12 Amazing Things To Do In Margao, Goa

I’ve lived right bang in the heart of Margao for most part of my life. It is the place that I call home and no matter how many times I head back, I find myself following the well worn trail, exploring the same old sites and tracing some really important memories.

Margao is the place that I call home. For this reason alone, the city evokes a whole trove of memories. So if you are looking for things to do in Margao, you are talking to the right person!

Most people who visit Goa, tend to head straight to the beach. I get it. Goa has an impressive coastline. It also has a lot of other interesting things to offer.

Take Margao for example. This city is often not on many people’s radar because it does not have the same party scene that the Northern cities of Goa have. It does not mean that there are any less things to do in Margao mind you.

So today my agenda is really simple. I’m going to give you a tour of the city and let you look at it through the eyes of a local.

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Visit The Religious Monuments

Like any part of Goa, you will find that one of the top things to do in Margao is to visit the religious monuments in the area. The most popular ones are the famous churches but there are also a couple of temples that are also very beautiful.

1. Holy Spirit Church

The Holy Spirit church is one of the oldest churches in the area. This beautiful structure was the main church way back in my grandmother’s time as a child. It catered to the entire Christian population in Margao.

As the city expanded, the need for more churches came up and they were erected in other parts. Grace Church is a notable example.

The Holy Spirit church is the only church in the heart of Margao that has the old Portuguese architecture. It was originally built in 1564. Interestingly enough, it was destroyed in 1571 and later rebuilt in 1645. The structure took almost three decades to complete and it was finally fully functional in 1675.

The white baroque architecture is certainly prominent from the outside. Step indoors if you get the chance and you will be wowed by the detailed workmanship on the inner sanctum. Wooden benches, gilded altars and a high arched roof are the first parts of the Holy Spirit church that will capture your attention.

While for people who visit, this church is just an attraction. For us, this church holds a lot of memories. It is a very iconic part of the Margao Christian culture and its feast days are something that have to really be experienced!

Exploring the church is one of the things to do in Margao.

2. Grace Church

Grace Church is a relatively newer church compared to Holy Spirit church. It is located just opposite the Magao garden and is as iconic as its counterpart. Way back in 1812, Grace church was originally a chapel. It was called, Capella da Batalhao which can be translated to Chapel of the Batallion. This is because it was founded by the 1 st regiment.

The chapel was part of the Holy Spirit church. It was only in 1959 that it was elevated to the status of a full-fledged Parish.

If you head to Grace church, you will notice that the architectural style of the church is very different from Holy Spirit. Since it was built very recently (relatively speaking), this church has a more modern appearance.

I find that comparing the architectural styles of the different churches is one of the most interesting things to do in Margao. It tells you about how the whole society in a sense evolved.

3. Nossa Senhora Da Piedade Chapel

The Nossa Senhora da Piedade Chapel holds a really special place in our hearts. This was the place where we got married so I guess it is also a spot that we will never forget.

The Nossa Senhora da Piedade chapel is attached to the Holy Spirit parish. It is a gorgeous little chapel that is located at the top of a hill in the center of Margao.

I always recommend driving up here because it gives you an amazing view of the whole city. Plus the chapel in itself is really worth the visit.

Both the inner and outer part of the chapel are done up in the old Portuguese baroque style. One that you will see in most of the old chapels across Goa.

The Nossa Senhora da Piedade chapel is normally closed. So unless you are really lucky or you head there for mass, you probably won’t catch a glimpse of the inside.

4. Maruti Temple

Maruti temple is one of my favorite structures in the city.

There are a lot of Maruti mandirs but the one that I am talking about is located very close to the Damodar college.

I have passed by this temple so many times as a child and always found it interesting and beautiful.

Lately the temple has been renovated and painted. The bright yellow color is visible from afar and really gives the whole temple a new vibrant look.

I did not know a lot about the temple but when I was doing my research for this article, I learnt that Maruti is another name for the Hindu god Hanuman. This temple is dedicated to him. I highly recommend taking a walk towards it while you are in the city because it is by far one of the most fascinating religious structures here.

Visit The Iconic Buildings

Despite the fact that the city has developed and expanded over the past few decades, there are still a lot of things to do in Margao that revolve around the old heritage. Taking in the views of old but iconic buildings is one of them.

The best part is that you don’t really have to go out of your way to visit them. You are bound to pass them as you wander around.

5. Margao Municipal Building

If you love architecture then check out the Margao Municipal building.

You can’t come to Margao and not see the Margao Municipal building. For me, it would evoke an immediate sense of nostalgia the moment I entered the city and saw it after very long. The old building isn’t the central part of the government work as it used to be today. It still does house some of the government offices in it so it isn’t in disuse either.

The iconic building is very prominent. It has large arches, high roofs and is painted a prominent yellow and white. Intriguingly enough, the building is almost 120 years old!

6. Old Goan Houses

One of the coolest things to do in Margao is to check out the old houses in the area.

The number of old Goan houses have certainly dwindled over time. Most of them have been replaced by high rise buildings. There are however some really pretty ones that are still in good condition. Most of these can be seen very close to the Holy Spirit church.

7. Margao Market

If you are looking for offbeat things to do in Margao then you should visit the vibrant Margao market.

I have always been in love with the Margao market. It gives you a feel of the local community. For me it evokes a great deal of nostalgia. Wandering in the Margao market is by far one of the best things to do in Margao in my opinion.

The market has everything you could possibly need. From spices to clothes, from fruit to meat. You just need to know which part of the market to head to. After over 30 years of exploring the market, I still get lost!

8. Margao Garden

Visiting the Margao garden is one of the easiest things to do in Margao.

The Margao garden is another iconic part of the city. Located right at the center of the city, the garden acts as a lung for the city. It has a lot of different varieties of trees and flowers inside it. One part of the garden has slides and other activities for kids.

This was the place that our parents and grandparents took us to play as children. Today, most of the people who live in the city use the path for early morning or late evening walks. I love the canopy of trees above my head. In fact, most people prefer to choose to scoot through the garden and use it as a shortcut when they are walking around the city.

Iconic Places Near Margao To Visit

There are loads of places to visit near the city and since the distance isn’t really far, many people consider most of these activities as an extended things to do in Margao list.

9. Colva Beach

Colva is one of the most popular beaches near Margao.

Colva has been one of the top things to do in Margao as far as I can remember. This beach sports some gorgeous white sand, shallow water and a myriad of different shacks/restaurants to choose from.

It has always been popular and during the peak tourist season, you will find that this is also one of the most crowded beaches near Margao.

One of the reasons why this beach is extremely popular is because it is very accessible. There are frequent buses that ply to and fro. Back in the old days, there used to be a yellow and black taxi service that was in use. They would cram you into the taxi and could literally fit as may as ten people into the car!

That however was back when people did not have cars and Colva was a picnic destination. Today however almost everyone has their own mode of transport.

10. Benaulim Beach

One of the best things to do in Margao is to head to the beach and Benaulim is one of the top picks.

Benaulim beach is a little bit less crowded and a little bit further from the city. That however does depend on which route you take. The beach is still close enough that you can easily walk to Benaulim beach from Colva.

It is by far one of the things near Margao that people love to do. When I say this, I refer to both locals and tourists. The beach is usually pretty clean and there are loads of places to catch a bite at.

11. Goa Chitra Museum

If you are headed to Benaulim then another interesting thing to do near Margao is the Goa Chitra museum. This ethnographic museum focuses on the old age traditions of Goa. It is an interesting glimpse back into our culture.

A number of the different tools used here are very familiar. Many of which you may still find in use in the villages. We found that this is a very cool place to take children to. It helped us explain a lot of the Goan culture to them/

12. Big Foot Loutolim

If you are looking for other museums that explore the cultures of Goa, then Big Foot in Loutolim is definitely something that will catch your attention. This museum/ theme park is designed to take the visitor right into the heart of Goan village life.

Big Foot Loutolim has a gallery, a restaurant, a rubber plantation and a yard to explore. It should take you about an hour to explore the whole museum.

Best Tours To Explore Margao

The Cultural Walk In Margao

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (183 Reviews) Price: $12.35 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍Meeting Point: Holy Spirit Church Details: Read more on Viator!

If you are traveling to Goa and are looking for offbeat tours, then you should really check out Soul Traveling. They take you through the cities and offer a local perspective of the city. The beauty about it is that this tour is often taken by the locals too so that we can learn a bit about our own history.

The tour starts out at one of the oldest churches in the city, namely Holy Spirit church. From there you will walk through the narrow streets while your guide tells you stories about the neighborhood. On the way, you will even get a chance to taste some of the local snacks. The best part is that it is a small group so it caps at 8 people per tour.

Note: This tour requires a lot of walking so make sure that you don a good pair of walking shoes.

Book Your Tour Now!