Top 9 Picks for things to do in Anjuna, North Goa

We spent the first quarter of 2023 in Anjuna, North Goa. There’s much more to Anjuna than enjoying the pumping nightlife. From markets to go-karting, the beach, the waterpark, and more, read on to discover our top picks for attractions, tours and things to do in Anjuna.

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1. Friday night market at Hilltop Goa

If you’re looking for things to do in Anjuna, check out the Friday night market at Hilltop Goa in Vagator (Find it on Google maps).

You find an extensive market with gorgeous handmade clothing and products, lots of food stalls with plenty of international cuisine options, entertainment, and tons of hippy vibes!

If you’re visiting as a family, we recommend going early like we did, between 5 pm and 6 pm. There aren’t many people there at that time, so you can wander around without getting lost in the crowd.

They even have a fenced-off kids’ corner here for 300 rupees per hour. The kids can play and do crafts if they like, but ours were happy playing and wandering around in the main space.

There were plenty of other families there, and we had a lovely time. We left about 8 pm, which was a good time for us as it was dark and the crowds were setting in, which we can find a little overwhelming.

By then, live music was playing, and the place was buzzing.

The market entry fee is 100 rupees per adult, with kids free. I’m told this market wouldn’t run year-round, just during the high season, which is approximately October until March.

Check out the Friday night market at Hilltop Goa if you’re looking for things to do in Vagator or Anjuna (the market is technically Vagator but very close to Anjuna).

2. Wander around the Chapora Fort

If you’re looking for things to do in Anjuna, visit the Chapora Fort nearby.

There’s parking nearby and refreshments at the beginning of the road up. Then you’ll walk up about 120 steps to the top (we count steps in an attempt not to carry little Miss 4?)

There’s not much left of the fortress ruins, but its hilltop location is excellent for views across the lush green landscape and down to nearby beaches.

You can see Vagator and Chapora beaches directly down the cliff, Uddo and Morjim beaches further in the distance, and the Arabian sea stretched before you.

We noticed everyone was exploring on one side of the fort, so you can escape the crowds by wandering along the other side or following a trail further out on the headland.

Afterward, cool off with a dip at one of the nearby beaches like Vagator, Ozran, or Chapora.

3. Swim at laguna anjuna

Laguna Anjuna has definitely seen better days (i.e., it’s looking a little run down), but we still think it’s a nice option if you’re after things to do in Anjuna and you need to cool off.

Visitors are welcome to pay a small fee to use the pool, and you can also order from the on-site restaurant.

If you visit during the day, it’s super quiet and a lovely tranquil place. The pool area is surrounded by nature, and there’s plenty of space for everyone to swim, including a pool for small kids.

Laguna Anjuna comes alive in the evenings (as most places do here?) with drumming on the grass area, water polo in the deep end, and kids enjoying an after-school swim or swimming lessons.

4. Food and activities at Artjuna lifestyle cafe

If you’re looking for things to do in Anjuna, don’t miss a visit to Artjuna.

Artjuna is a lifestyle cafe offering so much. There’s a simple outdoor playground for kids (and adults) with a few swings and a climbing structure in the trees.

Take a look through the dusty library and find yourself a few treasures to swap and enjoy. You can also check out the gorgeous store, mostly with women’s clothing and jewelry, plus a few health products.

There’s live music on most afternoons and evenings, so it can get a little loud at times, but we like the vibe and space. Artjuna has a really nice menu, and you can also purchase beautiful artwork there if you wish.

Tribal warriors run a fitness program at Artjuna with various classes from martial arts to TRX, aerial, and yoga, plus a couple of kids’ classes.

You’ll always find something going on here, from workshops (which they advertise on their walls) to the regular kids’ art classes.

5. Hang out at anjuna beach

Anjuna doesn’t quite make it to our list of the best beaches in North Goa, but it’s worth a visit if you’re looking for things to do in Anjuna.

Like most beaches here, the beach is long and sandy. There are more rocky areas at Anjuna than at many of the other beaches, so just be careful when you choose your swimming spot.

The rocks are fun to hop around, look at crabs, and enjoy the sunset.

If you want to walk all the way along the beach, you’ve just got to time it right with the tides, as there’s not a lot of beach left in certain areas at high tide.

The beach seems less clean than others around, which is the main reason it doesn’t quite make our list.

However, Anjuna is loved by many, especially the younger and older alternative crowds who like to party. There’s no shortage of cheap places to eat on the beachfront, and there’s loud music until the early hours if you’re into that?.

You’ll also find people with boats who will take you sightseeing, so there’s plenty to do at Anjuna beach.

6. Check out the Wednesday market

Wednesday is market day in Anjuna, so if you’re looking for things to do in Anjuna, check it out!

You’ll find a selection of market stalls open on any given day in Anjuna, but Wednesday is when they all come out.

From dream catchers to hippy-style clothing, spices, drums, and jewelry, there’s plenty to browse.

You’ll find one market in the central beach area and another bigger one further along at the beach’s south end (behind the cliff).

You can also enjoy a meal at one of the beach shacks around the market and listen to live music. The Wednesday market goes from morning to night.

7. Go Karting

For things to do in Anjuna, check out Goa Karting. It’s technically in Arpora, but very close to Anjuna, just along from the Splashdown Waterpark.

It’s 350 rupees for 10 laps, so a very budget-friendly activity in Goa.

We found the staff members were very disinterested in having us there, but hey, it’s an option for grown-ups who want to enjoy a fast and fun ride (not a kid-friendly activity).

Goa Karting is open from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. daily but closed on Mondays.

8. Have fun at the splashdown waterpark

Splashdown waterpark in Anjuna is one of the very fun things to do in Goa with kids… But it’s not only for kids!

If you can get past the slightly dirty-looking pool water and that the slides aren’t so new looking, you’ll have a great day out.

This is a small, slides-focused waterpark. You’ll find a “tad pool” with five kids’ waterslides. Two are slow-ish, and three are very fast!

Adults also use these slides, although the adults in our family opted out because the water is very shallow at the bottom (ouch).

Then there’s the big area with another five slides. Our four-year-old can go down one of the big ones on a tube with us. The nine-year-old can go on all but one, which is adults only. She also got stuck on the one you go down on your stomach as she wasn’t heavy enough to get over the middle rise.

9. Walk over the hill

Appreciate Anjuna’s coastline from a different perspective by taking a walk over the hill.

If you’re looking for active things to do in Anjuna, head to the South end of the beach and begin walking over the hill from Shiva Valley.

The best approach is to follow your nose and go in time to enjoy the sunset (even if it does quickly disappear into the haze).

Side note: The high season finishes around February each year, but I’ve noticed the last two weeks in March have brought the most/only clear blue skies we’ve seen during our three months here… So it could be a good month to visit!

The hill isn’t big, so it’s a family-friendly walk. You can’t get lost if you stick to the main tracks and gravel roads. We did a circular track, covering some of the gorgeous small lanes at the hill’s base.

We also found a decent track through the bush that leads (I believe, from the pumping music we heard below) down to Baga beach, so that’s another option… But perhaps do that one earlier in the day, so you don’t risk getting lost after the sun goes down.

Top things to do in Anjuna | In conclusion

We hope you’ve gained plenty of ideas for some family-friendly attractions, tours, and things to do in Anjuna. As you’ll now know, it offers plenty for families and other types of travelers.

If you’re looking for some non-Anjuna Goan highlights of the area, check out our sister post on things to do in North Goa?

Or, if you have an interest or questions about staying in Goa a little longer, then dive into this post with our top tips for moving to Goa.

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