Comparison · Bali vs Goa · Indonesia / India
Bali vs Goa
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces; choose Goa for Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Goa is generally less expensive, and the two are about 5,236 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 5,236 km
- Less expensive
- Goa
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Goa
- November–February
Side by side
| Bali | Goa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | India |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage and Old Goa churches |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $70–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | March, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Baga |
| Airports | DPS | GOI, GOX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples and Rice terraces. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
Choose Goa for…
Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Goa is India's smallest state, a strip of about 100 km of Arabian Sea coast backed by rice paddies, coconut groves and the Western Ghats. Four and a half centuries of Portuguese rule, which ended in 1961, left the baroque churches of Old Goa, the colourful…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Goa |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Basilica of Bom Jesus |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Sé Cathedral |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Fontainhas Latin Quarter |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception |
Food compared
| Bali | Goa |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Goan fish curry rice |
| Bebek betutu | Pork vindaloo |
| Nasi campur Bali | Chicken xacuti |
| Sate lilit | Sorpotel and sannas |
Which is cheaper?
Goa is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $80–$180 in Bali (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Goa on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 5,236 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 18 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Goa cheaper?
Goa is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $80–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Goa better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces, or Goa for Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Bali from Goa?
About 5,236 km in a straight line.