Paris: A Guide to shopping at the top flea markets
It’s the only time that anyone in Paris will be excited to hear the word puces — or fleas. The city’s iconic flea markets, often just called les puces, allow tourists to spend hours browsing everything from vintage prints and dusty books to tarnished jewelry and Louis XV furniture.
The odds of finding an affordable, one of a kind bobble or trinket may not be in your favor — the real stuff carries real prices — but the chance is always there. Budget shoppers can have a field day here trying to find that one awesome item, as can those with significantly higher budgets.
The city has three markets of note, opened every weekend and easily accessible by the Metro. Go armed with a bit of cash, a few French phrases, a bottle of water, and plenty of patience to enjoy these institutions. Happy hunting!
Hunting for treasures at Les Puces de Saint Ouen in Paris. Photo parisharing
Saint Ouen Flea Market
Metro: Porte de Clingancourt
When: Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6 pm, Monday 11 am to 5 pm
The main marché aux puces that everyone uses as a reference point is the Marché Saint Ouen. Located just beyond the city limits to the north, it’s easily accessible via the line 4 at the station Porte de Clingancourt from Saturday to Monday. Follow the often disappointing stands of cheap souvenirs and off-brand jeans and you’ll eventually find alleys full of army surplus and other odds and ends leading to the real show.
The best bits are found around rue des Rosiers. Here, the tangle of streets houses several independent market, each one specializing in various antiques or home décor. There are even restaurants and cafés among the various stalls, so feel free to stop for a coffee or bite to eat between shopping.
The Marché Biron, with its red carpet and high-end antiques, might be a bit out of your league. But the Marché Dauphine, one of the largest of the markets housed indoors, could be the place to find a special treasure or two. Or get lost in the Marché Paul Bert Serpette to discover stall after stall of random, oftentimes useless objects.
Browsing through the vendors set up at Montreuil Flea Market. Photo J Marsh
Montreuil Flea Market
Metro: Porte de Montreuil
When: Saturday to Monday, 7 am to 7:30 pm
To the east, the puces at Montreuil is a Saturday to Monday affair where hundreds of vendors take up a spot around metro station Porte de Montreuil to sell their wares. Unlike Saint Ouen, it does not feature permanent stalls. Instead, vendors may just spread a blanket on the ground selling individual shoes while further down a true antique dealer will hawk near-priceless lamps and works of art.
The fleas are also the place to search for vintage clothes, and the Marché de Montreuil features many secondhand clothes dealers. True treasure seekers may be disappointed, but it’s still worth a walk on Saturday or Sunday morning.
Flea Market at Porte de Vanves
Metro: Porte de Vanves
When: Saturday & Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm
To the south, the puces at Vanves, at metro station Porte de Vanves, occupies avenues March Sanglier and Georges Lafenestre every weekend from 7 am to 2 pm. More akin to a giant yard sale, this is the place to find works of art, religious statues, or other random objects to take home.
Browse the nearly 400 vendors before making your choice — but if you are sure about a purchase, feel free to feign disinterest and see if you can haggle the price down a bit. It’s worth a shot!
Vide Greniers
The weekend puces are open year-round, but they aren’t the only place to stock up on other people’s possessions. The vide greniers — literally “empty the attic” — are periodic yard sales in the streets of Paris. Think of them as pop-up puces.
These events can range from neighborhood-wide markets to just a few tables. The schedule is fairly accurate on this website, so check in to see what’s on nearby during your stay.
Tips for before hitting the markets
No matter which market you end up at, prep your wallet. Most merchants will prefer cash, though some of the bigger vendors will accept credit cards, especially when their chairs and end tables cost hundreds of euros. Just be careful with your money, as you always should be, when browsing the markets. Everyone is a potential victim for pickpockets.
AftRelated: Paris Shopping Tips: How to save on a shopping spree
Otherwise, take your time to wander the enormous collections of products available and cross your fingers that you’ll find something affordable and unique to take home with you.
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