North Goa vs South Goa: which side is your kind of night?

People say "Goa" like it's one place, but the party experience up north and down south couldn't be more different. Picking the right side is the difference between the trip you wanted and the trip you didn't.

Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim, Ashwem — this is the party heartland. Beach clubs, cliffside sundowners, the big clubs, the touring DJs, the sunrise culture. It's busier, louder and more social, and it's where the vast majority of Goa's nightlife lives. If you came to party, you came for North Goa.

The south is quieter, more luxurious and more laid-back — pristine beaches, boutique resorts, and a slower rhythm. There's music and there are sundowners, but the emphasis is on relaxation, not raving. It's where you go to recover, or to do a more refined kind of holiday.

• ›Want the full party circuit and nightlife? Base yourself in the north.
• ›Want calm, luxury and space? Head south.
• ›Doing both? Party north, then decompress south — the classic combo.

Know which Goa you're chasing, and the coast delivers.