2 days in Goa

Day by day

1. Day 1: Basilica of Bom Jesus and Sé Cathedral

   Basilica of Bom Jesus, Sé Cathedral, Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum and Divar Island, then Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Basilica of Bom Jesus

      Its unplastered laterite facade and gilded baroque altars make it the best-known of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa.

   2. Late morning

      Sé Cathedral

      Its white Portuguese-Manueline facade lost one of its two towers in 1776, and the remaining tower holds the Golden Bell.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Goan fish curry rice

      Local 'fish thali' restaurants in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa at lunchtime; beach shacks serve versions too.

   4. Afternoon

      Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum

      Behind the Sé, the Church of St Francis of Assisi has a painted, gilded interior, and its former convent houses the Archaeological Survey of India's museum with portraits of Portuguese viceroys, Hindu sculpture and hero stones from before colonial rule.

   5. Late afternoon

      Divar Island

      It feels decades away from the beaches and is best explored by bicycle or scooter.

   6. Evening

      Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

      Photograph the staircase from the square at dusk when the church is illuminated.

2. Day 2: Fontainhas Latin Quarter and Reis Magos Fort

   Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Reis Magos Fort, Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Fort Aguada, then Arpora Saturday Night Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fontainhas Latin Quarter

      The Chapel of St Sebastian, small art galleries and old-style cafés and bakeries make it the best walk in the capital.

   2. Late morning

      Reis Magos Fort

      Its ramparts look across the river to the capital.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pork vindaloo

      Goan Catholic restaurants and family-run taverns, especially in Panaji and South Goa.

   4. Afternoon

      Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

      A walkway and canoe trips with local boatmen lead through the mangrove channels.

   5. Late afternoon

      Fort Aguada

      The upper fort has thick laterite walls and a 19th-century lighthouse, with sweeping views over Sinquerim beach and the sea.

   6. Evening

      Arpora Saturday Night Market

      Arrive after dark when the stalls and stages are in full swing, and take a taxi back late at night.

If it rains

• Swap in Goa Chitra Museum (Colva and Benaulim): Take the guided tour; the guides explain how each tool was used in paddy farming and toddy tapping.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–16 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.2 hours in December to 13 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Taxi. Tourist taxis wait at hotels and stands and charge set or negotiated fares; GoaMiles is the government-backed app-based taxi service.

More or fewer days

• One day in Goa
• 3 days in Goa
• 5 days in Goa

Questions travellers ask