What is the best time to visit Goa?

The best time to visit Goa is from November to February when the weather is ideal for sightseeing and relaxing on the stunning beaches. The temperature during this time ranges around 20 to 30 degrees Celcius and it is also the peak tourist season in Goa. Monsoons from June to September are another great time to visit Goa if you love the beach during rains. Summer is not a good time to visit Goa. With the temperature fluctuating between 25 to 35 degrees Celcius, the weather from March to May is extremely hot and humid.

Weather in Goa

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Upcoming Goa Weather




Monthly Weather in Goa

Month High/Low (°C) Rain
January 31°/ 21° 0 days
February 32°/ 21° 0 days
March 32°/ 22° 1 days
April 34°/ 25° 2 days
May 33°/ 26° 0 days
June 30°/ 25° 22 days
July 28°/ 25° 31 days
August 28°/ 25° 30 days
September 28°/ 24° 26 days
October 31°/ 24° 26 days
November 32°/ 24° 4 days
December 33°/ 23° 0 days

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More about Best Time to Travel to Goa

Best Time for Adventure Seekers

The combination of its sandy beaches, scenic water bodies and availability of a range of adventure sports makes Goa the ultimate destination for any adventure enthusiast. The peak season (December and January) is a great time in Goa for anyone, and everyone - the weather is excellent, the waters are calm, and all facilities are available! With warm days and cold nights, these months are ideal for any outdoor activities, from trekking and sightseeing to water sports.

The monsoon season is an alternative for those adventure seekers who are on a tight budget. Nature is at its full bloom in Goa from June to September, and one can enjoy outdoor activities like trekking, hiking and white river rafting at this time. Be sure to spend time at Goa's many wildlife sanctuaries, parks, waterfalls, landscapes and beaches to make the most of the monsoon.

For water sports enthusiasts, a great time to visit Goa is from October to May. These months experience cool and calm waters and cloudless skies. Some favourite activities are scuba diving, parasailing, dinghy sailing, swimming, jet skiing and banana boat riding.

Best Time for Honeymooners

With its beautiful beaches, olden Portuguese buildings, luxury resorts and more, Goa is all the rage among newly wedded couples as a honeymoon destination. Although November to February is the best time to visit Goa, any time between October to April is excellent for a honeymoon, if you wish to avoid the peak season.

Goa in Winter (November - February)

With ideal weather, exciting activities and plenty of festivities and celebrations, the winter season is the favourite time of the year in Goa for most tourists. The weather at this time is usually pleasant and calm, and days may become slightly chilly. The temperatures typically range from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, with moderate humidity levels.

Goa Beach House
Goa Beach House
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Most people enjoy spending time at the beach or participating in outdoor activities and water sports during this time. One can head to one of the many parades, parties and fairs being held everywhere. Several weddings and engagements are also commonly celebrated during these winter months.

In December, the entire state is covered with lights, Christmas trees and decorations to celebrate Christmas. Traditional midnight masses and feasts are extremely popular during this time. New Year celebrations take place with great enthusiasm too, complete with parties, fireworks and music festivals. For music-lovers, Goa has become a trendy destination with popular music festivals like Sunburn and VH1 Supersonic.

Sunburn Festival
Sunburn Festival
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Other festivals to look out for include the Grape Escapade, which is India's most prominent wine festival and is held in January. It brings together wine connoisseurs from all over the country and the world. The Goa Food and Cultural Festival is a favourite among culinary art and food lovers in February that celebrates the delicious Goan cuisine, including fish n chips and fish curry. The 'Intruz' or the Goa Carnival held in February, consists of fun and enjoyment preceding the month of Lent. Food, drinks, music, dance, parades, floats, parties - it's all a part of the celebration!

However, due to this time of the year being peak season, hotels are packed, and fares are usually high, so be sure to book in advance!

Goa in Monsoon (July - September)

Most people associate Goa to its sunshine and sandy beaches, and therefore usually avoid travelling to Goa in Monsoon. Beach facilities, as well as water sports like scuba-diving, are typically discontinued. Goa experiences heavy rainfall during these months, with July being the wettest month of the year. However, if you enjoy the rain, natural beauty and lush greenery all around you, then this is the perfect time for your trip to Goa.

Monsoon in Goa
Monsoon in Goa
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Don't let the weather rain on your parade; you can still enjoy some fun activities in Goa! Although it is not advisable to visit beaches and go swimming, you can take advantage of the national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and spice plantations instead. Further, activities like trekking, bird-watching and white water rafting are in full swing during these months. You can also enjoy off-peak season fares, and discounts on food, flights and hotel stay. Those who are looking for a relaxed time away from their fast-paced lives will especially enjoy Goa at this time.

The Sao Joao festival is celebrated during June and consists of a feast honouring Saint John the Baptist, the prophet who baptised Jesus in River Jordan. It is a festival worth visiting Goa for, and usually involves folk dances and many other local traditions such as dressing up in leaves and men jumping into wells to grab bottles of feni (a type of alcohol found locally).

The Sao Joao Festival
Sao Joao
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The Saptah Festival takes place in August to honour those who lost their lives during an epidemic in Vasco. It is believed that during this desperate time, locals had turned to Lord Damodar for blessings, an avatar of Lord Shiva, and worshipped a pure coconut as a symbol of worship. Today, devotees continue to visit the Damodar temple to seek blessings during the festival.

Goa in Summer (March - June)

Goa in summer is sweltering, with high humidity levels and temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius. Although the beach areas remain relatively breezy, being outdoors is difficult for most. Not many tourists visit Goa at this time of the year, and there are relatively fewer activities to indulge in.

However, most accommodation options in Goa offer incredibly reasonable prices during summer. So for those who do not mind the heat, or for those who are looking to spend most of their time indoors for some peace, this is a perfect time to visit Goa. You can also avoid the usual crowds in Goa if you choose to travel during this time. 

A popular festival celebrated in Goa during these months is the Shigmo festival, which is celebrated by the Hindu community of Goa every March. The celebration of this colourful festival consists of folk dances and 'warrior dances', as well as the famous Shigmo Parade.

Another fun festival worth mentioning is the Goa Cashew and Coconut Fest, held in May. This celebrates cashews, coconuts and their origin with unique cuisine, art and activities all over the state, including cashew stomping and coconut breaking.

Anjuna Beach Goa
Anjuna Beach
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Events in Goa

India Bike Week

24th - 25th November

India Bike Week is an event which is considered to be the Biker's Heaven. It gives them the opportunity to meet and interact with bikers from all over the globe and share their personal stories and ex (Read More)periences. Also, there a

Sao Joao Feast, Across Goa (Siolim Particularly)

24th June

One of the most celebrated Christian festivals in Goa, Sao Joao is the feast of St John the Baptist. Several customs are associated with this festival, the most popular being one in which the newly we (Read More)d groom jumps into a well to impress his bride. In certain places, folk dances are performed and fruits and pleasantries are exchanged with one's friends and relatives.

Water Sports Activities

October - May

If you're in Goa on vacation and you don't engage in any of the water sports activities, you're seriously missing out on something. There are several Water Sports Operators who offer all kinds of acti (Read More)vities ranging from parasailing and windsurfing to scuba diving and water skiing. Calangute, Patolem and Grande Island are the places to be if you want to indulge in some water sports action.

Goa Carnival

2nd March 2019

A legacy of the years of Portuguese rule, the Goa Carnival has grown from a quiet event to a popular, large scale festival, attracting thousands of tourists from India and abroad. One of the most awai (Read More)ted occasions in the state, the Goan Carnival has a long history of its origin, stretching back to the ancient Roman Empire. This event, known as the Goan Carnival or Intruz or simply Carnival, is a centre of attraction and highly responsible for making Goa a dream destination apart from it's beautiful beaches that a thronged by tourists throughout the year. Spectacular and colourful floats parades are held in the popular cities of Goa. The atmosphere is infectious with the dances, musical events and the great food, all which are a major crowd puller. This year it's going to be held on 2nd March 2019.

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Shigmo Festival

21st March 2019

The Shigmo festival that takes place in the Konkani diaspora of Goa, during the spring season, is a beautiful and auspicious festival of Hindus that celebrates the vibrancy of colours. The festival sp (Read More)ans for five days. In other regions of the country, Hindus, more commonly, celebrate Holi, which is a part of it. The Hindu community marks the festival by building and painting elaborate mural and idols depicting scenes and tales from Hindu Mythology. Dressed in flashy and colourful traditional costumes, the local folk groups give splendid dance performances. The float parade is the highlight of the festival. There is festive energy surrounding the Konkani diaspora during this festival as it envelopes the whole place with its celebration of colours. The festival will be held on 21st March 2019.

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Igitun Chalne

May

Igitun Chalne celebrated in May, is a religious festival in the northern district of Goa in the temple of Sirigao, which is located in Bicholim Taluka. Also known as the ?fire walk? festival, it attra (Read More)cts onlookers and tourists to experience the festival in huge numbers each year. Devotees walk on hot coals in commemoration of the goddess Lairaya. It is done to showcase true and complete devotion to the goddess. This extreme act of bravery brings many people together in awe of the festival.

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International Film Festival Of India -Iffi

20th November 2019 - 28th November 2019

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa is India's preeminent film festival that showcases outstanding films made by acclaimed directors and debutant filmmakers alike. It provides (Read More)a platform for stories to be told through the medium of cinema, stories that come from across the globe, alongside Indian films as well. Since its inception in 1952, the International Film Festival has been one of the biggest of its type in India. Spanning eight days, the IFFI is a celebration of the exquisite films from around the world that have been made throughout the year, and also of rich and diverse Indian heritage. The main aim of the festival is to give exposure to Indian cinema and introduce it to the global platform.

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Sufi Sutra International Sufi Music Festival By Kala Academy Goa

6th - 8th February

Sufi Sutra is an annual peace music festival usually held in Kolkata, but this year saw it being extended to Goa as well. Several performers from different countries collaborated with rural Indian art (Read More)ists to create new, diverse trends in Sufi and traditional music and was a true delight indeed for all music lovers.

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Big Vagator Beach, one of the many beaches of Goa
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