Getting Started with renting a bike in Goa

(UPDATED 2021) Renting a bike in Goa is one of the best ways to explore this part of India. There are a few things you must know about a Scooty on rent in Goa, but we’ve got you covered. By the time you have read this you will now the best place to rent a bike in Goa AND we have even put together a top 10 of Best Things to do and see on a Bike ride in Goa so YOU wont miss a thing.

Although understanding renting a bike in Goa takes a little bit of time, it is totally worth it. Once you are on the road it is a fast, convenient and fun way to zip between towns and beaches, finding all the best sports other tourists don’t get to. SO, read on for everything you need to know about renting a bike in Goa.

Renting a bike in Goa Quick Info

Where can I rent a bike in Goa?

The great news is there are lots of places for renting a bike in Goa and they are easy to spot. Although you can arrange renting a bike in Goa before you even arrive, if you want to save some money, just do it on arrival. If you are staying in a small town there is a good chance it will have a bike rental places even if it is not advertised on the internet. So finding places the will rent you a bike is the easy bit, finding the right place to rent a bike in Goa is the slightly more tricky bit.

We rented a bike from Vishal Rental Bikes and Tours on Anjuna Mapusa Road near HDFC bank. This was a great example of a trust worthy place that did a very fair deal for renting a bike in Goa. We have pinned it on the map below to give you an idea of a good example BUT please do not think this is now the only place you can rent! For a start you may end up in a different starting town to us. So, to be honest it is more important you get to grips with what you need to watch out for and then just pick a good place to rent a bike based on that.

How much does it cost to rent a bike in Goa?

It is delightfully cheap renting a bike in Goa. You can rent a bike for 250 Rupees – 400 Rupees per day ( this is roughly 2.80 – 4.40 GBP / 4.00 USD – 6.00 USD ). If you book ahead on the internet it will cost more than this. The price depends on the rental place and the type of bike you would like to rent. If you are new to bikes it is worth renting an automatic. To get a lower price try bartering, even if there is a printed price (If you have been travelling India a while, you will know this) If you are renting a bike in Goa for a longer period of time you should be able to get a pretty good discount.

Is it safe to rent a bike in Goa?

This is of course a super subjective question when it comes to renting a bike in Goa, but I will do my best to give you a good idea of what it will be like. Throughout a lot of India, renting and drive a bike would be pretty terrifying just because the roads are so busy and intense. Goa is so laid back compared to most of India it makes driving here seem safe by comparison. The roads tend to be quite quiet between towns and villages and even in the built up areas traffic seemed pretty chilled. So, i that sense it feel quite safe renting a bike in Goa.

BUT and there is a huge BUT, renting a motor bike always comes with inherent dangers, especially in Asia and especially around beach towns. In Asia you are often hot and so wont be wearing much to protect your skin if you do come off. The roads in Asia don’t tend to be build to the same standards we’re used in the west and beach towns tend to be more sandy which of course reduced traction.

You also need to consider local driving culture when renting a bike in Goa. Generally people just pull out with out looking; it really is quite frightening and I will resist making any natural selection jokes!

Make sure you check your bike at the point of renting it, check if it feels stable, check for tread on the tyres,, check they include helmet hire ect.

So, is renting a bike in Goa safe? It has it’s risk and you need to check your bike, and keep your wits about you, but compared to a lot of India it is a relatively safe area to drive around.

What do I need to rent a bike in Goa?

Often you will need to leave I.D. as a deposit. Drivers license is generally sufficient. Officially you need an international drivers license to ride a motorbike in Goa, however no one checked when we rented a bike and rode round Goa.

How do you get petrol in Goa?

Petrol costs 50-60 rupees per litre from a petrol station (0.50GBP / 0.70USD). Smaller shops may charge more (80 rupees per litre). We found that 3 litres was sufficient for 24 hours exploring quite far.

Avoiding Scams when renting a bike in Goa

Remember to check the bike carefully before renting, understand the contract (if there is one) and take photos of any damage. It is quite a common issues for the shop to claim that you have caused what was preexisting damage, so make sure you get them to acknowledge any damage and make you take a few date stamped pictures of any damage before riding away.

Scooty on rent in Goa Quick Q&A

Can I rent a bike in Goa without license?

Officially you can not rent a bike in India without an International license, but when researching and asking local Goa rental companies, none of them seemed to care about an International driving license. A few did ask about our UK driving licence, but that was more as a deposit for the bike. It would be best practice to have your international driving license as the local police could have a clamp down on it any point. It doesn’t however seem to be much of an issue at the moment.

Is helmet compulsory in Goa?

As of 2015 helmets have been compulsory when riding a bike in Goa. Let’s be real though, compulsory or not, just wear your helmet! There’s nothing cool about riding without a helmet. Every reputable renting.a bike in Goa will offer both you and any passenger a helmet as part of rental.

Is drink and drive allowed in Goa?

Rightfully so, the police in Goa take drink driving VERY seriously. 2020 actually saw a ban of drinking alcohol on the beaches as things were getting too out of hand. Although these rules are been tested and refined an offence such as drink driving in dealt with very seriously. It has become such a serious issue with so many travellers renting a bike in Goa that people are actually been taken to court to be made an example of. So for every reason under the sun, just don’t do it!

Renting a car in Goa

If you are not comfortable with the idea of renting a bike in Goa you can also rent cars. There are plenty of car rental places giving you lots of choice. Goa2u have a lot of experience in helping travellers in particular rent cars,

Expect to pay 800 rupees – 6,000 rupees per day depending on the make, model, age and rental company (9.00GBP – 60.00GBP / 12.00USD – 80.00 USD). You can arrange discounts on the daily rate if you plan to rent for longer periods of time.

Other ways to get around Goa

Renting a bike in Goa isn’t for everyone. You can also rent pedal bikes for a relaxed and enjoyable way to explore the towns and beaches of Goa.

Another way to explore Goa is by bus. Local buses run between towns but are not very regular. Buses typically cost 15-20 rupees between towns. Longer journeys may cost 50 rupees or more (0.50GBP or 0.70USD). Shorter journeys are 5-10 rupees. If you bring yourself to try renting a bike in Goa, it is the best way to get around, but if not, it is nice to know there are other options.

10 Best Things to do and see on a bike ride in Goa

Renting a bike in Goa is super exciting and opens up a whole new world of opportunity. There are so many thing you simple couldn’t get to without renting a bike in Goa or paying a lot for a local taxi. In many ways renting a bike in Goa is an experience its self. This is the ultimate list things to do and see on your bike ride around Goa.

This top 10 list of things to do and see when renting a bike in Goa is arranged from north to south to help you plan your route. SO, happy riding!

1. See the sunset at Chapora fort

Ride up to Chapora in the evening, park your bike near Zoola Lounge, and climb up the hill to Chapora fort. This ancient fort overlooks Vagator beach in Chapora. It is a bit of a walk up to the fort so bring good footwear. Once you are up you get a great view of the area. Entry is FREE.

2. Have a cocktail in a tree house

Park your bike in Anjuna and enjoy Anjuna beach. Keep your eye open for Tantra beach shack hostel. This is a cool place to stay, eat or just have a drink and enjoy the beautiful West facing Anjuna beach.

3. Splash out with water sports

As you ride out of Anjuna you may want to drop in to Explore Water sports Goa. They have a great range of water sports for all you ocean loving adventurers out there.

4. Brave the slides at Splashdown water park

This impressive little waterpark has lots of slides and pools to cool down. About 2km east of Anjuna beach. It costs 500 rupees peak times and 400 rupees low season. You will also need 100 rupees for a locker. The water park closes at 6pm.

5. Go karting in Arpora

If you want a change from riding your bike why not mix it up with some go karting? There is a place a short drive down the road from the Splashdown waterpark. Closed on mondays. Open from 4pm-10pm. 300 rupees for 10 laps.

6. Shopping spree in the night markets

Goa has a fantastic range of clothing and jewelry in the night markets. Most towns have night markets. If you are exploring by bike you will be able to zip between markets and fill your bag with goodies. If you’re Arpora check out the saturday night market (near the go karting).

7. Explore the historical buildings of Panaji

RIding a bike through a busy Indian town is exhilarating and terrifying. Panaji is the capital of Goa and is a great place to see some historical buildings such as the beautiful white church of Panaji.

8. Shri Mangeshi Temple

As you leave Panaji ride east on the 748 towards Ponda. The Mangeshi temple is a unique temple about 23km from Panaji. Once you get to Mangeshi temple you can explore the area by bike to discover many more temples.

9. Tropical Spice Plantation

If you want to learn about nature head to the Tropical Spice Plantation. This is a bit of a journey from the beaches, so you may be grateful for your bike. The Spice Plantation is in Kerim. 400 rupees entry fee for adults and 200 rupee entry fee for children. If you are out this way and still crave a nature fix keep heading east to the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.

10. Take a cooking class

There are several cooking schools around Goa offering you the chance to learn to cook the unique and delicious Goan recipes. If you get to Palolem beach check out Rahul’s cooking school. This cooking class comes highly recommended and has a range of options for different length classes and different menus. It is also a competitive price for cooking classes in the area (1,500 rupees depending on demand and season).

Holi in Goa

Holi in Goa can be a lot of fun! Holi Is the most amazing colourful festival imaginable. It is also a cultural festival to the locals so there a lot things you should know about celebrating Holi In India.

Responsible Sustainable travel in Goa

While the younger generations in India are eager to see a more Eco friendly India, sadly, they have a long way to go. Let’s be very honest here and say that irresponsible drunken and drugged up tourist aren’t helping the situation! Anyone who travels to a country, should do so respectfully and though it is of course it is essential to educate yourself on local culture and look to follow it where possible. When it comes to responsible sustainable travel, it is up to travellers who have the privilege of travelling to set a good example.

I completely understand there are limited things in place, especially around Goa, but if you are respectful of the environment, locals will see that and you can influence the culture for good. Please don’t leave your trash on the beach. Perhaps even consider doing a litter pick or ocean clean whilst you are there. Please be part of the solution. If you truly care about travelling in a more sustainable way in Goa it’s important to read a dedicated sustainable travel guides for the area.

Which is the cleanest beach in Goa?

There are a few beaches in Goa fighting for that top spot as ‘the cleanest beach in Goa’. For very good reason Palolem Beach in South Goa gets a mention for actually beach itself. Calangute Beach is another good options, there is a general effort by locals to keep this one clean. Anjuna Beach in North Goa has more of a rugard coast line, but the beach itself is pretty clean. The best thing about Renting a bike in Goa is you can visit any beach you like and there are some very quiet beautiful unnamed gems.

Which is the best area to stay in Goa?

Goa is way bigger than most people realise, so you defiantly need to have an idea of where you are heading! Pernem is a great area to get started, from here you can find some very chilled sunset beaches. Bardez is another great area to head to. It offers everything from amazing luxury resorts to hippie-tastic beaches. We spent a lot of time in Anjuna and really loved it. There is a nice balance of costal beauty, nice beaches, little tasty hippy places to eat and generally very affordable.

Staying in Bardez in Goa

If you are looking to find a super cool hang out in Bardez, the beach box hotel is pretty impressive on every level. The staff are great and will certainly point you in the right direction for renting a bike in Goa whilst you stay.

Staying in Pernem in Goa

Hotel Teremok is good clean hotel to start with when you get to Pernem. Stylish clean hotel with tropical vibes at a good price. It comes very highly reviewed!

Staying in Anjuan in Goa

If you are staying in Anjuan, the U.R.D.Ki Hostel is fantastic option for backpackers. Super stylish and well throughout through out. Everything is well set up for meeting other travellers during your stay.