Heritage Walk Of Fontainhas The Old Quarters Of Panjim in Panaji - 3c6777c5f4afc8aae3135ca82453d5cf
5.0

Heritage Walk Of Fontainhas The Old Quarters Of Panjim

  • 2 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Panaji
User image

Your local for this experience

Experience hosted by Mario

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

A Standing legacy of Goa's Heritage dwells in my neighbourhood Fontainhas. Join me on this Heritage walk and feel the nostalgia of where I grew up as a child be mesmerised by the colonial buildings and houses of the past painted with bright pastel colours.

Destination
Panaji, India
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English
Included
  • Private guide

4 reasons to book this tour

  • Begin walk from the oldest bridge
  • Walk Past some of the old Heritage Buildings
  • Sampling some of the traditional sweets at the oldest bakery
  • Walking up to the Fountain Phonte de Phoenix

What you can expect

Heritage Walk Of Fontainhas The Old Quarters Of Panjim in Panaji - 3c6777c5f4afc8aae3135ca82453d5cf

Join me on a nostalgic walk to unravel the stories of how today’s capital City was built. Starting from Ponte de Linhares bridge built to handle the load of horse drawn carriages of its time.

Walking towards the once Mint house casa Moeda situated in the Tobacco square of the bygone days, passing by the saint Thomas Chapel and its quaint lanes.

We walk past some of old tradesmen's shops and street vendors seeing some of the old important buildings as we walk.

We walk down the quaint streets leading a Goan bakery to taste a few of the delicacies traditionally made over firewood or baked in a firewood oven. The bakery experience is subject to timing of operation. Sunday the bakery is closed

Be intrigued by the colonial architecture and colors of the well preserved houses as we walk through these quaint streets of Fontainhas , passing by a traditional community well provided back in day for supply of fresh drinking water.

A photo Stop outside the Saint Sebastian Chapel, as we continue our walk through Fontainhas.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Mario .

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at Down the road - Panaji to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. - Ponte De Linhares Bridge:

    Meeting point to start the walk

  4. Casa De Moeda

    Proceed towards the old Mint Casa de Moeda.

  5. Old Heritage Buildings

    Walk past some of old tradesmen's shops and street vendors and proceed towards the Old Quarters.

  6. Old Bakery Stop

    A Visit to a local bakery to taste the local sweets of Goa.

  7. Phonte De Phoenix

    Walk up to the fountain.

  8. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

I can personalize this tour for you

  • Tell me your preferred date and group size
  • Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
  • Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

User image
Murray🇬🇧 United Kingdom
1 March 2025
A very enjoyable tour with a guide who is clearly passionate about his work. The tour was varied and detailed where required, but relaxed and laid back when appropriate. Well organised, there was history, architecture, a window into local life as well as a tasty lunch and a plantation visit. Cooling towels and chilled water kept us refreshed.Highly recommended.
User image
jackie🇬🇧 United Kingdom
9 January 2025
Mario is exceptional. His years of experience and high levels of knowledge are evident throughout the day. He left no question unanswered as he guided us expertly through a glimpse of the political, cultural and religious history of Goa. The day started at a wood fired bakery were we ate many pastries. The market was bustling , check out the produce and the art work. We got to visit historic churches and temples with detailed and interesting information along the way. The spice plantation gave us a great insight into the cultivation, harvest , dietary and medical uses of many plants. The plantation also served us with the most delicious meal that was beyond our expectations. Our comfort was considered throughout the day and water and cold towels were offered frequently. We finished the day with a swim at the beach and the door to door service was great. Communication was prompt and informative and we would not hesitate to reccomend Mario to help you enjoy a wonderful day in Goa.Exceptional
User image
Jon🇬🇧 United Kingdom
12 December 2024
For a tour in Panjim, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending Mario. He took care in understanding our requirement (1 x carnivore + 1 x vegetarian) and redesigned his itinerary to accommodate. The food experience was outstanding as was his knowledge of Panjim and Goa that he shared. It made for a fascinating tour.Fantastic Food Tour with Mario
User image
Alison🇺🇸 United States
12 August 2024
We were at a resort in North Goa and were interested in seeing more of the area and learning more about Goa’s history. We were SO lucky to find Mario! What an enjoyable man to spend the day with! His knowledge of the area, his command of all dates in the state’s history and his engaging stories brought Goa to life. Mario introduced us to some special places, including a charming sweet shop. He was also heroically patient with our shopping :) We can’t recommend Mario enough. A Wonderful Day with Mario!
User image
Longcharben
12 May 2024
Mario was exceptional. Professionalism exemplified. He is a local who carries unbiased unadulterated updated information both current and historic and very engaging in his delivery of the facts. Every bit of the tour was well arranged and top notch execution. No hiccups whatsoever. One of our group members had a small cut while getting off the bus, Mario made it unnecessary to find any medical store. He was prepared with a first aid kit. (kinda expected from a tour guide but no one expects they'll actually carry it. You know what I mean?) Yeah so the overall experience was worth down to the last coin. Locals like Mario adds to the beauty of Goa.Get the best of Goa from the best of Goa - Mario
User image
Lucy Wooding
5 May 2024
Myself, my husband and my mother did Mario’s Goa In A Nutshell tour today and it was perfect! We were picked up in a clean, comfortable car with an excellent driver and Mario didn’t waste any time, giving us plenty of information on the things we passed on our way to our first tour stop. Mario was informative and spoke clear, excellent English and was responsive to all the questions we had for him. He was so thoughtful and came ready with cold water and cold washcloths so we could cool off and refresh each time we returned to the car. If you want a reliable, comfortable and enjoyable tour of north Goa and its history, make it Mario’s. Make it Mario’s!
User image
Ching Soo🇸🇬 Singapore
24 April 2024
Mario sure knows his way around Goa and the delightful stories and history behind the market, temple, church... fill in the blanks! A day spent with Mario is a great way to get acquainted with Goa, with its rich history, colour, and real-life anecdotes. Passionate Mario! Thank you.
User image
Dawn
10 April 2024
We hired Mario for his Goa in a Nutshell tour on 5th February 2024 on the recommendation of friends. We are so glad we did! Mario is so knowledgeable about Goan history and the extra touches such as ice cold towels and drinks along the way were a welcome offering. We will definitely hire Mario’s services on future trips to Goa. Five Stars from us!Goa In A Nutshell
User image
Scott Collins
9 April 2024
Mario is an excellent tour guide! We considered touring the Old Goa churches alone but decided at the last minute to hire a guide. I’m so glad we found Mario! He was knowledgeable and fun to listen to. He knows his way around and made our visit worth the walk in the heat. He has a great way of explaining history and architecture. We had our kids with us and they enjoyed his explanations too which is no easy feat with two teenagers!An Excellent Tour Of Old Goa the Former Capital
User image
Sandeep Kaul
9 April 2024
For me, Goa has two Marios: The first is Mario Miranda, the cartoonist and then Mario Monteiro, the raconteur, guide, historian and engineer! It was a pleasure going around Old Goa as well as the Fontainhas Heritage Tour with Mario. His commentary is lucid, the nuggets of information are eye-opening and his planning is thoughtful. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in his company and returned better informed and HAPPY. The coconut water treat was a godsend - Thank you, Mario! - and the bakery surprise at Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro - Thank you again! -were perfect examples of Mario's thoughtfulness. If I could, I would give Mario 7 stars!!Goa In A Nutshell
User image
Wojciech Pprzybylski
29 March 2024
Mario offered my family a 5-day bespoke experience in Goa, covering places like Old Goa, spice plantations, heritage houses, and Divar Island. He meticulously planned our itinerary based on our requests and loosely defined plans, arranging transportation (including a rare child seat in Goa) with an excellent driver. Throughout our journey, he provided expert insights into the local history and culture. Mario was exceptionally attentive to our comfort, adjusting the pace to suit our needs and ensuring the car was stocked with beverages and cold wet towels to combat the 35°C heat. His company was a delight, and his knowledge greatly enriched our experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Mario to anyone looking for guided tours in Goa, be it for a single day or multiple days. Amazing Guide in Goa: Mario!
User image
Sonja
12 March 2024
We had a great tour with Mario through Panji. He explained very detailed the history of the old town. We even had the chance to had a bite of local snacks and were able to see an old family building from back then. We can highly recommend Mario as an excellent guide!Highly Recommend
User image
Maria Tiu
17 February 2024
Loved our tour with Mario! Got a great flavor for Goa with the limited time we had. He was very accommodating with our schedule and tailored the experience to our needs. We learned alot about the history, culture and architecture of Goa and loved it!Loved our tour with Mario
User image
Sylvie Rato
14 February 2024
Our 3 days with Mario were an absolutely amazing experience! He truly enriched our stay in Goa. Mario tailored the tours perfectly to our interests, providing detailed explanations and sharing fascinating historical curiosities along the way. The places we visited were truly magical, and the food was delightful. We completely emerged in Goa’s past and felt the real experience of the present. Besides the amazing guide Mario is, his personality and kindness brought these days to the top! He is extremely attentive and doing the extra mile for people to be the most comfortable as possible always providing fresh beverages and refreshing towels that saved us during the hot weather. Finally the driver was also excellent and the car very comfortable. I highly recommended Exotic Goan excursions for anyone visiting Goa!An Amazing and Magical Experience
User image
Nabha Joshi
11 February 2024
Mario was very thorough with the information, very enthusiastic, and patient with the entire group!! Enthusiastic and Informative
User image
Angel Pollock
29 January 2024
We had a wonderful day with Mario. Comfortable car, very knowledgeable and kind tour guide. He was brilliant with our little children. Highly recommend and would definitely reach out again if I return to Goa!A wonderful day with Mario

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

More about me

GREETINGS FROM GOA

I am Mario a very passionate and dedicated tour Guide for my city Goa. The Goa that I grew up in was very different from what it is today. It had a charm that was unique and a culture that was still strongly influenced by its gripping past. This led me to become very interested in learning all about my delightful homeland at a very young age.

Digging through the rich cultural heritage of Goa soon turned into a desire to share its beauty with others. Turning my passion into a profession, I worked my way to becoming a licensed tour guide who is recognized by the Goa State Tourism Department, and has over 20 years of experience leading tours across Goa.

A tour with me will always be accompanied with interesting facts and stories about Goa’s enthralling history and fascinating culture. The enthusiasm and passion that I have for Goa is contagious and will leave you captivated as I guide you through my quaint and unforgettable homeland.

My tours are suitable for all travelers and families, right from the oldest to the youngest. They can be personalized to accommodate your needs, so do not hesitate to share your thoughts and preferences. Whether you are a first-time visitor or you are a seasoned traveller, I will do my best to make your visit unique!

My five-star ratings are a testimony to my professional excellence, so you can expect a memorable experience as we explore this beautiful coastal state and all it has to offer.

Other experiences with Mario

€30per person