Berlin
A city as celebrated for its quirkiness as Berlin is almost duty-bound to deliver on the flea market front – plus, many of its shops close on Sundays, making market browsing the natural retail fix.
Mauerpark Prenzlauer Berg If you can be patient and rummage your way through the inevitable piles, there are some interesting finds in the smaller flea markets. Arkonaplatz, in the Mitte district is a favourite. It is particularly attractive in the autumn when the surrounding trees and light take on golden hues. Here you can find old camera and film equipment, as well industrial furniture. One of my favorite purchases is a large, hand-crocheted quilt in shades such as lapis and rust.
The Rathaus Schöneberg flea market in Tempelhof-Schöneberg is one of Berlin’s oldest, and is located where John F Kennedy made his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. The majority of the items are from people who have a clearance sale, not professional dealers. They’re also affordable.
Lesser known to non-Berliners, Neukölln’s Kranoldplatz Flohmarkt – in one of the city’s most vibrant alternative neighbourhoods – is a good choice for cool castoffs. You’ll also be spared the mass-produced, new junk that you may find elsewhere, thanks to strict regulations.
The Bode antiques and book market is a romantic setting. The books I bought there I haven’t read, and I’ve never served cake on the silver-plated plate I found, but who cares!
Secondhand stores can be found all over the city – but it’s worth homing in on Friedrichshain. There’s also a few smaller shops here. V Vintage (Kopernikusstraße 18 and Grünberger Straße 50) has a great range of pieces, from vintage denim to retro après-ski, while Soul and Style (Krossener Straße 24 and Frankfurter Allee 35-37) serves up fashion with a distinctly 80s flair, complete with band T-shirts, glitter and lurid shell suits.
Visit our website for more information. @ezcape, @jessica.miusha
Athens
When visiting the birthplace of Western Civilisation, who wouldn’t be thinking about old things? After you’ve seen the Acropolis, Parthenon and the Acropolis, avoid the stalls that sell fridge magnets with ancient ruins. Instead, head to Piraeus. About 5 miles south-west of Athens, it’s where the ferries depart for hundreds of Greek islands and a Sunday flea market takes place, alongside the railway tracks, until 2pm-ish. There’s often good retro clothing and vintage homewares – be prepared to rummage, sometimes at ground level, as not all vendors set up on tables. Lunch at one of many waterfront restaurants is a great way to end the day.
Pazari Rakosyllekton (the name itself sends my treasure-hunting heart racing) is another Sunday option. It’s located a few minutes’ walking distance from Eleonas Station and sells everything from books and records to furniture and homewares. After finding Olivia Newton-John Xanadu, I think I’ve reached my peak.
Vintage stores are also available in other locations. Kilo Shop Ermou 120, where rails are restocked every other day and finds are charged by the weight. Options for higher-end models include Anthophile Vintage Zoodochou Pigis, where florals are dominant and whimsy is king. Handpicked Cherries Frinis 51: vintage leather and Y2K delights.
Visit our website for more information. @athens_thrifts, @posh.vintage
Stockholm
Secondhand shopping is a great way to save money in Sweden and Scandi. Stockholm is home to two of the most popular European chains Humana – one in the Norrmalm district and another in Södermalm – good for clothing and accessories. There are several locations in the city. Myrorna – owned by the Swedish arm of the Salvation Army – is more for your home than wardrobe. Gustavsberg glassware and porcelain by Kosta Boda are also popular, as well as pieces from other Nordic brands such as Marimekko.
Södermalm is also home to a branch of the UK chain Beyond Retro You can also find out more about the following: Judits Second Hand (Hornsgatan75), a shop which sells the unwanted clothing of locals on consignment for a small fee.
If you want to experience something Swedish, visit a Loppis. This is a great way to spend a weekend socialising and finding treasures hidden in other people’s trash. Some are temporary, some are more spontaneous. Many have refreshments and music on site. The spring and summer are the best times to enjoy them. loppisrunda (loppis-hopping), especially in the countryside, but they can be found year-round (check loppiskartan.se). Vintage Swedish Christmas tablecloths with matching fabric napkins, and sleek brass reindeer from Uppsala (40 minutes by train north of Stockholm) remain treasured finds.
Visit our website for more information. @modernretrostockholm, @vintageretrosimon You can also find out more about the following: @myrornaopsten
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Madrid
Fast-fashion behemoth Zara was born in Spain, and although its largest retail store worldwide is in Madrid, the capital isn’t enslaved to high-street dressing. Along with its 29 Humana shops, where you might stumble upon anything from 90s streetwear to 50s corsetry, those with a yen for designer labels should check out the city’s many upmarket secondhand boutiques, which are more akin to concept stores than thrift shops.
Try Second Chance in the city centre (Calle de la Virgen de los Peligros 11) for lightly used clothes by names such as Loewe, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. Although they’re not bargains, the prices are much lower than if they were new.
Denim is a staple of the wardrobe. Friperie For those who think Y2K is vintage (rude), then Neare In the Centre (Corre Alta de San Pablo 21) has a varied selection of clothing and accessories.
You can also find out more about us on our website. Piel de Mariposa (Calle Embajadores 35) there are books, vinyl and homewares, as well as a good range of fashion and accessories, many for under €10 apiece.
The traditional flea market experience is also readily available in Madrid: El Rastro, home to many restaurants and bars, bursts into life on Sundays, when the flea market takes over the neighbourhood. You will have to sift through a lot of trash, but the gold that you find (for me it’s vintage ceramics) is worth it.
Visit our website for more information. @rastro_madrid, @matiz.life
Amiens
There are plenty of reasons to visit Amiens, the capital of the Picardy region: France’s largest Gothic cathedral, the country’s first purpose-built museum (with displays covering everything from Egyptian artefacts to Francis Bacon), and for Channel-hoppers it’s only a 90-minute drive from Calais. The city also hosts two major festivals every year. the Réderie, one of the largest flea markets in France.
The town centre is filled with 2,000+ vendors on the second Sunday of April and the first day of October.
Aim to arrive on the Saturday, as many of the vendors start setting up the night before. Wrap up warm, wear comfortable footwear and a bright head torch to ensure you can bag an early bargain. Your finds can be placed in a camping wagon. My favourites include framed florals needlepoints, heavy metal swans, and acrylic candleholders.
The town is full of vintage treasures all year round. Fripes et Merveilles This time capsule (151 Rue Gaulthier de Rumilly), which is full of bargains, has everything from jewellery to bric a brac. Prices at Silk & Roses (18 Rue Saint-Martin aux Waides), but expect to find the likes of Kenzo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent. Meanwhile, Icône Friperie (21 Rue du Général Leclerc) charges by the kilo – €30 a haul.
Visit our website for more information. #grandrederieamiens, @se_souvenir_des_belles_choses
