Panjim and Fontainhas to Old Goa
Your options
Ways to make the journey
20 min
The road leaves Panjim past the Patto bridge and runs along the old Ribandar causeway, built in the 17th century to link the two capitals, with the river on one side and salt pans and houses on the other. Traffic is light in the morning. Your driver drops you at the Basilica and waits, and can take you on to the Divar or Ribandar ferries afterwards.
45 min
In the dry season, a private boat can be arranged upriver from Panjim to the Old Goa landing near the Viceroy's Arch, the way viceroys once arrived. It depends on tide and availability, so we arrange it on request, with the car meeting you at the jetty. Check current status before you travel.
30 min
Frequent local buses run from the Kadamba bus stand in Panjim to Old Goa and on to Ponda. They are cheap and crowded, with no air-conditioning, and stop near the Basilica. Fine for adventurous travellers, but a private car is far more comfortable in the heat.
Worth a stop
- Ribandar causeway and its old houses
- Ribandar ferry jetty for Chorao
- Salt pans along the Mandovi
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How far is Old Goa from Panjim?
About 10 km, roughly 20 minutes by car along the Ribandar causeway. Local buses take about 30 minutes. It is the shortest of all the heritage drives in Goa, and easily combined with Fontainhas on the same day.
Can I visit Panjim and Old Goa in one day?
Yes. Walk Fontainhas from 8 to 10 am, then drive to Old Goa for the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Cathedral. Lunch in Panjim or take the ferry to Divar. A late afternoon visit to St Augustine's tower completes the day.
Is there a ferry from Old Goa?
Yes, a government ferry crosses from the Old Goa jetty to Divar island in about five minutes, carrying cars and foot passengers. A separate ferry from Ribandar, on the way from Panjim, goes to Chorao and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
What is the Ribandar causeway?
The causeway along the Mandovi between Panjim and Ribandar was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century to link the old capital with the new settlement downriver. It is still the main road between Panjim and Old Goa.