Located between Calangute beach in the south and Baga creek in the north, Baga beach is the most popular sea beach by the coastline of the Arabian sea in North Goa. Famous for the scenic sea beach, adventurous water sports, vibrant nightlife, and delicious foods, Baga attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Not only the sea beach is ideal for swimming, but you can also get the thrill of parasailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, and kayaking. Protected by professional lifeguards and governed by the local authorities, Baga beach is extremely well-maintained and perfectly safe for native and international tourists.
Besides various water activities, Baga beach, Goa, also offers a delightful nightlife experience. You will find the famous Tito’s lane with some of the best bars, clubs, shacks, and pubs with disco music, mouth-watering seafood, and drinks. Candlelight dinner by the Baga sea beach is memorable for a lifetime.
Highlights Of Baga Beach, Goa
| Location | North Goa |
| Attractions | Watersports, nightlife, food |
| Suitable For | Couples, friends and families |
| Best Mobile Networks | Airtel, Jio |
| ATM Availability | Yes |
| Nearest Railway Station | Thivim (19.5 Km), Karmali (26 Km), Madgaon (56 Km) |
| Nearest Airport | Dabolim (40 Km) |
| When To Visit | October to February |
| Entry Type | Free |
Activities Near Baga Beach
Baga beach offers plenty of adventurous activities to tourists with different choices. Besides being a perfect honeymoon destination for couples, Baga beach in Goa is also good for family travel. During our trip to Goa, we explored and found them worthy and value-for-money, which keeps us up to visit again. Let’s explore the various activities before you go!
Enjoy Water Sports
Visiting Baga beach and not trying any adrenaline-rushing water sports is surely a miss. Unlike any other sea beaches in India, you will find lots of adventure sports arranged by certified professionals at Baga beach.
Parasailing
It is a recreational kiting activity where a person wears an open parachute while being towed by a boat. The view from above is mesmerizing and very thrilling. Parasailing is the most exciting activity among all water sports near Baga beach in Goa. The cost of parasailing by most organizers is in the range of ₹800 to ₹1500 for 15-20 minutes.
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving
If you are looking for an underwater adventure, you can go snorkelling or scuba diving. Swimming under the blue water of the Arabian sea by the side of colourful fishes is a thrilling experience. Though the beauty is not as great as you can get near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is worthy at the price point. The cost of scuba diving at Baga beach starts from ₹1500 to ₹15000, depending on the season and packages.
Kayaking
Near the north end of the Baga beach, you will see the Baga creek towards your right side. You will notice some kayaking arrangements here but for the best experience, go to Arpora Baga Creek Road, near Karma Resorts. There are several top-rated canoe and kayak rental services.
Wakeboarding
Like parasailing, wakeboarding is also a very exciting water sport that involves a rider on a wakeboard, which is towed behind a motorboat. Jumping on the waves and splashing the water is a fascinating thing to do at Baga beach.
Jet Skiing
Yet another adventurous water sport, Jet Skiing, is for people who are afraid of heights or looking for a budget-friendly option. Jet skiing is basically driving a scooter on seawater. A train professional drives the scooter from the back of the visitors, allowing them to enjoy the water splashing and riding over the waves.
Windsurfing
Also known as boardsailing, it is another exciting water sport at Baga sea beach that involves surfing and sailing together. Controlling the wind and balancing yourself on the board are the keys to this activity. Apart from these activities Hobie cat sailing is also trending at Baga beach.
Witness The Colorful Sunset
As Baga beach is located by the Arabian sea, witnessing the sunset has special importance. Surrounded by hills, greenery, yellow sands, and blue water, the sky becomes coloured with the golden rays of the red sun. Enjoy the picturesque view and capture the moment with your family.
Experience The Nightlife Of Baga
Besides water sports, Baga beach is unique for its colourful nightlife. After sunset, every seaside hotel opens shacks with glamorous lighting, seating arrangements, and music for evening food and drinks.
The music in most shacks is pretty loud, which may not suit every visitor. If you are a person who likes partying and dancing, those hotel-side shacks are ideal for you. However, enjoying a candlelight dinner before the open sea is an experience like never before.
For the best quality food and a pleasant ambience, visit Britto’s Restaurant & Bar, where you will get a wide variety of food items. Starting from mushroom and paneer for vegetarians, Britto’s restaurant also offers seafood like prawns, squids, fishes, and meat like chicken, pork, and beef with mouth-watering recipes.
Apart from Britto’s restaurant, Baga Restro Bar, Red Frog, Blue Waves beach café, Bistro bar and restaurant, Sea Turtle beach café, St. Anthony’s bar and restaurant, Las Olas, and Baga Tales also have sea-facing shacks with food, drinks, and music.
Club Titos and Cafe Mambo are the two most popular nightclubs in Baga. Both offer live DJ music, delicious food, and drinks. Jamie’s restaurant is another place for your dinner with good quality food. Along the famous Tito’s lane, you will notice several other bars, clubs, and pubs, but these two are closest to the sea beach, offering the best facilities.
Go For Shopping
There is a small Tibetan market on Baga road and a Saturday flea market near Arpora, where you can visit and shop for artefacts, handloom, and boutique items, enjoy good snacks and explore the nearby area.
Visit The Snow Park
There is a snow park near Baga beach where you can spend time with your children in a chilly environment. Playing snow volleyball, climbing ice walls, riding ice sliders and sledging car, enjoying drinks from the ice bar, and photoshoot with an ice igloo and ice sculpture are the best activities to do here.
Baga Beach Map
Best Hotels Near Baga Beach
Though there are many hotels near Baga beach, Goa, only a few of them have full sea-facing views with an arrangement of beach-side shacks. Arudra Beach Resort and Habbana Beach Resort by Vihasta have the only beach-side accommodations with all necessary amenities facing the sea directly.
Here is a list of the top 5 hotels near Baga beach-
| Rank | Hotels | Distance from Beach |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arudra Beach Resort | 0 meters |
| 2 | The Baga Beach Resort | 60 meters |
| 3 | Colonia Santa Maria | 200 meters |
| 4 | Acron Waterfront Resort | 600 meters |
| 5 | Lazy Lagoon | 3000 meters |
How to Reach Baga Beach In North Goa?
Baga beach is very well connected to the rest of India and foreign countries. Be it by air, railway or road, you can easily reach there in a matter of hours. Let’s explore all the options.
- By Air: The Goa International Airport at Dabolim is located just 42 Km away from Baga beach. You can avail of the prepaid taxi service from the airport, which takes around 1-1.5 hours to reach the sea beach.
- By Train: Karmali and Madgaon railway stations are the closest options for train travel. While Karmali station is just 26 Km away from Baga, Madgaon is a bit away. You have to hire a taxi to reach Baga beach from any of these railway stations.
- By Road: Baga beach is well-connected to the nearby states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana with the national highways of NH66, NH67, NH748, and NH52. However, cab services like Ola and Uber are unavailable in Goa. You have to avail of bus services, hire a taxi or rent a scooter. As an alternative, you can book a cab using the app Goa Miles, recommended by Goa Tourism.
Ideal Time To Visit Baga Beach
While Baga beach is accessible throughout the year, October to February is the best time to visit. This is because of the chilly yet sunny weather with the least chance of rainfall. The weather conditions also remain stable at this time, facilitating all types of water sports safely.
If you are a party lover, don’t miss visiting Baga beach on 31st December. The whole area gets decorated with more colorful lighting, fireworks with a video of live music to celebrate the new year.
Apart from Oct-Feb months, you can still visit Baga beach without spending a high price on hotels, transport, and food. During the monsoon, Baga has the least number of tourists as water sports are unsafe during this time.
Things To Carry To Baga Beach
Carry your usual travel essentials, including swimwear and shorts required for beachside activities. While shorts and t-shirts are good for men, women have a long list of options like cover-up dresses, sarongs, hotpants, spaghettis, Sundresses, skirts, and jumpsuits.
Apart from these, carry a hat/cap, sandals, sunglasses, and sunscreen to stay comfortable during your trip. Capturing the beautiful moments with your pocket camera will help you memorize Baga beach for a lifetime. A trolley bag and a tote bag are ideal for packing and carrying all your apparel and goods for your Baga beach trip.
Is Visiting Baga Beach Worth It?
Like any other sea beach, Baga beach also has some advantages and disadvantages. It is the most popular sea beach among tourists in north Goa, which we found worth visiting during our trip. However, as the choices vary from person to person, check the following pros and cons and understand if Baga beach can meet your satisfaction.
Pros
- Excellent facility for varieties of water sports.
- Baga beach is perfectly safe for swimming. Lifeguards keep their sharp eyes on the towers and jeeps and prevent any problem before happening.
- It is ideal for party people who enjoy DJ music and dance.
- There are many restaurants where you can get flavour-rich foods and cocktails to make your evening memorable.
- Accommodation is easily available near Baga as there are plenty of hotels.
- Some agencies are available near Baga beach where you can rent a scooter for your sightseeing trip.
- If you are a solo traveller, especially a female, don’t worry about safety and security near Baga beach.
Cons
- Baga beach is pretty crowded compared to other sea beaches in Goa. If you like to avoid crowd, Baga is not your ideal destination.
- While the loud music is enjoyable by many people, if you prefer a quiet evening to spend by the sea beach, Baga beach will disappoint you. In such a case, visiting the sea beaches of south Goa would be ideal for you.
Places To Visit Near Baga Beach
- Calangute Beach: Located right beside Baga beach, Calangute beach is another popular destination in north Goa. Covered with golden sands, Calangute also offers water sports and good food.
- Candolim and Sinquerim Beach: These two beaches are situated next to Calangute beach. Being less crowded, Candolim beach looks more serene with a similar landscape to Calangute. However, the facilities are limited.
- Aguada Fort: It is one of the most popular forts in Goa that attracts thousands of tourists every day during the peak seasons. Aguada fort is a historic place to visit and offers a picturesque view from the top of the hill.
- Anjuna Beach: It is located 5 Km away from Baga beach on the other side of the creek. Anjuna beach is rockier and has a lesser width compared to Baga. If you plan a day for sightseeing, include it on your list.
- Ozran and Vagator Beach: These two sea beaches are located just above Anjuna beach. While Ozran beach is more offbeat and smaller, Vagator is a comparatively larger beach covered with white sand.
- Chapora Fort: Situated next to Vagator beach, Chapora fort is another historical fort where a scene from the movie “Dil Chahta Hai” was shot. Though this fort is less maintained than Aguada fort, it offers an excellent view of the sea beaches of north Goa.
- Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Named after Dr Salim Ali, the “birdman of India”, this bird sanctuary is located 20 Km away from Baga beach. If you are a bird lover, gear up with your binocular and camera to spot some birds here.
Tips To Visit Baga Beach, Goa
- If you prefer staying in a sea-facing hotel, book in advance to avoid paying a high price.
- The cost of accommodation, transport, and food at Baga is highest during the months of December. Plan early and arrange everything in advance if you are visiting during this time.
- Internet connectivity is pretty slow nearby the sea beach. Using the WIFI facility of your hotel is the best option.
- Google Pay and Paytm facilities are available in most hotels, bars, clubs, and shacks. You can also use the ATMs located around Baga for cash money.
- While walking on the sea beach, you may notice a few pieces of broken glass bottles scattered here and there. So be cautious about roaming around and always swim inside the safe zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Baga beach is most famous for its adventurous water sports, glamorous nightlife, and delicious foods. You can also go sightseeing, visit the snow park and enjoy shopping in the local markets.
Yes, Baga beach, Goa, is safe at night. The local authorities and police are very alert, and you can roam freely on the beach even late at night.
While both beaches have their own pros and cons, Baga beach is preferable in terms of quality nightlife, food, and scenic landscape. On the other hand, Calangute has a quieter environment and is cheaper in accommodation.
Yes, Baga beach is good for swimming. The beach is properly marked with swimming zones and no-swim zones. The lifeguards are always present near the beach and control safe swimming conditions.
Yes, Baga beach is perfect for a family tour. As the water is shallow, kids and elders find comfort when swimming in the sea and enjoying the waves. Besides couples, lots of families with children visit Baga beach every year and celebrate the moments together.
USER REVIEWS
Baga or Palolem which is better to visit in Goa?
Baga has an awesome landscape, vibrant nightlife and lots of water sports. Palolem beach is more serene and quite with a picturesque view and nearby backwater. However, options for hotels and restaurants are more near Baga beach. It will ultimately depend on your choice. Hope this helps!
Wonderful travel guide on Baga beach. I am including it on the itinerary of my next trip to Goa.
Thank you! Don’t hesitate to contact us for any query.