I actually spent more time inland than on the beach while I was there! I stayed for a few months while working remotely and I loved going to Artjuna which was a big, open cafe that also sold artwork.
I also loved getting food and products from the Village Beyond. They have a lot of healthy and handmade things. I got a natural roll-on deodorant which honestly I wish I would’ve got 100 of them, and a beautiful natural dyed yoga mat.
Overall, Anjuna is great for families and couples alike because there is so much to do there. It’s a relaxing place to enjoy the beach and take in the views while also having cute shops and restaurants to indulge in.
This post was all about the best Goa beaches.
With so many amazing places to choose from, these are the best Goa beaches for a memorable vacation! Depending on where you want to go and what you’re style of vacationing is, I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
