Last Updated on 13th January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
Whether it’s your first, fifth, or fifth-hundredth time in Paris, if you’re looking for a thrifty, chic, and somewhat sustainable souvenir from your time in the city, you might consider heading to a flea market in search of a unique or vintage piece. Here’s your guide to the best flea markets in Paris (and what to buy at each).
Brocantes, vide-greniers, and marché aux puces are essential to French culture. Though there are slight differences between each, this article will focus namely on flea markets as this is what is mostly found in the French capital (at least in a more permanent setting).
If you’re looking for a more detailed article on the popularity of the brocante, be sure to check out our guide to French brocantes, which will help you in choosing the right souvenir from France as a keepsake of your trip.
Contents
What days are the flea market days in Paris?
For the permanent flea markets, flea market days are typically as follows: Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Fridays and/ or Mondays (depending on what market you visit- so check which day this is prior to turning up at your preferred flea market!) For pop up markets, the days of the week are more varied, but are also usually held on weekends.
What to know before visiting a flea market in Paris
Flea markets take place come rain or shine, and so if it’s raining, be sure to pack some comfy boots and bring an umbrella! In most markets, the stalls themselves will be undercover, but you’ll still have to walk under the rain in order to get between market stalls.
Some of the busier markets also provide a great cover for pickpockets and so be wary of your belongings at all times, especially when you open your bag to get out your wallet to purchase things. You can also check out my article on tips to avoid phone theft in Paris.
Best flea markets in Paris
Vanves Flea Market/ Marché aux Puces de la porte de Vanves
Deep in the heart of the 14th arrondissement, the Vanves Flea Market (Marché aux Puces de Porte de Vanves) is the place to head to on the weekend, and more specifically, on Saturday morning (as this is when you’ll find the best treasures before they sell out as the weekend goes on).
Please note that the market is sometimes referred to as the puces de la Porte Didot. After the Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen, the flea market is the largest in the Paris area. The Vanves flea market is also the only brocante flea market which takes place in intra-muros Paris.
There are up to 400 market stalls displaying their wares on the weekend, and the selection is almost everything you can imagine: art pieces, vintage costume jewellery, second-hand clothing, and even iron sculptures and signage.
Saint Ouen Flea Market/ Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen
Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, which is often abbreviated to be referred to as just St-Ouen is the largest flea market in the World and is easily one of the best flea markets in Paris (well, technically, the market is actually just outside the Paris Periphérique)!
Like many markets featured on this list, many of the vendors at the Saint Ouen market are only open on the weekends. Please note that this is the only permanent set of markets in Paris, and the prices are elevated accordingly to its popularity.
Village Saint Paul
Though not a flea market per se (the items for sale are much too expensive and the stores are too permanent for it to be called as such), the Village Saint Paul is tucked somewhere between the Seine and Place des Vosges.
The area comprises of a number of stores selling vintage and antique wares, many of which spill onto tables on the pavements just in front of the stores. Please note that, as the stores are permanent, and the area is quite touristic, wares sold at the Village Saint Paul tend to be on the pricier side of things.
A little village that might be anywhere in France, tucked away in the unlikeliest of places. All vintage stores and cobbled lanes, this is Village St Paul, Paris’ very own antique market in the heart of Le Marais, the 4e arrondissement of the city…
Old and Used Book Market Georges Brassens
For bibliophiles, there’s one vintage pop-up market that’s particularly well worth checking out, and that is the Old and Used Book Market Georges Brassens, which is located on the fringes of the 15th arrondissement.
Known in French as the Marché du Livre Ancien et d’Occasion Georges Brassens, the book market has been in operation on a weekly basis since 1987. The book market takes place every weekend on Saturdays and Sundays and sees 60 vendors selling everything from comic books to vintage maps and prints.
Montreuil Flea Market/ Marché aux Puces de Montreuil
The Montreuil Flea Market is the smallest of the three official Paris flea markets and is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, not far from Père Lachaise Cemetery. This is more of an off the beaten path location to look for treasures and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit it.
However, as this spot is smaller than the others, there are fewer items to select from, and therefore you’re less likely to be able to find a bargain. The vendors here will expect you to bargain so have your negotiation skills at the ready.
Pop-up Brocantes in Paris
Throughout the year, particularly from spring through to autumn, there are a number of open-air brocantes which pop up all over the city. These typically take place over the course of a weekend are are organised by specific organisations, such as SPAM.fr.
A crate full of dolls heads can be found in the corner. Meanwhile, shelves of books adorn the streets, while antique chairs, trinkets, chic designer clothing, jewellery, and the like can be found in abundance.
You literally never know what you’ll discover next. Some of my particularly favourite locations for these pop-up brocantes (when they happen) is in Place des Vosges, and along rue de Bretagne, which typically is held a few times a year, including at Christmas time.
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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.