4-Day Goa Itinerary

Day

Basilica of Bom Jesus

UNESCO World Heritage baroque church in Old Goa holding the relics of St. Francis Xavier.

9:00 am – 6:30 pm on weekdays; 10:30 am – 6:30 pm on Sundays. Hours can vary around religious services and public holidays, worth a quick check before visiting. Free (donation-based). Museum of Christian Art: ₹30 per person. View on map

Church of St Francis of Assisi

Old Goa church adjoining Se Cathedral, with an attached archaeological museum.

Broadly aligned with Se Cathedral, approximately 9:00 am – 5:30 pm daily; the attached Archaeological Museum keeps standard government-museum hours and is closed on Fridays — check locally as museum days can change. Church free; Archaeological Museum has a small nominal entry fee. View on map

Se Cathedral Old Goa

One of the largest churches in Asia, built to mark the Portuguese victory over Bijapur.

7:30 am – 6:00 pm most days; Sundays 7:15 am – 10:00 pm (later due to Sunday Mass schedules). Expect restricted access during services. Free View on map

Divar Island

Quiet river island near Old Goa with Portuguese-era villages and almost no tourist development.

Open access at all times; ferries run at each of the three crossing points roughly between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm–2:00 am depending on the point used (Old Goa/Viceroy's Arch crossing runs latest, to around 2:00 am). Free; ferry is free for foot passengers, with a nominal charge for vehicles (around ₹10 for four-wheelers at the Ribandar-side crossing). View on map

Day

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Mangrove bird sanctuary on Chorão Island, reached by ferry from Ribandar near Panaji.

6:00 am – 6:00 pm daily. The Ribandar–Chorão ferry runs roughly 6:00 am – 10:00 pm. ₹10 per person (Indian nationals), ₹100 (foreign nationals); still camera ₹25, video camera ₹150. Ferry: reported as free for pedestrians and two-wheelers on some crossings, with vehicle charges on others — worth confirming locally, as sources vary. View on map

Fontainhas Latin Quarter Panaji

Panaji's Portuguese-era Latin Quarter, a grid of painted heritage houses and narrow lanes.

Open access at all times, being a residential neighbourhood; most cafés and galleries keep roughly 9:00 am – 8:00 pm hours. Free to walk around; some heritage buildings converted into cafés or small museums may charge for entry. View on map

Fort Aguada

17th-century Portuguese coastal fort with a working lighthouse at the mouth of the Mandovi.

Fort grounds 9:30 am – 6:00 pm daily. Lighthouse 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, adults only. Fort grounds free. Lighthouse: ₹25 for Indian nationals, ₹300 for foreign nationals. View on map

Calangute Beach

Goa's largest and most visited beach, the commercial heart of the North Goa coast.

Open access at all times; shack season runs roughly October–April/May. Free View on map

Day

Baga Beach

North Goa's busiest beach, dense with shacks, water sports and nightlife.

Open access at all times; shacks and clubs generally run roughly October–April/May, with peak activity mid-December to January. Free View on map

Anjuna Beach

Rocky, characterful North Goa beach famous for its Wednesday flea market and hippie-era history.

Open access at all times; flea market runs Wednesdays, roughly November–April, generally from late morning into the evening. Free (bargaining expected at the flea market). View on map

Chapora Fort

Ruined hilltop fort above Vagator, known for panoramic sunset views and its film-tourism fame.

9:30 am – 5:30 pm daily. Free View on map

Arambol Beach

Far-north Goa beach with a long-stay, alternative-wellness scene and a freshwater lake behind it.

Open access at all times; shack and retreat season runs roughly October–April/May. Free View on map

Day

Shri Mangueshi Temple

One of Goa's most important Hindu temples, in a distinctive Goan architectural style blending Hindu, Islamic and Portuguese-baroque elements.

5:00 am – 10:00 pm daily. A live-streamed darshan window runs approximately 12:00–1:00 pm. Free View on map

Dudhsagar Falls

One of India's tallest waterfalls, on the Goa–Karnataka border, reached by forest-department jeep safari.

Jeep safaris typically run roughly 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, with the falls area itself closing by around 4:30 pm. Safaris are closed during the heaviest monsoon months (July–September) when sanctuary access is unsafe. No separate falls entry fee; the cost is the jeep safari itself, roughly ₹1,500–3,000 depending on group size and season — book through GTDC or at the Kulem counter. View on map

Butterfly Beach

Small, secluded South Goa cove near Palolem, reachable only by boat or a jungle trek.

Open access via boat trips typically running mid-morning to mid-afternoon; no fixed hours, as it depends on boat operator schedules from Palolem. Free; the cost is the boat trip itself (often combined with a dolphin-watching excursion), typically a shared or private hire arranged at Palolem beach. View on map

Palolem Beach

South Goa's best-known crescent bay, calm and scenic, with silent discos at night.

Open access at all times; beach shacks generally operate roughly October–April/May. Free View on map

Trip overview

Duration4 days / 3 nights

DestinationGoa, Goa

Best time to visitNovember to February is the best time to visit Goa , and within that window there is a further choice to make. Mid-November to mid-December is arguably the…