When scouring for the best vintage stores in Europe, you are searching for timeless pieces and taking a trip down memory lane and relishing in history. A vintage store can be compared to a fashion museum–it showcases a city’s history and culture. There are cities out there filled with the coolest pieces beckoning to be explored.
We sampled several places and curated a list of the best markets in Europe where you can shop for vintage interior and fashion items.
Foto: res.se
1. Arezzo, Italy
If you are an interior enthusiast, you’ll love Arezzo. While flea markets are often associated with poor stands, Arezzo is an exception. On the first Sunday of every month, the town comes alive with shoppers that spill into the surrounding streets.
With more than 500 stalls, the Arezzo Antique Market is easily one of Italy’s biggest antique markets. You’ll find anything from antique china, figurines, engravings and sun-faded prints here. If you get tired moving from one vendor to another, you can always get into a restaurant and have a gelato or panino–the perfect fuel for treasure hunting.
Address Details:
The Arezzo Antique Market: Via Giorgio Vasari, 13, 52100 Arezzo AR, Italy
2. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
If you want to know just how dedicated, the Dutch government is to getting a good bargain, remember that April 27 is a public holiday. On this day, the government allows people to sell on the streets without a permit. This means that people turn out to get rid of items they no longer need.
A Popular flea market in Amsterdam is Albert Cuyp, every antique lover’s must-visit. The market is located in the 19th-century museum district and is the perfect spot to have a refreshing drink and sample local cuisines. Others include Bloemenmarkt, Waterlooplein and Lapjesmarkt.
Address Details:
Albert Cuyp Market: Albert Cuypstraat, 1073 BD Amsterdam, Netherlands
Waterlooplein Market: Waterlooplein 2, 1011 NZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Breedstraat Market: Breedstraat, 3512 AZ Utrecht, Netherlands
foto verybilbao.com
3. Bilbao, Spain
Bilbao is where the championing, repurposing and rendering cool the unique and crafted happens. The gritty San Francisco barrio is home to flea markets such as La Zapa de 2 de Mayo, where restored machines repair shoes and make new ones using recycled bottles or leather. Although independent vintage shops are abundant, it is best to visit every first Saturday of the month. This is when the Rastro 2 de Mayo flea market reels with vendors selling everything from jackets and art to vinyl and 1950s furniture.
On Sundays, you can visit the Open Your Ganbara flea market in the Antiqua Fabrica de Galletas biscuit factory building. This is the place to go if you are looking for eclectic treasures, especially toys, vintage lamps and household stuff. Neighbouring Open Your Ganbara is Zawp Bilbao, the hub for vintage clothes and Mume, where you can find vinyl, books, stamps, guitars and collectables.
Address Details:
La Zapa de 2 de Mayo: Maiatzaren Biko Kalea, 15, 48003 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
Zawp Bilbao: Zuloaga Ignacio Pintor Kalea, 9, 48014 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
4. Berlin, Germany
The city’s low purchasing power and liberalism are significant contributors to the constant youth creativity influx, which ensures Berlin has a vast range of vintage and second-hand shopping. Humana is a great place to start your rummage for vintage clothes magpies. The Brobdingnagian shop in the Friedrichschain district is often flooded with thrifters, and you may find it challenging to manoeuvre the crowds. So, if you want a more upmarket experience, consider trying out PicknWeight, where clothes are sold by the kilo.
The best spots for top-quality designer clothes are the high-end vintage stores located in the Mitte neighbourhood. These include Sommerladen, Das Neue Schwarz and Pineapple Factory. Here you’ll find exquisite pieces that cost you a few hundred euros but still feel you got a good bargain.
Address Details:
Humana Berlin: Oranienburger Str. 87-89 Oranienburger Str. 87-89, 10178 Berlin
Das Neue Schwarz: Mulackstraße 38, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Sommerladen: Linienstraße 153, 10115 Berlin, German
Foto lesechos.fr
5. Paris, France
If you love jewellery, then you’ll love thrifting your way through Paris. Have no idea where to start? Enter the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. Located on the northern edge of the “city of love”, the store has been in business for over a century and is a great place to get everything from junk to curios, art, vintage clothes and furniture. While you may come across several designer items, remember that getting a good bargain here is tricky.
The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen can get crowded, so if pushing through hundreds of people isn’t something you might want to do, opt for smaller markets that receive less attention. These include Vanves and Marché d’Aligre, both known for their jewellery and off-beat collectables.
Address Details:
Marché d’Aligre: 25-11 Rue d’Aligre, 75012 Paris, France
6. Vienna, Austria
Vienna has been a focal point for music, culture, history and art for centuries. What many people do not know is that the town is also on every vintage shopper’s must-visit list. Ready for that retro adventure? Begin with Naschmarket. Every Saturday morning, the flea market booms with hundreds of vendors selling ceramics, cameras, books, tableware, art and furniture. This is the perfect spot to rummage through good treats and get a snack afterwards.
On the other side of Naschmarkt is Flo Vintage, a place fashion lovers frequent. The shop has stocked everything from Armani blazers to flapper dresses embroidered in pearl .other shops fashion enthusiasts can visit include Burggasse 24 and Polyklamott.
Address Details:
Naschmarkt: 1060 Vienna, Austria
Flo Vintage: Schleifmühlgasse 15A, 1040 Wien, Austria
7. Helsinki, Finland
The vintage shops of Helsinki are what make the city. The Kallio neighbourhood, in particular, is notable for its high concentration of stores. While here, do not forget to visit Hoochie Mama Jane and Frida Marina, both stores that stock women’s clothes and accessories. A few metres down the road is Black & White, a store that sells old and new vinyl.
If you want a more upscale shopping experience, consider visiting Penny Lane clothing shop in Töölö. Other viable options include Relove and Brand Second Hand in neighbouring Kamppi.
Address Details:
Agricolankatu 11, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
Kaarlenkatu 10, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
Foto kivijalka.net
8. Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux’s newest trend is the city’s love for vintage. The city’s largest vintage hotspots, Chartrons and Saint Michael sell a wide range of vintage and second-hand clothes, although many smaller shops have opened recently. In places like Freep’Show in the CBD, vintage gear, including shoes, sunglasses, and maxi skirts, will cost you anything from 15 to 50 Euros.
Another place you shouldn’t leave Bordeaux without visiting is Village Notre Dame. Some of the items sold by this sprawling indoor antique gallery include:
- 18th-century mirrors
- Antique sapphire pendants
- Expensive paintings
- Furniture
- Rugs
- Ceramics
Address Details:
Freep’Show: 80 Rue du Loup, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Village Notre Dame: 61 Rue Notre Dame, 33000 Bordeaux, France
9. Naples, Italy
Located on Via Mezzocannone, Pop 21, Caravan, and I Love Vintage are favourites among student crowds. Nearby is Moda e Costume, which specialises in the 1950s and 60s dresses, and Oggetti e Stampe D’Epoca, which sells lights, prints and antique knick-knacks.
Address Details:
Oggetti e Stampe D’Epoca: Via S. Giovanni Maggiore Pignatelli, 49, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy
I Love Vintage: Via Gaspare Spontini, 12, 20129 Milano MI, Italy
Foto tourisme93.com
10. Dublin, Ireland
If you are visiting Dublin, it is hard to miss Lucy’s Lounge, a store specialising in everything from vintage jeans to sweaters. The shop also has a rich collection of lacy corsets and vintage lingerie, and you’ll enjoy sifting through the mountain of clothes to pick your best options. Other places to explore include Fresh for their shoe collection and Nine Crows for their cropped flannels.
Address Details
Lucy’s Lounge, 11 Fownes Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
Fresh Limited, 1 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
Nine Crows, 22 Temple Lane South, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
Final Thoughts
Each of the cities mentioned here has a lot to offer when it comes to vintage goodies, culture and history. So the next time you’re vacationing in a new place, check out the best places for vintage shopping, and you could land on a gold mine.
