India
Goa in December
☀️ Dry seasonHot and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.0
- ✓Hot (32°C highs / 21°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 16.2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~17 mm rain)
- Air quality5.9
- !Elevated (PM2.5 ~33 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Tropical cyclone: Edge of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Mar | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.3 Very good | 8.4 Very good |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 32° / 21° | 32° / 23° |
| Rain | 17 mm | 1 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 16° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 33 µg/m³ | 37 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Goa weather-station normals. Rainfall: Goa weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore GoaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyIndia's smallest state, on the Arabian Sea coast, known for beaches, Portuguese colonial heritage, whitewashed churches and seafood.
Feast of St Francis XavierEvery year3 December every year
A major feast day honouring Goa's patron saint, drawing large numbers of pilgrims.
Why go: Expect crowds and heavy traffic around Old Goa.
Where: Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa
Coming up later
Goa CarnivalDate variesUsually February or early March, before Lent - date moves each year
A Portuguese-era carnival with floats, music and dancing led by King Momo.
Why go: Parade routes get very crowded; hotels raise prices.
Where: Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco
ShigmoDate variesUsually March, around Holi
A Hindu spring festival with colourful float parades and folk dancing.
Why go: Parade dates differ from town to town.
Where: Towns across Goa
Monsoon seasonDate variesUsually June to September
Heavy rain turns the landscape green, but the sea is rough and many beach shacks close.
Why go: Swimming is unsafe on many beaches during the monsoon.
Where: Statewide
Old Goa churches
UNESCO-listed churches including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which holds the relics of St Francis Xavier, and Sé Cathedral.
Fontainhas, Panaji
A Latin quarter of narrow streets and colourful Portuguese-era houses in the state capital.
Palolem Beach
A crescent-shaped beach in South Goa, quieter than the northern beaches.
💡 Many beach huts and shacks only operate in the dry season, roughly November to May.
Anjuna flea market
A large weekly market in North Goa selling clothes, jewellery and souvenirs.
Dudhsagar Falls
A tall, multi-tiered waterfall on the Goa-Karnataka border, at its fullest after the monsoon.
💡 Jeep access to the falls is usually closed during the monsoon months.
Fort Aguada
A 17th-century Portuguese fort and lighthouse overlooking the sea near Candolim.
Goan fish curry and rice
Fish cooked in a tangy coconut and kokum or tamarind sauce, the everyday staple.
Pork vindaloo
A sharp, spicy pork curry with vinegar and garlic, of Portuguese origin.
Xacuti
Chicken or lamb in a complex sauce of roasted coconut and spices.
Choris pão
Spicy Goan pork sausage served in local bread rolls.
💡 Bakeries and markets
Bebinca
A layered coconut milk and egg dessert, popular at Christmas.
Cashew feni
A strong local spirit distilled from cashew apples.
Cashew nuts
Locally processed cashews, often roasted or flavoured.
💡 Markets and shops in Panaji and Mapusa
Hand-painted azulejo tiles
Blue and white tiles inspired by Portuguese tradition.
💡 Craft shops in Panaji