The best time to visit Goa, Goa season, the climate and weather, social life, and Goa beach resort availabilities

Recommanded Resorts in Goa

The best time to visit Goa

or The most popular time to travel to Goa

The best time to travel to Goa is between November and March, when the weather is dry and relatively cool, the sea is calm and clear, and all the facilities, from resorts and restaurants to beach shacks and parties, are open for business.

Goa Season

December and January are the most perfect - and popular - months to visit Goa, almost 100% rain-free with lovely cool mornings and evenings and hot beach weather during the day. This is the lucky Goan's winter!

Although the Goa ‘scene’ has slowed, some big music festivals are now regular fixtures at this time of year, as well as the best outdoor parties and big name DJs headlining at club nights. The weekly flea and night markets in north Goa are also at their busiest, with plenty of bargains to be had once you’ve mastered the Indian art of haggling, plus live bands and entertainment.

Goans, whether Christian, Hindu or Muslim, embrace Christmas, festooning everything with tinsel, whilst local school children try out their carol singing for tourists on the beach. Having a slap up seafood lunch under the tropical sun is certainly one way to get into the Christmas spirit, and New Year is no different in Goa to anywhere in the world, except that you can party with the warm sand between your toes under a sky full of fireworks.

Goa beach resorts

However, in terms of crowds, it is the busiest time, so the best Goa beach resorts get booked up early (by October many of them are full for the Christmas/New Year period) and some of the beaches, particularly in the north, get very overpopulated. However, in the south of Goa there are still plenty of more peaceful, crowd-free Goa resort options at that time of year.

Goa Off Season

February and March are great months to be in Goa, as the beaches slowly empty of tourists and room rates become more reasonable. From April until the monsoon rains break in June, the weather gets increasingly hot and humid (you may want to ensure that your room has air-conditioning at this time of year) and some beach places start to close. However, many resorts offer great rates at this time of year and you will sometimes have the remoter beaches practically to yourself!

October can also be a great time to visit to see Goa, vivid green after the monsoon and mostly free from other tourists, although there is still some occasional rain.

Goa Monsoon

And then there is Goa monsoon. Almost like clockwork, within the first ten days of June, the rains arrive. By this time all the temporary beach hut resorts have closed up and been removed and the only options for accommodation and eating are guest-houses and cottages of a more permanent nature, self-catering houses and apartments, and the large hotels dotted up and down the coast.

However, the rainy months of June to September have lots to offer providing you don’t mind monsoon storms or expect a beach holiday. The vegetation is green and lush, the rice paddies are planted and the seas wild and stormy. With activities more restricted to eating at local restaurants, enjoying vibrant festivals including Ganesha, and watching nature run riot, you can experience Goa like a Goan. Just remember to pack your raincoat!

Goa Weather

The following table shows the general weather in Goa month by month. However it’s important to remember that these are only guidelines and the weather in Goa may be surprising - hopefully for the better.

Goa weather chart, month by month

 
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