Back to Goa Travel Guide

Vasco da Gama

Located at the mouth of the Zuari River, Vasco da Gama is Goa’s largest city, with a population of over 100,000 people.  The city makes most of its money from the sea port at Mormugao, which exports enormous amounts of manganese ore mined further inland. Over a third of India’s ore exports leave from here.

Things to do

The city’s large size is due to its business focus, and it does not have an enormous amount of attractions for tourists. There are a few highlights, though. The beautiful Japanese Garden, on a hill overlooking the harbour, is well worth a visit; the best times to visit are mornings and evenings. Bogmalo is a stunning beach on the outskirts of the city, close to Dabolim Airport; you can also visit Velsao, a little further away, which is a long and beautiful beach.

Another popular visitor attraction is the Naval Aircraft Museum on the way to Bogmalo Beach. It tells the story of Indian naval air power through aircraft exhibitions as well as photographs. And, as in Panaji, the festivals of Shigmo and Carnival are a permanent fixture on the calendar.

Transport

Rail: Vasco da Gama station connects you by train to and from Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. Madgaon Junction, 24km away, provides connections to Mumbai and other destinations.

Road: Vasco is a 30km drive from Panaji, and there are regular bus services to towns in the neighbouring districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra, as well as to and from Panaji and other key destinations.

Getting around in Vasco

The best ways to get around the city as a tourist are on foot, by car, by bus or scooter. As in the rest of Goa, motorcycle taxis are available; these are painted in yellow and black and are usually more affordable than other taxi services.

Back to Goa Travel Guide