Solo travel · Goa · India
Solo travel in Goa
How to enjoy Goa at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Goa is one of India's easiest places for solo travellers, with hostels, yoga schools, cafés and a large traveller community in Anjuna, Vagator, Arambol and Palolem. Many solo travellers base themselves in Anjuna and Vagator.
Key facts
- Base
- Anjuna and Vagator
- Getting around
- Taxi
- Emergency number
- 112 (national emergency number)
- Language
- Konkani, English, Hindi and Marathi
Solo travel tips
- Stay in a hostel in Anjuna, Vagator or Arambol to meet other travellers easily.
- Join yoga, surf or cooking classes, which run through the season.
- Avoid walking alone on dark beaches and unlit roads late at night.
- Use GoaMiles or hotel-arranged taxis at night rather than hitching rides.
- Women travellers may receive unwanted attention on busy beaches; choosing quieter beaches and covering up off the beach helps.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Anjuna and Vagator
Anjuna's Wednesday flea market and Vagator's red cliffs and coves made these villages famous in the hippie era. Today they combine guesthouses, cafés, clifftop bars and clubs, with Chapora Fort overlooking Vagator. Beaches are rocky in places and the vibe is younger and freer than further south.
- Good
- Characterful cafés and guesthouses; Clifftop sunsets; Best-known party venues
- Watch out
- Rocky beaches less suited to swimming; Late-night noise near clubs
- Nearby
- Anjuna Flea Market, Chapora Fort, Vagator Beach
Great on your own
Religious site · Old Goa
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Visit early in the morning before tour buses arrive, and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
Religious site · Old Goa
Sé Cathedral
Walk between the Sé, Bom Jesus and the Church of St Francis of Assisi; the main Old Goa sights are within a few minutes of each other.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Goa
Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum
Allow time for the portrait gallery upstairs, which shows four centuries of Portuguese governors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Panaji
Fontainhas Latin Quarter
Walk in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light on the facades, and respect residents' privacy when taking photos.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Religious site · Panaji
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Photograph the staircase from the square at dusk when the church is illuminated.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Castle · Candolim and Sinquerim
Fort Aguada
Go in the late afternoon and stay for sunset from the walls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Meeting people
- Beach shack dinner — Seasonal shacks set tables on the sand from November to April; choose fish from the display, agree the price by weight and have it grilled or cooked recheado style.
- Fish thali lunch — Local restaurants in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa serve fish thalis of curry, fried fish, rice, vegetables and sol kadhi (kokum-coconut drink) for a fraction of shack prices.
- Baga and Tito's Lane — Goa's densest strip of bars and clubs, packed with a domestic and international crowd in season.
- Anjuna and Vagator — Clifftop bars and clubs with sunset sessions and electronic music, a legacy of Goa's trance era.
Sensible precautions
Rip currents make swimming dangerous on many beaches, especially from June to September when swimming is often banned; obey lifeguards and red flags. Scooter accidents are a common cause of injury, so wear a helmet and avoid riding at night or after drinking.
- Emergency number
- 112 (national emergency number)
- Staying connected
- Jio, Airtel and Vi SIM cards are available with a passport and photo; coverage is good in towns and patchy in some remote southern coves.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Goa good for solo travellers?
Goa is one of India's easiest places for solo travellers, with hostels, yoga schools, cafés and a large traveller community in Anjuna, Vagator, Arambol and Palolem.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Goa?
Anjuna and Vagator: Cliffs, small coves, the Wednesday flea market and Goa's party history.