9 Of The BEST Beaches In Goa For Foreigners To Visit in 2024!

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Goa is India’s top beach destination. However, when I started looking into where to visit in Goa, it was harder than I thought, especially when looking for the best beaches in Goa for foreigners to visit!

It’s not as easy as saying ‘I’m going to Goa’ because Goa is HUGE and there are 48 beaches in Goa! So you really need to know which beach you’re going to visit in Goa and what you want from your trip to Goa as the beaches vary a lot.

There are party beaches in Goa offering non-stop trance music, there are beaches for families in Goa, beaches for hippies, beaches for Yoga in Goa.

Beaches catered towards British tourists, beaches catered towards Russain and Israeli tourists, and there are beaches that are more popular with Indian tourists over foreign tourists.

I spoke to some fellow travel bloggers who told me their favourite beach in Goa and why these beaches in Goa for foreigners  are the best beaches in Goa to visit!

Beaches in Goa for Foreigners

1. Palolem Beach

I absolutely loved Palolem Beach in South Goa. It reminded me of the beaches in Thailand or in the Philippines which is why I think it’s one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners!

Palolem Beach is not a huge beach but not small either and it’s located in a nice bay. The beach has lots of restaurants lining it offering sunbeds free of charge when you buy food or a drink from them. None of them are flashy and there are no high rise hotels on the beach, or even in the area, just lots of huts and small buildings which helps create the paradise of Palolem Beach in Goa.

The main road of Palolem Beach runs behind the beach, it’s quiet with lots of shops and even more cafes and restaurants. The best cafe in Palolem Beach is Zest offering healthy vegetarian and vegan food, I ended up there way too many times.

If you want to do Yoga in Goa, I’d recommend Earth Yoga Village as a great place for a Yoga Holiday in Goa!

Overall Palolem Beach is a great beach in Goa for backpackers and foreign tourists because it offers an uncommercialised beach setting with plenty of accommodation options. It’s the kind of place you visit for a few days and end up staying for longer!

Suggested by: The Wandering Quinn

2. Patnem Beach

Patnem Beach is one of the best beaches located in South Goa. While the beach is located at close proximity to the famous Palolem Beach, it’s still relatively lesser-known which makes it a super chilled out beach and one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners!

There are lots of beach shacks and huts located right at the beach for lounging, eating and drinking cocktails after a dip in the ocean. There’s a small market with shops selling clothes and accessories on the road leading to the beach. You’ll find a few Goa hotels, guest houses and restaurants on this road itself. The beach has a relaxed vibe and very little crowd which makes it a better alternative to some of the popular beaches in Goa if what you’re looking for is relaxation with some peace and quiet.

You’ll find very few Indian tourists and mostly a foreign crowd at Patnem beach because it hasn’t gained popularity among the Indian visitors yet so you should add it to your Goa itinerary.

The lesser number of visitors combined with all the amenities present at the beach make it a great choice for foreign visitors to Goa.

Suggested by: The Spicy Journey

3. Arambol Beach

Arambol is a popular beach in North Goa. It used to be a popular hippy spot and although there is still a hippy vibe with evening drum circles, yoga and various healing courses on offer it’s also very popular with holidaymakers and backpackers too.

Arambol beach is huge in length and width with lots of restaurants along it offering sunbeds in return for a drink or food from their menu. The ocean is perfect for swimming in with enough waves for it to be fun but not dangerous and the sunset in Arambol is beautiful as the beach is perfectly west facing.

As well as there being plenty of restaurants on the beach in Arambol the town behind the beach is a hive of activity too with lots of shops, restaurants and cafes selling Indian Food but also healthy Western Food making it one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners!

Suggested by: The Wandering Quinn

4. Agonda Beach

Situated in South Goa, Agonda Beach is a golden crescent of powder-soft sand, where the pace slows down to the meditative sway of the palm trees, and where cows come to congregate at sunset. This is a far cry from the concrete jungles and party beaches elsewhere in Goa; although you will still easily find WiFi and Western Food.

We were visiting Goa with kids (aged 2 and 4) and this was a perfect beach for them as it’s not too busy, it’s clean, and the surf was just right for boogie-boards. Plus, despite my kids both being very fair, then didn’t receive any unwanted attention or selfie-requests, which is something we always had to deal with whilst out and about at our then home in Bangalore.

Agonda is a quiet beach, and the sea has just the right amount of gentle surf for a good boogie-board session. There are also a handful of restaurants serving Western (e.g. pancakes, omelettes and chips) as well as your yummy South Indian curries. But, the best thing is that these restaurants are right on the beach, so visitors can enjoy a Kingfisher whilst the little ones play in the sand.

For those who fancy peeling themselves away from the beach can take a fishing boat out to see the dolphins.

Suggested by: TraveLynn Family

5. Anjuna Beach

Anjuna is a small village in north Goa, where the land meets the calm waters of the Arabian Sea. Laid-back yet colourful, Anjuna is the perfect destination for foreigners looking to unwind next to the ocean, explore one of Goa’s biggest markets and chill out in beachside bars and restaurants.

Anjuna doesn’t have the most expansive beach in Goa, but it does have plenty of charm. Foreigners will enjoy Anjuna’s laid-back atmosphere, where chilled backpacker hostels, coffee shops, bars and restaurants fringe the beach. 

Along its shoreline, Anjuna also offers plenty of activities, including yoga classes and water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing. It’s also home to the magnificent Albuquerque Mansion, which was built in 1920 and boasts a beautiful Mangalore tile top and octagonal towers.

The biggest draw of Anjuna, though, is its famous flea market, which takes place every Wednesday. The market was originally created a few decades ago by foreign hippies who were trying to fund their stay in Goa by selling their crafts and skills. However, it has since become a huge market selling products from all over India: spices from Kerala, colourful saris from Rajasthan and so much more. 

Though Anjuna was originally seen as a hotspot for backpackers, midrange and domestic travellers have also been making their way to Anjuna in recent years. It’s easy to see why – this gorgeous beach and its surroundings have a lot to offer and is easily one of the beaches in Goa for foreigners!

Suggested by: The Planet Edit

Goa isn’t all about the beaches, there are many markets in Goa, activities and Churches of Old Goa to visit too!

6. Morjim Beach

Morjim beach in North Goa, is close to the more popular beaches of the region, yet stands apart due to its quiet, tranquil nature. It is a relatively untraveled beach, visitors go here to get away from the crowds, and to relax at the huts and shacks scattered along the sand at the south end.

The area, part of the small Morjim village, is inhabited by a wide variety of people creating a good blend of diverse cultures and different languages. It has also earned the alias “Little Russia” due to the large concentration of Russian expatriates living there. The landscape is a mix of palm trees, paddy fields, and forests and is well known as a nesting ground for the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

The protected marine turtles mean that parties and loud music are generally banned, with relaxation and alternative therapies being the activities of choice.

Lifeguards are on duty from sunrise to sunset and in season, the water is pleasant for swimming. It is also a popular place among kitesurfers due to its shallow waters and wide beach. 

Suggested by: A Rai of Light

7. Colva Beach

Colva beach is one of the best beaches in South Goa. To reach Colva beach you can take a taxi from Margao Railway Station. It’s just 7 km away. From Panjim, the capital of Goa it takes around 1 hour.

The beach is lined out with coconut reefs. It is well known for its whitewashed Our Lady of Mercy Church founded in the year 1630. The church is very beautiful. If you’re looking to chill and get a nice tan line, this beach is perfect and one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners. It’s neither too crowded not too isolated. If you are with kids in Goa then you can try out water sports like snorkelling, parasailing, jet-skiing, banana ride etc at this beach.

If you are looking for nightlife then there are a great number of restaurants and bars that offer high-end music and dance with complimentary drinks. You can also find beach shacks from November to March. These are great places to stay or just spend time dancing and trying the seafood at budget.

Suggested by: Eager to Travel

8. Cola Beach

Most travellers to Goa usually opt to stay in the more popular beaches in North Goa or in Palolem Beach in South Goa and so many often overlook the hidden gems in between like Cola Beach in South Goa! Cola Beach is one of the best beaches in Goa and least visited beaches in Goa due to its hard-to-reach location and lack of media coverage. But this stunning beach is well worth the bumpy ride through unpaved roads.

Once you arrive at Cola Beach, you will see a few places where you can sleep to spend the night right on the beach, 2-3 restaurants, and a just a few travellers relaxing and enjoying the epic views. This is not a party beach, travellers should visit Cola Beach to relax and connect with the natural surroundings.

The beach itself is clean with few waves and a gorgeous backdrop of green hills. But what really makes it stand out? The Blue Lagoon. A freshwater river which pours out to the beach. This gorgeous river is surrounded by tall palm trees and verdant foliage. 

Consider spending a night here or at least making your visit to Cola Beach a day trip so you can enjoy all its parts from the Blue Lagoon River to its epic sunsets.

Suggested by: Gerry Isabelle

9. Vagator Beach

Vagator Beach is one of the non-crowded beaches in North Goa and one of the offbeat places in Goa. The beach is split into two parts, one is known aa big Vagator and the other is known as the little Vagator.

The high cliffs looking down on the Vagator Beach create a dramatic effect. The coconut tree near the cliff adds to the beauty of the beach. You have to climb down the stair to reach the beach. The sand is soft and the water is clean for swimming. Two freshwater springs fall into the sea at Vagator beach. There are a couple of shacks on the beach during the high season. This beach is not crowded like other popular beaches in North Goa even during the high season.

Many places near the beach play trance and psychedelic music from different DJ’s from around the world during high season and it is a popular place for rave parties which is why it’s known as one of the beaches in Goa for foreigners! Vagator is popular among western tourists due to it’s laid back culture and clean beaches, and for being a party beach in Goa.

Suggested by:  My Simple Sojourn

Accommodation in Goa

As you can probably tell, there are a range of accommodation options in Goa.

If you want to stay in a resort in Goa, you can. If you want to stay in a beach shack in Goa you can.

• For more posts to help you plan your Goa trip see:
• A Guide to Palolem Beach in Goa!
• 2 Week Goa & Kerala Itinerary For South India
• Top Tourist Scams In India & How To Avoid Them!
• ALL MY INDIA BLOG POSTS.