Shopping in Goa is as much a tourist attraction and major highlight as its innumerable beautiful beaches and hordes of historical monuments are. Over the decades as Goa’s tourism flourished, so did the shopping scene here. As international and domestic tourists kept thronging Goa with their heavy wallets, shopping scene in Panaji city and its adjoining towns witnessed unprecedented shopping boom. And thanks to decades of boom, today Panaji city or for that matter entire Goa offers a very diverse shopping experience. While the tourism boom has bought in plush upscale retail stores that sell range of lifestyle products, the traditional street markets of Goa – which indeed has rich history - are still intact and in fact their charm even draws huge number of tourists.
Given below is a brief detail of all the shopping places/markets, what to buy, and other important information’s regarding shopping in Panaji city and its adjoining towns.
Flea markets of Panaji
Popular Shopping places in Panaji
As mentioned earlier, Goa still has preserved traditional markets, where locals have been shopping for centuries. Few among these markets have achieved cult status and have invariably become tourist hotspots. While many of these iconic markets are located a bit far away from the heart of Panaji city, they are easily reachable via local transports. Names and specialties of these markets have been given below.
Shop at supermarket stores in Panaji
Many renowned supermarket stores are located in the very proximity of Panaji city, which today are very popular among locals and even huge numbers of tourists visit them. Although branded super market store like Big Bazaar is still to open a store in Goa, however the local supermarkets are big enough to cater to all the personal and non personal needs of the locals. The names and locations of these super markets: Newton's Supermarket in Candolim, Ganesha Supermarket at Arambol beach road, Orchard Supermarket located very near to Anjuna Beach, Oxford Supermarket located at Anjuna Junction.
As mentioned earlier, owing to Goa’s tourism boom and its local cosmopolitan population, today it is home to innumerable lifestyle retail stores that sell entire gamut of lifestyle products. Right from designer cloths & designer jewelries, art & home (furniture) to even tattoo and body art studios. These lifestyle stores, located at prime locations of Panaji and its adjoining towns, are very popular among tourists and affluent class of goan society. These stores surely belong to the elite class.
Shopping Malls in Panaji
Goa does have decent number of state-of-the-art shopping malls. In fact two of the most popular shopping malls of Goa are located in the very heart of Panaji city. These are Caculo Mall and BIG G Mall. These two malls are literally shopping & recreation paradise. As they are thronged with best of international brands and besides offer dinning at renowned restaurants chains like KFC and Main Land China.
Another very popular shopping mall of Panaji, which actually is a recent addition, is Mall De Goa. It is located in the Capitol Hill area of Panaji and is as much a shopping paradise as Caculo Mall and BIG G are.
Cashews: This is a must buy item of Goa. Goa’s cashews are way too delicious than cashews of other states; which is the reason they are so popular in rest of India and even abroad. In fact here one will find wide & huge varieties of cashews, such variety probably one will not find in any other states.
Local spices: This is another one of the must buy items of Goa. In fact Goa has been a thriving market and hub of spices for four centuries. This is all thanks to Portuguese, who during their four centuries of rule had converted Goa into trading hub for various kinds of spices. In fact it is unique spices of Goa that makes Goan cuisine so mouth watering delicious.
Handicraft: Goan people have artistic talent for making excellent handicraft items and hence this is another one of the must buy items of Goa. In fact Goa Government has also opened stores across cities to promote Goa’s handicraft products.
Given below is a brief detail of all the shopping places/markets, what to buy, and other important information’s regarding shopping in Panaji city and its adjoining towns.
Flea markets of Panaji
Popular Shopping places in Panaji
As mentioned earlier, Goa still has preserved traditional markets, where locals have been shopping for centuries. Few among these markets have achieved cult status and have invariably become tourist hotspots. While many of these iconic markets are located a bit far away from the heart of Panaji city, they are easily reachable via local transports. Names and specialties of these markets have been given below. - Anjuna Market: This is the famous flea market of Goa. It is held every Wednesday near the famous Anjuna Beach.
- Mapusa Market: Held every Friday in the small town of Mapusa, barely 13 kms from the heart of Panaji. It is mainly known for selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Although not popular among tourists, but locals do come here in huge numbers.
- Calangute Market Square: Located very near to famous Calangute Beach, this market is filled with hordes of stalls and shacks that sell every popular shopping item: clothes, beachwear, sea shells, local handicrafts, trinkets and carpets to lots of seafood snacks and beer. This market is immensely popular among tourists and locals, as Calangute is itself one of the most popular beaches of Goa.
- Municipal Market: This market is located at the very heart of Panaji and is one of the busiest markets of the city. It offers fresh fruits, vegetables, cloths/apparels, fish products and even eateries. If you’re anywhere near heart of Panaji city, then this market is surely worth a visit.
Shop at supermarket stores in Panaji
Many renowned supermarket stores are located in the very proximity of Panaji city, which today are very popular among locals and even huge numbers of tourists visit them. Although branded super market store like Big Bazaar is still to open a store in Goa, however the local supermarkets are big enough to cater to all the personal and non personal needs of the locals. The names and locations of these super markets: Newton's Supermarket in Candolim, Ganesha Supermarket at Arambol beach road, Orchard Supermarket located very near to Anjuna Beach, Oxford Supermarket located at Anjuna Junction.
Retail stores in Panaji
As mentioned earlier, owing to Goa’s tourism boom and its local cosmopolitan population, today it is home to innumerable lifestyle retail stores that sell entire gamut of lifestyle products. Right from designer cloths & designer jewelries, art & home (furniture) to even tattoo and body art studios. These lifestyle stores, located at prime locations of Panaji and its adjoining towns, are very popular among tourists and affluent class of goan society. These stores surely belong to the elite class.Shopping Malls in Panaji
Goa does have decent number of state-of-the-art shopping malls. In fact two of the most popular shopping malls of Goa are located in the very heart of Panaji city. These are Caculo Mall and BIG G Mall. These two malls are literally shopping & recreation paradise. As they are thronged with best of international brands and besides offer dinning at renowned restaurants chains like KFC and Main Land China. Another very popular shopping mall of Panaji, which actually is a recent addition, is Mall De Goa. It is located in the Capitol Hill area of Panaji and is as much a shopping paradise as Caculo Mall and BIG G are.
What one mustn’t forget to buy in Panaji?
And lastly, here is a very short list of what tourists & visitors in Goa must never ever forget to buy. A visit to Goa, without buying these must-buy items, will surely be incomplete.Cashews: This is a must buy item of Goa. Goa’s cashews are way too delicious than cashews of other states; which is the reason they are so popular in rest of India and even abroad. In fact here one will find wide & huge varieties of cashews, such variety probably one will not find in any other states.
Local spices: This is another one of the must buy items of Goa. In fact Goa has been a thriving market and hub of spices for four centuries. This is all thanks to Portuguese, who during their four centuries of rule had converted Goa into trading hub for various kinds of spices. In fact it is unique spices of Goa that makes Goan cuisine so mouth watering delicious.
Handicraft: Goan people have artistic talent for making excellent handicraft items and hence this is another one of the must buy items of Goa. In fact Goa Government has also opened stores across cities to promote Goa’s handicraft products.
