Things to do · Goa · India
18 best things to do in Goa
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Goa are Basilica of Bom Jesus, Sé Cathedral and Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum. Of the 18 picks below, 11 are free, 3 work on a rainy day and 4 suit children. Allow about 7 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Basilica of Bom Jesus
- Free sights
- 11
- Good on a rainy day
- Sé Cathedral
- Time to see the highlights
- 7 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basilica of Bom Jesus | Old Goa | 45 minutes | Free |
| Sé Cathedral | Old Goa | 30 minutes | Free |
| Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum | Old Goa | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Fontainhas Latin Quarter | Panaji | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception | Panaji | 30 minutes | Free |
| Fort Aguada | Candolim and Sinquerim | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Chapora Fort | Anjuna and Vagator | 1 hour | Free |
| Reis Magos Fort | Panaji | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Anjuna Flea Market | Anjuna and Vagator | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Arpora Saturday Night Market | Calangute and Baga | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Spice plantation tour | Ponda | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Palolem Beach | Palolem and Agonda | Full day | Free |
| Shri Mangueshi Temple | Ponda | 45 minutes | Free |
| Divar Island | Old Goa | Half a day | Free |
| Cabo de Rama Fort | Palolem and Agonda | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary | Panaji | 1.5–2 hours | Low cost |
| Goa Chitra Museum | Colva and Benaulim | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Mandovi River sunset cruise | Panaji | 1 hour | Low cost |
The 18 best things to do
Religious site · Old Goa
1.Basilica of Bom Jesus
Completed in 1605, this Jesuit church holds the remains of St Francis Xavier in a silver casket above a marble tomb gifted by the Medici. Its unplastered laterite facade and gilded baroque altars make it the best-known of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa.
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
2.Sé Cathedral
Across the square from Bom Jesus, the Sé Cathedral, built between 1562 and 1619, is one of the largest churches in Asia. Its white Portuguese-Manueline facade lost one of its two towers in 1776, and the remaining tower holds the Golden Bell.
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
3.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.
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
4.Fontainhas Latin Quarter
Panaji's oldest quarter is a maze of narrow lanes lined with yellow, blue and ochre Portuguese-era houses with tiled roofs and balconies. The Chapel of St Sebastian, small art galleries and old-style cafés and bakeries make it the best walk in the capital.
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
5.Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Panaji's landmark church, rebuilt in its present form in the early 17th century, is known for its bright white facade and the zig-zag staircase added later. It overlooks the main square and is lit up at night.
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
6.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. The upper fort has thick laterite walls and a 19th-century lighthouse, with sweeping views over Sinquerim beach and the sea.
Go in the late afternoon and stay for sunset from the walls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Castle · Anjuna and Vagator
7.Chapora Fort
The ruined laterite walls of this 17th-century Portuguese fort crown a hill above Vagator beach and the Chapora River. Little remains inside, but the views north over Morjim and south over Vagator are among the best in Goa; it became famous from a scene in the film Dil Chahta Hai.
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
8.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. Its ramparts look across the river to the capital.
Combine it with the Reis Magos church at the foot of the fort and lunch in Candolim.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Market · Anjuna and Vagator
1.Anjuna Flea Market
Held on Wednesdays during the tourist season on a field above Anjuna beach, this sprawling market began in the hippie era and now sells textiles, jewellery, spices, handicrafts from across India and clothing, with food and drink stalls.
Go in the afternoon when it is in full swing, bargain firmly, and stay for sunset at a nearby beach bar.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Market · Calangute and Baga
2.Arpora Saturday Night Market
A seasonal evening market in Arpora, inland from Baga, with clothing, crafts, jewellery and a large food court with live music. It is livelier and better organised than many daytime markets.
Arrive after dark when the stalls and stages are in full swing, and take a taxi back late at night.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Experience · Ponda
3.Spice plantation tour
Plantations around Ponda run guided walks among pepper vines, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and cashew trees, usually ending with a Goan buffet lunch served on banana leaves. Some include a demonstration of cashew-feni distilling.
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
4.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. A small island at the northern end can be reached on foot at low tide.
Rent a kayak in the morning when the sea is flat, and take a boat to Butterfly Beach before it gets busy.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Religious site · Ponda
5.Shri Mangueshi Temple
One of Goa's most important Hindu temples, dedicated to Shiva as Mangesh, set among hills in Priol near Ponda. Its whitewashed buildings, domed roof and seven-storey lamp tower (deepastambha) reflect a blend of Hindu, Islamic and European styles.
Remove shoes at the entrance, dress modestly and visit in the evening when the lamp tower may be lit for festivals.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Island · Old Goa
6.Divar Island
A short, free government ferry from Old Goa crosses the Mandovi to Divar, a rural island of paddy fields, old Portuguese houses and the hilltop church of Our Lady of Compassion. It feels decades away from the beaches and is best explored by bicycle or scooter.
Take the ferry from the Old Goa jetty and ride up to the church on the hill for views over the river.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- History
Castle · Palolem and Agonda
7.Cabo de Rama Fort
The crumbling ramparts of this hilltop fort in South Goa sit on cliffs above the sea, with a small whitewashed church still in use inside the walls and paths to secluded coves below.
Visit in the late afternoon for sunset over the sea, and wear sturdy shoes for the walls.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
Nature · Panaji
8.Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Mangrove forest on Chorão Island, reached by ferry from Ribandar, protects kingfishers, herons, egrets and occasionally crocodiles. A walkway and canoe trips with local boatmen lead through the mangrove channels.
Go early in the morning at high tide, when canoes can enter the narrow channels and birds are most active.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Museum · Colva and Benaulim
9.Goa Chitra Museum
An ethnographic museum in Benaulim with thousands of traditional farming tools, kitchen utensils, carts and household objects collected from Goan villages, explaining rural life before mass tourism. Guided tours bring the objects to life.
Take the guided tour; the guides explain how each tool was used in paddy farming and toddy tapping.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Panaji
10.Mandovi River sunset cruise
Hour-long evening cruises leave from the Panaji jetty and sail along the Mandovi towards the river mouth with Goan folk dances and music on deck. Views take in Reis Magos Fort, the bridges and the city lights.
Choose an early-evening departure to catch sunset over the river mouth.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Views
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum and Goa Chitra Museum |
| History | Basilica of Bom Jesus, Sé Cathedral, Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum and Fontainhas Latin Quarter |
| Views | Fort Aguada, Chapora Fort, Reis Magos Fort and Cabo de Rama Fort |
| Outdoors and nature | Spice plantation tour, Palolem Beach, Divar Island and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary |
| Food and markets | Anjuna Flea Market, Arpora Saturday Night Market and Spice plantation tour |
| After dark | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Arpora Saturday Night Market and Mandovi River sunset cruise |
| With children | Fort Aguada, Spice plantation tour, Palolem Beach and Mandovi River sunset cruise |
| On a rainy day | Sé Cathedral, Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum and Goa Chitra Museum |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Goa?
Basilica of Bom Jesus. Completed in 1605, this Jesuit church holds the remains of St Francis Xavier in a silver casket above a marble tomb gifted by the Medici.
+What can you do for free in Goa?
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Sé Cathedral, Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and Chapora Fort. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Goa when it rains?
Head indoors to Sé Cathedral, Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum and Goa Chitra Museum.
+What is there to do in Goa at night?
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Arpora Saturday Night Market and Mandovi River sunset cruise are best after dark.