Calangute Beach, Goa – What To Expect?

Hailed as the “Queen of Beaches”, Calangute beach is the 2nd most popular sea beach in north Goa. Located in between Baga beach and Candolim beach, Calangute is known for its picturesque landscape. The golden sand and blue Arabian sea, surrounded by coconut and palm trees, make it a perfect combination for sea beach lovers who seek a way out from their busy lifestyles.

Calangute beach is also famous for varieties of water sports like parasailing, jet skiing, banana riding, and snorkelling. So, Calangute is a must-visit beach in Goa for adventure lovers. There are many good hotels and restaurants beside the sea beach where you can get mouth-watering food and cosy accommodations.

Apart from it, Calangute beach in Goa is also famous for its dazzling nightlife. After watching the beautiful sunset over the sea, shacks nearby the beach are decorated with colourful lighting with music. If you are a party-lover, Calangute won’t disappoint you.

Like other sea beaches of Goa, Calangute also offers romantic candlelight dinners beside the beach, which is exciting to do here. Together with the beautiful sea beach, magnificent landscape, safe facility of water sports, quality nightlife, good food, and stays, we have found Calangute is perfect for all tourists- families, couples, and friends.

Calangute Beach, Goa

Highlights Of Calangute Beach, Goa

LocationNorth Goa
AttractionsWatersports, scenic sea beach, nightlife
Suitable ForCouples, friends and families
Best Mobile NetworksAirtel, Jio, Idea
ATM AvailabilityYes
Nearest Railway StationThivim (19.8 Km), Karmali (24.5 Km), Madgaon (48.4 Km)
Nearest AirportDabolim (38 Km)
When To VisitOctober to February
Entry TypeFree

Activities Near Calangute Sea Beach

Calangute beach in Goa offers lots of water sports activities and enjoyable nightlife. You can safely walk on the golden sand beach, bathe in the sea or enjoy adventure activities. After visiting the beach, we have compiled the top things to do:

Enjoy A Walk By The Beach

While other sea beaches like Baga and Palolem have white sand, Calangute beach has golden sand and creates a perfect blend with the blue sea. Walking on the sea beach during the sunset is a fantastic experience.

Boats getting ready for water sports

Relax On The Sea Beach

After enjoying the morning walk beside the Arabian sea, you can relax on the loungers and sunbeds exclusively available on Calangute beach. It is a good place to rest while enjoying the sea breeze.

 Loungers and sunbeds on Calangute beach

You can also go swimming in the sea as Calangute beach is safe. Lifeguards constantly monitor the shoreline from watchtowers and jeeps and alert the tourists if they move too far or if there is a tide. They even have marked the safe and unsafe zones for swimming in the Calangute sea.

Marked safe and unsafe zone for swimming on Calangute beach

Participate In Water Sports

Parasailing, jet skiing, speed boating, windsurfing, banana riding, and snorkelling are the most popular water sports on Calangute beach. If you love adventure activities, do not miss trying out one.

Parasailing at Calangute beach

Spotting dolphins is another exciting thing to do. However, as Calangute has no backwater, Kayaking is unavailable near the beach. Instead, you can go near Baga creek and contact the organizers near Karma Resorts.

Speed boat riding at Calangute sea

The Nightlife

Several beachfront bars, pubs, and restaurants on Calangute beach offer good quality food and drinks with live music. Among all of them, Souza Lobo and Chelsea Beach Shack are the best places for dinner. These restaurants have a good reputation for mouth-watering food items like continental, north Indian, Chinese, special Goan recipes, and wines which proved right to us.

Though Carvalho’s Bar & Restaurant and The Fisherman’s Wharf are also good for quality nightlife, they are located away from the sea beach. Tio Tilly’s Bar and Kitchen used to be a popular place for dining out, but it is now permanently closed.

Dining at Calangute

Shopping Activities

The Calangute market is located just 750 meters away from the sea beach. You can buy fashionable hats, clothing, toys, bags, shoes, groceries, food, and what’s not! The Tibetan market is another famous place for shopping in Calangute. If you are a person who loves fish in your daily meal, visit Calangute Naikwaddo Fish Market for fresh fish, squids, crabs, or other seafood.

Calangute Beach Map

Top Hotels Near Calangute Beach In Goa

There are hundreds of hotels available throughout the town of Calangute. But, is it a good idea to visit Calangute beach but not stay at a seaside hotel?

Not at all! Staying in a beach-facing hotel will let you enjoy your trip to Goa even more. Walking by the sea beach at night, having a candlelight dinner, and enjoying the cool sea breeze from the balcony are possible only if you stay near the Calangute sea beach.

The following hotels and resorts are close to the beach with excellent hospitality, spacious rooms, and delicious food at different price ranges, suitable for tourists with all budgets. Here are the best sea-facing hotels on Calangute beach:

  1. Hotel Goan Heritage
  2. The Park Calangute Goa
  3. Hotel Golden Eye
  4. Hotel Delta House Horizon View
  5. Casa De Joana
  6. Royale Exotica Goa
  7. D’Silva Beach Cottages Goa
  8. Hotel Sea Shore Beach Resort
  9. Casa Cubo By The Beach
  10. Vila Goesa Beach Resort
Shack in front of beach-facing hotel in Calangute

How To Reach Calangute Beach?

Calangute beach in Goa is very well-connected to the rest of the world by road, air, and railway. Being one of the most popular tourist attractions in north Goa, Calangute has no dearth of transport facilities. Let’s see all the ways to reach Calangute sea beach.

  • By Air: Dabolim international airport, the only airport in Goa, is located 38 Km away from Calangute. Hire a prepaid taxi from the airport and reach your hotel in an hour. Availing of the prepaid taxi service is the best option as Goa does not allow UBER and OLA cab services like most other Indian cities. In case you have not travelled on a flight before, I recommend reading the guide for travelling on flights in India.
  • By Railway: Thivim is the nearest rail station to Calangute, just 16 Km away, which takes only half an hour to cover by car ride. Karmali and Madgaon are two other railway stations at a distance of 24 and 47 Km from Calangute beach, respectively.
  • By Road: Calangute is connected to the rest of Goa and other Indian states via national highways of NH66, NH746, NH67, and NH52. Cities like Mumbai in Maharashtra and Mangalore in Karnataka have bus services to Goa (both sleeper and non-sleeper). Apart from inter-state transport, you can also rent a scooter to visit the nearby places of Calangute.
Sea view with boats for spotting dolphin from Aguada fort

Places To Visit Near Calangute Beach In Goa

  • Baga Beach: If you are looking for a sea beach similar to Calangute with lots of watersports, Baga beach is your ideal destination. Located right beside Calangute, Baga has the best quality nightlife in Goa.
  • Anjuna Beach: Situated just 6.6 Km away from Calangute, Anjuna beach is another famous sea beach in north Goa with a rocky landscape. While this beach looks beautiful, with seawater meeting the rocks, it is not safe for swimming.
  • Ozran Beach: This beach looks very similar to Anjuna, with a longer sandy coastline. You can relax on the sunbeds, swim in the sea, or get some delicious snacks at a nearby beach shack. However, we have found that accommodation facilities are better in Calangute.
  • Chapora Fort: It is one of the most popular forts with free entry in Goa with a scenic view of the coastline. Sit by the walls on the top of the fort and enjoy the gentle breeze from the sea. It is also a good place for creative travel photography.
  • Vagator Beach: It is located just beside the Chapora fort. Most preferred for the scenic beach view surrounded by hills, coconut, and palm trees, Vagator beach is a must-visit place near Calangute.
  • Sinquerim and Candolim Beaches: Unlike the above destinations lying in the north direction from Calangute, Candolim beach and Sinquerim beach are located south. These are offbeat sea beaches in Goa with less crowd.
  • Aguada Fort: It is the most popular fort in north Goa, built by the Portuguese in the year 1612. Maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Aguada fort has a small entry fee of ₹25 for Indian citizens and ₹300 for foreign nationals.
  • Museum Of Goa: A little bit underrated, the museum of Goa is the centre of arts. Ranging from beautiful artefacts, paintings, and various decorative items to the history of Goa, you can learn a lot about Goan culture.
  • Benz Celebrity Wax Museum: Located just 2.5 Km away from Calangute sea beach, this wax museum is a good choice for sightseeing. Find out waxed models of famous celebrities and take photos with them. Isn’t it fun for some hours?
  • Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Named after the famous Indian ornithologist Dr Salim Ali, this sanctuary is a heaven for bird lovers. If you are interested in birding, it is a must-visit place near Calangute.
The Arabian sea at Calangute beach

Best Time To Visit Calangute Beach, Goa

Calangute beach is open to tourists throughout the year. While every season paints Calangute in different colours, autumn, winter, and spring are the best times to visit. During these months, from October to February, the sky becomes clear, the seawater becomes safer for swimming and water sports, and the weather remains pleasant at around 26°C with the minimum rainfall.

Among these months, the last week of December and the first week of January is most preferable for party lovers looking for exquisite nightlife. The new year celebration with live music fests, food, and drink is memorable for a lifetime. However, with the increased crowd, accommodation and transport prices are highest during these months.

Jet ski boat at Calangute

Things To Carry To Calangute Beach

Packing your bag with the regular travel essentials is necessary for your trip to Calangute beach, including swimsuits, sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen lotions. As several ATMs are available and most hotels, restaurants, and pubs accept online payments via GPay and Paytm, you need not carry much cash.

A good camera is necessary to capture the picturesque view of the sea beach and nearby attractions. You can also shoot beautiful aerial videos with your drone camera or by using one from the local rental services.

Is Visiting Calangute Beach Worth It?

Calangute beach has several advantages and disadvantages that you need to know when planning your trip. During our travel, we found it perfect for 2-night stays. Check the following pros and cons to understand if visiting Calangute beach would be worth your time.

Pros

  • The scenic view of the beach is unmatched by many other beaches in Goa.
  • The sea beach is safe and enjoyable for swimming.
  • Participating in adventure water sports is an exciting thing to do at Calangute beach.
  • There are lots of hotels and restaurants near Calangute. So, you have lots of options for accommodation and dine-out.
  • For people looking for exciting nightlife, visiting Calangute beach is worth it.
  • Calangute has lots of options for transport. You can hire a taxi or rent a scooter for sightseeing around the place.

Cons

  • As Calangute has no backwater, the Kayaking facility is unavailable on the beach.
  • Though Calangute beach offers a wide range of water sports and a memorable nightlife, Baga beach is better for these activities.
  • As the beach and surrounding areas are very crowded, every tourist will not like it.
  • Loud music at the beach shacks is often inappropriate for people looking for a quiet night out.

Tips To Visit In Calangute Beach

  • The sea beach is clearly marked with safe and unsafe zones. Always swim inside the safe zone.
  • Hiring a car for sightseeing is costly. If you are a solo or a couple, consider renting a scooter for sightseeing trips.
  • Only try the water sports you are confident in and do not be overexcited.
  • Some hotels serve only veg food during religious festive seasons like Navaratri. During our last trip to Calangute, we stayed in one such hotel for a night and found out only veg foods were being cooked and served. So, if you are a non-vegetarian and eager to taste Goan seafood, avoid hotels like this.
  • Avoid visiting Calangute during the monsoon. Swimming is unsafe at this time and is usually prohibited.

People Also Ask (FAQ)

What Is Calangute Beach Famous For?

Calangute beach is known for its picturesque sea beach with golden sand surrounded by coconut and palm trees. Besides being safe for swimming, Calangute is famous for a variety of water sports. Enjoy authentic Goan seafood in the beachside restaurants and enjoy the amazing nightlife.

How Long Is Calangute Beach?

Calangute beach is 4 Km long between Baga and Candolim sea beaches along the coastline of the Arabian sea.

Is Calangute Beach Safe At Night?

Yes, Calangute is perfectly safe at night. In fact, it is one of Goa’s safest beaches for enjoyable nightlife. So, if you are a girl travelling solo or with your friends, rest assured of a memorable night out.

Which Is Better Calangute Or Candolim?

In terms of the cost of food and accommodation, Candolim is more affordable than Calangute. While there is a heavy crowd in Calangute, Candolim is more peaceful and free of Chaos. The scenic beauty is equally good on both the beaches, but Calangute has more hotels, pubs, and bars with a variety of food items. So, both Calangute and Candolim have unique offerings; choose the one according to your preference.

Photo of author

Soumya

Author, NatureDiary
Soumya is an avid traveller, founder, photographer and chief editor of NatureDiary. A nature lover by heart, he writes and edits articles on various travel destinations, attractions, and gear on NatureDiary from his vast experience of travelling, trekking, and camping across India.

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