With 125 km of long coastline and a rich Indian and Portuguese culture, Goa attracts beach lovers, party animals, water sports lovers, trekkers and people hunting for a peaceful and serene holidays. Renowned for its fun-filled vibe and enjoyable culture, Goa is considered to be the best place to spend a vacation regardless the season. From party beaches with all-night revelry to hidden sun-kissed coves where you won’t see another soul, Goa beaches have something for everyone.
While South Goa beaches list would boast of places that offer a peaceful tranquility to tourists looking to lay off their stress and relax by the sea, the best North Goa beaches are a party hub for people who seek to savor their adventurous side with the myriad lists of water sports.
These are some of the amazing Goan shores that will make you want to pack your bags right away. Keep this list of the best beaches in Goa in mind while planning your itinerary!
Read Tripoto's 7-day itinerary for Goa
These are the best North Goa beaches that should be on your radar:
Also known as Keri Beach among locals, this Goa beach gives a splendid view of the Tiracol River meeting the Arabian Sea. Though not suitable for swimming because of high waves, it provides a perfect escape into the lap of nature. This beach is still not commercialised, attracting tourists searching for a calm and quiet beach destination. Exquisite seafood in the shacks, perched on its white sand, is not to be missed.
Kalacha Beach is among those Goa beaches with good paragliding options. The beach is famous for a small lake nearby that is fed by a sulphur hot spring considered to have healing activities.
15km long unexplored stretch surrounded by cliffs on its two sides and a fresh water lake, Arambol is divided into two beaches: Arambol and Harmal. This Goa beach is a retreat for many tourists, especially foreigners. With much less commercialisation compared to other beaches of North Goa, Arambol is one of the best Goa beaches and makes for a quiet and peaceful vacation and has a bohemian feel to it. Besides dolphin watching and a peaceful walk on the beach there are many adventure sports.
Dotted with beach shacks perched on the white sand, Mandrem Beach is one of the most beautiful Goa beaches. You can opt for the exciting dolphin spotting trip or go for Paragliding. Olive Ridley turtles make occasional visits to the beach. If you're looking for something offbeat, explore the Mandrem Village.
Ashwem Beach is a continuation of Mandrem Beach. A beautiful and soulful beach with rocks in between and long stretches of sand, it has started gaining popularity among national and international tourists. Ashwem Beach is lesser-known, yet one of the best Goa beaches. It is located in North Goa, very close to Morjim Beach. Ashwem Beach is revered among conservationists as Olive Ridley Turtles come to its shore to lay their eggs.
Home to a large number of Russian immigrants, Morjim beach is a secluded paradise among North Goa beaches. It's one of the best beaches in Goa to spot a variety of birds and Olive Ridley turtles. A fairly peaceful place to spend some quality time with no loud music and late-night parties - my idea of a vacation!
A peaceful shore, calm sea, few water sports, and good food - this beach has everything you look for in an unruffled getaway and is an important addition to this list of best Goa beaches. The beach makes for an irresistible sight with white sand dotted with black lava rocks and Chapora Fort overlooking the sea. Some even consider it to be the best beach for watersports in Goa. Excited much?
Beautifully hemmed-in between the cliffs and white sand all over the beach with coconut trees stretching vast, Vagator Beach is a refuge for those seeking tranquillity.
Known as Little Vagator, Ozran Beach is located between Anjuna and Vagator. A surreal and picture-perfect beach with shacks, good food and drinks, it is a favorite among party lovers looking for the most happening Goa beaches.
Insanely popular for its nightlife and vivacious party culture, Anjuna also offers an equally popular flea market. There are a number of parties and themed events that occur along the coastline at Curlies, UV Bar among others, for a fun night out. For foodies, the German Bakery is a great place to unwind and offers varied delicacies in meals and desserts.
In Goa it's always better to park yourself near a beach that's not just popular for it's shores but also has a buzz around it. Baga Beach tops the list of best Goa beaches in that sense. Be it Titos Lane where you can walk at night aimlessly and go pub hopping, or Britos at the beach where you can have a hearty meal, Baga Beach has it all. From water sports for the adventure seekers to beach shacks with good food and music, hosting beach parties, karaoke, and some even offering accommodation - Baga Beach has everything.
The hip and lively nightlife of this place makes it prominent worldwide. Usually, locals, hippies and foreign holidaymakers dance the night away in Calangute Beach. Shacks and picturesque huts make up good choices on the beach. Several unique items like small trinkets and numerous types of handmade items are available in the open market here. This is one of the best Goa beaches for shopping.
Candolim beach offers various water-sports activities-right from parasailing to water-skiing, wind surfing and fishing. The laid back beach also has Aguada Fort overlooking the sea. It is one of the most serene Goa beaches. Think of having pleasant conversations and long walks on the beach with your travel partner, and it should ignite your never-ending desire to visit Candolim. There are a lot of makeshift bars and restaurants on Candolim Beach. Tourists can also try feni here, a locally brewed drink made from cashew or coconut.
Sinquerim Beach is stunningly beautiful and quieter than the other Goa beaches. The soft sand of the beach makes it one of the best beaches in Goa for evening walks. Tourists here get to enjoy the magical and unsullied waters of the Arabian Sea. The beach is marked by a number of wooden boats, belonging to the fishermen of Goa. Fort Aguada is very closely located to Sinquerim Beach. Tourists can also stay at luxury resorts here: Taj Vivanta and Taj Holiday Village Resorts, to name a few. The spotless beach also boasts a few shacks serving amazing seafood with good music. Just order a chilled beer and Toodle-oo your worries away.
These are the best beaches in Central Goa that should be on your radar:
Miramar is the nearest beach to Panjim which has resulted in its commercialization. The beach is famous for local streets shops, chats and restaurants. Compared to the rest of the Goa beaches, this beach is not that clean. In fact, it’s a crowded beach frequented by the locals from Panaji and towns nearby. This is among the best Goa beaches to get acquainted with the locals. What better way to explore the Goan culture and interact with the locals.
Boasting a beautiful love story of Dona and Paula, this beach is a must-visit for a beautiful evening and sunset. Slightly less crowded than other Goa beaches, Dona Paula is bound to grow on you with its mellow ambience. Calm sea with rocky shores, water sports, and a few beach shacks to cloy your food cravings - this beach is a paradise for travellers looking to lay off their stress.
This beach is situated between Dona Paula and Goa University and is not very popular among tourists, though considered a good picnic spot among locals.
Most of the area of this rocky beach has been privatized by resorts and hotels. It's also known as a shell collector's paradise.
This is a beautiful beach with a mixture of sand and rocks. Variety of shells including oyster and pearl shells can be collected here. This isolated rocky beach is also famous for the Chapel of Jesus Nazareth.
These are the best South Goa beaches that should be on your radar:
This beach is famous for its close proximity to the airport, Goa Institute of Diving and BITS Goa. A perfect blend of commercial space and natural beauty, this beach has clear azure waters which make it ideal for swimming. To all those looking for some scuba experience, Goa Institute of Diving will give you a lifetime of diving experience!
The sands of Majorda are not as white as those of Colva. It is a quiet and calm beach that is not as crowded. It's one of the best Goa beaches where people relax under beach umbrellas and recline on pool chairs. If you are on the lookout for a beach where you can enjoy the sea and read a book, this is one of the best Goa beaches for it. Majorda is a calm, unexplored beach. It is one of the best beaches in Goa to visit during Christmas as it hosts the Goa Christmas Carnival every December. Long stretches of white sand coast and lush green countryside make this beach worth a visit. Do try out the Goan seafood of Martin’s Corner, if you happen to be there.
In the colonial days, Colva Beach used to be the resting area for Margao's high society, who would visit Colva for their "Mundanca" or change of air. Colva's nightlife is livelier and more vibrant than anywhere else in south Goa. The beachfront is a collection of concrete hotels, souvenir stalls and fly-blown snack bars strewn around a central roundabout. You can hire jet skis, indulge in beach sports, swim and sunbathe in the specified zones. Colva Beach is close to Our Lady of Mercy Church – well worth a visit when exploring South Goa beaches.
This beach is famous for fishing among locals and attracts crowds on evenings and weekends. This unexplored beach is famous for pacified evenings, great food, and a few local markets. Benaulim is particularly known for bullfight events. If that doesn't excite you - you can just grab a deck chair, turn in with a few beers, and enjoy the awe-inspiring sunset!
Situated between the Sal River and the Arabian Sea, this beach is famous for dolphin spotting trips, shacks and lava rocks. Dotted with sky-touching coconut trees, white sand, and black lava rocks, Cavelossim Beach is another one from the list of the best Goa beaches. Water sports, a few local markets, and shacks perched on the beach offering toothsome seafood are characteristic of this amazingly beautiful beach.
Providing a picture-perfect location, this rocky beach is an amalgamation of a lagoon, a river, a fort and an ocean giving true Goan essence. It's a quiet beach, ideal for people seeking solitude from their fast-moving life. A 17th-century old fort, a beautiful small lagoon, and a river make a picturesque view.
One of the most beautiful beaches of Goa, this beach provides a picture-perfect view from Cabo de Rama fort. Though a little trekking is required to reach here, every step is worth viewing this splendid beauty. Cabo de Rama is a show stopper as it offers a setting similar to a Bollywood song location. The remains of a 17th-century fort that overlooks the ocean and a rocky plateau that opens up to the beautiful Arabian sea is a sight to behold.
Well, some beautiful things are pretty difficult to find. Some pristine places are even difficult to reach. Cola beach is pristine and beautiful, hence it both difficult to find and even difficult to reach. But it is totally worth the effort you put in to reach here.
You'll have to rent a motorbike or a car to get to this beach, but it'll be well worth it. Cola beach, though it is slowly gaining popularity, is still a lesser-known beach in Goa. However, its USP beats all the beaches of Goa. You stand on the beach, you have the gorgeous Arabian Sea roaring on one side while a serene lagoon sits quietly on its other side. The beach also houses a couple of resorts, where you can unwind and get mesmerised by this one of a kind beach that offers you an experience you can cherish for a very long time.
Agonda Beach isn't as off-the-radar as other beaches in South Goa, but it's popularity (read: crowds) is nowhere close to Baga and Calangute. You'll find all kinds of beach pubs and eateries here. The choppy waves makes the sea a tad uncomfortable for a swim, but the romantic setting makes it lovely for walks and time on the sand. If you're here from October to May, you might even see Olive-Ridley turtles nesting in the sand.
A beautiful and serene hidden beach between Agonda and Palolem requires either a tough trek or hiring a boat from Agonda or Palolem. Though a small beach, no other beach can beat this in its quaintness.
Situated 37 kilometres away from Margao, towards the north of Palolem beach is this hidden gem with a beautiful name. Butterfly beach has a small stretch and is totally unexplored by tourists, which makes it a private spot for couples to access. Since the beach lies amidst a dense forest, there’s no accessibility through roads. But, there’s an option of renting a short boat ride from Palolem or Agonda to get here.
Justifiably tagged as the ‘ Paradise Beach', Palolem is one of the best beaches in Goa. Because the beach is not extravagant in terms of size, it is easy to explore on foot. However, mopeds and bicycles are available for hire on the main street. It offers both relaxation and adventure. Palolem also has a market just behind the beach that sells jewellery, clothes, and souvenirs. This is one of the most gorgeous and best beaches in Goa to witness the most surreal sunsets. It exemplifies a long stretch of white sand coast that is surrounded by lush palm groves. Silent night parties are often hosted on the beach, maintaining its tranquillity and helping it rank high in the list of best beaches in Goa.
Situated between Palolem and Talpona beaches, the access to this beach is difficult. The shore with scattered stones and pebbles provide this a unique and incomparable beauty. If the much peaceful Palolem beach does not entice you to its tranquility, I'm sure Patnem Beach is where you need to be. An ethereal beach and a much quieter alternative to what others consider to be the best beaches in Goa.
This secluded beach is a nesting sight for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and hence no commercial activities are allowed here, making this beach a haven for all those seeking a perfect time, aloof from the entire world. The beach itself is a pristine stretch of golden brown sand, fringed with coconut palms. The seas can get rough at times, however the beach has lifeguard on duty, so you can swim in the designated areas. We totally totally fell in love with this beach and till date this remains our favorite beach in Goa. We will not say much about this place, just let its photos convey our words to you.
The southernmost among Goa beaches, a secluded mesmerising, 700 m long stretch of glittering sand by the side of vast blue expanse of water, this beach is the place from where the coastline of Karnataka starts and that of Goa ends. It is a perfect place for swimming and sunbathing and just the ideal place to spend some time with oneself The beach also has rocky cliffs adding on to its startling natural beauty.
Some of the other Goa beaches you can check out that aren't on this list are Grandmother’s Hole Beach, Utorda Beach, Varca Beach, Arossim Beach, Cansaulim Beach, Talpona Beach, Hollant Beach, Betalbatim Beach, Kakolem Beach, Mobor Beach
The beauty of South and North Goa beaches are unparalleled with each beach having its own charm and charisma. Though most of the North Goa beaches are famous for water sports and hosting parties, South Goa beaches are more scheduled and serene. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a solitude seeker, Goa has got so much to offer to each and every kind of traveller.
Goa is famous for its magnificent coastline which attracts thousands of tourists every year. These best beaches in Goa are great to unwind and enjoy nature. Go and discover Goa in your own essence!