Best Places to Visit in Ooty
Oct 29, 2024
To reach Baga Beach from any location in Goa, you’ll likely need to first travel to Mapusa, which has a larger bus station. From there, you can catch a direct bus to Baga Beach, which passes through the town, allowing you to get off at any point along the way. Alternatively, you can take a bus heading to Calangute, which will drop you at the Calangute stop.
From there, it’s a 10-20 minute walk to Baga Beach, or you can opt for a tuk-tuk or taxi.
Buses to Calangute Beach are available from both Mapusa and Panaji. The fare is approximately €1-3 for a local non-AC bus. These buses can get very crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.
Both Baga and Calangute offer a similar experience, but our guesthouse at the far end of Baga Beach felt inconvenient due to its distance from most restaurants and bars.
If you’re seeking affordability, Veronica Guesthouse in Calangute is a great option. Cozy rooms with balconies and a swimming pool make it ideal for budget travelers.
For a comfortable yet reasonably priced stay, Sea Breeze Village Baga is perfectly positioned between Baga and Calangute, giving you access to the best of both worlds. Relax by their inviting pool after a day at the beach.
For those who prioritize luxury, Le Méridien Goa offers spacious rooms, elegant bathrooms, a gym, a pool, and a rooftop restaurant, ensuring a premium experience.
Both Baga and Calangute beaches are lined with various beach shacks, most of which offer similar food and drinks, with price being the main differentiator. Le Marin is one of the more affordable options. In town, we enjoyed meals at Shining Star, which has reasonable prices and delicious food that can be made completely mild! For those in Calangute, we recommend trying Spicy Bella.
Both Baga and Calangute turned out to be our least favorite beaches in Goa. They are popular with local visitors, so they tend to get very crowded. You’ll encounter many tourists, particularly from Russia, but the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere you might expect is missing. Be prepared for selfie requests and, unfortunately, a lot of people staring or even taking photos without permission. If you’re a woman, we advise caution—this might not be the ideal place for a peaceful beach day.
Baga and Calangute Beaches – Both beaches essentially form one long stretch of sand. The water isn’t particularly clean, and there are frequent small waves. You’ll find plenty of water sports activities, but the shoreline is lined with bars and restaurants offering sunbeds during the day and beach parties at night. The sunsets, however, are breathtaking.
Tito’s Lane
Tito’s Lane is one of the most famous streets in Baga, lined with tourist shops, bars, and restaurants. It’s considered the main tourist hub, especially for nightlife. However, we felt that the beach itself had more to offer at night than the bars on this street, which were fairly underwhelming.
Nightlife at Baga and Calangute
Baga is renowned for its nightlife. The beach is packed with bars that come alive as the sun sets. While the energy is high, the experience can be overwhelming. Every bar plays loud music—often an awkward mix of songs that clash—making it hard to enjoy a single spot. The music is predominantly Indian, and there are often many intoxicated locals roaming around.
New Year’s Eve at Baga Beach
Spending New Year’s at Baga Beach was one of our worst travel experiences. The beach was overrun with people, mostly men, and the atmosphere was anything but festive. The crowd became unbearable as New Year’s Eve approached. We had some unfortunate encounters, including inappropriate physical contact in the water and later while walking along the beach. The bars were charging high entrance fees, some up to €30 per person, and offered either dinner or all-inclusive drinks for the night. The ratio of men to women was striking, with around 90% men and only 10% women. If you’re a foreigner looking to celebrate New Year’s in Goa, we strongly suggest heading to Palolem or Anjuna instead.
