India, Asia
Goa in March
Still dry and pleasant, with fewer crowds. Shigmo festival parades bring color.
The straight answer
March is a good month to visit Goa. Still dry and pleasant, with fewer crowds. Shigmo festival parades bring color.
- Weather
- Hot, highs near 90F (32C), humidity rising
- Crowds
- 2 of 5
- Prices
- 2 of 5
What March is like in Goa
March is still dry and pleasant, but the heat is climbing, with highs near 90F (32C) and humidity rising through the month. Crowds thin out and prices fall. Beach shacks, hut camps and markets are still open. Around Holi, the Shigmo festival brings parades of folk dancers and floats to towns across the state.
March suits travelers who want quiet beaches and good deals and can handle warm, sticky afternoons. Families will do fine if they plan beach time for mornings and late afternoons. If heat bothers you, choose January or February instead.
Make the most of March
What is especially good about Goa this month.
Shigmo parades
Goa's spring festival fills town streets with folk dance troupes and floats around Holi. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check before you go.
Late Carnival in some years
When Lent starts late, Goa Carnival can spill into early March.
Quiet south Goa beaches
Agonda and Patnem feel almost empty, and you can often walk into a beach hut without a booking.
What to pack for March
- Light cotton or linen clothes
- Clothes you do not mind getting colored powder on around Holi
- A refillable water bottle and electrolyte packets
- Strong sunscreen and sunglasses
Our timing tip
Swim and sightsee before 11am and after 4pm, and keep midday for a shaded shack lunch and a nap.
Book Goa for March.
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- Hotels for March
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in GoaOpens a hotel search for Goa in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in GoaWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in GoaTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Goa for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in March
Goa Carnival
February or early March, the days before Lent
Parades with floats, music, and dancing in Panaji, Margao, and other towns, led by King Momo.
Shigmo
March, around Holi, set by the lunar calendar
Goa's spring Hindu festival, with parades of folk dancers and floats in towns across the state, overlapping the Holi celebrations.
Things to do in Goa
Old Goa churches
The Basilica of Bom Jesus, with the relics of St Francis Xavier, and the Se Cathedral. Go early before the day-trip buses arrive.
Fontainhas, Panaji
The old Latin quarter, with colorful houses and small cafes. Best explored on foot in the morning.
South Goa beaches
Palolem, Agonda, Patnem, and Cola are calmer than the north. Beach hut camps operate from about November to April.
Anjuna Flea Market
A Wednesday market that runs in the dry season, roughly November to April.
Dudhsagar Falls
A huge four-tiered waterfall on the Karnataka border. It is fullest in the monsoon, but jeep access is usually suspended then; visit from October.
Spice plantations near Ponda
Tours with a Goan lunch. Especially lush after the monsoon.
Beat the crowds
- Avoid December 20 to January 2. Rates spike, and the beaches and roads are packed with holiday traffic.
- Stay in south Goa (Agonda, Patnem, Palolem) for calmer beaches, and visit north Goa on day trips.
- Visit Old Goa churches early in the morning on a weekday, when day-trip tour buses are fewer.
- Early November and late February are the smart months: full dry-season weather with a fraction of the peak crowds.
Know before you go
- Licensed beach shacks operate roughly from October or November to May. They are dismantled during the monsoon and many beach huts and small hotels close.
- During the monsoon (June to September), swimming is dangerous; lifeguards post red flags and swimming is often banned.
- Jeep safaris to Dudhsagar Falls are usually suspended during the monsoon for safety.
- Markets like the Anjuna Flea Market and the Saturday night markets operate in the dry season only.
Goa in March, quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Goa?
March is a good month to visit Goa. Still dry and pleasant, with fewer crowds. Shigmo festival parades bring color.
What is the weather like in Goa in March?
Hot, highs near 90F (32C), humidity rising.
Is Goa crowded in March?
March is one of the quieter months in Goa; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Goa in March?
Goa Carnival (february or early march, the days before lent); Shigmo (march, around holi, set by the lunar calendar).
Keep planning Goa.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in March
Before you book.
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