Paris Flea Markets

Get up early Saturday morning to find the best selections at Puces de Vanves ( Metro: Porte de Vanves), Paris’ best flea market. Located along Avenues Marc Sangnier and Georges Lafanestre, this outdoor market is open until 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tables along both sides of the sidewalk are full of paintings, jewelry, dishes, furniture, and books. Some of our finds included some great old transferware dishes, a heart shaped porcelain sign in French ($13), and a box of 25 vintage metal soldiers ($25).

Marché Aux Puces Saint-Ouen ( Metro: Porte-de-Clignancourt) is located in northern Paris.  This market began in the Middle Ages when merchants resold the cast-off, flea infested clothing of aristocrats to peasant folk. The market specializes in antiques and the vendors are set up in permanent stalls along a maze of alleyways. It is more commercial - the antiques are expensive, and the flea market items are mostly T-shirts, shoes, African masks, and cheap souvenirs.