Experience the joy of shopping while you are in Goa. Shopping is an essential part of holiday and without it no vacation is complete. Goa has umpteenth number of places where you can literally shop till you drop. But remember to utilise the power of your persuasion skills while you shop because the quoted price are always much above actual price.
The markets in Goa can be divided into the more expensive upscale ones and the flea markets and the beach front bazaars. Markets in Goa are not centralised to a particular town they are scattered all over the state. Local Goan handicrafts like brassware, terracotta, shell work, crochet are popular among tourists who buy these for a souvenir along with a packet of salted, plain or masala cashew nuts. Remember your shopping trip in Goa will not be complete without buying the local Feni or port wine.
Begin your Goan shopping expedition at Anjuna's famous Wednesday Flea Market. Everything from trinkets, hammocks to electronic items are found here. It also offers a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world and from within India. Interestingly, some impoverished Karnataka farmers come with their so claimed "fortune-telling" cows hoping to make some money. Then there are the two other flea markets, Ingoe's or Mackie's, held on Saturdays at Baga. There are plenty of booze here. Ingoe's is slightly bigger but the atmosphere in both are essentially the same with blaring live music and rows and rows of shops selling semi-precious stones, paintings, books, clothes, music, and handicrafts and some exquisite local food.
Though chaotic and dusty, Mapusa's Friday Market charms every tourist. The market is set up by the local villagers to make extra money by selling their home-grown vegetables, home-made pork sausages, pickles, bread and wine, etc. Mapusa is the commercial hub of Goa.
Calangute Market Square is lined with tiny shops selling a wide range of items from souvenirs, metal crafts, leather items, clothes and jewellery, both local made and from other parts of the country. At the beach there are handful of shacks along with a Tibetan market and few Kashmiri merchants come too to sell their carpets and embroidery.
Panjim local market is quite popular among the locals and tourists. The area has numerous shopping malls and showroom for trendy and quality goods.
For a good-quality Goan handicraft the government-run Emporia has plenty of stuffs like intricately carved artefacts, masks, wooden toys, cotton and shopping bags, table mats made from sisal, coconut or pineapple raw fiber. The emporia are available in almost all major tourist spots; Panaji, Margao, Calangute, Vasco-Da-Gama.
Most deluxe hotels and resorts come with in-house shops, but they are usually very expensive.
