Before you go to Goa: fifteen good things to know
The small rules and courtesies that make a first trip easier and kinder, from what to wear in church to why the sea closes in the monsoon.
On this page
In short
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and temples, take your shoes off at temples, and ask before photographing people or taking photos inside.
- Uber and Ola don't operate in Goa, so book taxis on GoaMiles. UPI works almost everywhere, but keep cash for markets and small shops.
- Swim only between the lifeguards' flags. The sea is closed for swimming through the monsoon, and swimming at waterfalls, rivers and lakes is banned for about 60 days from late June.
- Drinking or cooking in the open on beaches, and littering, can attract fines. Outdoor music stops at 10 PM in Anjuna and Vagator, and casinos are for over 21s with photo ID.
- 2 October is a dry day across Goa. The emergency number is 112.
The things that catch first-timers out in Goa are small ones: what to wear into a church, why there's no Uber, where you may swim, and what you can't do on a beach. None of them is hard, and knowing them makes Goa easier for you and kinder to the people who live here.
These are the fifteen we'd tell a friend before a first trip, grouped by the moment you'll need them.
Churches, temples and village manners
1. Cover shoulders and knees at churches and temples
Goa's churches and temples are places of worship first. Cover shoulders and knees, take your shoes off before entering a temple, keep your voice low during services, and ask before taking photos inside. At Old Goa's churches, a UNESCO World Heritage site, go early and dress modestly.
2. Ask before you photograph people
Ask before photographing people, especially in villages and markets. Goa's old houses are homes, not museums, so admire them from the lane. In Panjim's Fontainhas, people live behind those ochre, blue and green walls, so keep your voice down, even at first light.
3. Learn a few words of Konkani
A few words of Konkani, the local language, go a long way, and the first of these explains a great deal about Goa.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Susegad | The Goan art of unhurried contentment |
| Dev borem korum | Thank you. Literally, may God do you good |
| Poder | The village baker who cycles by each morning |
| Balcão | The shaded front porch of an old Goan house |
Money and getting around
4. Pay by UPI, but carry some cash
UPI works almost everywhere, and GoaMiles takes it in the app. Keep some cash for markets and small shops, and for the coves and islands, which have few shops and where some paths charge a small fee. The government river ferries are free for foot passengers and two-wheelers.
5. Book taxis on GoaMiles: there's no Uber or Ola
Uber and Ola don't operate in Goa. Download GoaMiles, Goa's own taxi app, before you land (Android or iPhone), or use the taxi counters at the airports. Our guide to getting around Goa covers the rest, from buses to ferries.
6. Carry your licence, wear a helmet, and never ride after drinks
A scooter is the local way to explore. Carry your licence, always wear a helmet, and never ride after drinks: take a taxi home instead. Village roads are narrow and dark at night, with cattle and dogs on them, so slow down after dark.
Swimming, the sea and the seasons
7. Swim only between the lifeguards' flags
Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, between their flags. Currents can be strong on calm-looking days. Some quieter beaches, such as Querim at Goa's northern tip and Kakolem in the south, have no lifeguards at all, so take extra care there and keep out of river mouths. Our beach guide runs the coast from north to south.
8. In the monsoon, the water is closed
The sea is closed for swimming through the monsoon, June to September, and district orders ban swimming at waterfalls, rivers and lakes for about 60 days from late June. You can still visit a waterfall; you can't go in. Bring a light rain jacket: some shacks close, but the forests and falls are at their best. More in Goa in the monsoon.
9. Book water sports only with registered operators
Sea sports run from October to May, 8 AM to sunset, and only with operators registered with Goa Tourism, who carry photo ID. Always wear a life jacket. Paragliding was suspended after an accident in January 2025, so fly only with an operator who can show Goa Tourism registration. Book activities through LetsGoa, the booking site we trust.
Beaches and nights out
10. Leave the beach as you found it
Littering, and drinking or cooking in the open on beaches, can attract fines. Take your rubbish back with you. On the turtle beaches, Galgibaga among them, nests are cordoned: keep clear, and no bright lights after dark.
11. Outdoor music stops at 10 PM in Anjuna and Vagator
Outdoor music stops at 10 PM in Anjuna and Vagator, so late nights move indoors. Entry charges, dress codes and opening nights change often, so check a venue's page before you go, and see Goa after dark for our picks.
12. Casinos are for over 21s, with photo ID
Casinos such as Deltin Royale and Big Daddy float on the Mandovi in Panjim. Gaming is for over 21s with original photo ID, entry is by package, and men can't wear shorts, sleeveless tops or flip-flops.
Heat, dry days and emergencies
13. Plan your day around the midday sun
The midday sun is strong, so start early, rest through the middle of the day and carry water. Quiet corners are at their best before 9 AM, and Old Goa's churches before the heat and the crowds. Plan sunsets with care too: Chapora Fort is under restoration until about December 2026 and entry can close around 5:30 PM, and Cabo de Rama's gates close at 5:30 PM, so watch from the open cliffs nearby.
14. Remember that 2 October is a dry day
Goa declares 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti, a dry day. In 2024 and 2025 the state's notice closed every premises selling liquor for the day, whether bottles to take away or drinks to have there. If you arrive in early October, plan around it.
15. Save 112, and know the nearest hospital
The emergency number in Goa is 112, for police, fire and ambulance. In the north, St. Anthony's hospital is in Anjuna, near the petrol pump. Save both before you need them.
Questions people ask
That Uber and Ola don't operate, so you'll book taxis on GoaMiles, and that UPI works almost everywhere but cash helps at markets. Cover shoulders and knees in churches and temples, swim only between the lifeguards' flags and never in the monsoon, and don't drink or cook in the open on beaches, which can attract fines.
The main ones: no littering, drinking or cooking in the open on beaches; outdoor music stops at 10 PM in Anjuna and Vagator; casinos are for over 21s with original photo ID. Sea sports run only October to May, 8 AM to sunset, with registered operators, and swimming at waterfalls, rivers and lakes is banned for about 60 days from late June. On a scooter, carry your licence, wear a helmet and never ride after drinks.
Not in the open: drinking or cooking in the open on beaches can attract fines, as can littering. Have your drink at a shack or restaurant instead, and take a taxi home.
Yes. Goa declares Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October, a dry day, and in 2024 and 2025 every premises selling liquor, in bottles or by the glass, closed across the state for the day. Plan your evening around it.
112, for police, fire and ambulance. In the north, St. Anthony's hospital is in Anjuna, near the petrol pump.
Light clothes for the heat, plus something that covers shoulders and knees for churches and temples. From June to September, add a light rain jacket. For the casinos, men can't wear shorts, sleeveless tops or flip-flops.
Sources and checks
- The House of Nivak guest guide (facts checked 27 Sep 2026)
- Department of Information and Publicity, Goa: dry day on 2 October 2025
- Department of Information and Publicity, Goa: dry day on 2 October 2024
- River Navigation Department, Goa: ferry routes and tolls
- GoaMiles on Google Play (Android)
- GoaMiles on the App Store (iPhone)
Opening days, prices and seasonal rules change. We check them before every update; please confirm anything time-sensitive before you go.
