Goa Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Goa, India)

Home to some of India's most renowned beach resorts, Goa is a tourists paradise and life here is quite different to many of the country's biggest cities. In general, Goa is a great place to relax and enjoy a range of recreational activities, although the main beaches can become busy during the peak season, particularly between December and January.

Tourists staying in Goa will find that a useful way to sightsee is to rent an auto rickshaw for the entire day. Travel tips about life in Goa are below.

Useful Contact Details

As well as a branch at Dabolim Airport, RTDC Goa Tourism Offices can also be found within both Panaji and Margao. For general tourist information about the state as a whole, the Government of India Tourist Office at Panaji is worth considering.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) / Goa Tourism Offices

Address: Dr Alvaro Costa Road, Panaji, Goa, India, IN
Tel: +91 0832 222 4132
This office is located on the southern side of the Old Pato Bridge and offers maps of Panaji and Goa as a whole. Local tours can be booked here. An information counter is also available at the Kadamba bus stand.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 17:45

Address: Margao Residency, Margao, Goa, India, IN
Tel: +91 0832 271 5204
The Margao Residency branch can be found on the southern side of the Municipal Gardens.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:30

Government of India Tourist Office
Address: Communidade Building, Church Square, Panaji, Goa, India, IN
Tel: +91 0832 222 3412
This is an exceptionally helpful office and features enthusiastic staff. Qualified and highly experienced tour guides can be arranged at this branch.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00

GK Tourist Centre
Address: Benaulim, Goa, India, IN
Tel: +91 0832 277 0476
Features access to the Internet, currency exchange and also changes travellers cheques.
Open hours: 09:00 to 22:00

Language and Dialect

Goa has long been a multilingual state, due to its residents arriving from many different locations from India and even Portugal. Two main languages are spoken in Goa, Marathi and Konkani, although since Hindi is regarded as India's national language, this is always widely recognised. Tourists will be pleased to find that most locals in Goa involved with tourism are able to speak English to some degree, although you may still find it useful to bring a Hindi phrasebook. Some basic Hindi phrases are shown below.

Good morning - shubha prabhaat
Good afternoon - namaste
OK - theek hai
What's your name? - aapka naam kya hai?
What is this? - yeh kya hai?
What time is it? - kya samay hai?
Where? - kahan?
When? - kab?

Dos and Don'ts, Advice and Scams

• Banks and Currency Exchange - banks and ATMs are situated all around Goa. In Panaji, the main banks stand on the Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, 18th June Road, Dr Atmaram Borkar Road and MG Road. Further banks and cashpoints lie in South Goa's Margao (Caro Centre, Luis Miranda Road and next to the bus stand)
• Beach Sellers / Peddlers - tourists sunbathing on Goa's main beaches will often be approached by children selling expensive and poor quality goods. Make it clear straight away that you are not interested, before they lay out their wares
• Bookstores - the main bookstores in Goa can be found in Panaji (Church Square, Rani Pramila Arcade and Dayanand Bandodkar Marg), Mapusa (Mapusa Clinic Road) and also in the Calangute area (Calangute-Bada Road)
• Drinking Water - always boil tap water or use purification tablets before drinking water in Goa, or simply stick to bottled water. Also avoid ice in drinks
• Ear Doctors - avoid anyone approaching you claiming that you ears need to be cleaned, however persuasive they may be. 'Ear doctors' in Goa are generally based around the main markets, such as Anjuna Market
• Haggling - when shopping in gift shops and at markets, prepare to haggle over the prices, as these are usually inflated with tourists in mind
• Internet Access - various Internet cafes are located in Goa's main towns are resorts, including various cafes in Panaji, along the 18th June Road and the 31st January Road
• Phones - consider bringing your mobile phone to Goa, since it is simple to connect to India's local network. Private STD / ISD telephone offices are also to be found in the main resorts
• Pickpockets - watch out for pickpockets in the most crowded places around Goa, such as markets and bazaars
• Purchasing jewellery - only purchase jewellery from good stores, with polite staff and good quality merchandise
• Swimming / Bathing - be careful when bathing at some beaches around Goa's coastline, as the undercurrents can be strong at times. Stick to calm waters known to be safe
• Temperatures and Heat - Goa's is known for its sunny hot weather, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids and use sunscreen
• Time Share - time share touts in Goa are known to approach tourists on a motorbike, claiming that they have won a prize, simply to get them to sit through a long time-share seminar
• Travel Agents - try to steer clear of unofficial travel agents in Goa and use only those that are a member of an accredited association