Goa- Shop till you Drop

So you are done with the beach, the food and the water sports. The next best thing to do on a Goan holiday is to shop. While you can head to malls and stores, there are many flea markets as well as local artisan shops that you should consider in your shopping trip.

Night Markets: The night market at Baga maybe small but it has something for everyone. Groceries, clothes, jewellery-everything you would need is available here. There are also many local eating joints that you can try for a taste of the local cuisine. Even the night market at Arpora is an excellent place to pick up Knick knacks. They even sell spices, embroidery items and local handicrafts, if you are looking for a souvenir.

Spice Route: The Mapsua market is where you head to if you want to pick up some local flavours and spices as well. You will find that not just the tourists but also the locals head to the Mapusa market to pick up the daily necessities including pottery, spices fruits etc.

Flea Market: A vacation in Goa must include a trip to the local flea market. You will find many small stalls and shops near the beaches and while some may have good stuff, you should head to Anjuna flea market for a variety of choices. Since it’s close to the beach, you can make it a day for sun and shopping. Intricate trinkets and local jewellery can be found here. And pick some as keepsake to remind you of your Goa holiday

Market Square: The Calungute market square has just about everything you would want. You will find an array of clay, metal, leather items, apart from carpets, textiles etc. And there are well known eating places in the area, if you get hungry while shopping.  Make sure your bargaining skills are up to the mark while heading there. The Panjim market also gives you an chance to buy wine, cashews, nuts, spices, sausages if you want to pick up something other than clothes.

Local artisans: There are also specialised shops and stalls that sell handicrafts made by the local artisans. Apart from these, you can also get Nepalese, Kashmiri, Tibetan handcrafts and jewellery at any of the local markets.

The options are unlimited. But be ready to haggle. You may even surprise yourself with the deals you get. If it’s your first Goa tour, ask SOTC recommend a few places to shop.