Nothing more exciting than to find strolling a flea market and finding that perfect item for the home or for a friend. Even if you don’t buy anything strolling an antique or flea market at a destination gives you a view of the local life and often at prices way less than the tourist traps offer. You can spend an hour or a day or in some cases, days, strolling and shopping at antique flea markets. Just be sure and bring an extra empty piece of luggage to haul your loot home.
In many cases you can make these aa a weekend trip to enjoy or combine in with a longer trip to the destination.
In no particular order here is a short list of unique antique flea markets around the world that you might want to visit. Note some are weekly, some monthly and some annually or a few times a year. Where possible we have a link to their website for more information.
Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, organized by the IACF, is the largest of its kind in the West of England. 600+ vendors. Takes place Jun, 14 – 16, 2024 in Shepton Mallet, England. Shepton Mallet is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England, some 16 miles south-west of Bath, 18 miles south of Bristol and 5 miles east of Wells.
Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Park – Kempton, England. Just a short train ride from London. It takes place twice a month and attracts over 700 indoor and outdoor stallholders, spread across three spacious indoor halls and an outdoor drive-in area. The dates are on their website.
Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair – market town of Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. Featured in the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”, this fair is not just an event, it is a phenomenon, renowned as the largest of its kind in Europe and the ultimate treasure hunt. Spread over an impressive 84-acre site at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground, the fair is held every two months and features up to 2,500 stalls. Next held on Jun. 6-7, 2024. Then on Aug. 8-9, Oct, 10-11 and Dec. 5-6, 2024.
Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fair – Only an hour from the vibrant heart of London and 12 miles from Gatwick Airport. Up to 1,700 stalls with vendors from England and Europe since it is so close to the English Channel. Ardingly Antiques Fair has earned a stellar reputation as a leading UK venue for finding high-quality European decorative items. Immerse yourself in the world of decorative antiques and furniture, featuring captivating wall art, antique ornaments, garden ornaments, and stunning metal wall art. This is a mid-week event, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, so you can combine it with another fair that takes place on a weekend just pop over for a couple of days and avoid weekend travel. 2024 dates are Jun. 18 – 19, July 23 – 24, Sept 3 – 4 and Nov. 5 – 6.
Brick Lane Market – East End London. Park jewel and park junk heap, this market is pure East End London. Brick Lane Flea Market attracts lots of tourists in search of an authentic London neighborhood and young Londoners, in search of vintage furniture. The Brick Lane flea market is actually a complex, intricate network of five markets all connected together, known as The Truman Markets. These markets are located within the confines of the historic 11-acre Old Truman Brewery, at the northern end of Brick Lane, and are known as The Sunday UpMarket, the Vintage Market, the Backyard Market, the Tea Rooms, and the Boiler House Food Hall. Our favorites are the Tea Rooms and Vintage Markets. Sunday market: 10am to 6pm.
Flohmarkt am Naschmarkt – Vienna, Austria – Only open on Saturday. You can find every possible imaginable thing to buy here, it is well known for : antique weapons, records, china, clothes and of course books. the Naschmarkt is among the oldest flea market in the city, and covers a huge area while offering almost everything that you can think of, rain or shine. If you are interested in diverse international food items, then head to this flea market. You can find fresh Asian shrimps, Italian cheese, spices, olives and all sorts of fruits. The great part is that none of these will burn a hole in your pocket. Apart from food, you can also get old furniture, carpets, postcards from the times of war, Indian jewellery etc. It’s location beside the Naschmarkt with it’s food stalls and vendors, together with the surrounding Art Nouveau buildings makes it a particularly attractive destination both for shopping and just as a sightseeing destination. During the summer, when it is busiest, the market extends along several city blocks with stalls selling everything imaginable under the sun.
Vlooienmarkt IJ-Hallen – Amsterdam, Netherlands – One of the largest flea markets in Europe, attracting treasure hunters from all over the continent. With up to 750 private stalls, the market offers a diverse range of antiques and vintage items. Easily accessible by a scenic ferry ride, the market offers a unique and authentic shopping experience in the historic NDSM shipyard area. Taking place on May 4 – 5, Jun. 1 – 2, Jun. 29 – 30, July 20 – 21, Aug. 17 – 18, Aug 31 – Sept. 1, Sept. 28 – 29, Oct. 26 – 27, Nov. 16 – 17 and Dec. 7 – 8, 2024.
TEFAF Maastricht – Maastricht, Netherlands – An annual art, antiques, and design fair held in March. The event takes place over 10 days and during this time attracts more than 75,000 visitors from all over the world. This is a high end fair with admission tickets starting at around 45Euro just to get in, if you buy them online.
Ciney Puces et Salon des Antiquaires in Ciney, Belgium. It is a biennial flea market and antiques fair in Belgium with over 700 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors. Takes place twice a year. It will be held on July 19 – 21 and Oct. 11 – 13, 2024. Ciney is about 95km from Brussels. Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB) operates a train from Bruxelles-Luxembourg to Ciney hourly. Tickets cost €9 – €14 and the journey takes 1h 6m.
BRAFA Art Fair, also known as the Brussels Art Fair, is one of the longest-running art and antique fairs in the world, Held in Brussels, Belgium. The 2025 show in Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 2025. This is another high end art and antique fair.
Tongeren Flea Market – Tongeren, Belgium – In order to accommodate all 350 merchants, the Tongeren flea market spreads over 7 streets: Leopoldwal, Veemarkt, Maastrichterstraat, de Schiervelstraat, Clarissenstraat, Eburonenhal and the first level of Julianus. Around 40 prestigious antique shops and 200 specialist stall holders display centuries-old antiques, second-hand, design, vintage and rare collector?s items. Thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to this weekly top antiques event. The lively atmosphere and historical setting is legendary. Keep in mind that prices are generally quite high at the Tongeren flea market, although bargains are always possible. Also, don’t forget to take a peek into the many small antique shops located around the market, and to relax in one of the nearby cafes or tasteful restaurants before heading back home. The Tongeren flea market takes place every Sunday from 7am to Noon. Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB) operates a train from Brussels Airport-Zaventem to Tongres twice daily. Tickets cost $20 – $23 and the journey takes 1h 29m.
Marché aux puces de Clignancourt, also known as the Paris Flea Market – Paris, France – Home to the largest concentration of antique dealers in the world, with more than 2,000 shops and a dozen independent flea markets spread over 10 miles. It’s a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a unique shopping experience. Takes place on Saturday, Sunday, Monday: 10am until about 6pm. Be aware that hours may vary by market and by dealer; a few may open earlier than 10am, and some close before 6pm on Mondays. Many dealers typically go on vacation for all or part of August, especially during the first two weeks of the month, and may also be closed between Christmas and early January.
Marché aux Puces de Vanves – Paris, France – sometimes referred to as the puces de la Porte Didot. The market is located on the fringes of the 14th arrondissement of Paris and has been held every weekend since 1905. Today, there are just under 400 market stall slots, though none of these are permanent. Prices are much lower at the Puces de Porte de Vanves than at Saint Ouen, meaning that you’re much more likely to score a good deal than at other flea markets in the city. The expansive flea market is held on a number of streets; Avenue Marc-Sangnier, Avenue Georges-Lafenestre, Place de la Porte-de-Vanves, and the square aux Artistes. The closest metro stop is Porte de Vanves, which is located on line 13. The market starts at 7 AM and ends at 2 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that these are approximate timings and various parts of the market close at differing times. Be sure to bring cash with you as not all vendors will accept card payments. If you do opt to visit on a Saturday, then you should note that vendors start to pack up their wares very early on in the day, as early as midday.
Les Puces du Canal – In Lyon, France. Les Puces du Canal is a truly unique market that attracts around 500,000 visitors every year. Les Puces du Canal is open three times a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays exclusively to professional stallholders, while members of the public are welcome to set up their own stall during the Sunday opening hours.
Grande Braderie de Lille – Lille, France – With over 10,000 exhibitors selling everything from knickknacks to treasures, the Grande Braderie de Lille is the largest flea market in Europe and one of the most famous events in France and beyond. 2.5 million visitors will visit this flea market and enjoy the festive atmosphere which includes a mussels and chips competition at which 500 tonnes of mussels will be eaten. Arrive early. By 9am the fair was packed and very hectic – “crowded” is an understatement. By noon, it will became hard to walk through the tents. So, if you want to do serious shopping, you can cover more ground by arriving early. Tip: the 2-hour trip by car can be cut in half by taking the train from Paris. Takes place the first weekend of September.
International Fair for Art and Antiques of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue -Located in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France – Located in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a town considered the antiques capital of the world, with almost 300 permanent antiques and second-hand shops set up in the town. This event hosts over 200 exhibitors from France and Europe and 250 boutiques of antiques, art and decoration of the city display their most beautiful objects and finds in the Gautier Park, on the quays of the Sorgue, in the villages of antique shops and in the streets. Experts are available to professionals and hunters to inform them about the origin and authenticity of the objects presented at the fair. This event welcomes more than 100,000 visitors during each edition, including many foreign visitors. It is open during Easter and in 2024 from Aug, 15 – 18 from 10am to 6pm.
El Rastro – Madrid, Spain – Known the world over for its crowded, transient flea market that’s held on Sundays and public holidays and offers a diverse range of goods, El Rastro is a bustling shopping area in the city centre that’s open every day of the week and stands out for its jumble of specialist shops, typical bars, historic sites and interesting places like the Museum of Popular Art. The market hosts over 1,000 merchants who start to sell their goods at about 9am and pack up at roughly 3pm
Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo – Arezzo, Italy – In the heart of Tuscany. The extraordinary settings of piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Logge Vasari, the very heart of Arezzo, fill with stands, antiques dealers, collectors, tourists and all those curious to see the event. The Fair brings together more than 500 exhibitors from throughout the country: paintings, books, historic prints, modern antiques, toys, watches, porcelains, glass, fabrics, iron and copper objects and knick-knacks, as well as curiosities of all kinds. Takes place the first Sunday of the month and the previous Saturday. Florence is the airport in Italy which is closest to Arezzo, followed by Perugia, Pisa, Bologna, Rome and Genoa.
Grandi Mercati di Cherasco – You like Italy? Then this might be the market for you. It offers a wide range of treasures in the heart of the historic center of Cherasco, Italy. Held three times a year, it attracts thousands of visitors with its wide range of offers and thematic events. Takes place on May 5th, June 2nd, Sept, 1st and Dec. 1st, 2024. Cherasco is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 kilometres southeast of Turin and about 40 kilometres northeast of Cuneo.
Balon del Sabato – Turin, Italy – Perhaps the largest open air market in Europe, certainly in Italy. Food, clothing, shoes, memorabilia and restaurants. The weekly Balon del Sabato and its 1,000 merchants and 700 street vendors is Europe’s largest open-air market. The Saturday Balon takes place every Saturday from 7am to 6pm.
Münchner Flohmarkt auf der Theresienwiese – Munich, Germany – Takes place once a year on the first Saturday of Munich’s Spring Festival in April. This year is April 20, 2024. This even brings together around 2,000 merchants and more than 80,000 visitors from all over Europe, for one festive day of haggling.
Mauerpark Flea Market – Berlin, Germany – One of the most popular destinations in Berlin with over a million visitors each year. The Mauerpark flea market is dominated by the colorful stalls of traders who bring the trash and junk they have been collecting over the week from dusty attics and dark basements. The Berlin Mauerpark Flea Market is open to both private Flea markets dealers and professional traders with their elegant designer items so it has a pretty wide range of different goods, for all tastes. Open every Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Grand Bazaar – Istanbul, Turkey – Sixty one covered streets and four thousand shops in the world’s oldest shopping mall. Bargaining for goods is standard practice here. Tourists, hawkers, and locals come together at the Grand Bazaar to comb its labyrinthine passageways in search of a bargain – be it a pair of brand name jeans, a handcrafted silk rug, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Outside the vast bazaar, worn, narrow streets wind their way down from its lofty perch to the southern shore of the Golden Horn, where the evocatively aromatic Spice Bazaar beckons alongside the elegant New Mosque (opened in 1665). Nearby, the famed Galata Bridge offers pedestrian access to urban delights across the river in Istanbul’s more residential and contemporary neighborhoods, while the must-see sights of Sultanahmet are but a leisurely stroll away.
Nashville Fairgrounds Flea Market – Nashville, Tennessee – This market has over 1,700 booths and 1,200 vendors from 30 states. The Nashville Flea Market is held in a single 125,000-square-foot expo building, with 10 feet by 10 feet air-conditioned booths, and 30-foot overhangs for vendor setup. There is also ample outdoor vendor space on 17 acres on the north end of the property, with some additional acreage that could be added for certain events. Takes place one weekend a month. 8am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday and 8am to 4pm on Sunday. 2024 dates are Apr, 26 – 28, May – 24 – 27, Jun. 21 – 23, July 26 – 28, Aug. 23 – 25, Sept, 27 – 29, Oct. 25 – 27, Nov. 22 – 24 and Dec. 20 – 22.
Springfield Anique Show and Flea Market – Springfield, Ohio. Celebrated by such notable names as Country Living, Martha Stewart Living, Country Home, and CNN, this market has become a treasured gathering place for collectors and dealers alike. Takes place monthly. The number of vendors can range from 200 to 2,500. The show is normally held the third full weekend of each month, except when it isn’t. Our current schedule includes shows in every month with the exception of February, July and December. 2024 dates are May 17 – 19, June 15 – 16, Aug, 17 – 18, Sept, 20 – 22, Oct. 19 – 20 and Nov. 16 – 17.
Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market – Shipshewana, Indiana – Claims to be the largest flea market in the Midwest USA. Shipshewana, a quaint town in northeastern Indiana, has a unique charm as not only is it a typical small town, but it is also home to a vibrant and thriving Amish community. The nearest airport is South Bend, about 38 miles away. It is about half way between Chicago and Detroit. On Wednesdays, visitors have the added opportunity to attend the weekly Shipshewana Miscellaneous & Antique Auction, conveniently located on the same grounds. The auction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. with the lively ringing of the bell, signaling the start of a captivating spectacle. Open April 30th through September 25th, 2024: 8 am – 4 pm EST.
2024 Extended Holiday Markets:
- Memorial Day — May 27-29, 8 am – 4 pm
- June Weekend Market — June 14-15, 8 am – 4 pm
- Independence Day — July 2-4, 8 am – 4 pm
- August Weekend Market — August 2-3, 8 am – 4 pm
- Labor Day — September 2-4; 8 am – 4 pm
Texas Antique Weekend – Roundtop, Texas – Ranked as one of the top 20 flea markets in the United States, Texas Antique Weekend is not your average flea market. Located midway between Houston and Austin along Highway 237, this colossal flea market sprawls over 30 acres and attracts more than 100,000 visitors several times a year. Takes place twice a year. Once in March and then in October. The October dates in 2024 are Oct. 10 – 27.
127 Corridor Sale – This market spans 690 miles. The 127 Corridor Sale is the world’s longest highway yard sale, offering a diverse array of items and a unique cultural exchange. More than just a shopping experience, this event is a journey through rural America, showcasing regional attractions and fostering connections. Takes place Aug. 1 – 4, 2024 covering 6 states and yes 690 miles.
Brimfield Antique Flea Market – Brimfield, MA – One of the finest flea markets in the USA. This extravaganza, held over six consecutive days three times a year, draws over a million visitors annually. Here you will find an exceptional selection of New England collectibles, including iconic weather vanes, decoys, and Nantucket baskets. Maritime enthusiasts will be delighted by the array of brass lamps and ships’ wheels that evoke the spirit of the sea. The show spans more than 20 expansive fields on both sides of the main road that meanders through Brimfield. Each field plays host to thousands of vendors, and what makes it even more intriguing is that each field has its opening day. 2024 dates are May 14 – 19, July 9 – 14 and Sept. 3 – 8.
First Monday Trade Days at Canton Flea Market – Canton, Texas – Located in East Texas, east of DFW, this is the is the oldest and largest free flea market in the United States, featuring up to 300,000 eager attendees and a staggering 6,000 vendors spread over hundreds of acres. Avoid in the summer unless you like it hot, this is Texas….. Click here for the calendar on when this Flea Market takes place.
Alameda Point Antiques Faire – Alameda, CA. Taking place on the first Sunday of every Month, the Alameda Point Antiques Faire is the largest antique and flea market in Northern Carifornia. It attracts over 10,000 buyers and 800 dealers to each monthly event. Alameda is next to Oakland, CA and near San Francisco. Open 6am-3pm (Rain or shine)
Rose Bowl Flea Market – Pasadena, CA (near Los Angeles) – Held on the 2nd Sunday of each month, rain or shine. Features over 2,500 vendors and 20,000 buyers every month. It is known for its eclectic array of antiques and vintage treasures. One of the most exciting aspects of the market is the possibility of celebrity sightings. It’s a common sight to see stars of the entertainment world and renowned interior designers mingling among the booths in search of unique pieces. Regulars include Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie, Christian Louboutin, Chloë Sevigny, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Kendall Jenner.
Srinagarindra Train Night Market (AKA Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin) – Bangkok, Thailand – Rod Fai Night Market is a night market located in Bangkok, Thailand. This second-hand paradise comes alive four nights a week – Thursday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. A bustling outdoor night market specializing in antiques & vintage memorabilia, plus bars & eateries. Many consider this the best night market in Bangkok. Open Thursday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Tokyo International Forum Antique Fair or Oedo Antique Market – Tokyo, Japan – The Oedo Antique Market is the biggest outdoor antique market in Japan. It boasts of a large number of antique goods including Japanese pottery, Western tableware, kimono and sashes, and accessories to name a few, and attracts many visitors every time. With a rise in the number of foreign visitors in recent years, it is becoming popular for its international character. Located at the Tokyo International Forum, it brings together more than 250 dealers to the event. Takes place the first and third Sunday of every month from 9am to 4pm but canceled in case of rain. Admission is free.
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