India
Goa in May
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Hot, humid and some showers. Watch for tropical cyclone risk.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.1
- !Hot (33°C highs / 26°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 21.4°C)
- !Wet: ~113 mm rain, ~2 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.0
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~18 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Tropical cyclone: Peak of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| May | Mar | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.6 Very good | 8.4 Very good |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 33° / 26° | 32° / 23° |
| Rain | 113 mm | 1 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 21° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 18 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 & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Eid al-Adha 15–17 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Buddha Purnima (20 May)
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.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
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
International Film Festival of IndiaDate variesUsually late November
India's main government-run international film festival, held in Goa.
Why go: Screenings require festival registration.
Where: Panaji
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
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