It’s time to execute that long pending trip to the land of beaches with this guide for North Goa!

Situated between Mandovi and Tiracol rivers, North Goa comprises the famous Calangute and Baga beaches, the serene and calm beaches of the extreme North, like Mandrem and Ashwem, the hippie beaches as people call them, Vagator and Anjuna, and the posh resorts of Candolim.

When it comes to accommodation, this region has plenty of hotels and restaurants, that will suit travellers of every budget.

Why travel to North Goa

This part of the state is full of action. It's not like you visit a beach or two and you are done, cause each one of them is different and must be visited. Calangute, Baga, Morjim and Ashwem are the beaches that lie in North Goa, the land that has a little something for everyone. Weather your mood for the day is to just watch the sun set and relax, or it is to party hard, or simply beach-hoping and enjoying water sports, North Goa is where you should be.

The top highlights

Goa could be a small state in size when compared to the other states, but there is so much to do and enjoy in this land of the beaches that one trip alone would just not be enough. Here is a list of 5 things, you definitely need to check out when travelling to North Goa:

1. Tourist Night Markets

If you want to see a mix of cultures and get into your possession some great souvenirs, do check-out the Anjuna and Baga flea markets. These could be slightly expensive as they are aimed at the vacationer, but is a great place to be in anyway. The most famous Anjuna Flea market is a long stretch of stalls that sell a lot of fascinating stuff, from trendy clothes to beautiful artefacts, attractive jewellery, handicrafts and a lot of curious stuff. Splurging on something you like here is totally worth it, because who knows when the next Goa trip would be.

2. Sunset at Vagator

There are many places in Goa to enjoy a kaleidoscopic view of sunset, but the one that you are going to remember forever is the breath taking view from the Vagator hilltop. From the edge of the cliff, you can watch the 180 degree view of the sun going down and don't forget to take a picture or two, to relive the moment whenever you want.

3. Visit to Fort Aguada

Maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the Aguada Fort is a 17th century fort that offers the best panoramic view of the sea. It was built in 1612 and was used by the Portuguese as a fresh water replenishing port for passing ships and to keep an eye on the Marathas and Ducth. In the middle of the fort is the old Portuguese light house and a new one too, that is open for tourists and offers amazing views from tops.

4. Para-gliding at Arambol

Goa is a great place to try adventure sports and for Para-gliding, the fresh water lake at Arambol is most the popular destination. There are different service providers that give you the complete experience, from taking you on a 20 minute adventure to booking you a videographer, to capture your entire experience!

5. Kitesurfing at Morjim

This one is an exciting water sport that combines gymnastics, wake boarding, surfing, paragliding and wind surfing. The Goa Kitesurfing school offers three different courses, based on experience levels, that you need to enrol in if you want to take the sport. Morjim is known to be the perfect place for it because of the safe and calm waters here.