Goa
Goa is a small state on India's southwest coast, where beaches sit beside Portuguese churches and a cuisine shaped by about 450 years of Portuguese rule.
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Goa is India's smallest state by area, on the southwestern coast in the Konkan region, with the Arabian Sea to the west and Maharashtra and Karnataka as neighbours. Panaji is the capital. Portugal ruled Goa for about 450 years, until India annexed it in December 1961, and Portuguese churches, mansions and cooking are still visible across the state, alongside Hindu temples.
Old Goa, once one of Asia's great cities, was abandoned in the 19th century after disease outbreaks. Its churches and convents remain, and Bom Jesus Basilica, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds the remains of Saint Francis Xavier. Panaji's Fontainhas quarter is a good place to walk, and Calangute beach lies about 16 km from Panaji. The monsoon runs from June to September and brings over 90% of the year's rain, while May is usually the hottest month, with daytime temperatures above 35 °C. Visitors from abroad, mainly from Europe, come in winter.
Goa in five
- Check which airport you land atGoa has two: Manohar International at Mopa in the north and Dabolim (GOI) in the south. Book a base near the one you use.
- Choose north or south firstNorth Goa has the busy beaches and nightlife around Baga and Anjuna. South Goa, around Palolem and Agonda, is calmer.
- Carry your license to ride a scooterScooters are the usual way around, but you need a valid license and an International Driving Permit. Police checks are common.
- Go between November and MarchMany beach shacks close for the monsoon, from June to September, and seas are rough.
- Take the Konkan Railway from MumbaiThe coastal line takes roughly 8 to 12 hours depending on the train. Book an AC seat on IRCTC, and get off at Madgaon for the south or Thivim for the north.Mumbai
Things to do in Goa
See all attractions in Goa
Need to know
- Airport
- Manohar International (GOX) in the north, Dabolim (GOI) in the south
- Getting there
- Flights across India; Konkan Railway trains from Mumbai
- Getting around
- Scooter, taxi or app cab; few buses to the beaches
- Best base
- Assagao or Candolim in the north, Palolem or Agonda in the south
- Time needed
- 4–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low22°Dry, busyJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°DryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low24°WarmMarchClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low26°HotAprilClear
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayClear11 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°HumidMayClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Humid
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°MonsoonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 906 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- JulyRain31 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 1,061 mm
- Rainy days
- 31
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 564 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rain easingSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 402 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Shacks reopenOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Shacks reopen
- NovemberClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Season startsNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season starts
- DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Peak, busyDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, busy
Average daily high and low in Panaji, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Goa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 69%
Goa
02:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°24°69%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Wed32°24°69%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu32°25°26%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Fri34°24°45%Friday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat34°24°59%Saturday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Sun34°22°33%Sunday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Mon35°21°11%Monday: Clear. High 35°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 09:56 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Old Goaabout 20 min from PanajiPortuguese-era churches, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus.Read the guide
- Dudhsagar Fallsabout 2–3 hours by road and jeepTall waterfall, best after the monsoon.
Before you go to Goa
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Rules for Goa, checked
- Most foreign visitors need an Indian visa. Check your eligibility and apply for an e-Visa on the official portal before you fly.Source
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and temples, and remove your shoes before entering a temple.
- Drones need permission under Indian rules. Check the DigitalSky portal before you bring or fly one.Source
Plan around Goa
Regions, trains, e-Visa and money
Read the guideMumbaiKonkan Railway gateway, 8 to 12 hours north
Read the guideHampiBoulder ruins reached by bus or train from Goa
Read the guideHow to get to HampiFrom Bengaluru, Goa and Hyderabad
Read the guidePanajiThe capital, Fontainhas and the ferry to Old Goa
Read the guideIndia e-Visa guideWhich visa to pick, what it costs, how to apply
Read the guideGetting around IndiaTrains, flights and cabs between cities
Read the guideGoa FAQ
Is North or South Goa better?
North Goa for nightlife, markets and more places to eat; South Goa for quieter beaches and slower days.
When is the best time to visit Goa?
November to February. March is hot, and from June to September the monsoon closes many beach businesses.
Do I need a car in Goa?
Not necessarily. Scooters and taxis cover most trips, but distances between north and south are long, so pick one area as your base.
How many days do you need in Goa?
Four to seven days. Pick one coast and stay put, with one day for Old Goa and its churches and one for a waterfall or spice farm; moving between north and south costs most of a day.
Do you need a license to rent a scooter in Goa?
Yes. Bring a valid license and an International Driving Permit, wear a helmet, and expect police checks. Confirm the current rules with the rental shop before you pay.