ANJUNA FLEA MARKET

Anjuna Flea market is a hippie’s paradise in Goa where you can find a treasure trove of souvenirs, handicrafts, hippie clothes, and trinkets at a drift cheap rate. This weekly market started in the 1960s as a way for the hippie travelers to barter their unique products.

In the beginning, it was called the open-air goods exchange market by the locals, but now it has become a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Earlier, this flea market was organized on a small area of the beach, but now it extends from the golden shores of the beach to the paddy fields with plenty of stalls selling tidbits.

If you’re looking for the best Tibetian and Nepali goods, then there can’t be anything better than visiting this flea market. You can also get your hair colored or your body pierced at the stalls in this market area. If you’re in Goa, then you must get some time off from chilling and raving to unfold the unique essence of this flea market that bustles with liveliness and Goan flavors.

This beachfront market is held every Wednesday at Anjuna Beach, and you’ll find this place abuzz with music, dance, and parties even late at night. It also has some great acrobatic activities and food stalls to further accelerate the fun quotient of your trip.

This market runs till the wee hours of the night and gives the liberty to the shoppers to shop until the core of their heart. The only skills you’ll need here is bargaining to get the products that you intend to buy at a pocket friendly price. 

How To Reach

You can take a taxi or a cab from the airport to reach Anjuna, Flea Market. If you want to go by bus to the flea market then there is no direct bus available from the airport. You’ll have to take a bus from the Panaji bus stand, and then it will drop you at Anjuna Beach. From here you can take a tuk-tuk or you can walk to reach Anjuna Flea market.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Anjuna Flea Market is as early as 7 AM or as late as 4 pm in the evening every Wednesday. The flea market especially comes to life in the evening, and the entire market seems bustling with the hippie crowd. So it’s recommended to visit the flea market during this time.

Other Essential Information

Places to Visit Near Anjuna Flea Market:

These are some of the most popular spots that you must visit near Anjuna Flea Market.

1. Blue Whale Water Park - This is touted as one of the best water parks in Goa with beautifully set slides and ultra-fast boats that will definitely thrill your adventurous soul. This is also the most value for money and affordable water park in Goa where you can relax and relieve your stress without digging a hole in your pocket.

The most striking part of this water park is the Finding Nemo Jumping Castle where you can dance on to the hit numbers played by the DJs.

2. Anjuna Beach - Anjuna Beach is a scenic paradise for beach lovers with the azure blue water of the Arabian Sea and beautiful hills in the background. It is embellished with magnificent scenery and is a hippie paradise with plenty of shacks and beachside cafes.

You can enjoy the adventure sports over here like windsurfing and paragliding. You can also sample out the delicious seafood fare at some of the best beachside restaurants over here.

3. Chapora Fort - This is an ancient fort located in South Goa, where the iconic movie “Dil Chahta Hai” was shot. It is one of the most beautiful forts in Goa that offers a picturesque view of the Chapora river and Vagator Beach. This is an extremely pleasant spot to wander with your friends and family members.

4. Aguada Fort - This is yet another popular tourist destination in Goa that was built by the Portuguese in 1612 to get protection from the Marathas and the Dutch. The view from this Fort is extremely splendid as it overlooks the confluence of the Arabian Sea and Mandovi River. The four-storeyed lighthouse and jail are some of the prime spots that you must visit here.

-Location: 10, St. Michael’s Vaddo South, Anjuna, Goa

-Timing/Day on which it takes place: Only on Wednesday from 9:00 AM-6 PM, November to April.

Places to Eat at Anjuna Flea Market:

Anjuna Flea market is flooded with beach shacks and cafes where you can enjoy scrumptious food. These are some of the prime places to eat in Anjuna Flea Market, where you must stop by to have a lip-smacking treat.

1. Café Looda - This is one of the best café junctions that you must stop by to experience the vibrant dining scene of Goa. The best thing is that this beach shack remains open throughout the monsoon, and you can watch the rain lash over the sea while enjoying your favorite beer over here. The food might be a bit expensive, but the quality and taste are the best. 

2. Ben Vita’s Beach Shack - This is one of the few beach shacks in Goa that serves exotic cuisines from all around the world. Overlooking the sea at Anjuna beach, this shack also offers facilities like a pool table, shisha, and soundproof nightclub for an unforgettable experience.

This beach shack gets totally lit at night with loud music and delicious cocktails. The ambiance of this beach shack will lure you to spend some pleasant time over here. The staff is very courteous and takes care of even your minutest needs. They also offer customized menu as per your choice so that you never have to compromise with food. 

3. Sea Breeze Bar and Restaurant - Laid over the sandy shore of the Anjuna Beach, this restaurant is known for its elegant ambiance and fun vibes. It serves an extensive range of delicacies that will satiate your hunger in a scrumptious way.

It’s the best place to dine and wine by the sea while enjoying the pristine view of the surrounding areas. Many hippie parties are organized over here, especially on the weekends at night, where you can drink, dance, and have a fare of the lip-smacking delicacies. 

History of Anjuna Flea Market:

Anjuna Flea market is a hot booming market that was conceived and started by the hippies in the early 1960s because of their craze for trance music. They frequented the beach and danced and partied all night over here.

This place offered them freedom, fun, and ultimate happiness as they indulged in the mind altering options of boozing and laying out completely naked as no policemen or strict rules were laid out over here. The flea market’s trend came into existence ever since the hippies got into the business of selling their second-hand goods to buy new products when they ran out of money.

According to a few popular rumors, it is also said that this market was started by the father of hippie” eight finger Eddie” in the year 1975. Once the hippies' followed the trail through Eastern Europe, they ended reaching up to Anjuna, where they accidentally burned their passport and ran out of money.

They, however, liked the hippie culture of this place and decided to stay over here for a long time. But the biggest question was how they could survive over here without money? To resolve this problem, they started selling their goods to buy new products.

The hippies came together over here and started trading their clothes, guitars, jewelry, and other belongings to stay at Anjuna a little longer. The vendor’s at Anjuna Flea market presently is a mix between Indian vendors and hippie expats.

The expats mainly sell jewelry, handmade clothing and do dreadlocks and piercing. Some of them have run out of money, and others want to stay here longer, and hence, they’re running the shops over here to make a living. In a way, the chain of events that led to the flourishing of this market in 60s and 70s is happening even now. So get lost in the hippie culture by exploring the Anjuna Flea market. 

Tips For Visiting Anjuna Flea Market:

Here are a few tips that you must follow to turn your shopping into a rewarding experience at Anjuna Flea Market-

1. Take time to explore the market as the Anjuna Flea market is flooded with different shops that offer a wide range of bracelets, fabrics, anklets, and coats. So stroll through the various shops and compare the prices to find the best product. 

2. You need to have a good bargaining skills to get the products at a lower price at Anjuna Flea market.

3. Take a tuk-tuk from your hotel to reach this market as it’s the cheapest option and will offer you respite from the scorching heat.