Start your food adventure by visiting the Mapusa Friday Market, where locals gather to sell fresh produce, dried fish, local sweets, and street food snacks. Enjoy a variety of flavors like beef cutlets, prawn fry, and vindaloo curry.
Take a guided heritage walk in the Latin Quarters of Panjim, where you can explore the Portuguese architecture and try local favorites like bebinca (rice flour-based cake) and serradura (sawdust pudding) from cafes and bakeries on the way.
Go on a guided tour of one of the spice plantations in Ponda, where you can see and taste different spices like cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon. Enjoy a traditional Goan meal made with freshly harvested spices.
Visit the bustling commercial hub of Margao and try various street food items like pav bhaji, chicken cafreal, and doce (coconut sweet) from local vendors. Don't forget to try the famous Goan chorizo.
Relax at one of Goa's famous shacks on the beach and enjoy fresh seafood like fish curry, prawn balchao, and calamari fry. Wash it down with a cold beer or a refreshing coconut water.
To get around Goa, you can hire a taxi, rent a scooter or a car, or use public transportation like buses and trains. Expect to pay around INR 1500 per day for a taxi or a rental scooter. Buses are the cheapest mode of transportation with fares starting from INR 10.
If you have more time, you can explore more local markets like the Anjuna Wednesday Flea Market and the Saturday Night Market in Arpora. You can also take a cooking class to learn how to make Goan dishes from scratch. If you have less time, skip the spice plantation tour and spend more time exploring the beaches and shacks. Don't forget to try the local feni, a cashew or coconut liquor.
Dabolim Airport (GOI) is the only airport in Goa, located in Vasco da Gama, around 30 kilometers from Panjim. It serves both domestic and international flights and has facilities like ATMs, money exchange, restaurants, and duty-free shops.