How far is Diu from Ahmedabad, and how much is a cab?
Diu is about 370 km south of Ahmedabad, typically 7 to 7.5 hours by car via Bhavnagar, Mahuva and Una, crossing onto the island by bridge. A RutzIndia.com sedan one way costs Rs 13,320 Pay Now to Reserve and an Innova Crysta Rs 21,090 Pay Now to Reserve, before 5% GST, with tolls, entry charges and parking at actual cost. Somnath is about 90 km away and Sasan Gir about 110 km.
Diu is a small island off the southern tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, joined to the mainland by bridges and administered not by Gujarat but as part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. For more than four centuries it was a Portuguese outpost, and it only became part of India in 1961. That history is everywhere: in the massive sea fort, the Baroque church facades, the narrow lanes of painted houses, and a pace of life far slower than anywhere on the mainland.
It is an ideal end point for a Saurashtra road trip after the temples of Somnath and the lions of Gir, and a popular long weekend from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Vadodara. Flights to the island's small airport are few, so most people drive. This guide covers the road, the sights, the seasons, and RutzIndia.com's fares for one-way drops, round trips and circuits.
What to see on Diu
Diu Fort. Built by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century on the eastern tip of the island, the fort is enclosed by the sea on three sides and a rock-cut moat on the fourth. Ramparts lined with old cannons, a lighthouse and the view across to the smaller sea fortress of Panikotha, standing alone in the channel, make it the island's highlight. Go in the late afternoon when the stone turns gold.
St Paul's Church. A white Baroque church from the seventeenth century with an elaborately carved facade and a wooden interior; still in use, so visit quietly.
St Thomas Church and St Francis of Assisi Church. The first now houses the island museum, with Portuguese-era statues and carvings; the second was long used as a hospital. Together with St Paul's they tell the story of Portuguese Diu.
Naida caves. A labyrinth of limestone caverns just outside the old town walls, where shafts of sunlight fall through gaps in the rock; a favourite with photographers.
Nagoa beach. A sheltered horseshoe bay fringed with hoka palms, the island's most popular beach, with water sports in season.
Ghoghla, Jallandhar and Chakratirth. Ghoghla, on the mainland side, is a long, clean beach with international Blue Flag recognition; Jallandhar is a small cove near town; Chakratirth has the island's sunset point.
Gangeshwar temple and the INS Khukri memorial. At Fudam, five Shiva lingas sit in the rocks where the waves wash over them at high tide. On a hill near the sea, the INS Khukri memorial honours the crew of the naval frigate lost in the 1971 war.
Zampa gateway and the old town. A colourful sixteenth-century gateway leads into lanes of Portuguese houses painted in blues, yellows and greens.
Seafood is the thing to eat: fresh pomfret and prawns, and Portuguese-influenced dishes at family restaurants. The official Diu district website and the Union Territory's administration portal list tourism information and local notices.
The road to Diu
From Ahmedabad via Bhavnagar (about 370 km, 7 to 7.5 hours). The coastal route runs south-west past Dholera to Bhavnagar, then along the coast through Talaja and Mahuva to Una, and over the bridge to Diu. Much of it is good highway; stretches between Mahuva and Una are narrower two-lane road through farms and small towns. Bhavnagar makes a good breakfast or lunch stop, and the Palitana Jain hill temples are a detour of about an hour for those who want to add them. Leave Ahmedabad by 6 am for an early-afternoon arrival. Our Ahmedabad road guide covers city pickups.
From Ahmedabad via Rajkot (about 400 km). Through Rajkot, Gondal and Amreli to Una; slightly longer, but useful if you are coming from the Saurashtra interior.
From Somnath (about 90 km, 2 hours). A quiet coastal road via Kodinar and Una; the natural link between the two. See our Somnath road guide.
From Sasan Gir (about 110 km, 2.5 hours) via Tulsishyam and Una, through the edge of the forest; read the Gir National Park guide for safari planning.
From Bhavnagar (about 185 km, 4 hours) or Rajkot (about 230 km, 5 hours). Both cities have airports with more flights than Diu's.
At the Diu border you pass a checkpost, as you do when leaving. Parking on the island is easy outside peak weekends, with open areas at the fort, Nagoa and the main churches.
When to visit Diu
October to March is the season, with sunny days, calm seas and cool evenings. Christmas and New Year have a festive feel on an island with a Catholic heritage, and hotels book out early. Diwali weekends bring crowds from across Gujarat.
April to June is hot and humid but breezy by the sea, with lower hotel rates. The monsoon, July to September, brings rough seas and strong winds; beaches are unsafe for swimming and water sports stop, but the island is green and quiet and the fort's ramparts are dramatic with waves crashing below.
Diu's rules on alcohol differ from Gujarat's. Follow local regulations, and do not carry liquor back across the border into Gujarat, where prohibition applies and vehicles are checked.
RutzIndia.com services for Diu, with fares
We run one-way drops and round trips from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Vadodara; transfers between Diu, Somnath and Gir; pickups at Diu, Rajkot or Bhavnagar airports; and multi-day Saurashtra circuits. For larger families and groups, a Tempo Traveller from Ahmedabad is the practical choice.
| Trip | Distance billed | Sedan (Rs 36/km) | Innova Crysta (Rs 57.6/km) | Tempo Traveller (Rs 78/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad to Diu, one way | about 370 km | Rs 13,320 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 21,090 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 28,860 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Ahmedabad–Diu–Ahmedabad, 3 days | minimum 750 km | Rs 27,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 42,750 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 58,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Somnath to Diu, one way | about 90 km, minimum fare applies | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Sasan Gir to Diu, one way | about 110 km, minimum fare applies | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Bhavnagar to Diu, one way | about 185 km | Rs 6,660 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,550 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,430 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Diu, Somnath and Gir circuit from Ahmedabad, 4 days | about 1,000 km | Rs 36,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 57,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 78,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
All fares are before 5% GST. Tolls, the entry charges for commercial vehicles at the Diu checkpost, state permits where they apply and parking are billed at actual cost. On round trips and circuits we charge the actual distance or 250 km per calendar day, whichever is greater, plus a driver night allowance of Rs 1,500 per night. Every car is within four model years; the complete rate card is on the fares page.
Book online and pay by card or UPI; companies and tour groups receive GST invoices. There is no fee for cancelling more than 72 hours before pickup; within 72 hours 10% of the fare is charged, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or on a no-show the entire fare. The cancellation policy sets this out in full.
Who Diu suits, and getting around the island
Diu is small, only about 11 km from end to end, and that is its charm. Couples come for the quiet beaches and the heritage lanes, families for Nagoa's gentle bay and the fort, and Gujarati groups for a relaxed long weekend by the sea. Hotels cluster in three areas: the old town near the fort and churches, which suits walkers; Nagoa, which suits a beach holiday; and Ghoghla on the mainland side, which is quieter and close to the bridge.
Once you are on the island, the driver can keep the car with you for short hops between the fort, the caves and the beaches, which saves haggling with autos in the midday heat. Distances are so short that a full day of sightseeing rarely tops 40 km, so on a round trip from Ahmedabad the island days mostly sit inside the 250 km daily minimum. Cycling is also popular on the flat coastal roads in winter; many hotels rent bicycles by the day.
A relaxed three days on Diu
Day 1: Ahmedabad to Diu (about 380 km). Leave at 6 am, breakfast in Bhavnagar, lunch near Mahuva, and cross to Diu by mid-afternoon. Check in, walk the old town through the Zampa gateway, and watch sunset from Chakratirth.
Day 2: Fort, churches and caves (about 40 km). Diu Fort early before the heat, St Paul's Church, the museum at St Thomas and the old town lanes, lunch on seafood, a rest, then Naida caves in the late afternoon light and dinner in town.
Day 3: Beaches and home (about 390 km). A morning at Nagoa beach, Gangeshwar temple at high tide if the timing works, and the INS Khukri memorial, then the drive back to Ahmedabad, arriving in the evening. Alternatively continue to Somnath and Gir for a longer circuit.
Four days: the southern Saurashtra loop. Ahmedabad to Somnath, Gir for a dawn safari, Diu for two nights, and home via Bhavnagar, about 1,000 km in all. Add Dwarka at the start for a full five-day tour of the peninsula.
Practical tips for Diu
- Checkposts. Expect checks entering and leaving the island. Keep ID handy.
- Sun and wind. Carry sunscreen, caps and water; the sea breeze hides how strong the sun is.
- Sea safety. Swim only at Nagoa or Ghoghla in calm conditions and where lifeguards are posted; never in the monsoon.
- Tides. Check high-tide timings for the Gangeshwar temple, where the sea washes over the lingas.
- Heritage etiquette. St Paul's is an active church; dress modestly and keep quiet during services.
- Portuguese heritage elsewhere. If Diu's churches intrigue you, the grander churches of Old Goa are the natural next chapter.
For car hire around Gujarat before or after the island, see taxi service in Ahmedabad and Tempo Traveller hire for groups.
