GOA ITINERARY
Goa is a complete package for all kinds of people looking out for a beach vacation in India. It has clean beaches, amazing food and great party places. I bet, one can never explore entire Goa in just a few days. Every time I go there I see a different part of Goa. Here, I am sharing a very interesting itinerary for 5 days in Goa especially for the first timers. It covers North as well as South Goa. North Goa is more popular and commercialised and because of that, it is usually very crowded. It has amazing lounges and nightclubs. South Goa, unlike North, is very quiet, scenic and has better beaches.
DURATION
It is a 5 days itinerary for Goa – 2 days for North Goa and 3 Days for South Goa.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GOA
Mid November to Mid February are the best months to visit Goa. Weather is very cool and pleasant around this time. This is also the best time to enjoy all beach related activities. Temperature stays between 25-30ºC.
GOA TRIP COST FOR 5 DAYS
- Flight/Train/Road Trip (from India): Roughly Rs 5000-10,000/Person (70-145 US$)
- Hotels: Rs 10,000-20,000/Day (70-150 US$)
- Food & Local Transport: Rs 10,000-12,500/Person (145-175 US$)
- Miscellaneous: Rs 5000-7000/Person (70-100 US$)
- Total Approx. Budget: Rs 35,000-40,000/Person (440-500 US$) for 4 nights & 5 days
WHERE TO STAY IN GOA
NORTH GOA
In North Goa, there are many areas to stay – Arambol, Morjim, Arpora, Baga Beach, Calangute Beach and Candolim Beach etc. I would suggest to stay at Candolim because it is a perfect area to travel easily to both North and South part of Goa. Moreover, Candolim is an amazing area with quite a good number of hotels, huge variety of restaurants, great nightlife and various shops.
There are plenty of choices to stay at Candolim – luxurious 5-stars hotels, home like villas at affordable prices and the very popular Airbnb homes and OYO rooms. One can decide on any facility based on their budget. Below is my suggestions for Hotels for stay in Candolim.
Luxury
Mid Range
Budget
SOUTH GOA
For South Goa mostly people have to make a choice between Palolem Beach and Agonda Beach. Comparing both Agonda beach is neater, nicer, more scenic and an extremely romantic place as compared to Palolem. There are numerous sea facing beach huts here to choose from in Agonda Beach. Following are some choices. They are all ranged from 3000-9000 INR/Day (40-120 US$).
HOW TO REACH GOA & HOW TO TRAVEL WITHIN GOA
Goa’s Dabolim Airport is well connected to all major cities in India. This is the best way to reach Goa for all staying far from Goa.
Goa Madgoan Railway has regular trains from major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai etc. Even regular buses (private as well as govt) run regularly from these cities.
Then cities near by in Maharashtra and Karnataka can even plan to drive to Goa. Roads to Goa are well maintained and scenic.
To travel within Goa the best way is to hire scooty or a 4 wheeler for the entire trip. Scooty is economical option to explore Goa and best way to avoid road traffic. They are easily available on rent. You can reach out local tour operators, or walk in to some stalls for hiring them.
For going to clubs or travelling to far places it is best to hire a car for self drive. Again this is also easily available on rent. You can reach out local tour operators or book it through online portals.
If you can’t self drive a car or a scooty then it is best to book a cab. This is the most expensive option but most convenient one.
TIPS FOR GOA TRIP
- Try to avoid visiting Goa around Christmas and New Year. There is huge rush at this time and prices are hitting the roof. Plan around November or Mid January – Mid February.
- Do go through www.whatsupgoa.com for more information about Goa. This is the best website I found so far with all the relevant information about Goa.
- Always book hotel at a walking distance from the beach.
- Hiring a Scooty/Bike or Car is the best way to go around places in Goa.
- Apart from beaches, next thing to look up to in Goa, is food. Make sure you get an opportunity to taste the most. Take the help of Google, to know the popular restaurants and find their ratings and reviews.
- Download Goamiles app before reaching Goa. This is like Uber/Ola of Goa. You can use that to reach your Hotel from the Airport.
GOA TRIP PLAN FOR 5 DAYS
- 1st Day: Reaching Goa, Lower Fort Agauda, Night Clubs Hopping (if it’s a Saturday).
- 2nd Day: Exploring North Goa – Fort Chapora, Mandrem Beach, Arambol Beach, Marbela Beach Resort, Thalasa for sunset and visiting one of the Casino at night.
- 3rd Day: Leaving north goa and going to South Goa – Agonda Beach, enjoying sunset at Agonda Beach.
- 4th Day: Boat ride to Butterfly Beach/Honeymoon Beach early morning, then visiting Palolem Beach then spending sunset at Cape Goa.
- 5th Day: Ending the trip, Leaving South Goa and heading towards Airport.
GOA TRIP PLAN FOR 5 DAYS IN DETAIL
DAY 1: Reaching Goa, Lower Fort Agauda, Night Clubs Hopping (if it’s a Saturday)
Landing Goa & checking into Hotel
It is better to start with the trip to Goa from North and then to South. You can do it otherwise as well. So after landing at Goa Airport, take a cab till your hotel in Candolim. Relax and take lunch. Candolim has plenty of good restaurants options.
After relaxing for a bit get started with the trip. Don’t forget to hire a scooty or a 4 wheeler (whatever suits you better) for rest of the days in Goa on this day only.
Lower Fort Aguada, Condolim
Staying in Candolim and not visiting this place is a big mistake. Lower Fort Aguada not Fort Aguada is situated adjacent to Taj Fort Aguada hotel. This place is magical around evenings and also a good spot for sun set.
Dinner
There are plenty of good restaurants to try in Candolim, as well as in near by Calangute and Baga Beach. Do not miss to try some of the best restaurants in Goa. Below are some popular options to try.
Best Restaurants to try in Candolim
- Calamari Bathe & Binge
- Palm & Sand Beach Restro & Bar
- Yazu
- Tomato Garden Kitchen & Bar
Best Restaurants to try in Calangute & Baga Beach
- Pausada by the Beach
- Souza Lobo
- Brittos
- Las Olas
If it happens to be a Saturday like it was in my case and if you like flea markets then don’t forget to visit the famous flea market ‘Saturday Night Bazaar‘ which is 5 mins walk from Club Cabana.
As the name suggests, this market is set up only on Saturdays. You can get accessories like neckpieces, bracelets, decorative items, spices, long and short dresses etc. in this market. Prices in this market are relatively low. If not interested in shopping, visit to this market can be skipped.
Partying in Goa
The night is all about partying if this day happens to be a Saturday, which was in my case. The most common party places in Goa are Club Cabana, The LPK, Sinq Nightclub, very old Mambo’s and Tito’s at Baga Beach and lastly even Curlies have good beach side night parties. You can visit any one of your choice or can even do club hopping for fun to 2-3 clubs. Advance booking is recommended for all these places specially if it’s a Saturday. Also booking cab before hand is advisable.
- 11:00 AM: Landing Goa Airport
- 01:30 PM: Reaching Hotel in Candolim
- 02:00 PM: Lunch at hotel or any good restaurant in Candolim
- 04:30 PM: Lower Fort Aguada
- 08:00 PM: Dinner at one of the restaurant in Candolim/Calangute/Baga Beach
- 09:00 PM: Club (any from Club Cabana/LPK/Sinq/ Mombo & Tito’s/Las Olas/ Curlies)
- 02:00 PM: Back to Hotel
DAY 2: Exploring North Goa – Fort Chapora, Mandrem Beach, Arambol Beach, Marbela Beach Resort, Thalasa for sunset and visiting one of the Casino at night.
This day needs to be started early as covering North India is a long trip. I suggest to pack 2-3 dresses, swimsuit, vanity kit etc., as this will be an entire day’s tour and you can halt, refresh yourself and change at any place in between. So get up early, take breakfast, get started with the trip.
Fort Chapora
Make first stop at Fort Chapora – the famous fort, where the movie Dil Chahta Hai was shot. It takes 30-35 mins from Candolim to reach there. Although it is the best place to see the sunrise but it is not possible to make it that early over there. The places requires lot of climbing to reach there. It is a dilapidated fort but the view of the sea from there is totally worthwhile. It is an advice to cover this Fort before noon, as it gets really very hot in the afternoon.
Manderem Beach/Arambol Beach
After fort Chapora go to Mandrem Beach, which is a very popular beach of North Goa. It takes 30-35 mins to reach there from Chapora. Mandrem Beach is quite neat, serene and scenic. Take a shack there and relaxed there for some time.
After Manderan, go to Arambol Beach, which is just a 10 mins drive from Manderam Beach. Again this is quite a popular beach of North Goa. You can try some snack at one of the beach shacks in Arambol. For lunch you can choose any good restaurants around this area. There are plenty of options.
Marbela Beach Resort
After lunch go to Marbela Beach Resort for amazing sunset view. This resort is located in the interiors and you have to cross quite steep roads to reach there. But after reaching the destination, you will be blown away with the beauty of this resort. Marbela Beach Resort is a premium property and has an amazing beach side view. They also have small tents with beds overlooking the beach. It is very romantic, scenic and magical place. If you have enough time you can plan to stay at this resort for a day to fully enjoy this property. If you have limited time – you can plan to skip this because it is located in quite interiors.
Thalassa
After witnessing the most romantic sunset, go to dine at another extremely popular restaurant in North Goa – Thalassa located at Vagator, which is a half an hour drive from Marbella Resort. Thalasa is a Greek themed restaurant and bar. Food is okay but the vibe is really good specially. Thalasaa is again very famous for the sunset, so you can enjoy the sunset here instead of Marbela Beach Resort. Please note, this place will require advance booking. Prebook your table before arriving.
Casino
After dinner, head back to your hotel in Candolim.
If you have interest in gambling, you are very much in luck, as there are quite a few number of Casinos in Goa. Goa is amongst the few places in India, where gambling is legal. All of the popular casinos are set up on cruise ships, parked at the shores of the Mandovi River. These casinos are open 24×7 and charge a one-time entry fee of Rs 1500-3000 (20-40 US$) per person. Food and drinks are On The House. The biggest and the most popular casino in Goa is The Deltin Royale. The Casino Pride, The Deltin Jack, The Big Daddy etc are some of the other big Casinos worth visiting in Goa.
- 08:00 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
- 09:00 AM: Leaving for Fort Chapora
- 11-12 PM: At Fort Chapora
- 12:30 – 2:00 PM: Maderam Beach
- 02:30 – 3:30 PM: Arambol Beach
- 04:30 PM: Marbella Resort – Morjim Beach
- 07:30 PM: Thalassa
- 09:30 PM: Back to Hotel
- 11:00 PM: Casinos
DAY 3: Leaving North Goa and going to South Goa – Agonda Beach, enjoying sunset at Agonda Beach
After having amazing breakfast, pack your bags and leave for South Goa through a self drive car. It’s a very long (2-2.5 hours) drive from Candolim.
Reaching South Goa – Agonda Beach
The entire way from Candolim to South Goa is very scenic – narrow roads with palm trees, beautiful hut houses and small lakes are a sight to behold. Throughout the way, the roads were well maintained.
Midway you can stop for lunch at at Martins’ Corner at Betalbatim. It is a very popular and vibrant Goan restaurant famous for its sea food. It is Sachin Tendulkar’s favourite restaurant in Goa. Martin’s Corner is also very popular with other celebrities.
On the way to South Goa, you can even enjoy various beaches along the way – Dauna Pola, Colva, Benaulim, Varca etc. If churches inspire you then you can also plan to visit two very famous churches in Goa – Basicila of Bom Jesus and Immaculate Conception Church. You can even skip them because afternoons are very harsh in Goa. Moreover you will get to spend the evening in South Goa.
For South Goa, it is best to put up at Agonda Beach. Palolem is also a good option but in comparison Agonda is quieter and neater. Agonda Beach is also a award winning beach of India.
Best way to enjoy beach is to put up at a beach facing hut in Agonda Beach. Huts are quite popular in South Goa. These huts have attached open washroom and a small open area outside the hut with chairs and table. You can enjoy the entire evening getting inside the water. As you will have a beach hut to yourselves, it was much easier and convenient to get back and change. Putting up in these huts is one of the ultimate experience.
Dinner
Agonda beach is full of amazing sea facing restaurants and lounges to choose from for dinner like Agonda Sunset, La Dolce Vita, Kopi Desa etc.
After dinner we then walked on the street along the beach. This place is quite romantic with beach facing restaurants having romantic set ups like candle lights for uplifting the mood of the tourist. The weather and the cool breeze adds to the romance. We then went back to our hut and enjoyed the rest of the night looking at the sea.
- 10:00 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
- 12:00 PM: Checking out from Candolim Hotel driving to South Goa
- 01:30 PM: Martin’s Corner for lunch
- 03:00 PM: At Beach Resort Agonda Beach
- 05:00 PM: Enjoying bathing in Beach
- 07:00 PM: Dinner
DAY 4: Boat ride to Butterfly Beach/Honeymoon Beach early morning, then visiting Palolem Beach then spending sunset at Cape Goa
It is so amazing waking up to the sound of sea waves. The view outside was very pleasant. After walking for a while on the beach, we went to catch out boat ride for Honeymoon & Butterfly Beach.
Butterfly Beach/Honeymoon Beach via boat ride
Staying in South Goa and not going to Butterfly/Honeymoon beach is a big mistake. Best time to visit this Island is early morning only. Boats for reaching this beach are easily available to and fro from Agonda and Palolem Beach. You just need to get it booked one day prior. Hotel people can help in booking.
You can even spot dolphins around this time. This beach is secluded making it by far the most beautiful beach in South Goa. As the name suggests, Butterfly Beach is an abode to numerous species of butterflies and its shape also resembles a butterfly. It is a very quiet beach with beautiful landscapes, cool breeze and dense forest in the backdrop.
Palolem Beach
After this amazing boat ride get back to hotel and enjoy lavish breakfast beach side. Later in afternoon go to Palolem beach lunch. There are many options at Palolem Beach.
Cape Goa
After lunch around late afternoon plan to go to this amazing place CAPE GOA which is 13 kms from Agonda Beach, roughly a 30 mins drive. This is again a very secluded place and not many people know about it. Cape Goa offers some breath taking views of the sea. It is so beautiful that it won’t even look like a part of India. With crystal clear blue water and green grass, palm trees and beautiful rocks, it gives the perfect wallpaper view.
Cape Goa is a premium property with very limited huts (just 4 to 5). Advance booking is required if one plans to stay here, else one can always come and visit this place and spend few hours at the open lounge.
- 07:00 AM: Boat ride to Honeymoon/Butterfly Beach
- 09:00 AM: Breakfast
- 12:00 PM: Visiting Palolem Beach & taking lunch there
- 03:00 PM: Visiting Cape Goa and enjoying sunset view
- 07:00 PM: Back to Agonda Beach
- 08:00 PM: Dinner at Agonda Beach
DAY 5: Ending the trip, Leaving South Goa and heading towards Airport
It’s a last day, so just back your bags and leave for airport. From Agonda Beach Airport is approx. 60 kms away so required 1.5 hours to reach.
In case if you still have self driven car, that’s needs to be returned back to the vendor.
If you have evening flight then you can utilise the time and plan to visit Tropical Spice Market, which is a interesting place to cover. It’s a half day tour and lunch is already included in the entry price.
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