North or South?
By Ankita Sharma. January 27, 2023
Goa is a popular tourist destination in India, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, diverse culture, and delicious cuisine. Located along the scenic Arabian Sea, Goa offers a unique blend of Portuguese and Indian influences, and has long shed its hippy image to become an indulgent beach destination for world travellers. With a 66-mile stretch of white sand beaches, lush forests, serene backwaters, and gentle slopes, Goa has something for everyone. Dotted with luxury resorts, quaint villas, and budget guest houses, Goa is a perfect holiday destination suited for every pocket.
North Goa is known for its picturesque beaches, night markets, restaurants, and nightclubs. Starting with the popular beaches of Calangute and Baga preferred by domestic tourists, the cosmopolitan beaches of Anjuna and Vagator, and the niche beaches of Arambol and Morjim, are best suited for a nature-soaked experience. The centrally located capital of Panjim offers boutique shopping and restaurant options, and historical architecture.
South Goa offers a more tranquil and quiet experience, with sparsely populated beaches, hidden coves, old-forgotten forts, and tiny islands, enticing one to explore nature’s bounty at locales like Cavelossim, Patnem, and Palolem. To help you plan your Goa trip here are our top recommendations.If you are interested in where to stay in Goa, you may also be interested in where to stay in Mumbai, where to stay in Jaipur and where to stay in New Delhi.
Best places to stay in Goa (North and South)
Calangute (North Goa)
Family / Beach / Water Sports / Resorts
Once a peaceful fishing village, where moneyed Goans would retreat to escape the oppressive heat of the interiors, today Calangute is arguably the most popular beach for Indian tourists. The largest and busiest beach in North Goa, it’s a four-mile-long stretch lined with coconut trees and typical Goan beach shacks, offering Goan and continental cuisines, drinks, and water sports such as jet skiing, para sailing, and banana boat rides.
The crowded beach transforms into a quieter and more upmarket spot towards the southern end with signature restaurants and luxury resort options, including the stunning Le Meridian. With a multitude of bars, restaurants, and local shops lining the entrance to the beach, Calangute offers a range of food and stay options to suit both the budget and the well-heeled traveler. And the vibrant Calangute market square has everything, from beer, Goan cashewnuts, to junk jewellery, beachwear, trinkets, and pawn items.
Baga (North Goa)
Friends & Couples / Nightclubs / Restaurants
Baga is where water sports, fine dining restaurants, bars, and clubs all intersect in one place. This happening beach tends to attract a younger crowd, and couples. Baga is known for its shacks and several clubs, enroute the beach, for playing pop and electronic music, late into the night. The beach shacks serve traditional Goan cuisine, with more upmarket cafés and restaurants like the famous Britto’s, offering delicious seafood, and romantic candlelit dinners right on the sand.
There are a host of water sports available, including dolphin spotting boat rides. One can also watch local boats using the beach for traditional fishing. For a more relaxing time, one can hit the beach early, make a trip to the Baga Retreat House dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, and shop at the Saturday Flea Market and the Tibetan Market. Baga offers a lot of homestays, budget guest houses and hotel options for stay.
Anjuna (North Goa)
Friends & Couples / Villas / Flea Market
The famed Anjuna Beach has a rich past of hippie culture, now replaced by trendy restaurants and beach facing modern villas and hotels. The beautiful mile-long stretch of beach nestled within a small cliff is popular with families, shopaholics, and water sports lovers. Known for a number of great eateries like Curlies, the must visit Anjuna Flea Market selling local handicrafts, jewellery, spices, and fabrics every Wednesday, by night the scenic beach transforms into one of the best hubs for Goa’s nightlife, with popular clubs like Paradiso, and full moon parties during Christmas and New Year’s.
A large number of modern hotels, old-styled villas, and heritage properties can be found in and around Anjuna for stay. And exploring nearby villages like Oxel and Siolim, offers many more unique stay options too. Anjuna offers a good combination of landscape beauty, luxury accommodation, seclusion, nightlife, fresh seafood fare and voguish shopping opportunities.
Vagator (North Goa)
Friends & Couples / Sunbathing / Hilltop Party
Vagator is a curved stretch of beach with a picturesque red cliff covered in green grass and swaying coconut palms, that look over two freshwater springs, merely a stone’s throw away from the sea. Overlooking the Chapora Fort, the beach extends into the charming beach called Little Vagator, known for its German bakery, and laid-back bohemian pace. With nice, relaxed bars like the Mango Tree serving good food & drinks, locals playing cricket, fresh juice bars, and gentle hillocks, Vagator is ideal for peaceful sunbathing and comfortable stays at one of luxurious beach facing cottage resorts, or enjoyable homestays with local hospitality a walk away from the beach.
At night Vagator attracts people and foreign tourists from the surrounding areas to its open-air hilltop party, set amidst a coconut grove. Known as the most photographed beach in Goa, Vagator offers stunning sunset views, lovely bars and restaurants, and economical stays.
Arambol (North Goa)
Beach / Nature / Yoga / Budget Stay
One of the most beautiful beaches in North Goa, Arambol is a less frequented beach. It has a distinct bohemian and laidback vibe with a strong imprint of foreigners, many of who have settled here too. Known to be one of the greenest beaches of Goa, it even has a sweet water lake called Paliem, at one end.
Arambol is the perfect place for taking Yoga classes, and indulging in adventure sports. It also hosts a drum circle and a weekend beachside market. One can visit The Banyan Tree, best known as the spot where The Beatles once meditated. The Arambol World Music Festival and The Tantra Festival are held here in January, and The Freak Festival in February.
Since the locals campaigned against the commercialization of Arambol Beach, luxury and five-star properties cannot be found here, and only beach huts, home stays, guest houses, and villas are available.
Morjim (North Goa)
Friends & Family / Retreats / Spas / Turtles
One of the quieter beaches of North Goa, Morjim Beach is also known as Little Russia for its immense popularity with Russian travelers. But, this wide stretch of a beautiful beach is best known as the hatching grounds for the Olive Ridley Turtles.
With new luxurious retreats, offering spa treatments and tasteful upmarket bars and restaurants, Morjim offers some of the best spots for not just sunset views, but beautiful sunrises, which are perfect for a morning, walk. In fact some of the beach shacks at Morjim Beach open quite early to offer sumptuous breakfasts.
One can also take a river cruise on the Chapora River or rent an overnight houseboat for a different experience. The coast and the adjoining Chapora River are a hotspot for bird watching, such as kingfishers, sandpipers, bay-backed shrikes, and sand plovers. There are a number of both budget and luxury resort options in Morjim.
Panjim (North Goa)
Shopping / Restaurants / Architecture / Luxury Hotels
The sleepy riverside capital city of Goa, Panjim (rechristened Panaji) has a distinct European flavor left behind by its colonial rulers, showcased in its Indo-Portuguese architecture, whitewashed churches and pastel-colored colonial quarters.
Be sure to climb up the Altinho Hill to enjoy the views of the city, seek out interesting old buildings including the sprawling Bishop’s Palace, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the Secretariat Building, which once housed the Portuguese viceroys. The labyrinthine heritage quarter of Fontainhas and Sao Tome and the Mahalaxmi Temple showcase Goa’s vibrant and syncretic heritage. Panjim is also the base for exploring the beautiful Old Goa, which is a mere 5.6 miles away.
Panjim is known for its boutique stores, some of the best fine dining restaurants of India, and luxury hotels like the Goa Marriott & Spa at the Miramar Beach, and Cidade De Goa at the Vainguinim Beach.
Cavelossim (South Goa)
Family & Couples / Food / Nightlife / Luxury Resorts
Cavelossim Beach is a beautiful strip of sand located in South Goa. As opposed to the other near-empty beaches of the south, Cavelossim is a bit more populated than the others and offers plenty of options for both relaxation and entertainment.
One can enjoy a leisurely walk on the beach, spot dolphins, or sample delicious and authentic seafood at one of the shacks lining the beach. Visit the Church of Cavelossim, the Naval Aviation Museum, and explore the beautiful fort ruins of the secluded Cabo de Rama.
With popular restaurants and nightclubs like Old Anchor, Aqua Swings, and Liquid Lounge, and beach shacks like Ocean View, Whispers of the Orient, and Fat Willy’s, Cavelossim is known for hosting party hoppers into the wee hours of the weekend. And, it is best known for its array of luxury hotels like the Radisson Blu, the Holiday Inn, and the iconic Leela Palace.
Palolem (South Goa)
Family & Friends / Sunsets / Beach Huts / Luxury Resorts
The most popular beach in South Goa, Palolem is a crescent-shaped beach with white sands and pristine blue waters. Enclosed by a thick forest of coconut palms, Palolem is popular with family vacationers, as well as backpackers, and young crowd.
While the north end of the beach plays host to family vacationers enjoying their quiet, the mid sees young folks hanging out at beach shacks. But at sunset, the whole beach migrates south to watch the sunset at the bay of Palolem.
With kayaks dotting the waters, a hike to the Butterfly Beach at low tide, or a visit to the lush green Conco Island, popularly known, as Monkey Island is a must. One can also get Ayurvedic massages, and energy healing at the Himalayan Therapeutic Studio, and practice yoga at one of the many studios here. Palolem offers a range of accommodation, from budget beach huts to luxury resorts.
Patnem (South Goa)
Friends / Solo Traveller / Yoga / Homestays
Patnem Beach is an appealing alternative to the popular Palolem Beach for those seeking more solitude. Although Patnem is lined with beach shacks and huts, there’s still plenty of space for everyone.
With a few popular yoga retreats like the Bamboo Yoga Retreat, healthy food cafes, beach huts, homestays, and hilltop cottages, Patnem is a rare haven in South Goa. The nightlife in Patnem is very laid back with tourists sometimes bringing their own instruments and playing them. For a party, one will have to head to Leopard Valley near Agonda, or attend one of the Silent Noise headphone parties near Palolem on Saturday nights.
The main attraction at Patnem is simply lazing on the beach and swimming in the warm Arabian Sea. For shopping Patnem has lovely boutiques like the La Mangrove and the Jaali Boutique and Cafe, set in a cottage amid a tropical garden behind the beach.
Our recommended hotels in Goa
Use the interactive map to navigate through our recommended hotels in GoaNote: Hotel prices can change daily due to promotions, seasons, and demand. Our $ - $$$$ scale shows the overall cost range rather than exact prices.
