I am going Goa with my cousins, and we need to find out which part of Goa is better North Goa or South Goa? We want to go to the more touristy place of Goa and where we can party. We also may make our minds up about doing some water sports as well, so please suggest which part of Goa according to what we want from the place. Another thought that we have is going on a bike ride in Goa and having some fun, but I am quite sure doing this is possible anywhere in Goa.
Depends on what you are looking for. In my personal experience I have found beaches up north to be more crowded and touristy than south. North Goa is much better place if you wanna party. But if you want a relaxing experience, the serene beaches down south is a better idea. I may be generalizing a bit here, and may also be biased basing it only on my own experience, but after multiple trips to Goa, both North and South, this is the opinion I have formed. North Goa is more jazzy, noisy, full of tourists and great for party animals while South is for that relaxing getaways.
Hello, @Getti! Welcome to the forum! Goa is supposed to be the smallest state in India but despite this, it has such many beaches and attractions to be explored. One question that always comes to the mind of the traveller is, 'Which region should I go to - North Goa or South Goa?' Both regions have their own pros and cons though. Some prefer the southern region while others cannot get enough of the northern region. It all depends on the interests of the traveller. Thus, let us highlight the pros and cons of each region. North Goa and South Goa - A Comparison 1. Crowds North Goa The central part of North Goa, namely Baga and Calangute, are always crowded. They are crowded with tourists, vendors and all sorts of people. Thus, it's hard to come by with some sort of privacy in these parts of North Goa. For more peace and quite, venture further into the most northern part of Goa, where the beaches of Querim and Mandrem are located. Further to the southern side of North Goa, you can find the Dona Paula Beach, which has lesser crowds than the central part of North Goa. South Goa In general, South Goa has lesser crowds than North Goa. Perhaps the most popular and crowded beach here would be Colva. Colva Beach was once secluded though but it has now been transformed into a popular beach, with numerous beach shacks and travellers. If you'd like some privacy, choose the other beaches of South Goa like Hollant Beach, Agonda Beach and Benaulim Beach. Related thread - How many beaches in Goa? 2. Nightlife North Goa North Goa is the place to be for parties, there's no doubt about that. The most popular night club here would Club Tito's, located in the Baga Calangute area. However, only women or couples are allowed inside the club. Another club, also located in the Baga Calangute area, is Cafe Mambo. This club is popular for its trance parties and retro music nights. Curlies, a beach shack in Anjuna, turns into a party area by night time where it hosts electric music and trance as well. A more premium one is Club Cubana, where even celebrities were spotted partying. As you can tell, there are plenty of night clubs and bars to party in North Goa. This list is just a short one, you won't find a shortage of party clubs in the area. South Goa South Goa may not be the party capital of the state but it also has some night life to offer to travellers. In Palolem Beach, the Silent Noise Party is a hip and happening event that is sure to spark your interest. Guests have to use headphones and listen to the music, groove to it, this way. Hence, the name Silent Noise Party. Most of the clubs in South Goa are laid-back, as compared to the North Goa clubs. There's Johnny Cool Blues Bar, which is located in Colva, which features live local music. You can find many such bars in South Goa, where there's music and some drinks. Some don't even have an entry fee, you only need to pay for your food and drinks. Related thread - Best Area to Stay in Goa 3. Water Sports North Goa There are plenty of water sports that you can do in the beaches of North Goa. The good thing about doing water sports here is that they can be quite cheaper than doing water sports in South Goa. Water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat riding, these are just some of the water sports that you can do in North Goa. The main beaches where these activities can be done are Baga Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach and Vagator Beach. Equipments can be easily rented out in many of the beach shacks around or even in the hotels nearby the beach. South Goa Lots of water sports can be done in South Goa as well, although they're priced a bit steeper. But because there are many islands to be explored here, scuba diving and snorkelling are great activities that you can do here. Usually, scuba diving is done on the Grande Island, a few kilometres away from Mormugao. There are many diving sites here like the Bounty Bay, Suzy's Wreck and Uma Guma Reef. Other water activities that can be done in the South Goan beaches are kayaking, dolphin spotting and boating. Related threads - Water Sport Activities & Watersports in Goa in September 4. Tourist Attractions North Goa When it comes to sightseeing, North Goa won't disappoint you. It has a number of historical monuments that you can visit like Chapora Fort, Fort Aguada, Telekhol Fort, Alorna Fort and many more. It also has a number of churches that showcase the brilliance of Portuguese architecture, like the Church of Reis Magos, Basilica of Bom Jesus and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church. You can also visit some museums and temples in the northern part of Goa. The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is also a must visit for seeing the wildlife in Goa. So aside from the beaches, you can visit plenty of tourist attractions in North Goa, which can be an enjoyable activity with friends or families. South Goa Although South Goa has fewer attractions that North Goa, you can still enjoy seeing some of the Portuguese structures here like the St. John the Baptist Church, Cabo De Rama Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church. The Naval Aviation Museum is also located in the southern part of Goa. It also has a number of temples like the Shanta Durga Temple, Sri Damodar Temple and Chandranath Temple. For wildlife, there's the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary that you can visit. South Goa also has plenty of tourist attractions to keep you busy. Related thread - Goa Travel Guide & Goa Travel Guide 5. Food North Goa With the numerous beach shacks and restaurants in North Goa, you can taste every type of local dish that you'd like. The good news is, North Goa has it all, from the cheaper street food stalls, to the fine dining restaurants. For budget meals, do try the Fisherman's Cove restaurant, which serves local dishes at very affordable rates. Another budget must try is the Oasis Restaurant and Bakery, great for breakfast and in-between snacks. For higher end restaurants, there are plenty that you can try out like The Black Sheep Bistro, Mum's Kitchen and Viva Panjim. Seafood dishes are rampant in North Goa but you would also find restaurants serving different cuisines. South Goa South Goa has lesser options for food as compared to North Goa. Most especially if you go to the more secluded beaches where there are no hotels or beach shacks that you can dine in. There are a few budget restaurants here though like Cafe Inn in Palolem or Da Tita's in Majorda. For fine dining restaurants, you can try out Martin's Corner in Betalbatim or The Fisherman's Wharf in Cavelossim. Many of the beach shacks offer seafood dishes and Goan cuisine. The higher end restaurants offer a variety of local and international cuisines. Related thread - Goa Travel Guide 6. Accommodations North Goa When it comes to accommodations, North Goa has plenty of it, ranging from budget ones to luxury ones. The cheapest option would be beach huts, which are very many in the northern part of Goa. They're very basic though and sometimes, cleanliness is compromised. Guest houses are also plenty here and the advantage of this is the homely feel. There are also budget resorts that you can stay in. Of course, luxury resorts and five-star hotels are also available. Each beach has nearby hotels, guest houses and resorts so you don't need to venture further from your favourite beach. South Goa This is one of the downsides of South Goa, the accommodation options here are less. They're also more expensive than the accommodation options in North Goa. Most of the nearer accommodations are of higher end hotels and resorts. There are a few guest houses and home stays though in the less commercialised beaches. In some secluded beaches, you won't find any accommodation at all and you need to go to the main city before it gets dark. Related thread - Best beach resorts in Goa There you go, I hope this little guide helps you. In your case, it seems like North Goa is the best choice for you, since it has the better night life and tourist attractions. Good luck! P.S. You can rent out bikes in any place in Goa, sometimes, even hotels have bikes for rent for guests. Enjoy!
