40 Best Hotels in Goa, India

Roughly translated "a hidden dwelling," Nilaya is aptly named: this hip, hilltop retreat away from the beaches is etched out of laterite stone and enhanced with mosaic and ceramic tiles in a Goa-meets-Gaudi tableau. It's so remote that visitors who choose to leave the hotel will require taxis to do almost anything. But there are heavy incentives to stay: daybeds by the pool, healthy and flavorsome food, an excellent cocktail list, and an elevated view of the distant sea. For your stay, you can choose between a boutique room, a suite, or a tent; all have double beds. 

Overlooking verdant rice plantations and the Arabian Sea, the Alila Diwa Goa is a cool open oasis of dark pitched roofs, breezy verandas, and serene courtyards. The first Indian venture for the Alila luxury chain, this stylish resort is designed to soothe and indulge—whether through pampering ayurvedic or Balinese spa treatments, lounging by its lovely paddy-facing infinity pool, going on custom local tours and activities, or catching a flick at its mini theater. The rooms all come with balconies and are fully loaded with modern amenities, including 55-inch LCD televisions. A shuttle service takes guests to and from nearby Gonsua Beach from sunrise until just after sunset.

This smart and luxurious property by the sea has enough to keep guests occupied both on- and off-site, from meditation and yoga sessions to cultural and culinary excursions—though you might choose to linger on your private balcony or patio (each room has one) with views of the sea, lagoon, or garden instead. The 45-acre property also has an excellent spa, a meandering pool (one of the largest in India), a children's play area where they can learn arts and crafts, and restaurants covering a broad spectrum of cuisines, including Goan specialties.

In the very top bracket of the Goa resorts, the modern and sleek, 45-acre Hyatt has spacious rooms, great dining, an excellent spa, a library with 1,500 titles, a minitheater where you can watch movies, and the largest swimming pool in India (21,527 square feet). The thoroughly luxurious spa houses body scrub and massage suites, hydrotherapy facilities, steam rooms, and well-trained staff; it offers a full range of ayurvedic treatments. The sprawling group of restaurants in the hotel's food "village" adjacent to its expansive lobby covers a broad spectrum of cuisines, including Goan specialties (Casa Sarita), North and South Indian cuisine (Masala), and wood-fire pizzas and pasta (Da Luigi). Praia de Luz, a wine and tapas bar overlooking the Arabian Sea, is one of the highlights here.

For flat-out, over-the-top luxury and sophistication, nothing in Goa can top this well-planned 49-acre resort that includes a golf course, private access to a secluded beach, and rooms varying in degrees of decadence. The two-story, salmon-covered villas are arranged along a winding artificial lagoon, with some featuring private plunge pools. Rooms and suites have elegant furnishings, marble bathrooms, and private balconies. The open-air lobby is reminiscent of a temple from the ruins of the town of Hampi to the west, complete with panel carvings---it is a wonderful place to spend a cool, quiet afternoon. The restaurants offer broad and diverse menus in beautiful settings. For a memorable experience, book a celestial dining experience in a glass pod.

Constructed within the boundary and adjoining the ramparts of an old Portuguese fort, this hotel has gorgeous views of the fort, sea, and beach. Most of the rooms face the ocean and are furnished with contemporary Goan-style dark wood and cane furniture. If you crave seclusion, stay in the exclusive (and expensive) villas tucked into the hillside behind the resort (these used to be a separate property, known as the Aguada Hermitage). The restaurants, recreational facilities, and spa at the Taj Holiday Village next door are open to Fort Aguada guests as well.

This 120-year-old restored Portuguese home—with a lovely front porch, elegant dining room, and cozy living room—has lots of pizzazz thanks to owners Simon and Charlotte Hayward, and yet maintains an intimate feel. The rooms and bathrooms evoke the spirit of the siblings' experiences in Bengal and Tamil Nadu—an all-white loungey Ooty Room, named for a hill station; an antique-filled Alipore (a posh neighborhood in Kolkata) Room with a narrow, elongated bathroom; a rustic room, evoking Madras, with an outdoor bathroom. The inn's gem might be the Lorryback Bar, which features a colorful painted wooden back like those found on traditional Indian lorries (trucks). The rural setting means possible street encounters with stray dogs, pigs, and roosters—not unusual in Indian villages.

Right in the middle of acres of tropical foliage and within shouting distance of the sands of Candolim beach, this handsome and sprawling property provides an excellent base from which to explore North Goa. One large, five-bedroom villa, one three-bedroom villa, three two-bedroom casinhas (little houses), and four cottages make up Aashyana Lakhanpal. The main villa is light, bright, and modern, with slate-lined water bodies and plush cream sofas. The double-bedded suites are furnished tastefully, with four-poster beds, modern art, and outdoor bathtubs in some, and private outdoor spaces in all. The casinhas are less trendy, but still lovely, with brightly colored open-air bathrooms and stone floors. Staff are extremely solicitous and on-hand to organize everything from massages to water sports or trips to the old town. There is a three-night minimum stay, which edges up to a seven-night minimum stay in peak season.

In a quiet location off the main road near Candolim, this resort from the Acron Hotels group resembles a classy Portuguese mansion and is competent and professional in its service and facilities. The property overlooks verdant rice fields and an imposing whitewashed church behind busy Candolim. A free shuttle service transports guests to nearby Candolim Beach, and the busy Calangute stretch is a short taxi ride away. All rooms come with balconies—ask for a pool-facing one.

For a homely stay away from the hubbub of the beach belts, visit this century-old, crimson-hued Portuguese villa-turned-boutique hotel set amidst well-tended gardens. Guests can breakfast out on its cafe\é's expansive veranda, which overlooks the Zuari River, or unwind in the Moroccan-inspired pool house. The rooms are light-filled, airy, and done up with well-chosen antiques and stylish wooden furniture, and offer views of either the garden or the pool. Dobolim International Airport is just a 25-minute drive away.

You'll find thatched cottages and Portuguese-style bungalows nestled in lush palm trees at this beachfront property. Most accommodations have a private balcony with sea or garden views. Hammocks are scattered around, inviting you to plonk yourself down for a relaxing afternoon. There is also an in-house beachfront multi-cuisine restaurant, L'Atelier, that serves Goan specialties.

This six-story high-rise beachfront hotel is a good choice for those needing easy access to the airport, but not much else. Its chief assets are its big, bright rooms, every one with a direct view of the rolling ocean.

A golf course, eight dining options, and private access to the beach add to the mix of this cheery resort, which is spread out over 23 acres. The atrium lobby is a fusion of cathedral and piazza, with wrought-iron garden benches and huge arches and beams. Rooms are big and cozy, and many have lovely views out over the Arabian Sea.

History, style, and attitude combine to make spending time in this 200-year-old Portuguese mansion turned boutique hotel a pleasure. Artfully put together public and private spaces feature stenciled walls with whimsical architectural details throughout, and the open-air lobby has high ceilings and comfortable old-world upholstered couches. Each of the guest rooms (some of which have balconies overlooking the garden or pool) is furnished with antique Goan furniture, four-poster beds, and one-of-a-kind bedspreads.

This rambling, boutique hotel is one of the best places to stay in Baga—the lively beach scene is only a few minutes' walk away, and the friendly staff treat you like family, making up for any upkeep deficits. Open-air public spaces, including the lobby and restaurant, have private seating areas sheltered by varying levels of lush landscaping. Each room is different in size and character, so see what is available at check-in before settling in; choose a second-floor room for more privacy and better views. The finish in the bathroom isn't very high-spec, but you're paying for location and the cool, boutique-y vibe. The restaurant specializes in Goan, Chinese, Continental, and Indian food.

Loutolim's laid-back charm is captured in Norman and Carol Steele's warm and inviting country inn, with its lovely rooms and great home-cooked food. Relaxation is the order of the day, and the well-landscaped 1½ acres have some delightful nooks and crannies to do exactly this. There's also the lively pool area, with colorful Rajasthani accents and an innovative jungle shower. The couple is happy to share maps for nearby nature walks as well as arrange any other trips. Six dogs and six cats are on the premises, but the pets are obedient and in general stay out of the way.

Perched on a hillside high above the Arabian Sea, this smart and stylish contemporary hotel overlooks the wild beauty of Vagator Beach, which guests can reach by following a winding path that descends rather sharply. White leather sofas, glass tables, and designer lighting complete the look of the dining room and bar. The guest rooms have sleek built-ins, spare modern art on the walls, and comfortable beds. An open-air terrace is a lovely viewing spot for a dramatic sunsets.

Suited to Palolem's long-term backpackers, Ciaran’s has evolved over the years from beachfront, coco palm–thatched huts into proper cottages, all with an individual veranda and set around a small garden. Don't expect luxurious amenities, but rooms are clean and well-maintained, and visitors tend to spend most of their time on the beach, just outside their doors, anyway. It is also probably the most popular of the local bunch, so make sure to book well in advance. There is free Wi-Fi, affordable massages on request, and a multi-cuisine restaurant.

On a dense coconut plantation, just a two-minute walk (about 500 yards) from Bogmalo Beach and a 5-km (3-mile) drive from Dabolim Airport, this charming little resort with spotless, airy rooms, and a small swimming pool is run by friendly staff. Unlike many of Goa's mid-range resorts, it succeeds in creating a mellow vibe, despite the occasional noise of planes from a nearby Indian Airforce base.

On a 500-yard-long spit of outstretched private land, surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea and Otter Creek, this beautiful, small property has attentive service and comprises five elegant beach houses and three tents that are separated from the mainland by the saltwater creek—access is via a private bamboo footbridge. The beach houses sleep between two and six persons, depending on the house; each tent sleeps two in a double four-poster bed. The property is closed May through September.

Walk into the lovely sea-facing lobby, where you can watch and listen to the crash of waves along the rocky shores, and you will find it hard to leave this upscale Western chain hotel with all the plush trimmings expected in a five-star establishment. The rooms are elegantly furnished in a contemporary style—try the bay-view rooms for sea-facing balconies. The lounge, a coffee shop during the day, becomes a popular nightclub on weekends. It's just a few minutes on foot to the beach, although this is very much a city hotel, not a resort.

The chief advantage of this international chain is its uniform service and friendly vibe, and the private access to Mobor Beach is a blessing after the crowded beaches of North Goa. Spread over 25 acres, the hotel has a large pool that encourages long, all-day soaks, a poolside bar with excellent snacks, and comfortable, if generic, rooms. It's also a popular wedding venue, and there are plenty of colorful, if loud, weddings here during the November--January wedding season.

This hotel occupies a 200-year-old restored Portuguese country house on an inland lane, and its lovely pool, lush garden, and simple, well-maintained rooms make it a well-priced place to stay in Anjuna. The multicuisine restaurant is a step up from the shack restaurants that line the beach.

You may find your peace and quiet here: this large resort has an experienced and calm staff, thus lacking the frantic-to-please service typical of some other hotels in Goa; plus there's a marble lobby with lots of quiet corners for relaxing. But you can also join the activities afoot. There's an expansive swimming pool with a swim-up bar, an open-air Jacuzzi, a fun zone, and a swanky spa.

A 10-minute walk from the beach, this quiet spot with elegant, minimalist cottages is in a tree-lined residential area. The cottages, each with one or two bedrooms, have soft lighting and entertainment areas with divans. The resort has an attractive pool, plenty of greenery, and a quiet restaurant if you don't want to trek to the other restaurants down the road.

They don't get much bigger than this sprawling 85-acre resort with spacious rooms and a 9-hole golf course lining the clean, untouched sands of the Rajbaga Beach. The expansive colonial-Portuguese-inspired lobby, bookended by grand staircases on either end, leads into 14 interconnecting chambers, making it sometimes disorienting to find your way. Rooms start at about 605 square feet and come with lots of luxury touches; several overlook the manicured lawns. The resort has a sports complex and offer lots of water-sports activities at the beach—all good options given its isolated location down south.

At this old Colva favorite right on the beach, most have private balconies with lovely sea views. For a special stay, opt for the Modern deco-style Arabian Sky View Suite, complete with an al fresco bathtub. If you don't want to eat at Loca, the in-house restaurant and bar serving local and global fare, you can take your pick from dozens of shack restaurants close by.

A restored Portuguese villa with clean rooms and antique furniture, this heritage guesthouse is a popular place among those who know Goa well, and it's only about half a kilometer from here down to Sinquerim Beach. Rooms are sunny and bright, and many overlook a charming garden.

The huts at Nada Brahma all have sea- or garden-facing private balconies, hot showers, and king-size beds, just steps away from Patnem Beach. The fusion food in the open-air restaurant is excellent, as are the classic cocktails at the bar.

A stone's throw from the sea, and reasonably priced, this rustic collection of beach huts is emblematic of accommodations in Palolem and a good place to get a no-frills beach hut experience. Standard rooms lack air-conditioning, and are thus worth avoiding in favor of the sea-facing air-conditioned deluxe shacks or cottages. The restaurant serves everything from seafood and cocktails to cheese toasties and enchiladas. This property is quite basic, but it's an experience and more comfortable than some of the other huts.