North Goa

Shop for handicraft items and antiques in Old Goa as these are the best souvenirs that you can take back with you. Once you visit the local shops here, you will find plenty of exquisite artifacts encompassing bamboo work, trinkets made of stones and corals, brassware, artifacts made of papier-mâché, crochet etc. also don’t miss out on the local liquor, ‘Feni’, made of cashew nuts. You can also pick up a bottle of Port Wine, famous Goan liquor. Remember to bargain with the shopkeepers to have the best possible deals.

Visit Old Goa to buy yourself a antique, local wine called 'Fenny', cashewnuts or any traditional souvenier for your loved ones. Old Goa market looks very traditional and has got the best of Goan handicrafts and antiques.

Shopping in Old Goa is a virtual journey into the past of this erstwhile capital of the Portuguese rulers. Markets of Old Goa are just the right place for those looking for handicraft items and antiques to take back as memorable keepsakes. A vast array of exquisite artifacts encompassing bamboo work, trinkets made of stones and corals, Brassware, artifacts made of papier-mâché, crochet etc. would leave you mesmerized once you rummage through the local shops.

If you are a connoisseur of spirits and beverages, then don't miss out on the exotic Goan fare during your shopping in Goa. "Feni," a strong liquor made from Cashew nut, has assumed legendary proportions among the locals and tourists. You can also pick up a bottle of Port Wine, another famous Goan liquor. While one can shop till you drop, ensure that you bargain to your heart's content and clinch the best possible deal.

Shopping in Panaji is an exciting affair. Untouched by the advances in technology and development, you can find a range of handicrafts and traditional Goan items. For branded shopping, head to colourful MG Road and the 18th June markets. You can shop branded clothes - cottons, denims, salwar kameezs, kids wear and sarees, shoes - leather, sport shoes, rainwear and jewellery in these markets. In these markets you will also find the liquor and wine shops.

Browse through the Panaji Corporation market where you will get everything, from local and exotic fruit and vegetable to fresh and dried fish. People come here to buy tiger prawns, mackerel, kingfish, squid, crabs, pomfret, mussels and oysters. The market also has stalls selling cloths, bags, shoes, electronic gadgets, spices, flowers and sweets.

Goa is a shopper's haven and the capital city of Panaji is one of the most exciting shopping destinations in the state. The shopping experience in Panaji is a blend of the exotic and the modern. While the local markets are a treasure trove of indigenous handicrafts, the upscale shopping malls teem with designer boutiques and international brands.

Scour the markets of Panaji for a wealth of artifacts including brassware, terracotta, shell work, Curios and old coins, carved furniture and a lot others. The Miramar beach, located 3 km away from the city, is another shopping hub thronged by locals and tourists alike. Local fisherman turned vendors would fall over each other too the potential customers. The ideal place to shop for trendy beachwear and hammocks.

Apart from the local markets, the government emporia in Panaji also do brisk business. The Goa Handicrafts Industries Development Corporation Emporium at Tourist Hotel in Panaji draws a number of shoppers with its offering of handicrafts.

As far as the shopping items are concerned, you will get the opportunity to choose from a wide range of artifacts and momentos. Artifacts made of shell work, bamboo work, brassware, curios and old coins, trinkets made of stones and corals, artifacts made of papier-mâché, carved furniture, and beachwear are some of the popular entries in shopping carts. While you bask in this shopping extravaganza, make it a thumb rule to bargain to your heart's content. In most cases, the quoted price is far higher than the actual price and use your persuasion and negotiation skills while bargaining with the feisty Goan vendors.

Shopping in Mapusa is steeped in the myriad hues of the Goan rural life. A well-known commercial district, Mapusa provides a number of shopping destinations encompassing local markets and stalls lined along its famous beaches. Mapusa's famous Friday market beckons vendors and tourists alike with its rustic charm.

Fridays usher in a festive atmosphere in this quaint town as villagers assemble from nearby localities with their produce. As you step inside the bustling bazaar, you will be greeted by a heady concoction of aromas arising from sources as diverse as fish, incense, spices and exotic fruits stacked in colorful heaps on the sidewalks.

What adds color to the shopping experience is the inimitable style of the Goan vendors most of whom are womenfolk attired in colorful dresses. The products in display are manifold including fresh and dried fish, incense, spices, vegetables, and souvenirs from other states of India. The famous traditional spirits of Goa such as toddi and feni are perennial favorites among locals and tourists.

Shopping in Mapusa would be incomplete without a visit to the renowned Wednesday flea market of Anjuna beach.

Friday Market

Come Friday, and the quaint little town of Mapusa burst into colours of enthusiasm. This is the time when the normally quiet city and its people come out of their house in large numbers and make their way towards the Friday Market. The market is located just outside the Municipal Market of Mapusa and sees a number of traders from all over Goa coming in to sell their products. "And what exactly are the products?", you might just ask. Well, their are a range of it, right from spices and T shirts to trinkets, sausages, straw hats, dried fish and furniture.

The prices of the products are pretty reasonable. Still just donot give what is demanded at first. Infact, you might just keep in mind that bargaining in Mapusa is an integral part of shopping. Without it, you'll either end up paying more or miss out the intrinsic fun associated with it.

The market is not only meant to provide you a shopping platform for Goan goods. Rather, it is a chance for you to see Goan life at its most real. Observe the way people dress, talk and interact with each other, and you will get a fair idea about the life in Goa.