Season guide · Goa · India
Goa in the peak season
November–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JosephAssisFernandes, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dry, sunny, warm days and cooler nights, calm seas and open shacks; Christmas and New Year are crowded and expensive. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 3 rainy days across November–February. November–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- November–February
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the peak season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 0 | 11.3 h | 4/5 |
| February | 32°C (90°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 0 | 11.6 h | 4/5 |
| November | 33°C (91°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 | 11.4 h | 4/5 |
| December | 33°C (91°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 1 | 11.2 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 3 of the year's roughly 103 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the peak season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Goa Carnival — float parades before Lent (usually February or early March)
- November: International Film Festival of India in Panaji (usually late November)
- December: Feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa (3 December)
- December: Goa Liberation Day (19 December)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations
Make the most of the weather
Castle · Candolim and Sinquerim
Fort Aguada
Built by the Portuguese in 1612 to guard the mouth of the Mandovi, the fort had a freshwater spring that supplied passing ships.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Castle · Anjuna and Vagator
Chapora Fort
Climb at sunset, wear proper shoes for the rocky path and take water, as there is little shade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Castle · Panaji
Reis Magos Fort
Across the Mandovi from Panaji, this compact fort was restored in 2012 and now houses exhibitions on Goan history and the work of cartoonist Mario Miranda.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Ponda
Spice plantation tour
Combine a spice farm with the Mangueshi temple and Old Goa on a single inland day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Food
- Nature
Beach · Palolem and Agonda
Palolem Beach
A palm-fringed crescent of sand in Canacona with calm, swimmable water in season, wooden beach huts and boats offering trips to Butterfly Beach and dolphin spotting.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Day trips in the peak season
- Dudhsagar Falls (About 2 hours by road and jeep) — A four-tiered waterfall about 310 metres high on the Goa–Karnataka border, inside Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Gokarna (About 3 hours by road from Panaji) — A Hindu pilgrimage town in Karnataka with the Mahabaleshwar temple and a series of quiet beaches, including Om Beach and Kudle Beach, linked by coastal footpaths.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the peak season a good time to visit Goa?
Yes: November–February are among the best months. Dry, sunny, warm days and cooler nights, calm seas and open shacks; Christmas and New Year are crowded and expensive.
+What is the weather like in Goa in the peak season?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.