Getting from Mumbai to Goa

Goa is the smallest state in the country, but definitely one of the most loved. A popular holiday destination for the youth, it’s earned the nickname of the party capital of India. It’s a coastal state on the western coastline stretching along the Arabian Sea. Goa is known for its beaches, fishing villages and rich heritage architecture. Goa is a popular tourist destination for Indian and International travelers. There is never a bad time to visit Goa.

The Party Capital of India is known for its beaches!

By flight

Mumbai, just like Goa, is located on the western coastline. There are daily flights between Mumbai and Goa. It is the fastest mode of transport.  If booked in advance the flights are cheap. Flights during Christmas or New Years or any of the long weekends (Indian holidays like 1^st of May, 15^th August, 26^th Jan ) are extremely expensive if booked at the last minute.

So if your trip coincides with Indian holidays, book your flights in advance. It takes an hour to reach Goa by flight. The Goa international airport is located at Dabolim.

Watching a sunset on the beach and beer is the perfect evening

By train

Travelling to Goa by train from Mumbai is relatively cheaper. It’s obviously not as convenient as a flight. It only makes sense if you have time on your trip and are not on a tight schedule. Taking the train to Goa is not a bad option.

There are a lot of trains between Mumbai and Goa. You would want to take a train that originates from Mumbai. Definitely avoid one that starts from Delhi. These trains are often late and dirty. They do not stop at the more accessible stations in Mumbai, making your trip all the more difficult.

We suggest you pick any of these four trains:

1.) Jan Shatabdi:

Jan Shatabdi is the fastest train from Mumbai to Goa. It’s an early morning train from Dadar Station in Mumbai and ends in Thivim in North Goa.  It’s a single track train and takes between 8 to 9 hours to reach Goa. The train leaves from Mumbai at 5:25 AM and reaches around 2 PM in Thivim. It’s a beautiful ride full of mountains and waterfalls. It is the second fastest route to Goa.

2.) Konkan Kanya Express:

The Konkan Kanya is another superfast train between Mumbai and Madgaon. You can board the train from CST (Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus) in Mumbai. Get down between Thivim (North Goa) and Madgaon (South Goa) depending on where you’re staying. The train runs along the western coastline, and covers a distance of 580 kms. This train is a night train from Mumbai, it leaves CST at 11:05 PM and reaches Goa at 10:45 AM. It takes around 13 to 14 hours, so ideally you go to sleep in Mumbai and wake up in Goa!

3.) Mandovi Express:

Mandovi Express is another daily train that runs between Mumbai (CST) and Goa (Madgaon Junction). It takes approximately 14 hours to reach Goa. The train is named after the Mandovi River, the lifeline of Goa. The route is the same as the Konkan Kanya, just slower.

4.) Netravati Express:

The Netravati Express is a Mumbai–Kerala train but has stops in Madgaon and Canacona. If you’re staying near the beaches of Palolem, Patnem or Agonda then this train is ideal. It’s a 45 minute ride from Madgaon to Palolem but if you get down at Canacona it’s just 3kms away. The train starts from LTT (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus) a major railway station near the central suburb of Kurla at 11:40 am and reaches Canacona Station at around midnight.

5.) Matsyagandha Express:

The Matsyagandha Express is essentially a Mumbai–Mangalore train, with similarities to the Netravati. This train also originates from Kurla. It is a good option if you plan to stay in South Goa.  This train stops in Madgaon and Canacona in Goa. It leaves Mumbai in the afternoon at 3:20 PM and reaches at 2:30 AM. The reason why this train is so far down the list is purely because of the time it reaches Canacona. Apart from that there aren’t really any major drawbacks to taking this train.

Spend your evenings drinking at a bar, visiting one of the many casinos, or simply watching the sunset at a nice, relaxing beach – Credit: Eustaquio Santimano

By Bus

The distance between Mumbai and Goa is approximately 600km. You can take a night bus from Mumbai and reach Goa in the morning. We suggest Paulo Travels. You board a Volvo at night, sleep through the journey and reach Goa in the morning.  Bus services like Neeta and VRL are also good options if you don’t get a train ticket and flights are too expensive.

Apart from the lazy beaches, the booze and the amazing seafood, Goa is also popular for its picturesque churches – Credit: satvinderbharma