Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Diu, India's Small Portuguese-Era Island
A small island union territory off the Gujarat coast, Diu stayed under Portuguese rule until 1961, leaving behind a 16th-century sea fort, baroque churches and quiet beaches with almost none of the crowds of Goa.
Sep 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Diu is a small island off the southern coast of Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula, connected to the mainland by a bridge, and was held as a Portuguese colony from 1535 until it was annexed by India in 1961, four and a half centuries during which it developed its own layer of colonial architecture, churches and fortifications distinct from the rest of Gujarat. It also falls outside Gujarat's dry-state liquor laws, which alongside its Portuguese-era old town has long made it a low-key weekend draw for travellers from the surrounding region. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Diu Fort
Built by the Portuguese in the 1530s on a rocky spur facing the Arabian Sea, this fort still holds its outer sea walls, old cannons and a working lighthouse, with wide views along the coastline from its ramparts.
2. Naida Caves
Just outside the fort, this is not a natural cave system but a network of tunnels and squared-off rock chambers, believed to have been quarried to supply stone for building the fort itself.
3. St Paul's Church
Completed in the early 17th century, this is one of Diu's best-preserved churches, with a baroque facade and carved wooden altar still largely intact and services still occasionally held inside.
4. Nagoa Beach
Diu's most popular beach, a crescent bay lined with palms and shallow enough for casual swimming, with camel and horse rides typically on offer along the sand.
5. Gangeshwar Temple
A Shiva shrine set directly among rocks on the shoreline, where five lingams are partly submerged by the tide, giving the site a different look at high and low water.
6. INS Khukri War Memorial
A seafront memorial to the crew of INS Khukri, an Indian Navy frigate sunk by a Pakistani submarine during the 1971 war, sited near Diu's Chakratirth Beach.
7. Diu Town and Zampa Gateway
The old town's narrow lanes still carry Portuguese street names and pastel-coloured houses with wooden balconies, with the ornate Zampa Gateway marking the town's historic entrance.
Traveller tips
- Diu Airport has limited direct flights; many travellers arrive by road via Somnath or Una in Gujarat.
- Diu falls outside Gujarat's prohibition laws, so alcohol is sold and served locally, unlike the mainland.
- October to March brings the most comfortable weather for visiting the fort and beaches.
- The fort and Naida Caves are best visited in the same morning, since both sit at the same end of town.
Where this is
Diu, India