In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Panaji
पणजी
Give Panaji 2 nights as a base: walk Fontainhas in the morning, ferry to Chorao (check ferry times), then Old Goa — beaches are a separate trip.
Panaji is Goa's capital and its old Latin Quarter: a low-rise, red-roofed river town of Portuguese-era streets, not a beach resort. Two nights covers the walkable core and the river islands; most travellers then move to the coast or use it as a stop between Old Goa and the Konkan railway.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- पणजी
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon), May (heat and humidity)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–3,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,000–6,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112 · Tourist helpline 1363
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Filter coffee or chai | ₹20–60 |
| Goan fish curry rice | ₹200–450 |
| Bhaaji pao or samosa snack | ₹20–80 |
| Beer: bar / shop | ₹150–300 / ₹80–150 |
| Rickshaw across the centre | ₹100–200 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GOI · Dabolim Airport
- About 35 km (22 mi) south; taxi to Panaji, transfer time check.About 22 mi (35 km) south; taxi to Panaji, transfer time check.
- GOX · Manohar Parrikar International Airport (Mopa)
- North Goa; road transfer to Panaji is longer than from Dabolim (check).
Typical fares
- Dabolim Airport → Panaji, taxi
- about ₹1,200–1,800, 45–60 min
- Rickshaw Panaji → Miramar
- ₹150–250
- Ribandar → Chorao ferry, foot passenger
- free; vehicles pay a small fee
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable: Fontainhas, Church Square and 18th June Road are within 15 minutes of each other. Use rickshaws or taxis for Miramar, Dona Paula and the ferry jetties; fix the fare before you get in. Local buses run from the Kadamba bus stand.
See and do
Known for
- Fontainhas Latin Quarter
- Mandovi river cruises
- Goan fish curry and vindaloo
- Chorao island and the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Old Goa | Bus or taxi along the Mandovi, about 10 km (6.2 mi) eastBus or taxi along the Mandovi, about 6.2 mi (10 km) east | About 30–40 min |
| Chorao island and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary | Ride to Ribandar, free passenger ferry, then walk | About 45 min |
| Miramar and Dona Paula | Local bus or rickshaw south along the coast | 20–40 min |
Sleep
- Fontainhas and Altinho
- The Latin Quarter: guesthouses in restored Portuguese houses, walking distance to Church Square and 18th June Road. Quiet at night.
- Campal and Miramar road
- Near Kala Academy and the beach; a rickshaw ride from the centre, or a long walk.
- Patto and bus stand area
- Practical for early buses and trains; plain hotels, less atmosphere.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitna hai |
| Too expensive | बहुत महंगाbahut mehnga |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai |
| Please stop here | यहाँ रोकिएyahan rokiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Fix rickshaw and taxi fares before the ride; meters are rare.
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings heavy rain and rough seas; beach and boat plans get cancelled.
- The Chorao ferry is free for foot passengers; vehicles pay a small fee.
- Drink bottled or filtered water; ice and salads are a gamble outside hotels.
Panaji is calm by Indian big-city standards; the real issues are traffic, unlit pavements after dark and unmetered taxis. Solo women report more hassle at night around the bus stand — use app or hotel-booked cabs.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Panaji yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fontainhas Latin Quarter
- Mandovi river cruises
- Goan fish curry and vindaloo
- Chorao island and the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Goa Tourism — Panaji: www.goa-tourism.com/
- Incredible India — Goa: www.incredibleindia.org/
- Wikivoyage: Panaji, revision 5283404 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5283404
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/panaji). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.