A warm welcome to Goa, the west Indian state which embodies its heritage to the max.
This is a walk through the top 11 things to experience, illustrating the Portuguese-Indian puree of cultures to a T. From architecture with a Mediterranean twist to cloudless beaches and cuisine to make your tastebuds sing.
Every inch of Goa epitomises the susegad promise of living life to the fullest and most relaxed state.
The result is a delicious concoction of sea and spice, spirituality and serenity. This is Goa:
Old Goa
Old Goa, also known as Goa Velha, is where you can find a mountain of important Indian points of interest in one place. This makes an outstanding trip if you are pushed for time, as you never have to travel far from site to site.
A recognisable landmark is the largest church in Asia – Se Cathedral, with its notoriously loud tolling bell.
The basilica of Bom Jesus is an enormously important attraction for locals and visitors alike. This is where you can find the remains of the Apostle who introduced Christianity to India and take in some of the finest Baroque architecture in the city.
You can find the history-drenched city on the banks of the Mandovi River. Feel free to stroll along the riverside and admire the tranquillity of its whitewashed coastal culture. Here you will find moored wooden boats, fishermen reeling in their catches and children playing.
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
You may recognise the Church of Our Lady by its iconic 19th-century staircases which overlap too and fro. You can learn about its 17th-century sailors’ history inside.
Its glamorous pasty facade is just as beautiful by day, if not more striking at night time when it gets ethereally lit up. Don’t turn down the opportunity to head inside and check out its giant historic belfry, rescued from the ruins of a monastery in Old Goa.
You can attend mass at the church any day of the week in English, Portuguese and Konkani.
If you happen to be about on the 8th of December, be sure to follow the festivities of the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception to the church, which becomes the focal point for the entire day.
Mangeshi Temple
Said to be the most beautiful temple in Goa, the origin of Mangeshi Temple is enough of a reason to visit on its own: The unique name, ‘Mangeshi’, for the Hindu god, Shiva, is not found anywhere else in India. This makes the temple a must for anyone with an interest in Indian culture.
Built in the 18th century, the impressive piece of architecture comes with a romantic story, making it perfect for a visit with your loved ones. Its elegant and simple design makes the building stand out.
As the most important temple in Goa and a prominent pilgrimage destination, this is a critical visit for anyone hungry to learn about the Indian way of life.
Find it effortlessly in Mangeshi Village, Priol.
Fontainhas
The place to see the Portuguese the clearest is no other than Fontainhas. The neighbourhood is the capital of Goa’s Latin Quarter (Panjim), landing it an important preposition on the UNESCO World Heritage Zones list.
Look past the enticing beaches toward the colonial architecture that makes Fontainhas so exclusive. Walking through the narrow streets lined with iron balconies and red-tiled roofs is like taking a step back into the Portuguese colonial era.
Check out St Sebastian’s Chapel with its extravagant wedding cake tiers. Admire the vibrantly hued houses from the comfort of one of the many European-style staircases.
All the exploring will likely make you grow hungry, so be sure to call in for an authentic traditional meal or enjoy a coffee break at an azulejo-covered cafe. You can take the colourful squares with you from a traditional boutique.
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
With such a diverse collection of winged wildlife, arrange a visit to the nature reserve dedicated to India’s most famous Birdman.
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary was created to protect unique creatures and makes the perfect visit for every age group with a soft spot for feathered things. Enjoy the local nature and tradition with a relaxing canoe ride through the sanctuary marshlands.
On your visit, you will spot rare species including purple herons, kites, and kingfishers and even see mudskipper fish as they skim along the water’s face. Watch out for crocodiles! This is the perfect Indian oasis, all in one tranquil location.
You can visit the Dr Salim Sanctuary on Chorao Island by ferry from Ribandar Wharf. It is advisable to visit either early morning or evening to see the most of nature and avoid the crowds.
Reis Magos Fort
Visit the new cultural centre to discover the timeline of Goa’s struggle for independence through the years.
Based inside the Reis Magos Fort, you can kill two birds with one stone (if you’ll excuse the pun) and explore an important 16th-century building while discovering how it was used over the years. From fortress to prison to hospital, learn it all in the Cultural Centre.
With rotating exhibitions, including the work of notable cartoonist Mario Miranda who effectively sketches a picture of Goan culture, there is much to see and do at the Goan Independence Museum.
One of the highlights of the visit that should not be missed is a trip to the rooftop. Look out over the old cannons across the water for some enchanting views of the port. It is also worth a scour around the Reis Magos Church at the fort base, which has seen it all.
Spiritual Activities
After a bit of sightseeing, why not wind down as the locals do?
Take some extra time to appreciate the Indian-Portuguese blend in a different way. Find your inner zen with some bug deep breaths and a look inwards.
Many people travel to Goa specifically for healing classes. Find your serenity at one of the many yoga retreats. With so many to choose from, you can decide the level of commitment.
Maybe a sunrise-sunset yoga session on the beach is your calling. Perhaps you fancy a reiki healing massage session after a long flight.
Possibly you are after an insightful meditation session, paired with a sound bath. The choices are endless.
To get you started, SWAN offers free mindful yoga classes open to everyone. This makes a great zero-commitment option so you can fully relax your mind and find your focus.
Tastebud Tour
Don’t forget to take your other senses on a tour of the Indo-Portuguese culture.
You will find the cuisine in Goa is not like any other country on earth. The hearty combination of aromas, textures and flavours you will find in Goa is everything you need to warm yourself from the inside out.
Enjoy multi-sensory dining at authentic eateries. Look out for classic dishes like Goan Fish Curry with rice and morning Bhali-Pau which involves a fresh roll dunked in a steamy sauce.
The mouthwatering medley of creamy coconut, fiery chilli and pungent spices will see you through your entire time in Goa.
You’ll be dying to take the food with you when you leave, so be sure to pay a trip to the fish and spice markets to pick up an assortment of ingredients. Consider joining a cooking class taught by knowledgeable foodies so you can learn what goes into all your favourite staples.
Spice farms like Tropical Spice Plantation will teach you all about the origin of the flavours and even offer taste tests in the form of freshly prepared traditional dishes.
Saturday Night Market
Nightowls will adore the premise of the Saturday Night Market. The most famous attraction in Apora town, shopping is only the tip of the iceberg!
Between 4 pm and 3 am every Saturday you can head down to Apora’s Mango Orchard for an evening of entertainment, food and drink and goody bags! With a choice of hundreds of stalls, selling everything from spices to jewellery to artwork.
This isn’t your average bazaar. Get dolled up for a buzzing night of shopping in style. Street performances and live music will see you through til the early hours of Sunday morning. This is a big night out where you can still return home with a full bag of groceries and a head full of memories!
Beaches
A common find all around Goa is its glowing golden beaches which make up a huge part of the way of life.
Edging onto the Arabian Sea, you will discover each plain has its own personality:
Some are wonderful for backpacking, many provide the ultimate privacy for that dreamy escape, others include luxury features like cruise ports and sunbeds, while many are organic hippie hideaways.
Without a doubt, you must check out Calangute, which is by far the most infamous in the state. With walkways, long-spanning sands and sunsets to die for, it is not to be missed.
Arambol is for the budding adventurer, where you can find culture at every corner, in the form of beach bars, festivals and boutiques.
Palolem is straight out of a postcard. Possibly the most Instagram-worthy, its line of brightly coloured beach huts, towering palms and chill-out zones turn days into minutes.
St Alex Church
Behind Goa’s, the most famous beach is where you can find the one-of-a-kind, St Alex Church.
Built in the 1500s, its architecture is worth a closer look.
Note its standout Cupola Falsa dome – the only one you will find anywhere in the western state. Not only will its pristine white face knock you back, but head inside to be blown away by its gleefully gilded alter, glitzy chandeliers over every pew and marvellous arches.
This is the first chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in the whole of Goa, so is an important monument to add to your list of spiritual visits.
It is guaranteed to bring you tranquillity, especially if you catch the choir service in action. Mass can be attended any day of the week. Check online for the timings.
