Goa
Mopa vs Dabolim by bus: which Goa airport is easier without a taxi
Mopa has 12 airport buses a day to Mapusa, Panaji, Calangute and Margao; Dabolim has four, the last at 4 pm. Fares, times and which Goa airport to choose.
If you want to get around Goa by airport bus rather than a taxi, Mopa is the easier airport by a wide margin. Manohar International Airport at Mopa (GOX) has about 12 KTCL airport buses a day to Mapusa, Panaji, Calangute and Margao, running until 9:30 pm. Dabolim (GOI) has four a day, to Panaji and Calangute only, and the last one leaves the airport at 4:00 pm.
Every time and fare below is from KTCL's own booking system, queried for each day from 29 September to 5 October 2026. Which airport suits you still depends on where you are staying and when you land, so here is how the two compare, town by town.
Mopa vs Dabolim by bus at a glance
| Mopa (GOX) | Dabolim (GOI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Buses a day | 12 each way | 4 each way |
| Towns | Mapusa, Panaji, Calangute, Margao | Panaji, Calangute |
| Fares | ₹150 to ₹400 | ₹150 to ₹200 |
| Leaving the airport | 8:30 am to 9:30 pm | 7:30 am to 4:00 pm |
| Arriving at the airport | 7:15 am to 8:00 pm | 11:45 am to 8:00 pm |
| Tickets | KTCL counter by the stop, or online | Online at goakadamba.com |
Both airports' buses are run by Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTCL), and both are air-conditioned.
Where are you going? Town by town
| To | From Mopa | From Dabolim |
|---|---|---|
| Mapusa | 12 a day, ₹150, 30 min to 1 hr | No airport bus |
| Panaji | 7 a day, ₹200, about 1 hr | 4 a day, ₹150, about 1 hr |
| Calangute | 5 a day, ₹200, about 1½ hr | 4 a day, ₹200, about 1½ hr |
| Margao | 5 a day, ₹400, about 2 hr | No airport bus |
North Goa: Mapusa, Calangute and the beaches
Mopa, in Pernem in the far north of the state, is the obvious airport for North Goa. Every Mopa airport bus calls at the Mapusa Kadamba bus stand, and five a day continue to Calangute Football Ground for ₹200, about an hour and a half from the airport. For Baga or Candolim, continue from Calangute by taxi.
From Dabolim, the same Calangute stop is served four times a day, also for ₹200 and about an hour and a half, by way of Panaji.
Panaji
Panaji is the one place both airports serve well, and the fare is lower from Dabolim: ₹150 against ₹200. From Mopa to Panaji there are seven buses a day, on the Mopa–Margao and Mopa–Panaji routes, taking about an hour. From Dabolim to Panaji there are four, at 7:30 am, 8:00 am, 1:45 pm and 4:00 pm, also about an hour.
South Goa and Margao
Dabolim is the closer airport to South Goa, but it has no airport bus there: its only route runs north to Panaji and Calangute. The one airport bus to Margao is from Mopa, five a day for ₹400, about two hours via Mapusa and Panaji. If you are staying in South Goa and landing at Dabolim, you will need a taxi.
Landing in the afternoon or evening? Mind the last bus
This is where the two airports differ most. The last airport bus from Dabolim leaves at 4:00 pm; land after that and there is no KTCL airport bus until the next morning. From Mopa, the last bus to Calangute leaves at 8:30 pm and the last one to Mapusa, Panaji and Margao at 9:30 pm.
Mornings are the other way round for Dabolim: its first bus from the airport leaves at 7:30 am, while Mopa's first is at 8:30 am.
Catching a flight: buses to each airport
To Mopa, the first buses leave Calangute and Margao at 6:00 am, reaching the airport at 7:15 am and 8:00 am. The last to arrive leaves Margao at 5:45 pm, calls at Panaji at 7:00 pm and Mapusa at 7:30 pm, and reaches Mopa at 8:00 pm.
To Dabolim, the first bus leaves Calangute at 9:59 am and Panaji at 10:31 am, reaching the airport at 11:45 am, so there is no airport bus for a morning flight. The last leaves Calangute at 6:30 pm and Panaji at 7:00 pm, arriving at 8:00 pm.
Tickets and luggage
- Mopa: buy your ticket at the KTCL counter by the airport bus stop, or book a seat ahead at goakadamba.com. Riders report that the stop is across two roads from the terminal exit, that trolleys cannot be taken to it, and that there is no luggage hold, so bags go in the aisle.
- Dabolim: seats can be booked online at goakadamba.com. KTCL's airport fares carry no luggage charge.
Can you travel between Mopa and Dabolim by bus?
There is no direct bus, but you can change at the Panaji Kadamba bus stand, where both airports' buses stop. For example, the 9:00 am from Mopa reaches Panaji at 10:00 am, in time for the 10:31 am to Dabolim, which arrives at 11:45 am. With only four Dabolim buses a day, check the connection before you rely on it.
So which Goa airport should you fly into?
- Staying in North Goa, or going to Margao without a taxi: Mopa.
- Landing after 4 pm and relying on the bus: Mopa, whose buses run until 9:30 pm.
- Going to Panaji or Calangute, landing in time for one of Dabolim's four buses: either works, and Dabolim is ₹50 cheaper to Panaji.
- Staying in South Goa: Dabolim is closer, but you will need a taxi from either airport.
Flights have been moving to Mopa. A September 2026 report put Dabolim's passenger numbers down 13% and Mopa's up 34%, with 13 flights moved from Dabolim to Mopa.
Goa airport bus: common questions
Is there a bus from Mopa airport to Panaji?
Yes, seven a day, ₹200, about an hour, on the Mopa–Margao and Mopa–Panaji routes.
Is there a bus from Dabolim airport to Panaji?
Yes, four a day at 7:30 am, 8:00 am, 1:45 pm and 4:00 pm, ₹150, about an hour.
Is there a bus from Mopa airport to Calangute?
Yes, five a day, ₹200, about an hour and a half, to Calangute Football Ground by way of Mapusa.
Is there a bus from Mopa airport to Margao or South Goa?
Yes, to Margao: five a day, ₹400, about two hours. There is no airport bus to South Goa from Dabolim.
What time is the last bus from Dabolim airport?
4:00 pm, to Panaji and Calangute. After that, there is no KTCL airport bus until the next morning.
How much is the Goa airport bus?
From Mopa, ₹150 to Mapusa, ₹200 to Panaji or Calangute and ₹400 to Margao. From Dabolim, ₹150 to Panaji and ₹200 to Calangute.
Find your bus
- Goa airport buses: choose Mopa or Dabolim
- From Mopa airport: every stop, with the next bus
- From Dabolim airport: every stop, with the next bus
- To Mopa airport and to Dabolim airport
KTCL's Panaji bus stand enquiry line is 92265 82250. If something here no longer matches what you find at the stop, tell us and we will check it against KTCL.
Sources: KTCL online booking (goakadamba.com), searched for 29 September to 5 October 2026; KTCL Citizen's Charter, 5 February 2025; Goa Traveller rider review of the Mopa bus; Prudent Media, 16 September 2026. The full list for every figure on this site is on our data sources page.