Hala Targowa Krakow (by Jola Jankowska)
In this list you’ll find many the flea markets across Europe that our spotters just love! Because what better way is there to soak up some fresh air, encounter the locals, whilst feasting your eyes on thousands of bits and baubles? Chances are a flea market is the best way to accomplish this and Europe has many of these!
Burkliplatz Zurich (by jay8085)
There are many types of markets, some sell food and produce, others only sell clothes, or antiques and last but not least there are flea markets. According to Wikipedia a flea market “[...] is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered.” Wikipedia goes on to describe the technicalities of flea markets like where they’re usually held, but that’s not what we’re interested in. What we’re interested in are the unique finds you can make, or the people watching you can do and the general relaxed feeling – of a lazy weekend day out without spending too much money – you can achieve.
Though someone has gone through the trouble of defining a flea market on Wikipedia, the description above lacks in some areas. What a flea market is really depends on the eye of the beholder. Some grudgingly go along with the missus and only see garbage and junk lying around, put up a fight every time the wallet is pulled out and complain when they’re left to carry to newly acquired ‘pieces’ to the car. Others plan their visit carefully, set themselves a cash limit and cruise through the crowds with fierce determination. Then there’s a group that goes to window-shop or treasure hunt, laugh at what people dare to ask money for and just entertain themselves with a relaxed day out. Though I’m sure every single visitor eats at a flea market, not everyone buys something.
Flohmarkt Kanzlei Zurich (by Roman Rey)
In this list you’ll find the flea markets that our spotters visit regularly. Some of these are special because they’re only held a couple of times a year, like the Neubaugasse Flea Market in Vienna or because they’re the biggest one in that city, like the Ecants Vells market in Barcelona.
Pictured above is the Flohmarkt Kanzlei in Zurich, one of the biggest weekly flea markets in Switzerland. Local Roman has lovingly listed all the things you can buy there. According to Budapest Spotter Judith the Esceri Flea Market is one of the biggest and best in central Europe. So if you’re in the neighborhood, go have a look! Two other fine examples of a market that sells anything you can think of can be found in Athens, the Piraeus market and the Varvakeios Market.
RAW flea market Berlin (by Sarah Curth)
Above is the RAW flea market in Berlin, one of four flea markets that our spotters have written about. On Sundays you can venture to the flea market on Boxhagener Platz or Mauerpark. Also on Sundays is the flea market Friedrichshagen, just opposite the S-bahn station. In Germany’s other fabulous city’s, Frankfurt and Hamburg, you can find the Schaumainkai flea market (beware of its locations though, there are two) and the Flohschanze.
Hamburg also has an indoor flea market, The Fabrik and a similar indoor concept can be found in Amsterdam, the IJhallen.
The Ferocious Mingle Market, (by Mingle Market)
Pictured above is the very special and eccentric Ferocious Mingle Market in Dublin. The people that sell bit and pieces here are dressed up! Spotter Marcel wrote the following about it; “[...] men in bowler hats and waistcoats wearing sunglasses and women in bodices wearing spyglasses selling custom-made punk jewelry and old books – they don’t call themselves “Dublin’s fancy dress market” for nothing. The Mingle Market also features live music and has short cabaret pieces being performed, plus delicious, mostly homemade food on offer.”. Also with live music and delicious snacks is the Dublin Flea Market, maybe not as eccentric as the Ferocious Mingle Market, but it can be just as fun!
Plaine de Plainpalais (by Lorcan Meyfarth)
The Plaine de Plainpalais in Geneva is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Whereas the flea market Plaine des Escargots in Brussels is actually held daily, which is quite unusual for a flea market.
Up next is a bit of Northern Europe, like the Kaivarin Kanuuna Flea market in Helsinki and the Grønland flea market in Oslo. Then we venture on to Rome for the Porta Portese flea market, to Ljubljana for the Antique flea market and that brings us back around to the first picture of this article, the Hala Targowa flea market in Krakow.
That’s the end of quite a hefty list of amazing and one-of-a-kind flea markets throughout Europe. Have at look to see if your current hometown or destination of your next planned city trip is on this list. You’ll surely find some unique souvenirs or gifts, edible or not, freaky or crazy, maybe just what you needed or simply soak up the genuine atmosphere of that city.
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