Baroque basilicas, a giant cathedral and Panaji's postcard church.
The most famous churches in Goa are the Basilica of Bom Jesus (holding the relics of St Francis Xavier), Sé Cathedral — one of the largest churches in Asia — and the Church of St Francis of Assisi, all in Old Goa, plus Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Panaji.
Updated November 2026 · GoaPlace editors · facts checked against our own listings| Name | Area | Best for | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church | Panaji | Icon of Panaji | Year-round, mornings |
| Basilica of Bom Jesus | Old Goa | UNESCO World Heritage | Year-round, mornings |
| Sé Cathedral & Old Goa churches | Old Goa | Grandest interior | Year-round, mornings |
The dazzling white church above a criss-cross staircase that appears on every Panaji postcard. A chapel stood here in the sixteenth century; the present church grew around it. Visit in soft morning light and dress modestly.
The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier and is part of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa. Its unplastered laterite façade glows gold in the morning. Dress modestly and keep voices low.
One of the largest churches in Asia, the Sé faces the Basilica across Old Goa's lawns. Look for the gilded main altar and the Golden Bell in its tower, then pair it with the Church of St Francis of Assisi and the archaeological museum beside it.
Cover shoulders and knees; remove hats inside. Mass times are for worship — visit quietly.
On 3 December, with a novena in the days before; Old Goa is very crowded then.
Change the planet's sky.
