Best time to visit · Goa · India
The best time to visit Goa
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Goa is November to February, when the weather is dry and sunny, the sea is calm and beach shacks are open; Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks. March and October are good-value shoulder months. The monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, rough seas and closed shacks, though the green landscapes and waterfalls attract domestic visitors.
Key facts
- Best months
- November–February
- Shoulder season
- March–April and October
- Warmest month
- March (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- July (avg high 29°C (84°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~27 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- June–August
Seasons
Goa has a tropical monsoon climate: warm, dry and sunny from November to March, hot and humid in April and May, and very wet from June to September, when the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain on most days and rough seas.
November–February
Peak season
Dry, sunny, warm days and cooler nights, calm seas and open shacks; Christmas and New Year are crowded and expensive.
March–May
Hot season
Hot and increasingly humid, with quieter beaches, lower prices and the cashew and mango season.
June–September
Monsoon
Heavy rain on most days, rough seas and closed shacks, but lush green landscapes, full waterfalls and the lowest hotel rates.
October
Post-monsoon
Humid and green as the rains fade; shacks begin reopening and prices are still moderate.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 20°C | 0 | 27°C | 11.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 32°C | 21°C | 0 | 27°C | 11.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 33°C | 23°C | 0 | 28°C | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 33°C | 25°C | 1 | 29°C | 12.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| May | 33°C | 27°C | 3 | 30°C | 12.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 30°C | 25°C | 22 | 29°C | 13 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| July | 29°C | 25°C | 27 | 28°C | 12.9 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| August | 29°C | 24°C | 25 | 28°C | 12.6 h | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| September | 30°C | 24°C | 16 | 28°C | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 32°C | 24°C | 6 | 29°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 33°C | 22°C | 2 | 29°C | 11.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 33°C | 21°C | 1 | 28°C | 11.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Goa Carnival — float parades before Lent (usually February or early March) |
| March | Shigmo — Hindu spring festival with float parades (usually March); Holi (usually March) |
| June | São João — feast with leaps into wells and the Siolim boat festival (24 June) |
| August | Bonderam — flag festival on Divar Island (usually late August); Ganesh Chaturthi (Chavath) — major Hindu festival (August or September) |
| October | Dussehra and Diwali, with Narakasura effigies burnt on Diwali eve (October or November) |
| November | International Film Festival of India in Panaji (usually late November) |
| December | Feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa (3 December); Goa Liberation Day (19 December); Christmas and New Year celebrations |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in June–August, and the sights are quietest in June–July. Many visitors avoid June–July.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Peak season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Hot season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Post-monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Goa?
The best time to visit Goa is November to February, when the weather is dry and sunny, the sea is calm and beach shacks are open; Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks. March and October are good-value shoulder months. The monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, rough seas and closed shacks, though the green landscapes and waterfalls attract domestic visitors.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Goa?
Usually in June–August. The monsoon breaks with heavy rain and rough seas; swimming is unsafe and most shacks are closed, but the countryside turns green.
+What is the rainiest month in Goa?
July, with about 27 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Goa get?
The warmest month, March, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 23°C (73°F).