Last Updated on 25th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
One of the best experiences for those who love vintage shopping in Paris is to visit a flea market. From antiquarian books to historic furniture, you never know what treasures you might stumble upon next. And 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.
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.
A history of the Marché aux Puces de Porte de Vanves
The market is located on the fringes of the 14th arrondissement of Paris and has been held every weekend since 1905. Today, there are just under 400 market stall slots, though none of these are permanent.
Instead, merchants are assigned a lot and must-set up and pack away on the days that the market takes place. There is a variety of wares for sale, meaning that you never know what you’ll come to discover next when strolling around the market.
From early 20th-century furniture to art pieces to art-deco to clothes and even antiquarian books, there’s quite literally something for everyone.
However, please note that I soon noticed that the market at Vanves is much less curated than some other brocantes in the city, so you’ll likely be looking around for longer to find things worth purchasing and so be sure to set aside more time to fully explore the market and its stalls.
The pro of this is that the prices are much lower at the Puces de Porte de Vanves than at Saint Ouen, meaning that you’re much more likely to score a good deal than at other flea markets in the city. For tips on what to buy, check out our French brocante guide.
How to visit the Vanves Flea Market
The expansive flea market is held on a number of streets; Avenue Marc-Sangnier, Avenue Georges-Lafenestre, Place de la Porte-de-Vanves, and the square aux Artistes. The closest metro stop is Porte de Vanves, which is located on line 13.
The market starts at 7 AM and ends at 2 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that these are approximate timings and various parts of the market close at differing times. Be sure to bring cash with you as not all vendors will accept card payments.
If you do opt to visit on a Saturday, then you should note that vendors start to pack up their wares very early on in the day, as early as midday.
If you want to score a bargain, or even just find the best treasures before they’re snapped up, then I would recommend heading to the market as early in the day as possible, straight after your morning coffee!
Crowded areas are a pickpocket’s paradise. Watch your belongings and be sure to bring out a bag with proper zips. As with the rest of Paris, you may well encounter a number of Parisian scams while at the market. After all, where there are lots of tourists, you’ll find lots of pickpocketers.
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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.