There is no denying the magic inherent in the air of Goa, Christmas day or not! But as the month of December nears its end, Goa undergoes an enchanting transformation! The entire state starts basking in the fervour of upcoming festivities and all corners of Goa get decked up like a newlywed.
Picture the splendid Portuguese architecture of Goa immersed under the spell of Christmas, and the natural energy of the streets, magnified tenfold! That's what awaits your arrival in Goa during Christmas season. With age-old traditions that have been perpetuated till date, a galore of scrumptious meals and holiday favourite drinks and an unremitting list of happening parties, Christmas in Goa is a magnificent celebration!
To ease your life, we have prepared a special Goa itinerary that will ensure you have a Christmas you can't ever forget! Read this guide to spending 24 hours of Christmas in Goa, on a budget!
With over 400 churches scattered across the length and breadth of Goa, this state will furnish you with an overabundance of options for attending a Christmas mass! Playing dress-up in your most banging year-end outfits, joining hands with all the folks gathered to sing Christmas carols and hymns as well as relishing in the mass proceedings, spending Christmas eve in Goa is a merry affair! Some of the best churches for midnight Christmas mass include The Basilica of Bom Jesus. Immaculate Conception Church and Se Cathedral. It is advisable to take a seat inside the church well before time in order to avoid the excess crowd that usually gathers on X-Mas eve!
Image Courtesy - Travel Nearby
If you are in Goa, the siren calls of the alluring shacks on the beaches will reach you sooner or later, so might as well give in! One such shack cafe by the beach with a distinct vibrant artsy vibe is Artjuna Cafe in the coastal village of Anjuna. Located near the flea market, this cafe attracts hoards of tourists every day because of its classic Goan laid-back ambience, generously loaded menu and lovely beachy decor. The international menu is particularly recognised for its breakfast and brunch options which deem this quaint cafe the perfect hot-spot for a rejuvenating brunch before kickstarting the festival of Christmas in full swing!
Image Courtesy - Artjuna
Where - Anjuna (Get Directions)
Cost - INR 700 For Two
The holistic Goa experience remains incomplete without a shopping session on the beach! With colourful bazaar squares and flea markets hiding away in the nooks of the state, your Goa Christmas itinerary is lacking if it does not involve venturing into one of these souks! As far as options are concerned, the world is your oyster! Some popular choices during the day include Anjuna Flea Market, Panjim Market, Mapusa Market and Calangute Market Square! With fairy lights and kaleidoscopic trinkets adorning the shops, a Goan flea market can be the perfect source of sun, frolic and the tangible festive air!
Image Courtesy - Goa Trips India
One of the chief elements in celebrating a traditional Goan Christmas is the act of designing and creating a crib for baby Jesus. And mind you, it is a tradition taken extremely seriously! With state-level crib making and star-making competitions that are orchestrated every year, the folks lucky enough to celebrate Christmas in Goa participate in the process of conceptualising interior decor and furniture designs, with the most prominent ones being those that depict the village of Jesus. Does not sound like your thing? You can also swap this for a high-spirited star-making competition or a cake mixing ceremony!
Image Courtesy - Youtube
The season of Christmas marks the arrival of several special festive desserts on the table, literally and figuratively! Traditionally, these sweets are prepared at home and packaged in napkin-covered trays to be delivered to those that matter. Some of Goa's delectable offerings in the category of Christmas sweets include neureos, mandares, kulkuls, doce de grao and the legendary bebinca! Created from scratch and with love, these sweets are composed of cherry-picked natural ingredients like fresh coconut, gram lentil and rice flour. To get your hands on these toothsome Christmas treats, you can head to an established bakery like Mr Baker 1922, A Pastelaria, Nostalgia or Marliz!
Image Courtesy - Archana's Kitchen
If you are celebrating the festival of Christmas in Goa, devouring a steaming plate of traditional Goan dinner is an important rite of passage! With Christmas delicacies like roast turkey, pork sorpotel and an assortment of grilled seafood on your virtual platter, this is an item in your Goa Christmas itinerary that you just cannot skip out on! Rovers Return is a dainty shack in Calangute that offers delectable options on their Christmas menu. Perfectly placed on the beach with the stunning sandy shores of Goa grazing your feet, Rovers Returns will furnish you with a range of roast dinners and other luscious Christmas meals!
Image Courtesy - Trip Advisor
Where - Calangute (Get Directions)
Cost - INR 600 For Two
Nothing short of a traveller's personal paradise, Old Goa is brimming with stunning landscapes, iconic churches, enchanting trails and that distinct colonial charm! Beautiful during the rest of the year, the season of Christmas brings out the exceptional magic in the area of Old Goa which you can explore on two wheels! The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is the penultimate attraction in the area which attracts visitors from all over the globe to its festive glory. In addition, there is a gamut of charming cathedrals dispersed across the area along with cutesy colourful houses, green vistas and pristine water bodies!
Image Courtesy - Explore Goa
Going to Goa and not partying at Tito's has to be the eighth deadly sin out there! Known for its epic night-life scenes, Tito's, located in Baga is the ultimate party destination especially during the season of Christmas. The catchy music pulsating through every inch of the beach-side club, and the unparalleled energy in the crowd create the perfect atmosphere for some large-scale festive celebration! There is no better way to submerge yourself entirely in the authentic Goa party scenes on Christmas.
Image Courtesy - Mami Eggroll
Where - Baga (Get Directions)
Cost - INR 1,500 For Two
Goa is a place that sets unbelievably high standards and ending the night of Christmas is no exception! Pick a popular beach of your liking, and head there with a few closed ones and your cosiest blanket! Sit still and watch with your mouth agape, as the entire sky lights up with vibrant colours and hypnotising fireworks! Anjuna Beach, in particular, is known for displaying a myriad of colours on it's Christmas lit skies on an annual basis. Other beaches you can also explore include Arambol Beach, Calangute Beach and Vagator Beach.
Image Courtesy - Thrillophilia
With that, we arrive at the terminating point of this special Christmas in Goa itinerary. With the myriad of options, we have presented thus far, celebrating the festival of Christmas in Goa will be one long, effortless party! So grab those shades, and venture out on the rustic lanes of Goa. You never know what awaits you! Merry Christmas!
Let's unearth the brief history of Goa. From the first written accord of Maurya Era in Goa to the annexation of Goa from Portuguese, this covers a whole Goa history.
Looking to decode Kashmir for your next trip? Here is a complete list of places you must visit during your tour.
Diwali shopping can drain you of your money and strength! When it's for home decor, it's even more difficult. To make things simple, check out this list of Top Diwali home decor markets in Delhi NCR!
If you are planning to go on a trek for the first time, then Triund is where you should head as it is the easiest trek yet it has one of the most breath-taking views ever! We will definitely recommend you to unleash the trekker within you with this Triund trek.
Wanna explore the world but tight on budget? Fret not! We bring you a curated guide of budget destinations from Delhi to help you plan that dream vacation you've been waiting for.
A traveler's paradise, India has everything including wicked mysterious places that are unexplained and even out of the bounds of all scientific explanations. Explore these 15 mysterious places in India if you just don't wanna end up having leisure time!
It's high time you add the best beaches of India to your bucket list as Vitamin-Sea is exactly what you need for a perfect getaway.
Goa weather during rainy seasons could be more than just a mess so you've got keep everything handy to enjoy your vacation. Goa weather in June gets way too unpredictable and stormy to deal with.
You've got to list down these solo trip tips for a safe journey and hassle-free experience. It's always important to keep your safety as your priority and being ready to face any kind of situation. As nothing comes easy when it comes to Solo travelling - being responsible and confident is the key to nail a solo trip.
If you think going to Goa in the rainy season is a bad idea then we TOTALLY DISAGREE! Weather in Goa in Monsoon Season is way more blissful and peaceful than you can ever imagine.
Family time is as important any other priority in your life. It's high time you plan a family trip to these beautiful destinations in India perfect for a memorable adventurous vacation with your fam-bam. Check out these 12 Best Family Vacation Destinations In India to know the best.
Things to do in Bombay without burning a hole in your pocket - No, we're not kidding! Mumbai might be one of the moxt expensive metropolitan cities in India but happiness and beautiful landscape sights comes without cost.
One must definitely experience Scuba Diving once in their lives for an extraordinary aquatic experience - Here is a list of 8 Places for Scuba Diving in India.
India has been notoriously known as an unsafe destination for travelers, especially when it comes to Women Travelers. Solo travel in India, especially for women, can be incredibly intense. But who says a woman can't travel alone? Here's a curated guide to the safest and most unforgettable locations in India for solo female travelers.
A complete guide to the prices, trips, things to keep in mind, dos and don’ts of renting a vehicle in Goa.
