In India, Goa is one of the coolest places to spend a vacation. Even the world is not untouched by it. There are a lot of places to visit in Goa for every kind of traveler. Thousands of people, Indians as well as foreigners, take off to Goa, trying to shed the boredom & exhaustion of their daily working lives and breathe the fresh sea breeze. Being a small state surrounded by the sea makes Goa is a beautiful place. Goa’s revenue based on tourism.
The government has also carefully taken care of the points regarding the interests of the tourists and cut taxes on beers, etc. Goa is the perfect escape for every working person who wants to lay off stress and enjoy the sand-water couple. So why are you waiting then? Pack your bags and run out for your Goa trip. You’ll surely find a lot of things to do in Goa to keep you busy.
Following are a few of the best places to visit in Goa:
1. Ashwem & Arossim Beach
This beach is quite the opposite of the famous beaches in North Goa. It is quiet, less crowded, and clean. This beach is located around 27 miles from Anjuna beach. Visiting Ashwem beach must be in your things to do in Goa list. It flaunts it’s beautiful white sand annexed with a peaceful framework. The people who prefer not to be distracted or disturbed by a crowd tend to come here generally.
Ashwem beach is also a great place for thinking and laying off stress. It’s like an oasis for the people in Goa looking for some serenity. A small number of hotels also surround the area. Arossiam beach is akin to Ashwem beach for its peace and tranquillity. It has an underrated image in Goa tourist places. The beach is famous for sight-seeing in Goa. Mesmerising landscapes and a clean ecosystem adds stars to the beauty of Arossim beach.
2. Calangute Beach
One of the best and most famous beach in Goa is the Calangute beach. It is the ‘Queen of Beaches’ in Goa. Your things to do in Goa list must not miss this popular attraction in Goa. The beach is said to have been discovered back in the 60s by some hippies hanging around. It is so popular that even the Goa tourism agency uses it as a face for their advertisements.
Four beaches Calangute, Candolim, Baga, and Anjuna form part of the stretch of beaches that extends from just outside Panaji city to Fort Aguada. Calangute Beach extends up to 4 miles, lying between Baga and Candolim beach. The wide beach has soft sand, but the sea is said to be rough. Calangute is the largest beach in North Goa.
3. Aguada Fort
Located at a distance of 49 km from Margao railway station, Aguada fort is one of the significant heritage sites in Goa tourism. This prime tourist place was constructed back in history to prevent the entry of ships into the river Mandovi, thus protecting the city from the attacks of the Dutch and the Marathas. How it got its name Aguada meaning ‘water’? It’s an excellent place for historical Goa sight-seeing.
The Aguada Fort was built by the Portuguese colonial rulers on the beach south of Candolim at the shore of the Mandovi River in 1612.The water supply provided to the ships that used to stop by through the waterfall flowing into the fort. Two hundred cannons along with a deep dry moat protected the heart of the fort, making it hard to penetrate. Aguada Fort is one of the most exciting places to visit in Goa for historical art lovers. Do you Travel often?
Also Read: Top 31 Historical Forts in India
4. Vagator Beach
This beach rests in North Goa near Chapora fort, about 46 km from the Vasco Da Gama railway station. It is a part of the coastline that runs from Fort Aguada to Chapora beach. It stretches for about 30 km along the west coast of Goa by the Arabian sea. Vagator beach immersed under the soft white sand that makes every tourist fall in love with the place immediately. A perfect place to visit during your Goa trip.
Dotted by coconut trees and huge black rocks, the route to the beach is a downhill. With the varying positioning of the sun, the colour of the sea at Vagator beach turns from aquamarine to emerald green. Vagator Beach is the bay between the rocks and the sea. Varactor beach is one of the best places to visit in Goa.
5. Basilica Of Bom Jesus
Also known as St. Francis Xavier’s Tomb, this is one of the top attractions in the places to visit in Goa. If you’re fond of historical or ancient architecture, your Goa trip is not going to miss this place. Basilica Of Bom, Jesus considered as an important heritage site in Goa state. The architecture inside the church is a highly ornate baroque architecture that dates back centuries. It is the first minor Basilica in India, so it is highly revered.
The name ‘Bom Jesus’ picked from the Portuguese language where ‘bom’ means good. Thus, ‘Bom Jesus’ signifies ‘good Jesus’ or ‘infant Jesus’. The Construction of the church began in 1594 and completed in May 1605. The church is as also a part of the Goa tourism advertisement, so it’s apparent that it’s widely famous You can easily reach the destination as it is at a distance of just 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station.
The Bom Jesus Basilica is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (Churches & Convents of Goa). The graceful combination of the Corinthian, Doric and composite styles carved on black granite garnish the facade of this architecture, which is prominent for its simplicity.
6. Shri Mangueshi Temple / Mangeshi Temple
Shri Mangesh temple is one of the best places to visit in Goa. People like to visit it very often. It located at 1 km from the capital Panaji. The lore associated with the place is fascinating. According to it, once Lord Shiva was playing dice with his wife Parvati and lost everything. Then he came to Goa. When Parvati came to search for him, he disguised himself as a tiger to scare her. In fright, Parvati uttered, “Trahi mam Grisha” meaning “O Lord of Mountains, help me!”.
Shiva then returned to his real form and left with her. The phrase ‘mam Grisha’ is responsible for the name ‘Manguesh’ used for Shiva. The place always filled with pilgrims who never get wearied. Many points of interest in the temple will attract your mind. Hindu pilgrims who come to visit Goa tourist places always come here time and again.
7. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is an estuarine habitat making it one of the best places to visit in Goa. The local migratory birds can be found here along with various other species of insects and reptiles. The name is in honor of Dr. Salim Ali, a prominent ornithologist of India.
The sanctuary spread over 1.8 km sq area. It is about 15 km away from the nearest Karmali railway station and 31 km from Vasco da Gama. The sanctuary is open for visitations throughout the year. Visitors need to get permission from the Cheif Wild Life Warden of the Forest Department in Panaji to visit this sanctuary.
Different species of foxes, crocodiles, jackals, etc. plant life can enjoy here. Mangrove vegetation is dominant here. The scenic view of the flocks of birds flying will be the most heartwarming in your whole Goa trip. Of all the places to visit in Goa, these flora and fauna moments can experience here.
8. Dudhsagar Waterfall
Of all the places to visit in Goa, Dudhsagar waterfall is the most beautiful in my opinion. The aura, the greenery, the ecosystem of the area is so bewitching that it makes you instantly fall in love with it. A goa trip is always incomplete without a visit to the Dudhsagar waterfall. Dudhsagar Waterfall is the highest & largest waterfall in Goa. Dudhsagar is a four-level waterfall on the Mandovi river. It rests in the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary at the Goa-Karnataka border. Goa tourism agencies use Dudhsagar waterfalls heavily for their promotion.
The water flowing downwards appears like milk. Hence, the name Dudhsagar was coined, which means Sea of Milk. With a height of 310 meters, Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in India too. Even the picture of it is enough to make you want to see it at least once. The best times to visit Dudhsagar waterfalls are summers and winters. Logging into the place in summers relieves you from all of the sun’s heat and overwhelms you into serenity.
Also Read: Top 22 Waterfalls to Visit in India
9. Shri Shantadurga Temple
‘A major temple near a beach’- This is the wish of every pilgrim cum traveler. The small city of Goa grants this wish too. Shri Shantadurga temple dedicated to Goddess Shantadurga who is a form of Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. According to mythology, it believed that once Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were battling each other. When things got out of hand, Lord Bramha had to call Goddess Parvati in fright.
Parvati transformed into the form Shantadurga and placed Shiva & Vishnu on her left & right side respectively to settle the fight. The idol of Shantadurga is with one serpent in each hand, representing Shiva & Vishnu. The temple is located at the foothill of the village Kavalem, 30 km from the capital Panaji. It looks like an elegant giant mansion, not like typical Indian temples. Of all the places to visit in Goa, this is the best for spiritual people.
10. Reis Magos Fort
Reis Magos Fort stands high in the Goa points of interest. It is an important heritage site situated near the bank of River Mandovi while facing the capital city Panjim. The fort played a significant role in protecting Goa from the Maratha attacks. It was built by a Portuguese Viceroy back in 1551. Later the fort was rebuilt in 1707. Even before the Portuguese, Adil Shal used the fort in the 1400s. Then in the 1500s, the fortress got destroyed.
Realizing the strategic importance of the fort, the Portuguese reconstructed it. Comparably, this fort is smaller than other forts in Goa, but its tourists don’t consider size as a parameter for a visit. The fort gets as many tourists as any other fort in Goa. Every ‘thing to do in Goa’ list has Reis Magos fort in it. The Reis Magos village has another great structure known as the Reis Magos Church. It is also one of the prominent places to visit in Goa.
11. Sinquerim Fort
Thanks to the dazzling Portuguese architecture and the thrilling view of the sunset, Sinkurim Castle is a favorite subject of every photographer who is looking for an undiscovered place to explore in Goa. With soft sand and cool breezes, Syncurim Beach serves as a great place to relax and provides visitors with opportunities for recreation such as swimming, beach volleyball, scuba diving, water skiing, fishing, and windsurfing. The whole area is well kept, ancient, and has several luxurious accommodations and budget eateries.
12. Kakolem Beach
Also known as Tiger Beach, it is a little difficult to find one of these small but hidden beaches in Goa. But once you get here, you will see that your efforts are worth it. You can get there by NH 66 while driving towards Kola village or by boat.
Also Read: Best 30 Beaches in India
13. Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Although it is the second-largest wildlife reserve in Goa – it is one of the hidden gems in Goa, you will find in the other two sanctuaries in Goa as much as you will not find in the Kotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. Cotigao provides visitors with plant and plant attractions with a perfect place for hiking and hiking. Tall trees, rare plants, rocks, wetlands, and ponds – allows you to connect with the most peaceful forms of nature. If you’re lucky, you can also see animals like sloth bears, laughing hyenas, Indian bison, monkeys, and Malabar crested gulls.
14. Arvalem Caves
Back in the sixth century, the Arvalem Caves or Pandava Caves have long been the focus of controversy due to their mixed architecture. Some say it was used by the Pandavas because of the presence of Shivlings inside the cave. Perhaps, it comes in the category of the best places to explore in Goa. Others argue that the caves are Buddhist because there is a huge statue of Buddha near the place. But whatever the origin, the rock-cut foundation of the cave, its mysterious aura, and its historic historical appeal never fails to captivate visitors.
15. Velsao Beach
The soft silver sand with white seashells and occasional starfish, the coconut grooves around the beach, the lake decorated with lilies, and the cool breeze over the shallow warm water make this beach one of the best romantic secluded beaches in Goa.
16. Arambol Beach
Arambol is a small fishing village that does not fail to attract local and foreign tourists due to its lively fly market, its hippie culture, deep night parties, shake barbecues, paragliding, and kitesurfing. Covered hills on both sides of the area. Despite giving a lot, Arambol is still very ancient, because not many people know about it, which is why this bohemian paradise is not one of the places to visit in Goa.
17. Bogmalo Beach
No matter how rare visitors are, the beach offers everyone the perfect combination of commercial space and natural beauty with crystal clear, blue waters, an attractive village nearby, oceanfront accommodation, a plethora of delicious food, and complete peace and serenity. Those who want to do water sports in Goa can either swim in shallow water or go scuba diving through the Goa Institute of Diving.
18. Butterfly Beach
Set as an isolated cove, Butterfly Beach is one of the most beautiful, yet unpublished places in Goa because very few people know about it. While here, travelers have an exciting opportunity to see dolphins, crabs, and various butterflies. Blessed with powdery white sand, crystal clear water, and flawless scenery, the beach is a perfect place to seek peace and tranquility. You can come here by boat from Palolem or Agonda beach, or trek through the bushes around it.
19. Mobor Beach
A peaceful and spectacular habitat, Mobor’s impeccably clear white sand, crystal clear water, and a mind-blowing sunset are sought after. Here’s when one can enter Leela’s private beach.
20. Querim (Keri) Beach
The beach is usually overlooked due to the absence of tourists, which is why it makes Goa one of the most terrifying secret beaches. The beach is adorned with white sand, fascinating beach shakes, a deep-water frenzy, and a handsome tiara fort. There are also opportunities for activities like paragliding, which makes it an ideal place for a family picnic. While here, you can also see the Tirakal River flowing and mingling in the Arak Sea, a view that cannot be missed too.
21. Harvalem Falls
Harivalem is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the barn, where the milky white water has descended beneath solid natural rocks. And best of all, the waterfall is hidden from the eyes of the world, allowing visitors complete privacy. While staying here, one can see the Rudreshwar Temple and the nearby Orvalem Cave.
22. Bamanbudo Waterfalls
Bamanbudo Falls is an interesting refreshment for those looking for peaceful and undiscovered places in Goa to get away from the frantic crowds of a hippie town. Although the waterfall is easily accessible and provides a fun place to take a revitalized dive, tourists still miss it. A trip to this colorful tourist spot of Goa should not be missed.
23. Cabo De Rama
Located on the Mumbai-Cochin Highway in South Goa, the fort is one of the most comfortable hideouts in Goa with a spectacular view of the Cabo de Rama beach beneath it and the disappearance of the sea on the horizon beyond. The fort contains ruins of former Portuguese soldiers and an old cannon that makes the fort suitable for shooting and picnics with friends.
24. Fort Tiracol
Fort Tirakol is the most beautiful fort in Goa due to its design and architecture. This 17th-century Portuguese fort is located on a peak overlooking the Indian Ocean and has seven rooms, each named one day a week. On the day you visit, the room with that name will see the best view from others. Kerry can be reached by ferry from the beach.
25. Lamgau Caves
Located at Bicholim, this cave is an architectural masterpiece. Although it does not get many visitors, those who come are always fascinated by its wide carvings and mysterious views. Inside the cave is a tomb that displays some impressively designed structures such as pavilions, beams, and ceilings. The yard has a stone linga with a picture of a Tulsi Vrindavan and Nandi bull. The caves are quite delicate, which is why no one is advised to go inside.
26. Galgibaga Beach
The endangered Olive Ridley Golgibaga prides itself on being Goa’s cleanest beach, in addition to its seasonal nesting and spawning grounds. It is one of the few hidden beaches in Goa with crystal clear waters and sparkling silver sand. And if you’re lucky, you might as well see some turtle eggs or nests.
27. Hollant Beach
Rustic boats, clear, golden sand, colorful huts on one side, and the enchanting view of the sunset make this beach an absolute favorite for all photographers. It is also a great place for swimming and since the beach is shallow due to the absence of currents.
28. Betul Beach
Quite Betul beach is a common coastal fishing village and one of the top hidden beaches in Goa. In addition to a diverse environment, the beach has a 17th-century castle, a small lake, and several nearby huts with lip-smacking seafood. To get here, you have to cross the Sal River and take the Cavelosim-Asolna ferry.
29. Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
The presence of three wildlife sanctuaries in Goa proves that Goa has more than just beaches and pubs. Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahabir Wildlife Sanctuary are sanctuaries for wildlife lovers and reptile researchers. In addition to a variety of flora and fauna, the park has been listed among the best and hidden places in Goa due to hiking and trekking trails that allow you to see leopards, gourds, and sloth bears among others.
30. Rivona Caves
This cave has a very rich Buddhist history and is one of the best places to visit in Goa. The laterite rock inside is said to have served as the seat of a Buddhist monk who once meditated here. In addition to laterite formations, one can find beautiful Buddhist sculptures and paintings inside the cave. Overlooking the mighty sea and carrying a unique layout, the Rivona Caves are one of the most fascinating hidden places in Goa.
Conclusion
Goa is an attraction with endless opportunities to enjoy your vacation with extreme thrills and entertainment. This place is ready for every holiday. This amazing land of glorious sandy beaches is a spot of various breathtaking activities for people of all ages, including adults as well as children. You can spend your day on the beach at leisure and worship.
Appreciate beautiful sunsets, waves crashing on rocks, board ferries and visit raw beaches, engage in adventure sports activities, shop for authentic Goan things, enjoy authentic Goan delicacies, enjoy a world-famous, Electric Night Life Get involved, and meet amazingly friendly and hospitable people. No holiday is ever fulfilled without shopping. Like any other tourist destination, Goa offers a lot of shopping opportunities.
It is no less than a shopaholic paradise in the true sense. You can find bundles for everyone at outstanding fly markets and late-night shopping markets. There is no need to elaborate on the outstanding nightlife that Goa offers. Electrify pubs, clubs, and casinos as well as have a well-spent holiday.
Therefore, one can indulge in water sports in river rafting, scuba diving, windsurfing, parasailing, and much more and party in the main part at night. Goa is an infinite paradise that gives a wonderful opportunity to every visitor. In conclusion, there are many things to do in Goa that must be explored while traveling to the place.
Also Read: Top 10 Hotels in Goa for a Luxury Experience