Best 6 Places you Want to Visit with Friends and Family in Goa

The ultimate holiday destination for both youngsters and octogenarians in India is Goa. A cool vacation with friends, family, or kids, Goa is a perfect vacation state. November – March is the best time to travel here. The annual Sunburn Festival in December is one of the mega events that will bring out the youth in you. The best 6 places in Goa that you can visit with family and friends are shown in this blog post.

Old Goa Churches & its History

If you consider the best 6 places in Goa, then the first name that comes to our mind are the Old Goa churches and cathedrals. These are regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Old Goa location is also known as the Old Capital of Goa. It was referred to the same during the Portuguese Regime. The Basilica is one of the churches which are widely famous for holding the remains of St. Francis Xavier. He was believed to be the Protector of Goa. Anyone can feel the Old Portuguese charm while visiting The Old Goa. Some of the other churches and cathedrals in Old Goa are:

Old Goa Churches

• The Basilica of Bom Jesus: Built in 1605. Best church to view Baroque and Portuguese architecture. This church ranks among the best UNESCO World Heritage Site in Goa.
• Se Cathedral: Built in 1640 as a mark of victory of the Portuguese over a Muslim army. It has Tuscan and Corinthian architecture.
• Church of St. Francis of Assisi: Built in 1661 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Church of St. Cajetan: Built in 1661. This church was modeled after St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
• Catherine’s Chapel: Built in 1510. This church has baroque architecture and is near the Mandovi River.
• Augustine Tower: It is now in ruins and one of the towers still stands today.

Calangute Streets

Give your shopping spirit some peace by visiting Calangute – Baga Lane. The best idea would be to hire two-wheelers and ride along. Full of restaurants, cafes and night nightclubs, and shacks, these streets are always crowded.

Things to do in Calangute

• Banana boat ride in Calangute Beach
• Water sports in Baga Beach
• Street shopping in the Tibetan Market in Baga Calangute Road
• Dine in luxury fine-dining restaurants
• Stay in beach resorts
• Play casino games

Palolem beach

Famous for dolphin sightings, this is just the place to enjoy with your family. Boat rides are equally enjoyable trips on this beach apart from dolphin sightings. It is a relatively less crowded area where you can build sand castles and collect shells. The Agonda beach is much adjacent to this one and is worth visiting.

Things to do at Palolem Beach

• Go for a Dolphin-spotting cruise
• Get an Ayurvedic massage
• Visit Monkey Island
• Rent a bike and go for beach rides
• Kayaking in backwaters
• Hike to Butterfly Beach
• Go on a day trip to Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
• Enrol in a Yoga Class and do yoga therapy

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

For bird watchers and lovers, Goa’s only bird sanctuary is the refuge to a plethora of local and migratory birds. The serene atmosphere of the Sanctuary gives a rejuvenating feel. It is one of the best places for honeymoon destinations.

Things to do at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

• Boat ride through the mangrove forests
• Hike to Christ Hill
• Experience Goan culture and village life
• Spot birds and photograph them

Colva Beach

For those who breathe, eat, and sleep romance, Colva Beach is the perfect destination. Spend the most memorable evening with your loved one. Trinket stalls and drink stands on the golden sands will make the moonlit evening ever-fascinating. There are many shacks lined up along the Colva beach which offers delicious Goan cuisine.

Things to do at Colva Beach

• Practice Yoga
• Bird watching and nature walks
• Kayaking in the mangroves
• Deep sea fishing
• Enjoy traditional Goan cuisine
• Shopping in street markets
• Motorboat rides, snorkeling, swimming

Cansaulim Monte

Get the best panoramic view of the Arabian Sea from Cansaulim Monte. The Konkan rail­way, typical Goan fields, scintillating breeze, and narrow aisles will create the best relaxing holiday with your family.

Best things to do in Goa

Besides these top 6 best places in Goa, you can do many more activities. Most of these activities are water-based, but some of them are also land-based and you will enjoy these.

• Go on a river cruise across the Mandovi River
• Watch the mesmerizing Dudhsagar Falls
• Go paragliding at Anjuna Beach
• Play casino games on a luxury cruise ship
• Visit Chapora Fort, where a song from Dil Chahta Hai was shot
• Visit a spice plantation and relish an authentic meal
• Experience the heady trance parties at the Curlies beach shack
• Do street shopping at Anjuna Flea Market
• Taste the local brew made from cashew nuts called Feni
• Visit Fort Aguada and see the Portuguese architecture
• Visit temples like Mangeshi Temple, Shanta Durga Temple, Saptakoteshwar Temple, and others.
• Water sports activities on Grande Island
• Dance and party at nightclubs and discotheques

Water sports in Goa

In addition to the best 6 places in Goa, there is umpteen amount of water sports you can do on your trip to Goa. The water sports activities in Goa are not just about boating and kayaking but many adventure ones also and we have given them below.

• Parasailing
• Banana rides
• Jetski rides
• Speed boat ride
• Scuba diving
• Kayaking
• Zorbing ball
• Dolphin show
• Snorkeling
• Cruise trips to islands
• Water skiing
• Surfing
• Kite surfing
• Wakeboarding
• Standup paddleboarding
• Windsurfing

Other famous beaches in Goa

Goa is famous due to its beaches. You will find some of the most beautiful beaches in North Goa and South Goa. We have given below some popular ones.

North Goa beaches

• Baga Beach
• Anjuna Beach
• Querim Beach
• Mandrem Beach
• Chapora Beach
• Ashwem Beach
• Dona Paula Beach
• Calangute Beach
• Vagator Beach
• Candolim Beach
• Morjim Beach
• Arambol Beach
• Sinquerim Beach
• Aguada Beach
• Bambolim Beach

South Goa beaches

• Colva Beach
• Palolem Beach
• Agonda Beach
• Benaulim Beach
• Bogmalo Beach
• Betul Beach
• Majorda Beach
• Butterfly Beach
• Palm Beach
• Patnem Beach
• Galgibaga Beach
• Cavelossim Beach
• Mobor Beach
• Cabo De Rama Beach
• Varca Beach
• Cola Beach
• Talpona Beach
• Hollant Beach
• Kakolem Beach
• Utorda Beach

Wildlife in Goa

Goa has some of the most exciting wildlife in India. The national parks in Goa and the wildlife sanctuaries in Goa rank among the finest in India. You will find birds and marine creatures in the mangrove forests and the shallow seas. Inland you will find mammals, lizards, and birds. Some of the most exciting places where you can go on a jungle safari and spot wildlife are:

• Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
• Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mollem National Park
• Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Museums in Goa

You can immerse yourself and go on a historic visit to the museums in Goa. These museums are not just for history buffs but also for the common tourist who wants to discover the history and culture of Goa. You will view the arts and crafts of Goa, the relics of the Portuguese rule in Goa, the cultural side of Goa, the tribal arts in Goa, and many other things.

• Museum of Christian Art
• Goa Chitra Museum
• Goa State Museum
• Houses of Goa Museum
• Naval Aviation Museum
• Goa Science Centre & Planetarium
• Archaeological Museum
• San Thome Museum
• Bigfoot Museum
• Benz Celebrity Wax Museum
• Palacio do Deao
• Pilar Museum

When to visit Goa

You can visit Goa at any time of the year, but the best season is from November to February. This time is the winter time and the days are sunny and nights cool. You can go shopping, sightseeing and traveling quite comfortably. You must avoid the monsoon season as there are heavy rains in Goa during this season.

How to reach Goa

You can reach Goa very easily by all three modes roads, railways, and airways.

• Road: You can reach Goa from any city in India by way of national highways. Goa is closer to Mumbai.
• Rail: Regular express trains run from major cities of India and reach Goa. Madgaon and Vasco da Gama are two important railway stations in Goa.
• Flights: Dabolim Airport in Goa is connected with major airports in India. You can take a flight from Delhi or Mumbai and reach Goa.

FAQ

Conclusion

You can make a trip plan for Goa and fully explore the different sightseeing places in Goa. For first-timers, a trip to Goa is full of exciting things to do and sightseeing. There is more to Goa than the above best 6 places in Goa. You will enjoy the time you have on the beaches and the water sports adventure you have. You can even play casino games aboard cruise ships like Deltin Royale, Casino Pride, etc. But the real adventure in Goa is snorkeling and scuba diving. You can also do relaxing beach walks, gaze at sunsets, and relax on the beaches.