While my blog is called ‘That Goan Girl,’ I rarely write about Goa in a way that helps travellers visiting my home state. You see, this is a space for me to document my food and travel adventures around the country, not a guidebook to Goa… but naturally, I get asked by readers to write about the must-visit places in Goa, the best beaches to visit and ‘hidden gems’ – informational pieces that I feel there is already a lot of on the internet already.
But with the Covid-19 lockdown, travel and food escapades will probably need to be halted for who-knows-how-long. So I thought I’d take the opportunity and use this forced travel hiatus to spill everything I think you’d like to know about travelling to Goa and finding your way around.
GOA IN A DAY – WHERE TO STAY, WHERE TO EAT AND WHAT TO DO IN CALANGUTE, CANDOLIM AND BAGA
As a firm believer in the concept of slow travel, I’d say that if you have only 24 hours to spend in Goa, it’s better you pick only one area to stick to and park your bags right at the centre of the action. It could be the hippie side of Anjuna-Vagator, the glitzy Panjim-Miramar area or the secluded spots of Agonda-Palolem in the South. Goa may be tiny, but driving around will eat up all your time. For the purpose of this blog post, I’m focussing on the places most Indian tourists throng to – Calangute, Candolim and Baga. The stretch is basically a rite of passage for first-timers to the state. Pro Tip – Most Goans dread visiting this highly commercialized tourist hotspot.
Where to Stay
High-end – From the very pretty Hyatt Centric Candolim to Taj Holiday Village and from Taj Fort Aguada to Radisson Blue in Sinquerim, there are tons of four and five-star resorts dominating the coast in Calangute, Candolim and Baga. You could also consider the Deltin Suites, Park Regis and Yu Hotel.
Mid-range – I’ve personally tried out a lot of these while staycationing in Goa. In the mid-range category, you could try our Sonesta Inns, Andores Resort and Spa, Lazy Lagoon by Sarovar Portico, or one of the two Novotel Properties in the area. All of these are family-friendly, have a pool and are close to the beach which is ideal if you don’t intend to explore the area much. Marquis Beach Resort is one of the best beach resorts in Goa, but if you are not bent on staying in a hotel with access, check out Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Candolim.
Budget – You’ll find affordable places to stay in Calangute and Baga by the hundreds – no joke! Your best bet would be to pick out a great Airbnb with good reviews or stay at a hostel in Goa.
A 1-DAY GOA ITINERARY FOR NORTH GOA
Morning – A visit to Fort Aguada should be one of the top things to do on your trip. But keep in mind, the later in the day you go, the more scorching the sun is. You don’t want to give yourself a sunstroke on the one day you have in Goa – so make your way to this magnificent sea-facing fort as early as possible (it opens at 8:30 AM) and after taking a quick tour of the grounds, head off for a leisurely brekkie.
Dropping into a café called Infantaria or Caravela Cafe is the most popular way to start your morning in Goa. While it has quite the rep for being the best breakfast spot in Calangute, you can also check out any of my personal favourites – Café Chocolatti or Artisan Backerei.
Afternoon – If you’ve rented a scooter in Goa, spend the early afternoon exploring the lanes of Goa – admiring the little chapels, regal Portuguese houses and the road-side hippie markets. If you’re up for it, visit some of the churches in the area – Mae De Deus Church in Saligao – one of Goa’s most beautiful churches, St. Alex Church in Calangute, Our Lady of Hope (Saipem) or the Reis Magos Church (that has a fort next door). For lunch, you can visit a tried-and-tested beach-side restaurant like Brittos or St. Anthony’s. Nothing like digging your feet in the sand as you indulge in some fantastic seafood – am I right?
If you would like to go off the beaten track, I’d suggest visiting Wok and Roll for some fantastic Pan Asian food, Kokum Curry for Goan food, and Spice Mantraa for Indian fare. If you like something upscale, you must visit White Plate by Chef Jason for a memorable meal. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. You may be disappointed, however, if you choose to visit one of the several beachside shacks or roadside restaurants that serve more than one cuisine under one roof.
Evening – Finally – beach time! When the sun begins to set, head to the beach for a swim, for a walk or just to plop yourself on the sand and watch the sunset. You’ll find plenty of shacks lining the Calangute-Candolim-Baga shores where you can eat some more if you wish to, or grab a cold one. Interested in water sports? It’s a good time to go parasailing or jet-skiing.
Night – When the sun goes down, North Goa still exudes so much energy. If you’re lucky to be in Goa on a Saturday during tourist season, visit the Saturday Night Market in Arpora. Or visit one of the many popular clubs in Goa such as Titos, Mambos, Cohiba, Sinq et al. If partying is not your scene, a quiet dinner at Amavi (up-scale) or Yazu (Pan Asian).
That wraps up a day of sightseeing and eating in Goa’s most touristy neighbourhood! If you like this post and wish to spend one day in Goa in another part of the state, let me know and I’ll put out a great Goa itinerary. You can also catch me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more discoveries! Bye!