There are many way to travel to and around Goa. Below you can find useful Goa transport information. For a list of things to see and do, have a look at our Goa Destination Guide. For more general travel information about India, our India Country Guide, India Destination Guide and India Transport Guide will help you plan your holiday.

Goa Transportation Guide

You can get to Goa by all means of transport man has invented! By air, by train, by road and by sea!

Reaching Goa by Air

Reaching Goa the right way is the first step to a memorable holiday. The fastest way to get there is obviously by air. Goa is well connected with the rest of the country and also to international destinations through frequent flights. Regular chartered flights connect Goa to the UK, US, European countries and the Gulf. You could also land at any of the important cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai or Bangalore and take a flight to Goa. Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, GoAir, Spice Jet and Indian Airlines all fly to Goa on a daily basis.

Scheduled flights flying from Europe: Jet Airways, Air India, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, BMI, Royal Brunei, Finnair, Emirates, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines and Virgin.

Flights from New York: Major US Carrier, Jet Airways, Northwest Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic.

Book your tickets well in advance especially in the months October to February. You can also opt for chartered flights operated by tour operators. They usually operate on certain days of the week with flights from various country airports.

Dabolim is the only airport in Goa and is located near Vasco da Gama. It is about 30 kilometres from Panaji, the capital of Goa. There are taxi services at the airport, including pre-paid services. Most hotels also organise shuttle services to the airport. It is a good idea to make use of these.

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Reaching Goa by Train

With the completion of the Konkan railway, Goa is well connected by trains. The Konkan railway route begins from Mumbai and ends at Trivandrum in Kerala. Goa is somewhere midway and the main railway stations are in Margao and Vasco da Gama. The Margao railway station is also the biggest in Goa and is an important junction, being positioned at the intersection of the Konkan Railway and South Western Railway. Other railway stations in Goa are Canacona, Karmali, Thivim and Pernem.

Trains to Goa

It is best to take the overnight Konkan Kanya Express which leaves Mumbai at 11p.m. and gets to Margao by 12:30p.m. This way you do not waste a day travelling.

You can alternatively get on the Mumbai-Madgaon Jan Shatabdi starting at 5.30 a.m. from Dadar Station in Mumbai that reaches Margao by 4p.m. This train runs only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you are travelling from the south, you can catch the 11a.m. Matsyaganda Express from Mangalore to Madgaon which takes 6 1/2 hours. This journey gives you the chance of travelling through the verdant Konkan coast.

Reaching Goa by Road

Another option to reach Goa is by road. Goa is very well connected by good quality roads and has three national highways traversing through the state. It is connected with Mumbai by the National Highway 17 which continues to Karnataka and Kerala. The National Highway 4A connects Belgaum, Goa, and Karnataka. You can either drive down by car or taxi or catch the many buses which ply to Goa everyday. A number of buses, including air-conditioned ones, start daily from Mumbai. Try and book a Volvo bus which is superior to other buses in comfort. A number of buses ply from Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mangalore as well. Kadamba, the Goa transport company, runs many buses to Goa from different destinations.

Reaching Goa by Sea

The journey is sometimes more interesting than the destination and an interesting way to reach Goa is by sea. There are many luxury cruises which sail from Mumbai and Goa and traverse the Konkan coast. These star luxury cruises are complete with restaurant & bars, gyms, massage parlours and even a children's play area. You can relax on the deck and enjoy the azure blue waters. If you are in luck you will be able to spot some dolphins too. And do not miss the early morning sunrise - it's sure to take your breath away.

Getting around in Goa

Travelling in Goa is not a problem as there is no dearth of public transport.

Local Buses: Buses are the most inexpensive way of getting around. They may be a trifle crowded but they can be used to ply short distances. Though their frequency is adequate, they may not follow a fixed time table.

Cars: If budget is not a problem, then hiring a car is the best option. Self driven car rental services like Hertz are also easily available. However, you need to have an international driver's licence.

Two Wheelers: Goa has its unique motorcycles which are licensed taxis. They can be identified by their yellow mudguards. They are quite inexpensive and also fun to ride. They typically carry one passenger and you will be driven by the driver who is called the ‘pilot'. As a rule, negotiate the price before you hop onto the bike, and do wear a helmet. A word of caution - avoid motorcycles in the rains. You can also rent bikes where the cost of the fuel has to be borne by you.

Bicycles are also available on rent. Riding a bicycle in Goa is a pleasure as most of Goa is undulating plains. Just remember to ride on the left side of the road and enjoy the Goan Konkan landscape.

Autorickshaws: These three-wheeled vehicles are unique to the Indian sub-continent and provide a cheap and convenient mode of transport. You can go to a dedicated autorickshaw stand and hire one. You need to be on the alert against drivers who resort to bargaining although they are supposed to charge per the installed meters.

Ferry: With the numerous waterways in the state, water transportation in Goa is an important mode to getting around the state. It is also an added attraction for tourists who may want to take a ride just for the sake of it. These services are absolutely necessary across waterways where there are no bridges. There are numerous reliable boats and ferries which ship you across the various creeks and rivers. There are numerous services plying between Dona Paula and Mormugao Harbour at regular intervals during clear weather. And in addition, 20 other services operate in the state. Services are usually terminated during heavy rains. Shipment of vehicles is also done through these ferries.

Goa by foot: Another way to explore Goa is by foot. Old Goa, for instance, can be covered by foot as there are a number of buildings of interest clustered together. You can arrive at a destination by bus or taxi and can then walk around. This way you can also dispense with parking problems. There are a number of trekking trips too where you can soak in the Goan ambiance.