How to travel in Goa?

I have a November holiday booked in Goa with my girlfriend. I want to stay out in the open as much as I can to get some fresh air and good scenery which is something not possible to get while living in Mumbai.

I need some suggestions on how to travel in Goa as I am quite confused what would be the best way to travel.

I would love to ride a bike around places but not too sure about how this would work out to be. If anyone knows any information about getting a bike for rent in Goa, please post some details.

 

Hi there, welcome to the forum!

Exploring Goa requires some form of transportation, either private or public. The good news is that there are numerous options for both in the state. Of course, public transport is a lot cheaper and very convenient. You can choose between the following options for public transport in Goa:

• Bus - For buses, there are plenty around Goa. Usually, there are buses plying within each city, ready to take you from one point to another. Buses can also be ridden to reach one city from the other. Most buses in Goa have a running time between 7:00 am to 7:00 pm only so you cannot ride buses during late night or early morning. Each city usually has its own bus stand from where you can ride a bus going from one point to another. The biggest bus stations in Goa are located in Panjim, Margao and Vasco Da Gama. Fares are very minimal as well at Rs. 10 to Rs. 40 per passenger. However, most buses in Goa don't have air-conditioning though so that's one downside. The government buses here are operated by the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC).

• Motorcycle Taxi - Goa has the famed motorcycle taxis, the only state in India with this kind of public transportation. The drivers of these motorcycle taxis are called pilots. These motorcycle taxis are licensed and you can identify them easily through their yellow mudguards. They have separate motorcycle taxi stands in some of the main cities of Goa like Margao and Panjim. Their fares are also very affordable and they are suitable for short distances or for navigating through areas of Goa with traffic. The fare is usually at Rs. 15 for the first kilometre and and Rs. 2.50 for each succeeding kilometre.

• Auto Rickshaw - For travelling short distances, another option is an auto rickshaw. Their rates are considerably higher than the first two though but they are easily available from any bus stand, market or even beach. Make sure that you negotiate a price beforehand though as they rarely use their meters. Fares vary but for short distances it's at Rs. 50 and can as high as Rs. 100 for longer distances. The government has imposed a fare of Rs. 7 per kilometre but this is rarely followed. You can use this as your guide though when negotiating a price with the driver.

• Taxi - Taxis are the most expensive option but very convenient if you have luggages and travelling from north to south or vice versa of Goa. But just like the auto rickshaw drivers, these taxis rarely use their meters so you have to negotiate a price with them beforehand. If you're coming from the airport though, there are prepaid taxis that have a set fare depending on where you want to be dropped off. There are also these so-called women taxis, driven by women which were trained as guides as well. These taxis are good options for women travellers in Goa. If however, you're renting a taxi for sightseeing, expect to pay about Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,500 per day.

• Ferry - Ferry services are not available all throughout Goa. Some of the ferry routes around Goa are for Panjim to Betim, Old Goa to Piedade and Kerim to Tiracol. Ferries charge very minimal to passengers and as a bonus, you get to enjoy the serene views along the cruise. Ferry services operate all throughout the day until late night but there are only a few ferries for each route per day.

• Train - If ever you're coming from the north and you want to go to the south (or vice versa) of Goa, then train is the best option for you. There are trains plying from the north (Vasco Da Gama) to the south (Canacona) of Goa. Some of the trains on this route have stations in Karmali, Madgaon and Pernem. Thus, it's the best option for those who want to reach the other end of Goa quickly and conveniently.

Then, here are your options for private transportation in Goa:

• Hired Car - If you know how to drive, you can easily rent a car in Goa, provided you have the basic requirements such as driving license, passport and identification card. Car rental rates vary but it's between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 8,000 per day. Additional fee would be the security deposit amounting to Rs. 5,000 and above. If you don't know how to drive, you can also hire a car and a driver with it. The rates would be higher though as you would need to pay for the driver's fee.

• Hired Motorcycle - There are plenty of rental agencies in Goa for motorcycles as well. You would also need to provide requirements such as driving license, passport and identification card. Rates are between Rs. 300 (for scooters) to Rs. 800 (for motorcycles). Before you arrive in Goa, you can arrange for the motorcycle rental online or through phone to ensure that your motorcycle can be delivered right at the airport to railway station.

• Hired Bicycle - If you're planning to stay in just one section or area in Goa, you can opt to hire a bicycle. You can explore the different nature trails around Goa with a bicycle easily. It's also very environment-friendly and quite cheap. Rates would be around Rs. 150 to Rs. 300 per day for renting a bicycle.

As far as renting a motorcycle or bike in Goa is concerned, there are plenty of rental agencies in the state. From its capital Panjim, to Margao and to other main cities. Make sure that you bring the necessary documents required before you can hire a motorcycle:

• Valid two-wheeler driving license, identification card or passport

Usually, the rental agency would take the original copy of one of these documents. You can get it back once you bring the motorcycle back to them. Here are some bike rental agencies in the different areas of Goa:

Bike Rental Agencies in Goa

Rental Agency Name	Address	Contact Number
Elrich Tours and Travels	Shop No. 2, Victor Palace Patto, Opposite Ambedkar Garden Patto, Panjim, Goa, 403001	+91 832 238 9225
Happy Home Tours and Travels	No. 502, 5th Floor, Lotus Court Building, Near St. Inez Junction Panjim, Goa, 403001	+91 832 242 0967
Tony Tours and Travels	House No 155/G, Margao, Near Railway Station, Colmorod, Goa, 40360	+91 992 170 8175
Fatima Tours and Travels	Shop No. G11, A1 Silver Strip Building, Margao Quepem Road, Margao, Opposite KRCL Store Depot, Goa, 403601	+91 832 271 2354
Zain Tours and Travels	Shop No. 74, Muncipal Market, Vasco Da Gama, Near Vasco Dabolim Airport, Opposite Anand Trade Center, Goa, 403802	+91 976 587 6416

There you go, I hope this helps you! Enjoy Goa!

 

From experience, I would like to suggest that if you are traveling to nearby places then hire a scooty or motorbike and travel on that, it is the best way to see and travel in Goa. If you are planning a long distance trip say more than 45 minutes then obviously get a taxi.

The scooty and motorbike charges are based on a daily rental basis, and if your someone who is going to be making frequent short trips during your stay in Goa then this would be a suitable way fo traveling.