Almost every major city has its own flea market – and often more than one. They are worth a visit to bring back unusual souvenirs from your trip, acquire things that no one else has, or buy vintage and antique items – often for next to nothing. We have compiled a list of the 20 largest and most interesting flea markets in different parts of the world.
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Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, Paris, France
Europe’s largest and most famous flea market includes 14 separate markets with more than 1,700 vendors. Here you can find first editions of books by French writers, collectible film cameras and unusual trinkets.
Opening hours: from 9:45 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:45 on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays
Address: Rue des Rosiers
Ferikoy Pazar, Istanbul, Turkey
Every Sunday, this place turns from an ordinary car park into a market, lined with rows of tables with a variety of goods. This is the place to go for traditional Turkish souvenirs and items from the Ottoman Empire.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00
Address: Semt Pazarı No:8, Cumhuriyet Mahallesi
Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, USA
At a flea market in suburban Los Angeles, you can find a lot of pop culture paraphernalia, like a Barbie house or a Mickey Mouse lunch box. In addition, clothes, shoes, jewelry, furniture, souvenirs and crafts are sold here.
Opening hours: every second Sunday of the month from 9:00 to 16:30
Address: 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena
Photo: Lin Yun Heng/Shutterstock.com
Portobello Road Market, London, UK
The market is a long narrow street lined on both sides with small shops selling antiques and a wide variety of collectibles. On Saturdays, in addition to the shops, things are sold on tables right on the street.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Wednesday, from 9:00 to 13:00 on Thursdays, from 9:00 to 19:00 on Fridays and Saturdays
Address: Portobello Road, 72 Tavistock Road
Photo: Helissa Grundemann/Shutterstock .com
Feira da Ladra, Lisbon, Portugal
Here you can find antiques, porcelain, ceramics, handmade souvenirs, clothing, magazines and much more. Locals and tourists warn: the market is famous for a large number of pickpockets, so you should carefully monitor your belongings.
Opening hours: from 6:00 to 17:00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Address: Campo de Santa Clara, Alfama, Tram 28
Jeu de balle, Brussels, Belgium
This is one of the few flea markets in the world that is open all year round. There are, for example, antique paintings, rare vinyl records or rare books.
Opening hours: from 6:00 to 14:00 on weekdays, from 6:00 to 15:00 on weekends
Address: Place du Jeu de Balle
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Porta Portese, Rome, Italy
In the thousands of small stalls located in the market, you can find everything from rare antique kerosene lamps to South American llama wool hats. You should be careful with antiques – there are a lot of fakes here.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 6:30 to 14:00
Address: Piazza di Porta Portese
San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
They sell unusual clothes, vintage movie posters, costume jewelry and homemade snacks. The flea market is located in a neighborhood famous for tango music, so along the way you can listen to street bands and watch a dance show.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00
Address: Plaza Dorrego
Flohmarkt im Mauerpark, Berlin, Germany
At this market, art students and artists often sell paintings and handmade items, and you can also find a lot of vintage items here. Visitors are entertained by live music.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00
Address: Bernauer Str. 63-64
Photo: TokyoCheapo
Oi Racetrack, Tokyo, Japan
In addition to the traditional antiques, clothing and jewelry for flea markets, there are vintage kimonos, antique porcelain dolls and traditional Japanese fans. There are about 600 stalls in the market.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00
Address: 2-1-2 Katsushima, Shinagawa-ku
Brooklyn Flea, New York, USA
It’s worth a visit to decorate your interior with vintage decor or buy handmade gifts. In addition, here you can meet young designers offering clothes for sale.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
Address: 176 Lafayette Ave
Photo: www.hollandfoto.net/Shutterstock.com
Waterlooplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands
At the oldest flea market in the city you can find authentic souvenirs from Asian and African countries, designer clothes and rare vinyl records for ridiculous money. Magnets and postcards with Amsterdam are also worth buying here – they are cheaper than in tourist shops.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 17:30 on weekdays, from 8:30 to 17:30 on Saturdays
Address: Waterlooplein
Am Hof Markt, Vienna, Austria
People come to this market for antique works of art, rare books and collectible coins. It does not work in winter.
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00 on Fridays and Saturdays
Address: Am Hof Platz
Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel
There are few valuable antiques here, but there are many vintage items from the last century, as well as handmade dishes, ceramics and copper jewelry. Bargaining is not only possible, but also necessary.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 17:00 from Sunday to Thursday, from 9:00 to 14:00 on Fridays
Address: Olei Zion
Photo: joan_bautista/Shutterstock. com
Mercat del Belcair, Barcelona, Spain
It is called the most international flea market in Europe. You should come here primarily for vintage clothing and antiques.
Opening hours: from 8:30 to 18:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Address: Carrer de los Castillejos, 158
Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Thai silk, Buddha figurines, exotic plants, medicinal herbs and even live snakes are just a small part of what can be found here. There are more than 15 thousand stalls at the market, so it’s worth taking a free map at the entrance so as not to get lost, and come early when there are not so many visitors.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays
Address: Kamphaeng Phet Road
El Rastro, Madrid, Spain
There is almost everything here – from antique items to new things. Goods are distributed along the streets – for example, in Plaza del General Vara del Reythere there is furniture, and in Calle Rodas various antiques are sold.
Opening hours: every Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00
Address: Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai, Thailand
At the night market in Chiang Mai they sell designer clothes (although counterfeits are also common),
jewelry, costume jewelry and handmade souvenirs. The main thing is not to forget to bargain – sellers expect this from you.
Opening hours: from 18:00 to 00:00
Address: 104-1 Chang Klan Road
Panjiayuan, Beijing, China
The market is divided into sections depending on the type of goods, so it’s quite easy to navigate. There are about 3,000 shops filled with porcelain, Chinese furniture, busts of Communist Party leaders, ancient national clothing, second-hand books and precious stones. True, there are also plenty of fakes.
Opening hours: from 4:30 to 16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays
Address: 200, Panjiayuan Lu
Dr. Flea’s, Toronto, Canada
Toronto’s largest flea market sells electronics, vintage clothing and a variety of art, with a nearby farmer’s market. Every hour there are drawings and prizes for visitors.
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays
Address: 8 Westmore Drive
Text author: Yana Kasatkina
