Shopping · Goa · India
Shopping in Goa
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rajib Ghosh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Goa's shopping is centred on its markets: weekly flea and night markets in the north, town markets in Mapusa, Panaji and Margao, and shops selling cashews, spices, feni and hand-painted tiles. Best souvenirs: Cashew nuts, Feni and Goan sausages.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Cashew nuts
Where to shop
Panaji
The municipal market, 18th June Road shops and Fontainhas galleries selling azulejo-style tiles and local art.
Mapusa
North Goa's market town, with a big Friday market and shops selling sausages, spices and cashews.
Margao
South Goa's main town, with a covered market and shops for spices, fabrics and household goods.
Calangute and Baga
Roadside shops selling beachwear, Kashmiri and Rajasthani handicrafts and souvenirs.
Markets
Anjuna Flea Market
Wednesday market in season with clothes, crafts, jewellery and food stalls.
Arpora Saturday Night Market
Evening market with crafts, clothing, food stalls and live music in season.
Mapusa Friday Market
Busy weekly market for local produce, Goan sausages, spices and pottery.
What to buy
Cashew nuts
Goa's cashews are sold roasted, salted or spiced in shops and markets everywhere.
Feni
Bottles of cashew or coconut feni; check your home country's duty-free allowance.
Goan sausages
Dried, spiced pork chouriço strings from Mapusa and Margao markets; check import rules.
Hand-painted tiles
Azulejo-style tiles with Goan scenes and house names, made to order in Panaji workshops.
Bebinca
Boxed layered cake from Goan bakeries that keeps for several days.
Kokum and spices
Dried kokum, recheado masala and spice blends from markets and spice farms.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Anjuna and Vagator
Anjuna Flea Market
Held on Wednesdays during the tourist season on a field above Anjuna beach, this sprawling market began in the hippie era and now sells textiles, jewellery, spices, handicrafts from across India and clothing, with food and drink stalls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Market · Calangute and Baga
Arpora Saturday Night Market
A seasonal evening market in Arpora, inland from Baga, with clothing, crafts, jewellery and a large food court with live music.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Choris pão, Poi, Bebinca and Feni. Snack stalls, markets and taverns; Mapusa's Friday market sells the sausages by the string. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Calangute and Baga | $$ | The busiest beach strip in North Goa, with water sports, shacks and Tito's Lane nightlife |
| Anjuna and Vagator | $$ | Cliffs, small coves, the Wednesday flea market and Goa's party history |
| Arambol | $ | Backpacker village with sunset drum circles, yoga schools and a freshwater lake |
| Panaji | $$ | Riverside state capital with the Latin Quarter, cafés and floating casinos |
| Colva and Benaulim | $$ | Long South Goa beach backed by Catholic villages and paddy fields |
| Cavelossim and Mobor | $$$$ | Five-star resorts on a sand spit where the Sal River meets the sea |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in INR. Tip about 10% in restaurants and shacks if service is not included, and round up for taxi drivers. Hotel staff and guides appreciate a small tip at the end of a stay.
- Bargain politely at flea and night markets; first prices are often high.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in June–July; the busiest months are December.
- March: Shigmo — Hindu spring festival with float parades (usually March)
- June: São João — feast with leaps into wells and the Siolim boat festival (24 June)
- August: Bonderam — flag festival on Divar Island (usually late August)
- August: Ganesh Chaturthi (Chavath) — major Hindu festival (August or September)
- November: International Film Festival of India in Panaji (usually late November)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Goa?
Cashew nuts, Feni, Goan sausages and Hand-painted tiles.
+Where is the best shopping in Goa?
Panaji: The municipal market, 18th June Road shops and Fontainhas galleries selling azulejo-style tiles and local art.
+What are the best markets in Goa?
Anjuna Flea Market, Arpora Saturday Night Market and Mapusa Friday Market.