Find cheap flights to Goa (GOI), India

Cultures commingle on India’s West Coast, where Goa, once under Portugal’s control for almost 500 years, exhibits an intriguing blend of European and Indian influence. Travelers with an eye for historical architecture will find Catholic cathedrals, remnants of Portugal’s reign, not far from Hindu and Buddhist temples. The area’s cuisine is unlike any in the world, with numerous local delicacies that reflect both the region’s historically sought-after ingredients and held-over Portuguese cooking styles. Adding to the collision of cultures, Goa remains an international counterculture haven after hippies flocked to the area in the early 1960s following the reclamation of the land by India. Though it is no longer the New Age Mecca it once was, hippies still love to linger on Goa’s beaches and mix with locals and visitors alike.

The hotels in Goa are among the best in all of India, and include some of the most exorbitant resorts fronting the Arabian Sea. When you’re not indulging in your resort’s plush amenities or soaking up the sun on the beach, you can venture inland for a nature tour in Goa’s lush, green, waterfall-dotted landscape. If you’d rather stay up all night, the rave and trance scene near the beach will keep you dancing long after the sun disappears over the sea.