Goa is easily accessible by road, rail, and air from most parts of India and international destinations. The Dabolim Airport (the only airport in Goa) is an international airport and a military airbase. It is connected by regular flights to all Indian cities as well as international destinations like London, Dubai, Moscow, Doha, Kuala Lumpur among others. The airport has two terminals where Terminal 1 is domestic while Terminal 2 is the international terminal. Recently inaugurated in December 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mopa Airport has commenced commercial operations since January 2023, further enhancing air connectivity.
Vasco da Gama Railway Station and Madgaon Station are the two major railheads serving Goa. Both stations are extremely well-linked to all parts of India. Apart from this, plenty of long-distance inter-state buses ply to and from Goa which is connected through four national highways. The nearest major entry point to Goa from different parts of the world is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Mumbai being the major city is easily accessible to Goa via flights, railways, and roadways.
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How to reach Goa by flight
Goa international airport is located at Dabolim - 30 km away from Panjim. Multiple domestic airlines like Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo provide daily flights from major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad. Most international flights to Goa arrive via Mumbai. Only a handful of international flights from the Middle East, Russia, Europe and Britain operate to Goa.
Additionally, the recently inaugurated Mopa Airport, opened in December 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has started its commercial operations in January 2023.
From Mumbai
There are connecting international flights between Mumbai and Goa. Therefore, while booking your flight tickets to Goa, you can choose the one which stops at Mumbai Airport so that you can take your TVOA (Travel visa on arrival) and then further move to Goa in the same one.
In case your hotel offers free pickups, you don't need to worry about the commute from the airport. Otherwise, pre-paid taxis available at the airport are the only option.
Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport
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How to reach Goa by road
Plenty of long-distance inter-state luxury and budget buses run from major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, New Delhi to Goa. State-run bus service, Kadamba Transport is also a good option. Other state bus services - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh - also have daily buses going to Goa. Various private players also run buses connecting many cities to Goa. For comfortable rides, super deluxe AC and Volvo buses would be the better options. These would generally cost between INR 1500 - INR 2500 depending on the distance and type of bus.
Most buses to and from Goa operate from Panjim, Margao, Chaudi and Mapusa.
From Mumbai
It takes 10h 20 minutes to reach Goa from Mumbai. You can take a private taxi or a Volvo to reach your destination.
How to reach Goa by train
Goa has six railway stations out of which the Madgaon Station is the biggest. Most people usually get down at Madgaon or Vasco-da-Gama in South Goa and Thivim in North Goa for Mapusa and other beaches. Other smaller stations include Pernem for Arambol, Karmali (Old Goa) for Panjim and Canacona for Palolem.
Goa falls on the Konkan Railway line and is connected via direct trains to all the major cities from New Delhi to the south beyond Trivandrum. The most popular trains are the Goa Sampark Kranti Express and Trivandrum Express.
The train ride to Goa is worth the journey just for the view. The picturesque scenery of the Konkan region makes for an amazing sight. Train is also the cheapest option apart from being fast and comfortable.
From Mumbai
If you are flying to Mumbai so that you get your TVOA (Travel Visa on Arrival), you can also book tickets for the train in order to commute between Mumbai and Goa. The most prominent trains between Mumbai and Goa are: Ganpati Special, Mandovi Express, Jan Shatabdi Express, and Mangalore Express
For travelling to any part of Goa from the railway station, prepaid taxis are the best option. You can easily find one on the prepaid taxi booths located at all the stations.
How to reach Goa by car
A road trip to Goa is also a great option. Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune are some popular places people drive down from. There are three national highways which pass through the state - NH 4A, NH 17, NH 17A. The roads are good and the view is amazing, making the drive worth it. You can hire a cab or if you are going in a group with multiple experienced drivers, you can take your own car. Apart from the fuel/cab charges, you will have to pay the toll tax.
Local transport in Goa
Beaches in Goa are far apart, and it stretches more than 100 km from north to south.
From the Airport- The most popular and convenient mode of travelling from Dabolim Airport to any part of Goa is the prepaid taxis. The prepaid taxi counters are located at the arrival hall (which usually have longish queues). The cost is a little high and varies according to the area and the type of car you opt for. For travelling to Calangute or nearby places in North Goa, it generally costs around INR 1500-2000.
- The Goa tourism recently started the app-based taxi service called Goa Miles. Like Uber or Ola, the taxi can be booked through the online app or via the Goa Miles counter located in the arrival hall of the airport. Do keep in mind that internet connectivity is very limited near the taxi counter. However, there is a free airport wifi available.
- For those travelling on a budget or looking for cheaper most of travel, you can walk out of the airport all the way to the main road and flag down any bus heading towards east and catch an onward transport from there.
BusBus connectivity is good for popular areas of Goa and fares are low (ranging from INR 5 to INR 40) and still gives you a great view of the city. If travelling from North or Central Goa to South Goa (or vice-versa), you'll need to change buses at Panjim or Margao. However, buses are not a great option if you are looking for beach hopping or going to hang around till late at night.
Scooty, Bike and CarSince there are no Ola and Uber services available in Goa, you could rent a motorcycle, scooter or a car if you have a valid license. Riding on bikes is the most popular way of commuting in Goa for young tourists, including foreigners. The rent starts at INR 300 per day per bike like Honda Activa or around INR 400 per day for Royal Enfield bikes. This excludes petrol costs. You can also hire a cab, with or without a chauffeur to roam around. Cars cost approximately 900 - 1300 per day. However, finding parking spots close to all beaches could be a problem whereas bikes give you the flexibility of going pretty close to the beach to park.
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Bike Rentals in GoaTaxis- Taxis are easily available in Goa but generally costs very high due to the domination of the local union cartel. You can get a prepaid taxi from the hotel/resort you are staying in, if you do not want to opt for the self-drive option.
- The Women Taxi Service is a recent initiative of the Goa tourism to provide safe transport option for female, couples and families. These taxis have female drivers and are available through phone bookings only. The taxis are fitted with a GPS device for constant monitoring.
- Pilots or motorcycle taxis are an uncommon mode of transport available in Goa. Costing half the price of taxis, these are mostly available near the major taxi stands and beach resorts only.
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