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European Flea Market Reviews

10/1/2015

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Villiage St. Paul, Paris, France
http://www.village-saint-paul.com
Located in the IV Arrondissement of Paris, The Villiage hosts a small flea market. Unfortunately I can't find any information on how often it is held. However, there are lots of great small antique, art, and decor stores there that are open on the weekend. It's a great spot to grab an espresso and browse like a local. We were lucky enough to have stay just a few blocks from here, and saw a banner advertising the flea market. The market itself is small but interesting. Furniture, antiques, vintage jewelry and art. It is not one of my favorite markets, but it is a great area to explore!
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Trempelmarkt, Nürnberg, Germany
A HUGE flea market that rambles through old town during the second Friday & Saturday of May and September, it is awesome! I went with my mom and sister to this one and they were amazed! Definitely carry a roller bag for this one as the market is huge and if you find lots of things you will need to get them back to your hotel. I won't even begin to list what was available, but there was a huge variety. Vendors were willing to negotiate and we got great deals as a group, purchasing multiple items together. My only regret is that we went on Saturday, thinking that it was a weekend market; however, it actually begins on Friday and ends on Saturday. I would have loved to have seen what was available at the beginning. Definitely one not to miss!
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Kolbenova, Prague, Czech Republic
This market was an adventure from the start. One of my best friends met me in Prague, and we both thought it would be really fun to see what the Czechs had to offer. Although the market itself wasn't great, we had a blast! The metro goes to Kolbenova station and drops you off about 100 yards from the entrance. It is derelict, dilapidated, and entirely charming in its own way. Only go in good weather though, as the ground isn't paved. Many of the items were grossly overpriced, but my friend found some great vintage posters from the 1940s for a great price. If you don't make it out here, you're not missing much. There are many better markets at which you can spend your money. Although the adventure of it was priceless!

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Heitalahti Square, Helsinki, Finland
http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/see-and-experience/shopping/hietalahti-market-square

We visited this Market in early September and had luck that it had only sprinkled that morning. I'm not sure if that put off the vendors, as on Saturday it only held a handful of sellers and on Sunday it was fairly full but without a whole lot of selection. It held mostly clothes, jewelry, kids items and a sprinkling of small household items. We weren't particularly impressed with the selection but maybe it was just the season??? The indoor market that dominates the square was pretty great; it houses specialty food shops, a few cafe/restaurants, and great architecture! There are also some fun indoor junk shops in the area that were fun to explore. Definitely with the trip just for the indoor market and, hey, you never know what treasure might be waiting!
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Fiera da Ladra, Lisbon, Portugal
Held every Tuesday and Saturday from dawn until dusk, this market has something for everyone. We arrived shortly after 10AM, and the market was bustling. From old hardware, toys, CDs, beautiful cashmere scarves, to art, ceramics, antique presses and scales, it was easy to find things that we longed to take home. My only regret is that we were flying Ryan Air with carry-on baggage only, making most of my would-be purchases unattainable. The prices are good and the people friendly. There are a few cafés that run on the outskirts, but nobody inside the market sells food or beverages. My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed this market, and found a few great things for my vintage-themed office. Larger than the market in Brussels, this may be one of my favorite international flea markets. Not to mention that it is situated in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, just in the shadow of the pantheon. Be careful about pickpockets; although we had no problems, they are known to attend the market. I would definitely extend my stay here to see this one!
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Thanks all for checking out my second blog reviewing flea markets. If you missed the first one (it concentrates on German markets) you can find it under the Flea Market Finds heading. Unfortunately this will be my last blog post about European flea markets. Although we move back to the states tomorrow, I'm working on one last blog about second-hand shops in the Wiesbaden area. I hope to have it posted here in the next couple of days. But to keep you reading (and shopping European flea markets), check out http://www.therococoroamer.com/p/flea-guide.html?m=1. She has great information on German and international markets as well!
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Flea Market Tips & Reviews

8/11/2015

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Flea marketing in Germany, and Europe in general, is easy and fun! The best selection is usually available early in the morning but sometimes the best deals can come at the end of the day. From my experience most German markets run from 7 or 8AM until 4PM. However, most vendors start packing up at about 1PM.

I frequently use the websites www.marketcom.de and www.meine-flohmarkt-termine.de to find markets in the area.These are both German sites that will list sales via the state's zip code. I'd love one that would use my location to find ones near me, but haven't yet found one. Please leave a comment if you know of other helpful sites!

When you arrive at a flea market you can look for a box like the one pictured below, and it will usually have a listing of the current or following months' markets.
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Tips of the trade:

Be patient when parking. It may be best to do a drive-by before finding a parking space. Remember, if you find something heavy, you will have to carry it back to your car. 


Bringing your own reusable bags, backpack, and/ or a bag with wheels. This will keep your small items together and may serve as cushioning for more delicate items.

Don't be afraid to bargain. A seller will normally knock off about 10%. Sometimes (mostly at antique markets) the price is firm. When I love something and think the price is very good I don't haggle.  However, there have been other times when I've haggled items down over 60% off because I was willing to walk away. Negotiations are an art; when done well both buyer and seller are happy. You never know when that seller will have the exact piece you just gotta have!

Bring lots of small bills and change. There is nothing worse than haggling down a price and then handing someone a large bill expecting change.

The following are short summaries on markets I've been to (mostly in the Wiesbaden area). I have also written about markets I've been to in other European countries. If you have a favorite flea market that I have not listed here, please leave a comment so that we can share this wonderful knowledge. I am also happy to answer any questions you may have. Happy shopping!
Jahrhunderthalle Parkplatz Höchst, 65929 Frankfurt am Main - A+

This is one of my favorite flea markets in the Frankfurt area. The market runs on Thursdays and Saturdays. Although I have not been to the one on Thursday, the Saturday market is amazing! With ample and easy parking, this gets an A+ in my book. Unlike many markets held in shopping center parking lots, there are no shopping carts; I recommend bringing a roller cart to this one as it is very large and you may need to make multiple trips back to your car (if you're lucky!) This market is a mix of new, old, and repurposed items. You can also find produce, some new items and flowers for your garden. When the weather is good, I can easily spend a few hours looking through all the stalls. Avoid going on rainy days as vendor turnout is poor.
Mann Mobilia, 65203 Wiesbaden-Biebrich - A+

It doesn't get much better than this! Another one of my favorites and excellent on selection. You can expect to find furniture, household items, vintage items, and so much more! Although this market runs year-round, it explodes in the summer, so bring your roller bag to this one too because it's a biggie (although there are shopping carts too for those items to heavy or bulky to carry.) I have found that prices here are a little bit higher than at the Jarhunderthall, but are very competitive. And don't forget to grab a bratwurst and a beer to snack on while you browse
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Edeka C+C Großmarkt, 65201 Wiesbaden-Schierstein - A

This is also a great market with lots of selection. It is covered for those days that the weather doesn't want to cooperate. This market usually begins on Saturday evening, but I have never been. We always go on Sunday when all of the other stores are closed. You will not find many new items (if any) at this one. The prices are good too so put on your bargaining hat!
Hessen Center, 60388 Frankfurt am Main, Bergen-Enkheim - A

The Hessen Center hosts a great covered market. Featuring a wide selection of used items, I definitely recommend checking it out. We arrived later in the afternoon (around 2PM) and there were still many vendors set up. Even so late in the day we managed to find some great items at spectacular prices!
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Metro, 55252 Mainz-Kastel - A

Another of the covered markets, this is a great market close to home. You will not find many new items here nor much furniture, but it has a good selection of smaller items. Parking is fairly easy and great deals are abundant! Some of my favorite items have been found at this market.
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Adler Center, 65203 Wiesbaden-Biebrich - A-

This antique market has a good selection of antiques, art, vintage jewelry, collectors items, and furniture. The prices are higher than other markets I've been to (hence the A-) but the quality is higher as well. Many of these items will come from antique stores and may offer delivery. You will not find any new items at this market. This is my husband's favorite!
Real, 65189 Wiesbaden - B

Though not as big as the Jarhunderthall market in Frankfurt or the Real market in Biebrich, this one has a decent selection without many new items. Parking is a little tricky but not too bad. I don't frequent this market but have found some good deals when I've been there. Definitely worth a quick stop if you're in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way for this one.
IKEA, 63452 Hanau - C-

I have only been to this market only once. I cannot recall if it was in the fall or winter but my experience was that this is mostly new items. As such, I have not been back since. I do remember that parking was very easy. I will try to review this one again later.
Marolles Flea Market, Place du Jeu de Balle, Brussels, Belgium - A+

Although parking looked a bit difficult, I wish I had a van at this one! It had tons of smaller furniture items, art, vintage items and much, much more! It had a great atmosphere and the people were very friendly. I love vendors with lines of boxes filled with randomness and this market had multiple; there was no shortage of treasure hunting here! There were some super bargains too! We had a great cup of coffee at one of the little cafes when we were done and chatted about our purchases. This little gem runs everyday too!
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Flohmarkt Arkonaplatz, 10435 Berlin, Germany - B

Tucked into a quiet Berlin neighborhood park, this market was just a short bicycle ride from our hotel. It is much smaller than most of the other markets I have reviewed (hence the B rating) but did have a rather nice selection of smaller furniture like mid-century modern chairs, end tables, and dressers. Unfortunately none of those travel very well on a rental bike. Otherwise it consisted mostly of smaller household items. I didn't buy anything so I'm not sure how their prices compare to other markets. If you are in the area, I would take 20-30 minutes to check out this market.
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Flohmarkt in Mauerpark, 13355 Berlin, Germany, A

Wow! Talk about overwhelming! This market is HUGE! We rode our bicycles from the quaint market in Arkonaplatz to this multicultural epicenter of commerce. From handicrafts, souvenirs, and clothing to furniture, street performers, and street food, this market has it all. This market showcases the new, old, and repurposed, as well as food, flowers, and entertainment all in one place. I could have spent an entire day exploring here. Unfortunately, our time was running a bit short so we only scratched the surface of this. I would recommend this as a great place to feel the pulse of Berlin and get in some great buys along the way!
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Prague, Czech Republic
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Paris, France
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Can you pass me a napkin please?

1/14/2014

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   There is something great about mismatched sets! I was on a mission to find a set of napkin rings and after scouring eBay I realized that a matching set would be a little too stuffy for informal dinner parties and such. So began my quest for vintage silver-plated napkin rings at the flea markets.
   I found the ones above at 2 separate markets for only 12 euros. For about 1-2 euro a piece I was willing to risk any one of them not cleaning up nicely. Luckily after a quick polish they look like they've been handed down over the years.
   I'm still on the hunt for one more to complete my dinner table, but in the meantime I'm using the ones below. These were another flea market find I just couldn't pass up (they are my husband's and my initials.) 
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Upcoming Projects

11/30/-0001

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Update: Here are two of the three finished pieces. I am very pleased with how they both turned out!

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Here are my next three project pieces.

Project 1: We picked up the vintage backboard years agoat a flea market outside of Austin, TX  for under 15 dollars and I FINALLY found the table base I'd been looking for for less than 25 euro. So a couple of pilot holes and it should be about complete (I'm thinking of having a glass top made for it too.)

Project 2: These chairs were a bargain at only 15 euro each at a Goodwill-like center just outside of Frankfurt. All they need is a little TLC and new fabric on the seats. Can't wait to have these done!

Project 3: I found this awesome mid-century modern ottoman at a flea market and bargained it down to a mere 13 euro. After stripping off the cover and removing the deteriorated padding, I just need to add some new cushioning and the leather remnant (a 10 euro steal) and it will be amazing!

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My New Favorite Product!

11/30/-0001

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I just wanted to share with you my newest favorite product! It is called Citrustrip. I have used it a few times now and compared to other strippers, it is a dream to work with. It goes on easily, is safe to use indoors (which is great here in Germany where we don't have a garage or yard), cleans up with water, has a nice citrus smell, and does a great job of removing both paint and varnish. I have posted a few pictures below of it in progress. It is also malleable up to 24 hours for those tough projects! I hope it makes your projects easier to prep!!! As a side note: I DO NOT recommend Klean Strip. It says it's a paste but goes on like snot, which was the opposite of fun! Its fumes are also pretty bad. Please leave a comment if you have products you love (or hate) to work with! I love sharing helpful information and learning from you!

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This is GREAT stuff!
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This is NOT something I would use again!
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