My little family of 3 just returned from 2 weeks in Europe – 6 of those days exploring Paris along with several of the flea markets hunting for antique treasure! Spoiler alert, my hunt was not very fruitful, but based on my personal experiences and hours of research I think I’ve cracked the code on how to find the very best pieces AND the best prices. Make sure you save this post for your future Paris plans and get ready for a wealth of tips and antique inspiration!
This post may contain affiliate links which might earn me a small commission at no cost to you. THANK YOU for supporting me and the quality items I promote!
Why shop at the Parisian Flea Markets?
Yes, I find lots of beautiful vintage items at my local thrift stores in Pennsylvania, but isn’t there something so special about hunting for treasure abroad?
As if it really needs to be explained, Paris is a wealth of history, culture, and art. And if you’re anything like me, Parisian style is the epitome of sophistication and charm! From oil paintings to French pottery to fine china, the French know how to design some truly exquisite treasures! And what’s better than to come home and say, “I found this in PARIS!”
What are the flea market prices like?
This is where I found myself in shock. I spent hours looking over videos and blog posts talking about the best of the best and insider tips for shopping antiques in Paris. With a term like “flea market,” I imagined lower price points and tons of bargains. While the markets I shopped might have had discounts on their antique wares compared to a true antique shop, the prices did NOT seem very budget friendly.
All of my research said to steer clear of Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen in Northern Paris. It’s the largest flea market in the world and with such a global draw, the prices are quite high. Most suggested Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves as an alternative. Porte de Vanves is a much smaller market with a wide selection and (allegedly) better prices. We easily hopped on a bus early Saturday morning to Port de Vanves, and while the selection was incredible, the prices were steep. Almost every antique I fell in love with ended up being at least 100 euro if not closer to 200 or 300 euro. Considering I only withdrew 60 euro in cash to shop, nothing was really in my pricepoint.
Had other posts been transparent about the prices I may have been a bit more willing to spend more, but in our SECONDHAND SQUAD, I know we can find better deals!
What flea markets should I shop?
Pop-Ups
Every weekend in Paris, the city hosts pop-up flea markets in different neighborhoods. There’s always a list posted a few days before the weekend so you can plan in advance. Sites like brocabrac.fr/ organize shopping by French city. Several social media accounts such as kissa.vintage.paris share the locations of that weekend’s markets!
These pop-up markets are much smaller but still offer an amazing selection. Instead of a giant antique store, they truly feel like a neighborhood yard sale filled with everything from Burberry trench coats to vintage Chanel jewelry to antique books, to toys, to post cards.
Had I understood how much more affordable the pop-up markets would be, I would have dedicated my “flea market time” to those exclusively. The Paris public transportation system is quite easy to navigate so it doesn’t take much planning to pick 3-4 pop-ups in a day and make your way around the city exploring the markets!
Go Rural
You will also find better prices by simply going outside the city limits. The small towns around Paris are filled with the same antique finds, but at a fraction of the cost. If you have the time to venture out of the city, I highly recommend exploring some of the nearby villages both for their better prices AND the countryside charm!
Show and Tell
I’m sure you’re dying to know what treasures came home with me from Paris! All in all, I was limited by my budget. My dream was to bring home an antique painting, but I never found anything under 200 euro that I genuinely wanted for my home.
What I did buy was a stunning antique compote dish from the mid 1800s! It is “lavender transferware” from the French pottery manufacturer, Sarreguemines, in their “Epine,” or “thorn” pattern. Apparently it’s highly collectible and the one I found is in almost pristine condition – as in zero chips or cracks beyond the stunning patina! I found it at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves and talked the seller down from 75 euro to 50.
At the pop-up market we visited I found an entire table filled with affordable vintage jewelry. I bought a vintage peal brooch for 10 euro and 2 pairs of clip on earrings – one is faux Chanel and the other is from the brand Royalissime Paris. Both pairs were $30 total.
I also scooped up a brass and onyx candlestick for 5 euro. I thrifted a similar one in Iceland last summer and I love the stone and brass combination! I seems to be missing the base, so I stacked it on top of 2 crystal ashtrays I thrifted a few months ago. I LOVE the new look!
Lastly, I bought a vintage postcard to frame for 1 euro. I love that is has an old stamp on the front!
I selected an antique frame I bought several years ago from a local vendor and attached a piece of deep red upholstery fabric to the backing before mounting my postcard on top of the fabric. The postcard just pops with this rich background!
don’t miss these other unique ways to utilize secondhand fabric in your home!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re headed to Paris soon or it’s only a pipe dream, make sure to keep this post handy so you can make sure to find the best treasures for the best prices! I’m already planning a return trip so I can out these tips to good use!
Let’s Stay Connected!
Don’t miss a single opportunity to be inspired by signing up for our weekly newsletter for exclusive tips, sneak peeks, and a recap of the week’s ideas! Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe – it’s free!
xoxo, L
what I wore in Paris
scroll through the images to shop everything I wore, my skin care essentials and the MOST
comfortable sneakers that kept my feet pain-free even after 20K steps a day!
