With colourful shopping, delicious street food and beautifully preserved Portuguese architecture, Margao is a fantastic introduction to South Goa. The laid-back market town is dotted with lush gardens and colonial churches.

Things to do

Most of the action is centred around the oblong-shaped Municipal Gardens, where you'll find grassy lawns and flower-filled gardens. Nearby is the MMC New Market, Margao's go-to shopping destination. Stock up on colourful spices, handmade soaps and Indian trinkets.

It's easy to spend hours wandering the streets of Largo de Igreja, a characterful neighbourhood known for its colonial architecture and Portuguese mansions. Don't miss the 17th-century Holy Spirit Church, which features a whitewashed Baroque facade, ornate interior and gleaming pipe organ.

Bookworms will be in their element at the Municipal Library, which has been welcoming readers since 1914. The newspaper reading room has publications from across India. If you're looking for a good read, head to the Golden Heart Emporium, a whimsical bookstore stocking everything from fiction and food to architecture and history.

For the best Indian food in town, snag a table at Longhuino’s, a local institution that's been serving up delicious Goan cuisine since 1950. Specialties include ambot tik, a fiery fish curry known for its tart aftertaste. Wash it down with an ice-cold Kingfisher or creamy mango lassi.

Getting around

Margao is easy to get around on foot, with taxis and auto rickshaws also available. The Madgaon Junction railway station and Kadamba Bus Station offer connections to nearby cities.