The Best Hotels and Beach Huts in Palolem, Goa

The rooms at Palolem Guest House are clean and simple, and many have balconies overlooking the shady garden, which is packed with tropical palms, bird of paradise flowers and avocado trees. Sample the fruits of the latter at the decent hotel restaurant – in an avocado chocolate mousse or avo-banana smoothie – or go more traditional with the seafood thali. You could then walk it off at a leisurely pace along Palolem Beach, which is just a five-minute stroll away.

Bhakti Kutir eco-retreat is run by Panta and Ute Ferrao, a couple who decided to escape the rat race. And you can escape it, too, if only temporarily, with a stay in one of their rustic beach huts in Goa, which are dotted around a 1ha (2 acre) coconut grove between Patnem and Palolem Beaches. Join daily yoga classes, balance your chakras at the on-site ayurvedic clinic and scour the coast for hidden coves – your stresses will soon melt away.

With comfy rooms, a buzzy cafe downstairs and Palolem Beach just moments away, you’ll soon ease into a laid-back routine at Crystal Goa. Raju and his team are super friendly, and can help you arrange day trips or onward travel. Nature lover? Don’t miss a trip to Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can spot exotic birds and hike to Savari Waterfall.

Art Resort Goa is more than a casual beach resort – it’s a community. Beyond the colourful Goan beach cottages, which have wide, curtain-draped verandas and sit right on the sand, you’ll find a non-profit art gallery running hands-on creative workshops, and a restaurant where live musicians serenade diners on a nightly basis. Grab a hammock – or a paintbrush or guitar – and make yourself at home.

The wooden bungalows at Roundcube are tightly packed in a coconut grove, but they’re sturdy and clean, and come with private bathrooms and terraces – the best ones, naturally, are right on the beach. Hungry after a lazy day on the beach? Head to the candlelit restaurant for sunset views and grilled catches of the day.

The Royal Touch beach huts in Goa are basic but good value, and have reasonably bug-proofed open-roofed en-suite bathrooms. Host Deepak is a diamond too. Need a change of scene? Perfect your downward dog at a drop-in yoga class at nearby Anand Yoga Village, hire a sea kayak and paddle over to Monkey Island, or walk 20 minutes along the coastal trail to reach the quieter sands of Patnem Beach.

The rooms at Pacific Sunset View are more homely than your average budget beach shack – there’s even art on the walls – and they are clustered among the rocks like the village from Popeye. Views and seclusion are the main draw here; gaze out to sea from your private terrace, or navigate the hilly trail to reach Palolem Beach in less than 10 minutes.

The rustic glamping huts at Cozy Nook Goa, at the northern end of Palolem Beach, are elevated by hand-painted Rajasthani furniture and colourful textiles. They don’t all have sea views, but wherever you stay, you’ll feel the ocean breeze on your balcony. It’s worth taking part in the popular daily yoga classes – if only for an excuse to indulge in an ayurvedic massage.

Got your own ride? Sandalwood Gardenia Resort could be the ideal base for you. It’s not quite beachside – Palolem Beach is 1km (0.6mi) away – but it has a freeform pool and budget-friendly chalet-style rooms. Beach-hop up the coast (Cola Beach, backed by an emerald lagoon, is a standout stop) or take a day trip to Margao City, where you’ll find markets, temples and striking colonial churches.

Patnem Garden Resort beguiles with exceptionally helpful staff and huge woven-walled beach cottages with mossie-netted canopy beds and shady verandas. Quiet Patnem Beach, a two-minute walk away, retains a little more of Goa’s hippy vibe than neighbouring Palolem. Don’t miss a hummus-heavy lunch at Middle Eastern-inspired Jaali Cafe – they have a lovely boutique filled with trinkets too.

Possibly the fanciest hotel in Palolem, Sobit Sarovar Portico features contemporary double and twin rooms overlooking a central pool. The main beach is mere minutes away (ask staff to show you the short cut), but it’s worth taking a tuk-tuk or boat to Butterfly Beach, a tiny, jungle-backed bay that’s deliciously crowd free. Here to party? Drive 10-minutes north to Leopard Valley, a huge outdoor nightclub in an old jungle quarry.

The spartan rooms and cottages at Club Palolem sit within a lush palm-shaded garden, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. Affable owner Siddhesh is a fountain of local knowledge and can help you plan day trips and excursions. Wildlife fans will love Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, a 20-minute drive inland from the coast. Here you can tackle short jungle hiking trails, keeping an eye out for white-bellied woodpeckers, wild boar and golden-back gliding snakes.

The 27 wooden beach cottages at Marron Sea View Resort in Goa are clustered at the far southern end of Palolem Beach, meaning the stretch of sand just steps from your room is relatively crowd free. Navigate the tumbled rocks to the left of the resort to reach the beach trail that will take you to Colomb and Patnem beaches. History buffs should save time for a trip to see the scenic coastal ruins of Cabo de Rama Fort, a royal outpost turned Portuguese military base, and government prison.