Best Paris Flea Market: Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves
If you have ever dreamed about going to a flea market in Paris and you have to pick just one because your trip is packed, choose Porte de Vanves. I was lucky enough to visit many flea markets and this one was my favorite of the big three.
I summed up my visit to all three in this post, but I wanted to give more time and detail around this one since I liked it the most. I gave shopping and negotiating tips in the post about all of the markets too, along with a few key phrases to know.
How to get to Marche Aux Puces De La Porte de Vanves
The best way to get to Porte de Vanves is via the Metro. This market is located on the southern end of Paris. You can take Line 13 and get off at Porte de Vanves. From there it’s a short walk.
The market is located in the 14th arrondissement, which is probably not one you will visit otherwise. The architecture is not as spectacular here (as you can see, it almost looks like New York).
The market runs in a circle and in the middle is a grass tennis court. Be sure to visit all of the forks that branch off to the sides.
When to Go?
This market is open from 7am to 2pm every Saturday and Sunday. I recommend getting there early to avoid crowds. These markets can get crowded, but the early bird gets the worm. It runs even in the rain.
Unlike a lot of the other markets this one has no food tents. It’s not a place to go for fresh fruits or cheese. I went in the morning and walked up an appetite.
What You Can Find at Porte Du Vanves
I found many things I would have purchased if I had more room in my suitcase. This market has a little bit of everything, but here are the things I found.
- Vinyl records
- Paintings and vintage posters
- Clothing
- Silver – Tons of flatware sets
- Dishes and pottery
- Linens
- Furniture (I found a really pretty secretary desk, but impossible to take)
- Camera equipment
- Books
- Lighting – a tempting crystal chandelier and two gold sconces
- Hardware
- Copper pans and molds
- Musical instruments
- Jewelry
The best part about the market was that the vendors seemed approachable. I was able to ask how much things were without getting the feeling that I was a stupid American. Most vendors accepted credit as long as the price was over a certain amount.
What Did I Get at Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves?
Nothing! Turns out what I got at the flea markets in Paris, was the experience of going. I didn’t buy a single thing, but it was SOO much fun to see the different neighborhoods and see the local people.
There are always cafes and boulangeries around the various markets and it’s a great place to do a little people watching, too.
I highly recommend making flea markets a priority if you love Paris. If you liked this you might enjoy Hotels vs Airbnb in Paris.
