Mopa or Dabolim: which Goa airport should you fly into?
Updated 8 November 2026 by Ketan, Colva
Fly into the airport on your villa's side of Goa. Mopa (GOX) is in Pernem on the Maharashtra border, about an hour from Panaji and 45 minutes from Assagao, so it suits North Goa. Dabolim (GOI) is near Vasco, 24.4 km from Margao, so it suits South Goa. The two airports are 50 km apart.
Which Goa airport is closer to your villa?
The one on the same side of the state. Goa has two international airports about 50 km apart, PTI reported when the second opened in December 2022: Mopa in North Goa's Pernem taluka on the Maharashtra border, and Dabolim near Vasco in South Goa. Book the flight after you book the villa, not before.
| Mopa (GOX) | Dabolim (GOI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Manohar International Airport | Goa International Airport, Dabolim |
| Where | Pernem taluka, North Goa, on the Maharashtra border | Dabolim village near Vasco, South Goa; civil enclave in INS Hansa |
| Operator | GMR, per the airport's website | Airports Authority of India |
| To Panaji | About 35 km, an hour | About 26 km |
| To Margao | Part of the 100 km, 2.5 hour run to South Goa | 24.4 km, about 33 minutes |
| Nearest railway station | Pernem; Thivim by airport bus | Vasco-da-Gama |
| Ground transport | Goa Taxi, GoaMiles and MegaCabs counters; airport buses; self-drive hire | Pre-paid taxis and GoaMiles |
| Capacity | 4.4 million passengers a year in phase one, expandable to 33 million | 8.5 million passengers a year (2022) |
Sources: PTI via Deccan Herald (December 2022), Free Press Journal (January 2023), Goa Tourism, the Airports Authority of India and Manohar International Airport's own pages.
Where is Mopa airport, and which areas does it suit?
Mopa is at the northern tip of Goa, and it suits villas in North Goa. The Free Press Journal put it about 35 km, an hour's drive, from Panaji and 20 km, about 45 minutes, from Assagao and Saligao. It listed taxi fares from the airport within ₹1,200 to Siolim, Anjuna, Baga, Morjim, Arambol, Mandrem and Mapusa bus stand in January 2023. Fares have changed since, so treat these as a guide.
That covers our North Goa area guides: Siolim, Assagao, Moira, Anjuna and Vagator and Candolim and Calangute. Pernem railway station, close to Mopa, has few trains, according to Gomantak Times, so rail travellers usually use Thivim instead.
Where is Dabolim airport, and which areas does it suit?
Dabolim is near Vasco in South Goa, and it suits villas in South Goa. Goa Tourism puts it 6 km from Vasco, about 26 km from Panaji, and 24.4 km, about 33 minutes, from Margao. Bogmalo beach is just 4 km from the airport.
From Margao the Salcete beaches are close: Benaulim is less than 2 km south of Colva, and Goa Tourism puts Cavelossim 41 to 48 km from Dabolim. That covers Benaulim, Cavelossim and the villages in our guide to where to stay in South Goa. For Palolem and Agonda, Dabolim is still the closer airport, though Palolem is another 40 km beyond Margao.
Dabolim is an Indian Navy air station with a civil enclave, the Airports Authority of India says, and it handled about 68.72 lakh passengers in 2023-24.
What does it cost to land at the wrong airport?
Time and a large taxi bill. The Free Press Journal put Mopa about 100 km and two and a half hours from South Goa. In January 2023, a Mopa to Benaulim taxi bill came to ₹3,200 plus taxes, ₹4,148 in all, and Gomantak Times reported that the bill matched the government rate card.
Airlines sell both airports as "Goa", so the code on the ticket is what matters: GOX is Mopa, GOI is Dabolim. Check it before you pay, especially if the group is flying in from different cities.
How do you get from each airport to your villa?
By taxi for most groups, or by bus if you travel light.
- Mopa: the airport's taxi page lists the state-owned Goa Taxi counter with fixed rates, GoaMiles and MegaCabs, and self-drive car hire is available at the terminal. Its bus timetable lists departures to Thivim railway station, Calangute, Panaji via Mapusa, and Margao bus stand and railway station via Mapusa and Panaji.
- Dabolim: Goa Tourism lists the government-run pre-paid taxi service and GoaMiles cabs outside the terminal.
Uber and Ola do not operate in Goa. Our getting around Goa guide covers the taxi apps, rental rules and buses in full. Ask the villa whether it arranges airport pickups, and get the rate in writing when you book.
Which airport for a group flying in from different cities?
Agree on one airport first, then book flights. If the villa is in North Goa, try to route everyone into Mopa; if it is in South Goa, into Dabolim. Where flights force a split, plan two pickups rather than one long wait, since the airports are 50 km apart. Our city guides list the trains and flights from Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi.
Still choosing a side of Goa? Read North Goa or South Goa for a villa holiday, then see our villas with live dates.
Sources
- Deccan Herald (PTI): Now, Goa has two international airports located 50 km apart (11 December 2022), checked 8 November 2026
- Free Press Journal: getting in and out of Mopa airport by taxi (7 January 2023), checked 8 November 2026
- Gomantak Times: Goa's taxi drivers having the last laugh (14 January 2023), checked 8 November 2026
- Airports Authority of India: Goa International Airport, checked 8 November 2026
- Goa Tourism: Getting here, checked 8 November 2026
- Goa Tourism: Bogmalo, checked 8 November 2026
- Goa Tourism: Benaulim, checked 8 November 2026
- Goa Tourism: Varca, Cavelossim and Mobor, checked 8 November 2026
- Goa Tourism: Palolem, checked 8 November 2026
- Manohar International Airport: taxi service, checked 8 November 2026
- Manohar International Airport: bus routes and timings, checked 8 November 2026
- Manohar International Airport: self-drive car hire, checked 8 November 2026
- Gomantak Times: choosing the right railway station in Goa (2 October 2023), checked 8 November 2026
- Business Standard (PTI): 1 in 3 Goa taxis now local app-based as state bars outside aggregators (15 June 2025), checked 8 November 2026
Questions people ask
Which airport is better for South Goa, Mopa or Dabolim?
Dabolim. Goa Tourism puts it 24.4 km, about 33 minutes, from Margao, the town at the centre of the South Goa beach belt. Mopa is about 100 km and two and a half hours from South Goa, according to the Free Press Journal.
Which airport is better for North Goa?
Mopa, for most of North Goa. The Free Press Journal puts it about 35 km and an hour from Panaji and 20 km, about 45 minutes, from Assagao and Saligao. Taxi fares listed in January 2023 to Siolim, Anjuna, Baga and Morjim were within ₹1,200.
How far is Mopa airport from Dabolim airport?
About 50 km, PTI reported when Mopa was inaugurated in December 2022. Each of Goa's two districts now has its own international airport: Mopa in North Goa and Dabolim in South Goa.
What is the airport code for Mopa and Dabolim?
Mopa, officially Manohar International Airport, is GOX. Dabolim is GOI. Check the code on your ticket: airlines sell both as Goa, and the wrong one can add hours to your transfer.
How much is a taxi from Mopa airport to South Goa?
Expect several thousand rupees. In January 2023 a Mopa to Benaulim taxi cost ₹3,200 plus taxes, ₹4,148 in all, on the government rate card, Gomantak Times reported. Fares have changed since, so confirm at the counter.
Is there a bus from Mopa airport?
Yes. Mopa's published timetable lists buses from the airport to Thivim railway station, Calangute, Panaji via Mapusa, and Margao bus stand and railway station via Mapusa and Panaji. Check the current times on the airport's website before you fly.
Is Dabolim airport closing?
No. Dabolim still handles passenger flights. The Airports Authority of India says it handled about 68.72 lakh passengers in 2023-24. It runs as a civil enclave in the Indian Navy's INS Hansa air station.
Information only, checked on the date above. Prices, rules and timings in Goa change; confirm with the venue or authority before you travel.