5-Day Foodie Itinerary for Goa in May 2023

  1. Day 1: Margao
    20 minutes (11.6km) from Goa International Airport

    Start your culinary journey in Margao by tasting some of the iconic Goan street foods like beef croquettes, pholourie and choris pao. Then take a cooking class to learn how to make some traditional Goan dishes from a local expert. End the day with a dinner at a restaurant that serves authentic Goan cuisine like fish curry rice or prawn balchao.

  2. Day 2: Panaji
    30 minutes (27.1km) from Margao

    Visit the Panaji Market, where you can find fresh seafood, spices and local produce. Then head to one of the many spice plantations and take a tour where you can see how various spices are grown and processed. For dinner, explore some of the international cuisines available in Panaji like Portuguese or Chinese.

  3. Day 3: Mapusa
    25 minutes (17km) from Panaji

    Head to the Mapusa market to experience the lively atmosphere and try some of the popular street foods such as xacuti and samosas. For lunch, visit a local restaurant serving authentic Goan Hindu cuisine like sol kadi or fish thali. End your day by heading to a nearby beach and witness the sunset while savoring some seafood delicacies.

  4. Day 4: Ponda
    35 minutes (21.4km) from Mapusa

    Visit the Sahakari Spice Farm in Ponda, which offers a guided tour of the farm, where you can see and taste various spices and herbs. For lunch, try the popular Goan Portuguese influenced dishes like cafreal or vindaloo. In the evening, take a boat ride along the backwaters, tasting some freshly prepared grilled fish.

  5. Day 5: Anjuna
    25 minutes (16.1km) from Ponda

    Wrap up your culinary voyage by experiencing the hippie vibe of Anjuna beach shacks which offer a wide variety of international cusine like Israeli, Italian, and Russian. Try some traditional Goan desserts like bebinca or dodol. Attend a cook off competition and learn from the top Goan food experts. In the evening, enjoy the live music and drinks with delicious tapas.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Margao Visit (2-3 hours, Free)
  • Cooking Class (3-4 hours, INR 1,500)
  • Dinner at a local restaurant (2 hours, INR 800)
  • Panaji Market (2 hours, Free)
  • Spice Plantation Tour (3 hours, INR 500)
  • Dinner at a local restaurant (2 hours, INR 700)
  • Mapusa Market visit (2 hours, Free)
  • Lunch at a local restaurant (2 hours, INR 600)
  • Beach visit (2-3 hours, Free)
  • Sahakari Spice Farm (3 hours, INR 500)
  • Lunch at a local restaurant (2 hours, INR 600)
  • Backwater Cruise (2 hours, INR 700)
  • Hippie Market Visit (2 hours, Free)
  • Cook off competition (2-3 hours, INR 1,000)
  • Dinner with live music (2 hours, INR 900)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 7,600

Useful tips

If you have extra time, you can explore more Goan beaches such as Baga and Calangute, or take a tour to the Dudhsagar Falls. Adjust the itinerary based on location opening and closing times to make sure that your preferred places are open. If you are short on time, you can skip Day 3 and Day 5 or reduce the time spent at each location.

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