Continental thrift: five of the best cities in Europe for vintage shopping | Shopping trips

BerlinA metropolis as celebrated for its quirkiness as Berlin is sort of duty-bound to ship on the flea market entrance – plus, a lot of its outlets shut on Sundays, making market looking the pure retail repair.Though Mauerpark within the Prenzlauer Berg district is well-known for its flea market and sells good things, in case you have the endurance to rummage via the inevitable piles of tat, smaller markets are inclined to have extra attention-grabbing one-off finds. A favorite is Arkonaplatz within the Mitte district, which is particularly alluring in autumn when the sunshine and surrounding bushes tackle golden shades. There’s previous movie and digital camera gear available right here, in addition to industrial furnishings. My favorite purchase is a large, hand-crocheted blanket in shades of lapis and rust.The Rathaus Schöneberg flea market in Tempelhof-Schöneberg is certainly one of Berlin’s oldest, and is situated the place John F Kennedy made his well-known “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. It’s largely the wares of individuals having a clear-out, versus skilled sellers, and is reasonably priced.For essentially the most stunning setting, the Bode vintage and guide market on Museum Island is pure romanceLesser identified to non-Berliners, Neukölln’s Kranoldplatz Flohmarkt – in one of many metropolis’s most vibrant various neighbourhoods – is an effective alternative for cool castoffs. Strict rules restrict what distributors can promote, too, so that you’re spared a lot of the brand new, mass-produced junk you may discover elsewhere.For essentially the most stunning setting, although, the Bode vintage and guide market on Museum Island is pure romance. I can’t learn any of the books I’ve purchased there, nor have I ever served cake with the silver-plated slice I discovered there, however who cares?Secondhand shops may be discovered all around the metropolis – nevertheless it’s price homing in on Friedrichshain. It’s house to Europe’s greatest Humana retailer (5 flooring of classic treasure, together with a number of lederhosen) and there are a number of smaller outfits right here, too. V Classic (Kopernikusstraße 18 and Grünberger Straße 50) has an important vary of items, from classic denim to retro après-ski, whereas Soul and Fashion (Krossener Straße 24 and Frankfurter Allee 35-37) serves up style with a distinctly 80s aptitude, full with band T-shirts, glitter and lurid shell fits. For extra insider suggestions, take a look at @ezcape, @jessica.miushaAthensAntique objects on the market at a store in Monastiraki, central Athens. {Photograph}: Simon RB Brown/AlamyWho wouldn’t have previous issues on their thoughts when visiting the cradle of western civilisation? When you’ve taken within the Acropolis and Parthenon, swerve the stalls promoting fridge magnets of historical ruins and head to the port metropolis of Piraeus. About 5 miles south-west of Athens, it’s the place the ferries depart for a whole lot of Greek islands and a Sunday flea market takes place, alongside the railway tracks, till 2pm-ish. There’s typically good retro clothes and classic homewares – be ready to rummage, generally at floor degree, as not all distributors arrange on tables. Then head for lunch at one of many many waterfront eating places.One other Sunday possibility is Pazari Rakosyllekton, or Scavengers’ Fleamarket (the title alone will get my treasure-hunt coronary heart racing), a couple of minutes’ stroll from Eleonas station, promoting all the pieces from furnishings and homewares to books and information. Having discovered Olivia Newton-John’s Xanadu right here, I really feel I’ve peaked.Elsewhere, curated classic shops embody Kilo Store (Ermou 120), the place finds are charged by weight and rails restocked each second day. Greater-end choices embody Anthophile Classic (Zoodochou Pigis 55), the place florals and whimsy reign, and Handpicked Cherries (Frinis 51) for classic leather-based and Y2K treats. For extra insider suggestions, take a look at @athens_thrifts, @posh.vintageStockholmA loppis is a ‘notably Swedish expertise – not fairly a storage sale, not fairly a flea market’ {Photograph}: Berndt-Joel Gunnarsson/AlamySweden and its Scandi neighbours are identified for being savagely dear, so steadiness the books with a contact of secondhand procuring. Stockholm has two shops from the favored European chain Humana – one within the Norrmalm district and one other in Södermalm – good for clothes and niknaks. With a number of areas across the metropolis, Myrorna – owned by the Swedish arm of the Salvation Military – is extra in your house than wardrobe. Gustavsberg porcelain and classy glassware by Kosta Boda pop up steadily, as do items by different Nordic manufacturers, reminiscent of Marimekko.Södermalm can also be house to a department of the UK chain Past Retro and Judits Second Hand (Hornsgatan 75), which operates partly on a consignment foundation, promoting undesirable clothes of native individuals for a break up.For a very Swedish expertise, hunt down a loppis. Not fairly a storage sale, not fairly a flea market, it’s an immensely in style option to socialise on a weekend, whereas unearthing the treasure that’s another person’s trash. Some are spontaneous, others semi-permanent with on-site refreshment and music. Spring and summer time are prime instances for loppisrunda (loppis-hopping), particularly within the countryside, however they may be discovered year-round (test loppiskartan.se). A classic Swedish Christmas tablecloth with matching cloth napkins and a pair of smooth brass reindeer, all from Uppsala, a 40-minute practice journey north of Stockholm, stay beloved finds. For extra insider suggestions, take a look at @modernretrostockholm, @vintageretrosimon and @myrornaopstenskip previous e-newsletter promotionSign as much as Inside SaturdayThe solely option to get a glance behind the scenes of the Saturday journal. Signal as much as get the within story from our high writers in addition to all of the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox each weekend.Privateness Discover: Newsletters could include details about charities, on-line adverts, and content material funded by outdoors events. For those who don’t have an account, we’ll create a visitor account for you on theguardian.com to ship you this text. You may full full registration at any time. For extra details about how we use your information see our Privateness Coverage. We use Google reCaptcha to guard our web site and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.after e-newsletter promotionMadridOn Sundays, Madrid’s El Rastro market bursts into life. {Photograph}: Peter Eastland/AlamyFast-fashion behemoth Zara was born in Spain, and though its largest retail retailer worldwide is in Madrid, the capital isn’t enslaved to high-street dressing. In addition to its 29 Humana outlets, the place you may bump into something from 90s streetwear to 50s corsetry, these with a yen for designer labels ought to take a look at the town’s many upmarket secondhand boutiques, that are extra akin to idea shops than thrift outlets.Strive Second Likelihood within the metropolis centre (Calle de la Virgen de los Peligros 11) for calmly used garments by names reminiscent of Loewe, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. Whereas not precisely bargains, they’re way more reasonably priced than they’d be new.Denim is the staple at Friperie (Calle Rodriguez San Pedro 2), which has been name-checked by Vogue; and for many who take into account Y2K to be classic (impolite) then Neare within the centre (Corre Alta de San Pablo 21) has a diversified number of clothes and niknaks.At Piel de Mariposa (Calle Embajadores 35) there are books, vinyl and homewares, in addition to a great vary of style and equipment, many for beneath €10 apiece.The normal flea market expertise can also be available in Madrid: El Rastro, house to many eating places and bars, bursts into life on Sundays, when the flea market takes over the neighbourhood. Be ready to wade via a lot of garbage, however once you do strike gold (for me, the classic ceramics are notably beguiling) it glitters for actual.For extra insider suggestions, take a look at @rastro_madrid, @matiz.lifeAmiensA makeshift stall at Amiens’ biannual market. {Photograph}: Clémence MilletThere are loads of causes to go to Amiens, the capital of the Picardy area: France’s largest Gothic cathedral, the nation’s first purpose-built museum (with shows protecting all the pieces from Egyptian artefacts to Francis Bacon), and for Channel-hoppers it’s solely a 90-minute drive from Calais. Plus, twice a 12 months it hosts the Réderie, one of many largest flea markets in France.On the second final Sunday in April and the primary Sunday in October, 2,000-plus distributors unfold over 50-odd streets within the city centre.Intention to reach on the Saturday, as many of the distributors begin establishing the evening earlier than. So wrap up warmly, put on comfy sneakers and a head torch, and possibly you’ll bag an early discount. Take a tenting trolley in your finds: a few of my favourites have included framed floral needlepoints, heavy brass swans and acrylic candleholders.Whereas the biannual market is the massive draw, the city has lots to maintain classic lovers joyful year-round. Fripes et Merveilles (151 Rue Gaulthier de Rumilly) is a time capsule of well-priced finds, from bric-a-brac to jewelry. Costs are far greater at Silk & Roses (18 Rue Saint-Martin aux Waides), however anticipate finding the likes of Kenzo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent. In the meantime, Icône Friperie (21 Rue du Général Leclerc) fees by the kilo – €30 a haul.For extra insider suggestions, take a look at #grandrederieamiens, @se_souvenir_des_belles_choses