St. Ouen Flea Market in Paris

It's served by the Porte de Clignancourt metro stop -- get off and walk north a couple of blocks and you're right in the middle. It comes in two layers: The antique stuff is pretty good, but pricey, says my wife. The flea market stuff is pure junk. If you've busted a suitcase or lost a jacket and need a cheap replacement, give it a shot. Otherwise that kind of stuff is something that you see in the similar markets all over France. It's interesting to walk around for a couple of hours if there's nothing else to do, but I wouldn't make it a priortiy.

You'll find some great information and tips about the flea market here: www.parisperfect.com/paris-flea-markets.php

You need to walk from the Clingancourt metro stop under the Peripherique and when you see the flea market racks of shirts, Bob Marley towels, etc, head left.

I was there during the same time two years ago. I wanted to go to St. Ouen, but we ended up going to a smaller flea market on the Left Bank. I can't remember the name of it right now, but it is well known. My impression, expensive (for me anyway), but a fun thing to do for a couple of hours. We left when I couldn't feel my toes anymore. It was freezing. Dress warm!!

The author of Born To Shop (Frommer guide) loves St Ouen market. It is on my list for a trip to Paris in May. The Sunday Bastille market was disappointing IMO-mostly junk.

Just looked at your dates. If you're going to do it, watch the days. The flea market portion starts setting up late Friday night (stuff on blankets under the peripherique overpass which is for sale - - the rest of the stands are setting up, but not open). By mid-day Monday, most are the stalls are starting to be torn down.

Thanks for all your replies! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pretty crappy stuff, but an interesting scene for sure.

I visited in 1995 so I don't know if my observations are still valid. This flea market had a good number of pick pockets so watch out. Also, folks were "playing" three card monte and the pea under the walnut shell scams. I saw a nicely dressed woman lose $100 USD when an angelic faced person who was in on the monte scam told her where the odd colored card was positioned. Of course it was not there. Paris had a lot of beautiful people, but this flea market had its share of thug looking people. It is an interesting experience if you are alert to the scammers.

Concerning Michael and Geor's responses: The closest part of the flea market from the Metro has the crappy second-hand stuff. You need to turn left and go in about two blocks to find the real markets with antique furniture, art, etc.

Watch your purse.

Doug, Please clarify. Off the metro, you walk about a block past electronics and other shops then you arrive at a large area with maybe 10 long rows of stalls. Are you saying to skip past all this?

I'm saying turn left. The stalls you see coming in from the Metro are junk. The first time I went there, I thought I had been misled. But I eventually found the real markets by going to the left and down the street. Ed, help me out here. I can only explain this by saying that the real flea market is a block or two off of the main street coming from the Metro at Clingancourt. And to the left.

There is a map of the market on this site:
http://www.st-ouen-tourisme.com/uk/marche_aux_puces/presentation.html I think the three card monte and shell game people are really fun to watch. It is a delight to watch them pull innocents in from the crowd. They are hustle artists in their own right.

From Ave Glignancourt / Michelet : go under the peripherique and work left (west) and then northwest on either Rue Marceau or Passage Marceau - - I forget which is which but they come together to form a triangle with Fabre as the base. Radiate out from there for the good stuff. There's also a two-story building with shops that runs off of Fabre and is smack in the middle of this triangle - - enter from either the north or the south. Michael: Doug is saying skip the stalls on the south (metro) side of the underpass completely. I'd also skip the stalls on Fabre (surface street paralleling peripherique on the north side) and work further north (as above) into the good/better stuff.

Ahhh. Great info, thanks guys.