Goa Shopping and Districts

(Goa, India)



Picture of flea market at AnjunaShopping in Goa quickly becomes an integral part of any holiday and many tourists will enjoy searching for the perfect souvenir or gift. All around Goa visitors will discover shopping opportunities, ranging from large emporiums to bustling markets, where the air is often filled with the smell of spices and tea. Even the biggest hotels in Goa often feature their own shopping centres or outlets.

Look out for the many local arts and crafts of Goa, which are amongst the most popular items with tourists, including bamboo works, shells, ceramics, fabrics, gems and jewellery. For a quick snack, many shops in Goa sell bags of cashew nuts, which come in various flavours. Whatever you buy though, do haggle over the inflated price, to ensure that you don't pay over the odds - most shopkeepers expect it.


Photo of local market

Where to Shop

Panaji, capital of Goa, is a good place to start your shopping expedition and is home to a number of fashion boutiques, often sited within historic, restored houses with bags of character. Many shops in Goa are also clustered around the main beach resorts, such as Calangute and neighbouring Baga, linked by the Calangute-Baga Road and known for their beach shacks. Catering well for tourists, these shops often specialise in beachwear, sarongs, cotton shirts and even bamboo hats.

Of course, it is within Goa's many markets and bazaars that you will be able to experience the ultimate in Indian shopping. The Mapusa area of Goa has long been known for its Friday flea market, which boasts everything from art works to fragrant spices. On Wednesdays, consider shopping at the Anjuna Beach's popular, ever-expanding flea market, where you can haggle over a wealth of trinkets and local handicrafts. The Anjuna Beach markets of Goa always attract crowds of shoppers and both Kashmiri and Tibetan traders, who come to sell jewellery, carvings, spicy Indian food and even provide a massage service.