Most of the people who have planned to visit Goa on holiday come with a prior set itinerary that includes places to visit and beaches to sunbathe. What they miss getting this right is keeping a day or two separate to indulge in a shopping experience unlike you had anywhere else. So, essentially your Goa holiday package must include places like Mapusa market, Flea Market of Anjuna or Calangute, Night Bazaars of Aprora and Mackie’s. What you buy ultimately is a completely different ball game altogether. Most of the things are in budget but do not come without haggling on price to strike a good bargain. Ayer all, being tourist is not easy especially those who are price sensitive.
So here’s the list of Markets you should check out
Markets of Goa to Scour
Mapusa Market
You get the good blend of locals and tourists trying to get a good deal from the vendors and traders that come from all over the Goa with their merchandise. Checkout the local spices, homemade pickles and sausages, handicrafts and pick art pieces that could be good souvenirs. Since the market closes by sundown, keep a day to you to explore its big area by that time.
Anjuna Flea Market
Every Wednesday, it is like a fun time come alive while being one of the hundreds of shoppers in this very popular flea market of North Goa. Get a glimpse of all that is traded here, like spices, local handicrafts, beach wear, clothes, footwear, artificial jewellery and trinkets. How affordable these things are depends mostly on your bargaining skills.
Calangute Market Square
Shack-styled shops are common here and get dressed up for the beach from your purchase here. This shopping paradise has many things to help you with the interior of your house as well. And when you are hungry and thirsty with all the shopping, order a cool bear and fried prawns.
Arpora Night Bazaar
A Saturday evening in Goa is best spent hanging out with friends at the Night Bazaar at Arpora. If you already have been to many Goan markets, the crowd and stuff would be no different but shopping at night would be fun. Right? Some hard to find and expensive goods are also available here, if you are looking for them.
Mackie’s Night Bazaar
Another shining name among the night bazaars is Mackie’s, mainly for the great variety of Goan delicacies to tantalize your taste buds. Live music, eco-friendly items and a dance floor are some other invitations of this place but theses could be enjoyed only if you visit Goa from November to April. If you are asking where, the address is the banks of River Baga.
Baga Market
Another Saturday flea market but happening at night is at Baga beach. The things you see here are sort of routine yet different, from clothes to rugs, handicrafts to little trinkets all girls appreciate no matter what. You can also checkout beach-side saloons or palmist or tarot readers; choose your fun.
What to shop and bring home
Cashew Nuts
Get them as you like: original or flavoured, roasted spicy or plain salted, coloured or coated. Cashew nuts are the best and perhaps the healthiest thing you take away to home. Carry them as much as you can and buy wholesale for better value for your money.
Feni or Cashew Feni
Cheap and healthy, Cashew “Feni” is something almost everyone into spirits would recommend if you are coming down to Goa. With a long shelf life and great taste, alone as well as in cocktails, feni serves as a great gift too, if you are not too possessive of the bottle you bought for yourself.
Goan Music CDs
Unique in their own way, you can take an aspect of Goa with you by purchasing these trance CDs. The Portuguese past would become a constant present whenever you play it and go in trance like dance.
Spices
In addition to kerala, Goa is also on the Malabar Coast, which means you can buy all the spices that Kerala boasts of here as well. Also find some time to explore spice farms through a guided tour and get the best deals in spices. A paradise for food enthusiasts!
Goa Handicrafts
Papier-mâché work, handmade junk jewellery and sea-shell pieces are some of the things you will see regularly in all the markets. It’s just a matter of time where and how many of these you decide to buy. Just remember to bargain hard.
Wooden Carvings Goa
Give your interiors a new look by adding some Goan “Wooden Carvings” artefacts. With a huge range of decorated furniture you would feel spoilt for choice, be it from an upmarket showrooms, roadside vendors or the beach markets.
Blue Painted tiles
With the speciality of the techniques required to paint the tiles and the images that make the image of Goa come alive on a non-living thing make the painted tile one amazing and must have purchase on the trip to Goa. Since it’s a speciality of Goa, don’t miss these.
