Trip highlights
- 1Basilica of Bom Jesus and Old Goa churches
- 2Baga and Anjuna Beach
- 3Anjuna flea market
- 4Fort Aguada
- 5Spice plantation tour
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Baga Beach
Sunday, January 10
Est. spend
$100
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Goa International Airport (Dabolim/Manohar)
Goa International Airport
Taxis or pre-booked transfers reach North Goa's beach towns in about 45-60 minutes.
Pre-book a hotel transfer, as airport taxi rates can be inflated for unprepared arrivals.
☀️ Afternoon
Baga Beach
Baga Beach, Goa
One of North Goa's liveliest beaches, lined with beach shacks, water sports operators, and a buzzing energy — a good introduction to Goa's beach culture.
Try parasailing or jet skiing if interested in water sports — Baga has the widest range of operators in North Goa.
🌙 Evening
Sunset at a beach shack
Baga or Calangute Beach, Goa
Goa's iconic beach shacks — casual, open-air restaurants right on the sand — are the quintessential way to watch sunset with fresh seafood and a cold drink.
Try Goan fish curry and rice, a tangy, coconut-based dish distinct from mainland Indian curries due to Goa's Portuguese-influenced cuisine.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Goan · $6
Beach shack lunch
Goan · $12
Sunset shack dinner
Goan (seafood) · $25
Old Goa Churches & Fort Aguada
Monday, January 11
Est. spend
$105
per person
🌅 Morning
Old Goa: Basilica of Bom Jesus
Old Goa
A UNESCO World Heritage cluster of 16th and 17th-century Portuguese colonial churches, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, and the Sé Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Asia.
The exposed body of St. Francis Xavier is displayed only once every decade or so during a special exposition — check current viewing access before your visit.
☀️ Afternoon
Fort Aguada
Fort Aguada, Goa
A well-preserved 17th-century Portuguese fort with a lighthouse, built to defend against Dutch and Maratha incursions, offering sweeping views over the Arabian Sea.
The fort and lighthouse area is a popular spot for sunset views over Sinquerim Beach below.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Panaji (Panjim)
Fontainhas, Panaji
Goa's charming capital, with Latin Quarter (Fontainhas) streets lined with colourful Portuguese-era houses, narrow lanes, and excellent restaurants.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Goan · $6
Old Goa area lunch
Goan · $10
Fontainhas dinner
Goan/Portuguese-influenced · $30
Anjuna Flea Market & Spice Plantation
Tuesday, January 12
Est. spend
$120
per person
🌅 Morning
Spice plantation tour
Spice plantations, Ponda, Goa
A guided tour through one of Goa's tropical spice plantations, walking among pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg plants, often paired with an elephant interaction and traditional Goan lunch.
Several plantations offer a traditional Goan thali lunch as part of the tour package — a good way to sample authentic regional cuisine.
☀️ Afternoon
Anjuna Beach and flea market
Anjuna Beach, Goa
If your visit falls on a Wednesday, the famous Anjuna flea market draws vendors from across India selling textiles, jewellery, and souvenirs in a sprawling, colourful bazaar; otherwise, Anjuna's beach and cliffside cafés are worth the visit regardless.
Confirm the market operates on Wednesdays during your visit — it's seasonal and timing can shift, so check locally before planning around it.
🌙 Evening
Sunset at Vagator or Anjuna cliffs
Vagator Beach, Goa
The red cliffs above Vagator and Anjuna beaches offer some of Goa's most dramatic sunset views, alongside the area's well-known laid-back beach party scene.
🍽️ Meals
Plantation breakfast
Goan · $6
Spice plantation thali lunch
Goan · $0 · Often included in the plantation tour package.
Vagator cliffside dinner
Goan/International · $30
Final Beach Time & Departure
Wednesday, January 13
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Calangute Beach relaxation
Calangute Beach, Goa
A relaxed final morning at Calangute, one of Goa's most popular and accessible beaches, often called the 'Queen of Beaches.'
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping and lunch
Goa
A final lunch and shopping for cashews, feni (Goa's distinctive cashew or coconut spirit), or textiles before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Goa Airport
Goa International Airport
Allow at least 2.5 hours before a domestic or international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Goan · $6
Calangute lunch
Goan · $14
Airport food
Indian/International · $12
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
November–February offers the most comfortable, dry weather with lower humidity, making it Goa's peak season. The monsoon (June-September) brings heavy rain and rough seas, with many beach shacks closing entirely.
🛂 Visas
Most nationalities require an e-Visa for India, obtainable online in advance — apply at least a few days before travel given processing times.
💱 Currency
Indian Rupee (INR). Cash is preferred at beach shacks and markets; cards are accepted at larger hotels and restaurants.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 100
ambulance: 102
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Goa's cuisine, shaped by centuries of Portuguese rule, is distinct from mainland India — look for vindaloo, sorpotel, and fish curry rice as genuine local specialties.
- North Goa (Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator) is livelier and more nightlife-focused; South Goa is quieter and more upscale — choose your base accordingly.
- The Anjuna flea market traditionally runs on Wednesdays but timing can shift seasonally — confirm locally before planning your day around it.
- Renting a scooter is a popular, affordable way to get around Goa independently, though an international driving permit and helmet use are strongly advised.
- Feni, a local spirit distilled from cashew or coconut, is a distinctly Goan specialty worth trying at least once.
One thing worth not skipping
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