Goa has some of India’s finest beaches. Goa has long been popular as a place for relaxation. Brilliant lush green irrigated paddy fields surround villages and hamlets with white painted churches standing out against occasional empty patches of startling red soil.

In background are the jungle – clad hills. Piazzas of churches, cool temple tanks, shaddy Goan houses and elegant mansions splashed with the colour of bougainvillea lend to the atmosphere of lethargic Portuguese villages.

North Goa Beaches

Anjuna Beach
Fluorescent painted palm trees and infamous full moon parties, 8 km west of Mapusa, most "alternative", the dancing and lying on the beach, famous flea market.

Baga Beach
Watch the sun go down in isolation, 10-km west of Mapusa, basically an extension of Calangute wooded headland.

Calangute Beach
Goa's busiest and most commercialised resort. During the 70's and 80's this peaceful fishing village became the favourite haunt of the hippies

Candolim Beach
Good options to stay offering better value, a good first stop to head North.

Dona Paula Beach
Fine view of the Marmagao Harbour nestled on the south side of the headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries, former fishing village, today's commercialised beach resort, idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe.

Vagator Beach
Cool rural area, no big shopping complexes.

Miramar Beach
Just 3-km away from the capital city of Panjim.

Chapora Beach
A lot busier than most north coast villages, dependent on fishing and boat building, many regular cafes and restaurants

South Goa Beaches

Bogmolo Beach
small-scale beach resort, reasonably safer site for swimming, quite good eating joints and shopping options.

Benaulim Beach
Sea is safe for swimming, generally jellyfish - free, village area near beach side boasts a few serviceable bars and restaurants, various culinary delights of the seafood, most succulent, competitively priced seafood in Goa.

Cavelosim Beach
Last major settlement in southwest Salcete, visit to Mabor, South Goa largest, and most obtrusive, package tourist enclave.

Pololem Beach
A favourite beach destination, crescent shaped bay, swaying curtain of coconut palms, irresistibly photogenic, beautiful beach huts.

Colva
Colva beach is the pride of Salcete and the only rival to Calangute by its scenic splendour. Here, sand, sea and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony unharmed by men. It has good accommodation facilities, particularly at the tourist cottages.

Betul
This is the southern most beach, a stretch that extends from Bogmalo to Betul in Southern Goa.

Varca Beach
Community of Christian fisher folk, palm thatched long houses, grassy dunes.