From daily municipal markets to weekly makers fairs & designer pop-ups, Goa's market scene spans far beyond the typical fruit & vegetable stall. Here's where to find them (map included below):
Photo credits: 1. Goa.me, 2. Anjanaa Devi Srikanth, 3. Rahul D'Souza
Find local city markets in Goa
Panjim Municipal Market
Bang right in the centre of town, our favourite aspect of the Panjim central market is it's first floor view point. Enter the market from either direction, walk up the first flight of stairs you find and then simply take a moment to soak in your surroundings before winding your way through the market and its many mountains of fresh fruits, vegetables & flowers. Outside the main complex you'll find the fish & meat market along with several covered lanes of shoes, clothing, etc.
Mapusa Market
The largest of its kind in Goa, the Mapusa market is an absolute staple & must see for anyone spending time in the state. Full of life and over flowing stalls selling absolutely everything under the sun, this daily municipal market is the best source for local produce, spices, kitchen supplies, homewares, craft, clothing & more. On Friday's the market also doubles in size as all the surrounding village vendors flock into town with their speciality goods. A constant source of inspiration, the market has also been a focal point for local artists Orijit Sen who has spent many years documenting the history, typography & stories of the market. You can read more about Sen's work & the evolving Mapping Mapusa Market project here in an article published by Scroll.in Magazine.
Margao Markets
Margao in fact has two great markets both worth the visit when travelling through Salcette. The first is located near to the KTC bus stand right at the entrance of the city while the other, Ghandi Market, is found at the city centre. Both are incredibly local selling all kinds of produce, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, house hold goods & cheap clothing, fabrics, etc. The open air market near the bus stand is best for your weekly grocery shopping while the Ghandi market is more of an interior labyrinth of stalls one can easily get turned around in. Great fun either way!
Poster credits: 1. Vaayu Village, 2. Earth Keepers Market, 3. O.M.O Sunday Harvest
Find specialty food & farmer's markets in Goa
This weekly market is held every Thursday from 12 to 4pm at Vaayu and is meant for buyers and sellers of organic / naturally grown fruits, vegetables, local made artisan foods, eco-friendly cleaning products, as well as sustainable beauty and healthcare products.
Made in Saligao
Every Tuesday at 4pm, the locals of Saligao come together at the Saligao Institute for a community market we wish could happen in every village across Goa. Residents set up stalls selling everything from freshly picked fruits & veggies, baked goods and homemade pickles, spice mixes & savoury snacks. While the market is mainly food focused, there are a few vendors selling handy crafts & second hand items as well. Small in size but clearly a real community event, this is one market you should certainly check out if you're in the area.
O.M.O Sunday Harvest
This weekly organic fruit & vegetable market is found in the shared courtyard of the O.M.O shop & Blue Tokai cafe behind the Panjim Post office from 3 to 7pm.
Held every Sunday at The Rejuvenation Centre in Candolim from 4 to 6pm, except last Sunday of the month the market is hosted to Saraya Art Cafe in Sangolda from 4:30 to 7pm.
Held at the BPS Sports Club in Margao from 3 to 10pm, this monthly market is organized to support & promote local Goan farmers, their produce & other handmade products.
Image credits: 1. Goa Collective Bazaar, 2. Saturday Night Market Arpora, Anjuna Flea via Karma Group
Find weekly tourist markets & pop-up bazaars in Goa
Held every Friday from 3pm onwards at HillTop in Vagator, the weekly Goa Collective Bazaar is a slightly smaller more curated version of the Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar. You'll find a good selection of local designers, makers & food vendors paired with live music, kids activity corner, cocktail bar, holistic healing area & more. Positive vibes & plenty to buy, the 100Rs entry fee also helps mellow the crowd a tad.
Goa's first & longest running market, the Anjuna Flea Market is "the queen of hippie flea markets. Rumor says it was started by the father hippie himself “eight finger Eddie” in 1975. Some will say it traced back further." Held every Wednesday from 8am to 6pm, you'll find vendors selling all sorts of goods from across the country as well as specialty food vendors & makers from around the world. It's a tad intense and the quality questionable but all in all worth the visit for anyone who's new to Goa.
Saturday Night Market Arpora
Not to be mistaken for the Saturday Night Bazaar or Mackies Saturday Nite Bazaar, the Saturday Night Market in Arpora, open from 6pm onwards, is Goa's original night time bazaar. Full of good food stalls, live music performances & product vendors, one can easily spend an evening meandering through the grounds and pick up a few good finds along the way.
Held at locations across Panjim, Pop-It-Up is is a quirky, colourful and engaging medium that encourages young and old artists, entrepreneurs, food critics and food lovers, fashion & beauty enthusiasts, music lovers, photographers to be a part of the bazaar. Tune into their Facebook page for the latest updates on upcoming markets.