Shop flea markets when travel overseas; a best choice to snatch unique souvenirs.

Be adventurous and creative when traveling abroad – head to flea markets, where you’ll find a great variety of everything not only pertaining to the country’s history and culture you are visiting, but also to collective items from other locations – from first editions of the War and Peace to the original Coco Chanel tote, from antiques and vintage to pre-war photographs and unique table games (forget Scrabble and Monopoly.)

My first international flea market experience was near the Castles in Chateaux de la Loire in France in 2005. To see more photos, visit my "flea market" album. Later, I’ve visited many in other countries. My flea market favorites so far are the ones in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Moscow - the things you can find there are beyond the imaginary.

On my recent trip to Spain in last November, I happened to stumble over a flea store in Barcelona. I call it a store not a market, because it was a store, only it resembled a very antique market. Piles of old metal boxes with Flamenco drawings, old paintings of Barcelona seaside, pre-war telephone and radio apparatuses, and photos, photos of all the Catholic saints and popes one can only imagine. I was very tempted to grab something, but then I thought - what if they still have the "black death", plague on them? Of course, it's unlikely. With some items on European flea markets is okay to get hands on, and there are some that need to be left alone to gather more dust.

Nevertheless, what could be better than spending an afternoon with your girlfriends, boyfriends, children or spouses browsing through endless “historic” and personal items that just another way to bring up a conversation about your own possessions, life, history and upbringing (a.k.a. items that trigger your nostalgic senses.)

Locations of flea markets around the world
 
New York, New York 

Annex Antique Fair & Flea Market
At Sixth Avenue from 24th to 27th Streets. Sat-Sun, Sunrise to Sunset.
All you can find at a $1.00 admission fee: furniture, decorations, jewelry, clothing, silver, and works of art.

Soho Antiques Fair
Grand Street and Broadway Streets, Sat-Sun, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
You can find anything from antiques and crafts, to leather jackets and lots of random stuff.

Noho Market
Broadway and West 4th Streets. Open 7 days a week.
Shop clothing and jewelry, along with tapes, sunglasses, bongs, etc.

Los Angeles, California 

1001 Rose Bowl Drive
Scour a football field’s worth of one-of-a-kind treasures, and remember, this market is held only on the 2nd Sunday of every month.

Montréal, Canada

Marche aux Puces st-Michel
Corner of St. Michel & Cremazie, Fri-Sun, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 2 Floors with 60 vendors offering antiques & collectibles, books, clothing, crafts, furniture, jewelry, stamps/coins, toys, vintage phonographs, gramophones, records and used merchandise.

Portland, Oregon

Barr's Flea Market
1225 N. Marine Drive, Sat-Sun, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Indoor market with a good selection of antiques, collectibles, primitives, crafts, coins, new merchandise, house-wares, electronics, sportswear, and sports related merchandise. Good selection of Pacific Northwest, Indian & Eskimo items and artifacts.

Springer's Flea Market
183000 SE Richey Street. Pay a moderate admission to shop for new and used merchandise, clothing, electronics, children’s items, art, prints, books, collector lines, decorator items. But again, there are 10 flea markets to choose from. For a small city like Portland, it is pretty outrageous, which means – the Oregonians have accumulated “antique trash” more than any other cities.

Dallas, Texas

Kleberg Flea Market
13939 C F Hawn Freeway, 972-557-1717, Sat-Sun, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., klebergrachel@aol.com
Pay $2.00 admission and shop till you drop in a casual, fun, outdoor environment. One of many flea markets in Dallas and the surrounding area.

Rome, Italy 

Mercato Andrea Doria
Via Andrea Doria, Mon-Sat, 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Apart from the magnificent displays of fruit and vegetables, it has numerous stalls selling meat, poultry, fish and groceries, as well as an interesting clothes and shoe section. Situated northwest of the Vatican Museums, it is a little off the normal beaten track and has remained very much a Roman market that caters for the needs of the large local population. Not only you got to experience the flea market, but you can also take a break and visit Vatican Museums.

Campo de' Fiori
Piazza Campo de' Fiori, Mon-Sat, 7:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Right in the heart of the old city, Rome's most picturesque market is also its most historical. Every morning, except Sunday, the piazza is transformed by an array of stalls selling colorful fruit and vegetables, meat, poultry and fish. One or two stalls specialize in pulses, rice, dried fruit and nuts and there are also flower stalls situated near the fountain. But the huge open baskets of ready-stripped broccoli and spinach, chopped vegetables for minestrone and freshly prepared green salad mixes are the main attraction for visitors. They provide a real visual display as well as an edible feast.

Mercato delle Stampe
Largo della Fontanella di Borghese, Mon-Sa, 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
This market is a veritable haven for lovers of old prints, books (both genuine antiquarian and less-exalted second-hand), maga¬zines and other printed ephemera. Italian-speaking collectors can enjoy a field day leafing through back issues of specialist magazines. Other visitors might prefer the wonderful selection of illustrated art books and old prints of Rome.

Paris, France 

St-Ouen Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen
Rue des Rosiers, Sat-Mon, 9:00 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Extending across 15 acres, the largest of Parisian flea markets, it has more than 2,500 dealers sell antiques, artwork, furniture, books, jewelry, and other odds & ends.

London, England

Bermondsey
London Bridge (Northern/Jubilee), Fridays only.
Antiques market, famous for once being where thieves could sell their goods with impunity (a royal license meant that stolen goods bought here did not have to be returned).

Come here early in the morning (opens as early as 4am – an early bird special if you are willing to get up that early) for the best bargains. And bring a torch. North of the market, along Bermondsey Street, there are huge warehouses full of antiques that keep the same hours, but they are slowly being bought out and converted to lofts. Most of them will ship worldwide.

Borough
Fruit wholesale, Mon – Fri, 4:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Another “early bird” flea market. Here is a thought for you: come to this flea market at 4:00 a.m. just so that you can see who among the locals, British, comes that early to shop flea markets. This might be something to tell your friends about when you return home; everyone knows what Big Ben is, but hardly any know what’s sold at 4:00 a.m. on a flea market in London!

Farmers' Market
12pm-5pm on Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
One of London's trendiest markets, mainly for its unspoiled Victorian architecture and its location in 'Booming Borough' under the railway as it leaves London Bridge Station. A film location manager's dream, there's rarely a month when a film isn't being shot here it seems; Bridget Jones and Richard III were among the many films shot in and around the Farmers’ Market.

Camden Market
Camden, or Chalk Farm

Camden Market is one of London's top attractions. It's a young place, but somehow seems to bring out the youngster in everyone. Virtually everything is on sale here, clothing, music, antiques, collectibles, ethnic art, rugs, food and drink. It does tend to get a bit crowded on Sundays, and you could think yourself back in the swinging sixties. Very mixed quality of goods on offer but there are real bargains to be found, such as African art and Arabian rugs. Recently it has become a haven for emerging fashion designers - the 'latest' club wear is to be found here.

Greenwich Market
Cutty Sark and Island Gardens (Docklands Large), Sat-Sun.
Sprawling series of markets selling antiques, arts & crafts, clothing, books. More of an attraction than a serious market.

Portobello Road Market
Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle).
If you're after something special you'll find it here - remember to haggle. The South end of the street is mainly antiques; the middle is vegetables, and the end bric-a-brac. As it's held in ultra-fashionable and expensive Notting Hill it's also great for just hanging out.

Vienna, Austria

 Naschmarkt
Between Linke and Rechte Wienzeile, 4th District/Wieden, Mon-Sat, 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (but many stalls will close two hours earlier in winter months). If you are traveling to Vienna, Austria, you might as well stop by one of the Vienna’s famous flea markets located behind the Naschmarkt.

Berlin, Germany

The usual stock of second hand books, clothing, records and bric-a-brac, which you would expect to find at flea markets across the world, keep an eye out for Russian icons, or freshly pickled Spreewald gherkins and if you want to try out some authentic German leather shorts (Lederhosen).

Troedelmarkt
Straße des 17 Juni, 10623 Berlin – Tiergarten, S-Bahn Tiergarten, Sat-Sun, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
One of Berlin's biggest and most touristy. A bustling and fashionable market with a variety of stalls selling everything from fancy buttons and a variety of hand-crafted items to funky second hand clothes, jewelry and records.

Arkonaplatz
Arkonaplatz, 10435 Berlin – Mitte, Tel: 786 9764, U8 Bernauer Str., Sun, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Come here to browse among stalls offering a range of clothing, brick-a-brack and furniture or find yourself a sunny spot in one of Arkonaplatz's cafes and watch Berlin´s alternative crowd do their thing. Check out the stands toward the back: some nice 70s lamps and other lounge accessories.

Boghagener Platz
Boxhagener Platz , 10245 Berlin, Friedrichshain, U5 Frankfurter Tor; Tram 21.
This flea market is a gem! Expect to find older folk peddling relics of communist suburbia along side members of a younger generation with not-quite-hip-enough personal effects to dispose of.

Moscow, Russia

Izmailovsky flea market
Metro station Partizanskaya: take the metro to Partizanskaya station and follow crowds as you exit. Eastern Outskirts of Moscow. Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., but it's best to get here early.

You could easily spend a whole day at Moscow's Izmailovsky Park, with its reasonably priced souvenirs, handicrafts, used books, and such Soviet memorabilia as authentic army belts and gas masks. Be sure to wrangle over prices: bargaining is expected here.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Waterlooplein flea market
Waterlooplein, just at the top of Nieuwmarkt, Fri 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sat 8:30 a.m. –5:30 p.m.

The main flea market in Amsterdam with around 200-300 stalls selling a huge collection of everything from general bric-a-brac, CDs, DVD's, electric appliances, to large furniture, spray paint and a huge amount of second-hand clothing with a lot of new goods also. 

Albert Cuypmarkt
Albert Cuypstraat, Mon-Sat 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., but can close earlier in winter and bad weather.

Amsterdam’s largest and biggest market specializing in general goods, a lot of food produce, exotic herbs and spices, new and used furniture, material for clothes, dresses and curtains, free range of organic fruit & veggies and more. Art Markets Amsterdam, Sun only. Various Amsterdam artists present and sell their works here. If you want to bring home some affordable art from Dutch painters this is your change. 

Dappermarkt
Dapperstraat, Amsterdam East, Mon-Sat, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Amsterdam’s cheapest market that allows getting a glimpse of Amsterdam's Middle Eastern and North African communities. Dig through the piles of useful, useless, and stuff which even your mother would not wear all at staggeringly low prices. You will find everything from pharmaceuticals and stockings to fresh fruit and peanuts, it's worth a look if you have nothing else to do or you really like markets.

Tokyo, Japan

Flea market in Japan is getting more and more popular, and you will see varieties of merchants. From handmade silver jewelry, traditional Asian and Japanese clothes (e.g. kimono) to used CDs and DVDs, variety of Japanese sellers is wide, some of them even sell stuff that resembles the things sold on black markets after the WWII; they are usually located in separate from other merchants areas. You can recognize them easily because they are usually more organized than other “amateur” merchants. 

These days, there are some Chinese selling new but cheap clothes, and they gather large crowds of both Japanese buyers and tourists. Also, you might see a recycling service which collects used clothes, often near the end of market in order for the merchants to avoid taking remained stuff.

If you are visiting Japan as a tourist, flea markets might be a good place to buy Japanese souvenirs, since all sorts of Japanese goods - from handicrafts and antiques to the latest cartoon character goods – can be found there.

In Tokyo, you should be able to find a few flea markets every weekend. Three major ones are held at Meiji Park with about 600 merchants, Shinjuku Chuo Park with about 250, Yoyogi Park with more than 800, and at Oi horse race track.

Yoyogi Park Flea Market
Te: 03-3469-6081, JR Harajuku Station Omotesando Exit. Regarded as Mecca because the very first organized flea market was held there.

Salvation Army Bazaar
2-21-2 Wada Suginami-ku, Tokyo-to. Take subway to Fujimidai subway station on Marunouchi line (10 min. walk from Fujimidai Station). Salvation Army Bazaar is another option to find cheap and good things. Sat, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Suginami district.

Harajuku Yoyogi Koen
Harajuku, Meijijingumae stns, Twice a month, 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Certainly the biggest in town with a non-stop flow of people and a festival-like Harajuku buzz. Takes place next to NHK Hall, across the street from the main park.

Koenji Flea Market
Myohoji Temple, Higashi Koenji stn, 10 minute walk south along Kannana-dori. Flexible schedule, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Latest place to join the flea market tour. Lots of families, so domestic items might be a good seller.

Asakusa Sumida Koen
Asakusa stn, near Gosai bashi bridge by the river. Once a month, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
A great place for a relaxing day by the river, this market has a very retro Shitamachi feel.

Takadanobaba Nishidoyama Koen
Takadanobaba stn, take the Nishidoyama exit and walk towards Okubo alongside the Yamanote line, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg.
Shinjuku station west exit, 5 minute walk. Along Ome-kaido, before Shinjuku police station. Twice a month, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. One of the more popular flea market in town due to easy access and abundance of stalls.

Shinjuku Kabukicho Haidia
Shinjuku stn, behind the koban near Koma Stadium. Every first Saturday. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Younger crowds dominate this flea market in the heart of Shinjuku's entertainment district.

Araike Jumbo Flea Market
Yurikamome monorail Ariake stn, from Shimbashi stn. Once a month, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The largest flea market around. You can drive there and turn your car into a stall.

Odaiba Flea Market
Yurikamome monorail Daiba stn, from Shimbashi stn. Not a regular event, so go while you can: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Takes place in Fuji TV's Grand Stairwell. Lots of events and attractions in a dramatic location.

To learn more about flea markets in Tokyo, please go here.

There are many souvenir shops around the world, but only at a flea market you can get something unique, something from "history", something of no replication - and something your friends won't be able to get anywhere else.