Paris "Flea" Markets

Sure, but wear your money belt, as you would in any crowded place. We went to a flea market our first time in Paris, and had a great afternoon. The vendors were all very friendly and even entertaining.

IN summer there are Vides Grenier which are more informal fleas that pop up here and there; look for signs on poles in days before. I got a wonderful 50 year old watch for 10 Euro that now 5 years later still runs perfectly and looks pretty cool -- sort of an art deco look. I also got an intereting old bakelight necklace for 5 Euro that I also still enjoy. At another I got an interesting costume jewelry classic necklace for a good deal more -- still wonderful deal.

I found the big markets like St. Ouen difficult -- so much trash and fake leather coats and things like used phone cards that the treasures if any didn't surface for me.

It depends -- St. Ouen, I would say, as Janet does, is a bit more difficult -- both to get to and to find your way around. (Also much more expensive, but can be a lot of fun to look around).

The flea market at Vanves, in the south of the city, is much more accessible and somehow Americans seem to know about it less. For me it's an "easier" experience but definitely ticks all the boxes of a fun flea market visit. And, as Janet suggests, the weekly brocantes or vide-greniers pop up all over town every weekend. You can ask your hotel to advise you where they will be taking place on the weekend of your visit. (Personally I'd recommend a brocante over a vide-grenier - often a vide-grenier is just like a garage sale where anyone can set out their junk. But everyone has different preferences!)

We love the Vanves flea market....metro is Porte des Vanves. It is on Saturday and Sunday.. Go early say 8 am. Closes sometime about 12 or 1. You can find almost anything there from oil paintings to clothes and jewelry to old French postcards and photographs and cameras and viewers. Also when you come up from the metro there is a wonderful little cafe where you can get a drink or small snack or meal. Sometimes my husband likes to stay longer at the market and I sit outside at the cafe, get a snack and drink and peruse my wonderful purchases.
We also like the big flea market at Clingencourt, but it is huge and you have to walk through some crowded streets with junky stuff for sale to get to the main buildings.We go to one of these markets on Saturday and one on Sunday....usually Saturday for Vanves and Sunday for Clingencourt...we don't go on Sunday until about 9 or I0. Also this one is very expensive and there is a lot of walking if you traverse the whole thing.

I'll be in Paris in May and I'm really looking forward to the flea markets, thanks to this thread I think maybe Vanves sounds more interesting than St Ouen, and easier to get to is always good--Jane mentions the metro exit is Porte des Vanves, once I exit is it readily apparent where the market is?

When you come up from the metro go straight across the street...little cafe is there...go right and walk down a block or so.......can't miss it...on your left and it winds around quite far these days.

I have found occasional vintage jewelry at Vanves -- it is much more accessible than the one at St. Owen. There is often a flea market along with the bird market near the cite metro.

Excellent--thank you Jane for confirming, and a bird market would make it even more interesting.

Thank you everyone. I can not wait to go. I will be traveling in November.

Note the bird market is near the Cite metro near Notre Dame not near the Vanves market we were discussing. There are also plants for sale -- there is a little garden shop there and sometimes (not sure which days) a bit of a flea market.