In this blog post, discover how to spend 24 hours in Diu.

While 24 hours isn’t enough time to explore Diu, it is ample time to visit all the top attractions.

I was in Diu for only a day, but I saw everything. Thanks to a parking attendant at the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple. He mapped out a sightseeing route for me to reduce travel time between sites.

I travelled to Diu from Prabhas Patan (Somnath temple). The distance is 84 km and takes 2½ hours. I left my hotel in Prabhas Patan at 7:30 a.m. and reached Diu at 9:30 a.m.

Upon reaching Diu, I headed to the first attraction on the list because my hotel check-in wasn’t until 2 p.m.

If, like me, you have limited time in Diu or are travelling from a neighbouring city, try to reach Diu as early as possible.

NOTE:- It gets hotter as the day progresses and becomes difficult to explore.

Assuming you’re staying the night, here’s how to spend 24 hours in Diu.

GANGESHWAR MAHADEV TEMPLE AT 9 A.M.

The first attraction on the list is the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple. It is an ancient temple along the cliffs of Diu. The temple worships the deity of Gangeshwar, Lord of Ganga River.

The temple is renowned for the five Shivalingas built by Pandavas during their exile. Beside the Lingas, you can find small statues of Lord Vishnu, goddess Laxmi and Ganapati.

People visit because of its long history and to watch the waves bathe the five Shivalingas with seawater. It is a sight to behold.

TRAVEL TIP:- If you want to take photos without crowds and long lines, visit before 9 a.m.

TIMINGS AND TICKETS:- The temple is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Entry is free, but there is a parking fee of Rs.30-50.

INS KHUKRI MEMORIAL AT 9:30 A.M.

Up next is the INS Khukri Memorial. It is 3 km away and takes 10 minutes by car.

The INS Khukri Memorial houses the replica of the naval ship that was damaged and sunk by three torpedoes during the Indo-Pak War.

In 1971, the INS Khukri Ship sank 40 nautical miles off the Diu coast. Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, 18 officers and 176 sailors went down with it.

The INS Khukri Memorial honours those who sacrificed their lives during the war.

There are two ways to reach the top – walking and by golf cart.

I recommend taking the golf cart because it is a long uphill climb, and you will need your energy to explore the Diu Fort.

NOTE:- There is a fee of Rs.40 per person for the golf cart.

Also, don’t forget to visit the Kankeshwari Mata temple. Just follow the path beside parked golf carts.

From the memorial, you can see the Chakratirth Beach below. If you want, you can go to the beach for a quick visit.

TRAVEL TIP:- If you spend longer at one site, you’ll have less time to explore the following site.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- The memorial is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free, but there is a parking fee of Rs.50 for cars.

ANCIENT GATE OF HERITAGE WALK AT 10:05 A.M.

Drive for 1 km and make a quick pit stop at the ancient gate of Heritage Walk.

There is a parking space for a couple of cars. Walk up to the top of the gate for expansive views of Jallandhar Beach and surrounding areas.

Walk around for a few minutes before heading to the next destination.

DIU FORT AT 10:25 A.M.

The next destination is the Diu Fort, 1.7 km away.

Diu Fort, or Fort of Diu, is a medieval battle fortress built by the Portuguese.

During the Portuguese reign, the fort served as a home for the nobles, barracks for soldiers, a church, a chapel, an armoury, a warehouse and a prison.

Upon entering the gate, you are in an open courtyard surrounded by the ruins of the nobles’ residences, the church, and the chapel.

From the dock, you can see a small fortress in the middle of the. It is Pani Kotha, the first jail built during the Portuguese reign.

Earlier boats were available to the prison, but recently, they have stopped due to restorations.

The Diu Fort is widespread and requires a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.

You need at least 2 hours to explore the entire fort. So, try to reach early.

TRAVEL TIP:- The afternoons are hot and humid, so carry hats, caps, sunglasses and lots of water.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- Entry is free. But there is a Rs.50 parking fee. The fort is open daily from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH AT 12:40 P.M.

450 m, a 2 min drive from Diu Fort, is the St. Paul’s Church. It is known as the Church of Immaculate Conception.

The Portuguese built three churches during their reign; St. Paul’s Church is one of them; the 400-year-old church is one of the oldest functioning churches in the area.

If you’ve been to the Bom Jesus Church in Goa, you will notice similarities between the two churches– both have Gothic-style architecture, and the Portuguese built them.

The church is in bad shape, but the reliefs on the exterior, volutes and shell-shaped motifs make for a pretty background for photos.

TIMINGS:- There is no specific time to visit the church; If you want, you can attend the mass held once every month.

DIU MUSEUM AT 1 P.M.

Another 450 m, a 2 min drive from St. Paul’s Church, is the Diu Museum. It is only a 5-minute walk, but driving is quicker.

The Diu Museum is an old Portuguese church, the St. Thomas Church.

Over the years, it functioned as an orphanage, an Old Age home, a police station and barracks for the Angolan Battalion.

After independence from the Portuguese, the authorities forgot about the church. In 1992, the government turned it into the Diu Museum. Hence the name St. Thomas Museum.

Diu Museum houses important stone inscriptions of great rulers, artefacts, statues, and more. Visit the museum to get a glimpse into Diu’s history.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Entry is free.

LUNCH AT O’COQUEIRO AT 1:25 P.M.

I’m sure after all the walking, you’re famished. I know just the place.

O’Coqueiro is a popular restaurant, 180 m from Diu Museum. A family runs the restaurant in their house. They are famous for their Portuguese cuisine.

The restaurant is in their backyard. It is simple and decorated with plants, which offer an illusion of seclusion. The restaurant is small and gives off a homey vibe.

While waiting for your food, browse through the bookshelf on the wall.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I had fried fish for starters and Prawns in Portuguese curry with rice. A single plate of fried fish has three whole fishes. The Portuguese prawn curry is a bit spicy but mouth-watering (pun intended) delicious.

I was thinking of trying one of the shakes for dessert, but my stomach was close to bursting.

If you’re looking for good non-veg and seafood, you can’t go wrong with O’Coqueiro.

The restaurant is in a small residential lane. There’s no parking area outside, so you have to park your cars a few feet away, in the square.

TIMINGS:- O’Coqueiro is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

INS KHUKRI SHIP AT 2:40 P.M.

After a fulfilling lunch, it’s time to burn off the excess calories. The best destination is the INS Khukri Ship, 350 m away. It’s a 2-minute drive from the restaurant.

The names are similar but don’t confuse INS Khukri Ship and INS Khukri Memorial. They are different.

At the inauguration of the INS memorial, the Indian Navy gifted a decommissioned naval ship to the administrators of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

The INS Khukri Ship is open to the public for tours. Visitors can explore the naval ship from the inside.

If you’re a fan of ships or navy, INS Khukri Ship is a must-visit. It is a great place to visit with kids.

Due to heavy rainfall, I couldn’t visit the ship.

Two groups of 15 people each are allowed on the ship at once. The tour lasts for 30 minutes.

TIMINGS AND TICKETS:- The INS Khukri Ship is open daily from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and reopens from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. A single ticket is Rs.100 for adults, and for children below 15 years, it is Rs.50.

NAGOA BEACH AT 3:30 P.M.

Finally, it’s time to head to the beach. After sightseeing all day, a dip in the sea is the best way to cool off.

The next destination is Nagoa Beach. It is 8.9 km from INS Khukri Ship and is a 20-minute drive.

Search for “Nagoa Beach Road” on Google Maps to reach the main beach area.

Nagoa Beach is the main beach in Diu and where all the fun takes place. Here, you can indulge in shopping, water sports, swimming, long walks or click photos. Or you can have one of the dozen photographers take your pics for a fee.

You can spend time at the beach to your heart’s content.

But if you want to watch the sunset, you should get ready by 5:50 p.m. to head to the next destination.

DINOSAUR PARK BEACH AT 6 P.M.

There is no Dinosaur Park Beach in Diu. It is a part of a rocky part of Nagoa Beach. There is a dinosaur-themed playground (now closed) on the shore. That’s why I’ve named it Dinosaur Park Beach.

Search for “Dinosaur Park” on Google Maps to reach here. It is 3 km from the main beach and takes 6-7 minutes.

It s the best place to watch the sunset.

This section of Nagoa Beach is rocky and unfit for swimming. Therefore, very few people come here. So, you will have the place to yourself.

Also, I loved watching the waves crash against the rocky shore.

SOUVENIR SHOPPING AT 6:30 P.M.

After watching the sunset, head back to Nagoa Beach Road for shopping. If you’ve already done souvenir shopping, you can return to your hotel and relax before dinner.

There are several small shops selling souvenirs, clothes and more. Or walk around and work up an appetite.

FOOD STALL HOPPING AT 7:30 P.M.

If you’re one of those people who has an early dinner, head to one of the many food stalls along Nagoa Beach.

I recommend eating here only if you want to eat snacks: Pani Puri, momos, Maggie, etc. They do serve dinner, but it wasn’t to my liking. If you want tasty food, visit the Kostamar Beach Resort’s rooftop restaurant and bar. I liked the food there.

A hearty meal is the best way to end the day in Diu.

CONCLUSION

That’s how you can spend 24 hours in Diu. If you are taking a day trip to Diu and have limited time, you can forgo visits to Dinosaur Park Beach, Diu museum and Heritage Walk old gate.

There is another attraction, the Naida Caves, but I haven’t added it to the sightseeing list. The caves are closed indefinitely.

Here’s a summary of how to spend 24 hours in Diu.

• Gangeshwar temple at 9 a.m.
• INS Khukri Memorial at 9:30 a.m.
• Heritage Walk old gate at 10:05 a.m.
• Diu Fort at 10:25 a.m.
• St. Paul’s Church at 12:40 p.m.
• Diu Museum at 1 p.m.
• Lunch at O’Coqueiro at 1:30 p.m.
• INS Khukri Ship at 2:40 p.m.
• Nagoa Beach at 3:30 p.m.
• Dinosaur Park Beach at 6 p.m.
• Souvenir shopping at 6:30 p.m.
• Dinner at 7:30 p.m.

If you’re planning a trip to Diu, here’s the link to my Diu travel guide.

I hope this blog post was helpful. If I missed something or you have queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

Happiness comes in waves.

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