We almost went to Goa instead. That was the original plan — a proper four-day trip, flights booked tentatively, the whole thing. Then school schedules collided with long weekends, the flights got expensive, and my wife said "what about Diu?" Half of me was disappointed. The other half, which had been to Goa four times and was running low on novelty, was quietly relieved.

Diu turned out to be exactly what a weekend away is supposed to feel like. And the drive there — well, that was unexpectedly part of the pleasure.

Getting from Rajkot to Diu

Let's start with the practical part. The Rajkot to Diu taxi covers about 270 kilometers. The route goes south through Junagadh or directly down through Talala and Veraval depending on which way you prefer — most drivers heading to Diu will take the Veraval approach, which also passes relatively near Somnath if you want a brief stop.

Travel time is roughly 4.5 to 5.5 hours. We left Rajkot at 6:30 AM, stopped briefly near Veraval for breakfast, and were crossing into the Union Territory of Diu — over that distinctive narrow causeway — well before noon. The causeway itself is a moment. The Indian Ocean visible on both sides, the Portuguese-colonial feel of the town appearing ahead. Even the kids, who'd spent most of the drive looking at their phones, looked up.

Why a Cab Made Sense for This Diu Road Trip

We're a family of four. My two kids are teenagers — technically old enough to be self-sufficient but practically still requiring significant logistics management. Driving ourselves would have been possible, but a 270 km drive on roads I didn't know, with beach-and-sightseeing plans for the afternoon, felt like too much.

The outstation taxi service through TaxiCraze meant we had a clean Innova, an experienced driver who'd done the Rajkot–Diu route many times, and zero driving stress on arrival. When we pulled into Diu, my only job was figuring out where to eat lunch.

The booking was easy — one-way for the outward trip, separate booking for the return two days later. The one-way fare structure saved us compared to paying for a round-trip vehicle to wait in Diu while we explored.

Diu — What's Actually There

Some people have low expectations of Diu because it's small and lesser-known compared to Goa. Those expectations are wrong, in the best way.

Diu is a former Portuguese colony, ceded to India in 1961. The architecture retains a distinctly colonial European character that feels genuinely different from anywhere else in Gujarat. Narrow lanes, whitewashed buildings with colorful window trim, Catholic churches sitting next to Hindu temples and mosques. It's a bit disorienting in the most enjoyable sense.

The fort is the obvious starting point — large, well-preserved, sitting directly on the sea. The views from the ramparts are excellent. Nagoa Beach is the most popular beach and is genuinely nice: long, clean, relatively uncrowded compared to most famous Indian beach destinations. We spent most of Saturday afternoon there and I was surprised by how quiet it was.

The evening in Diu — walking the old town, finding a place for dinner overlooking the water — is the part that makes you understand why people come here specifically. It's not trying to be Goa. It's something older and more Portuguese-flavored, which has its own appeal.

Beach Trip Gujarat — the Diu Advantage

If you're based in Rajkot or anywhere in Saurashtra and want a beach trip, Diu is significantly more accessible than Goa — no flights needed, no overnight journey. The one way cab booking for a long weekend is manageable both logistically and cost-wise.

What Diu doesn't have compared to Goa: the nightlife infrastructure, the variety of beach options, the international tourist ecosystem. What it does have: less crowd, cheaper accommodation, a distinct historical character, and the fact that getting there doesn't eat a full travel day.

For a family weekend — which is what we were doing — Diu was the right call. Teenagers aside, my wife and I agreed on the drive home that this one goes in the "genuinely good decision" column.

Rajkot Travel Taxi Notes for This Route

The road south of Rajkot toward Junagadh and onward to Veraval varies in quality. Some sections are excellent, some are under ongoing road improvement work. Your driver will know the current conditions better than Google Maps, which sometimes shows optimal routes that aren't optimal in practice.

The Veraval area, if you're passing through, has a fish landing port that's worth a brief stop if your group is interested in that sort of thing — large, chaotic, very authentic. The town itself is primarily a working port and doesn't have much tourist infrastructure, but the harbour is visually striking.

We stopped at a dhaba near Veraval for breakfast and it was honestly one of the better meals of the trip — fresh jalebi, masala chai, a basic thali. Nothing fancy, very good.

Diu Family Trip — Practical Suggestions

Stay in the old town if you can. The hotels near the fort and the main Portuguese-character streets are more atmospheric than the beach resort options. For a family of four, a heritage guesthouse in the old town runs reasonable rates and puts you within walking distance of the fort, churches, and the evening promenade.

Two nights is the right amount. One night feels rushed. Three nights is doable if you're going to Nagoa Beach, the fort, the old town, and a day trip to Ghoghla Beach or Sunset Point. But two nights covers the essentials comfortably.

The Diu cab service options within Diu itself are limited. Most people rent scooters or small cars to get around the island. It's small enough to manage by scooter if your family is comfortable with that, or you can ask your outstation driver to stay for the trip and handle local transport too — some services offer that arrangement.

The Gujarat travel guide aspect of this trip: Diu is technically a Union Territory, not part of Gujarat, which means alcohol regulations are different. Bars and restaurants serve alcohol openly, which is a contrast to the dry state across the causeway. Worth knowing if that's relevant to your plans.

Going back: we left Diu Sunday morning at 7, and were in Rajkot by early afternoon. Kids are already asking when we'd go back. That's the real review.