Used to sleeping in on Sundays? Think again—here in Paris, we wake up early every Sunday to hit the market.
While many shops have traditionally been closed on Sundays here in the French capital, that’s starting to change. And the tail end of the weekend has been market day for as long as we can remember. To experience a slice of French culture unlike any other, get up and out to explore these Paris Sunday markets—trust us, you won’t regret it.
Paris Flea Markets Open on Sundays
Puces de Vanves
Sunday is a great day for flea market hunters in Paris.
One standout is the Puces de Vanves, which occupies the tree-shaded pavement near the Porte de Vanves metro station. Here, one stall specializes in old sewing items—ribbons, thread, even sequins—while another has trays of lovely costume jewelry. However, most vendors are generalists, selling a little bit of anything and everything.
The market opens at 7 a.m., and starts to wind down by midday.
Insider’s tip: If you want a bargain, head up to the far end of the market (past the coffee stall and resident piano player).
Puces de Saint-Ouen
The Puces de Saint-Ouen is also open on Sundays, but while it’s a bigger market, it’s based around permanent shops in an antique mall. However, it does stay open longer than the market at Vanves.
Founded in 1885, the Saint-Ouen flea market today consists of more than 1,000 merchants. Start on the main drag, rue des Rosiers, and branch off to the side streets to find even more hidden treasures. If you’re feeling brave, test out your bargaining skills in French!
Paris Food Markets Open on Sundays
Need to go grocery shopping rather than antique hunting? You’re in luck. Many Paris food markets also keep Sunday hours. But remember, these markets are mostly a morning phenomenon—go early to get the best pickings.
SEE ALSO: Everything You Need to Know to Navigate a French Market
Marché d’Aligre
Marché d’Aligre is a conglomeration of many things. It’s a collection of street stalls combined with a covered market (formally the Marché Beauvau), as well as a food hall with a small flea market (less antiquey and more of a rummage sale than Saint-Ouen or Vanves).
The covered market houses seafood, cheese, and butchers’ stalls, with an impressive selection of terrines and charcuterie. Produce, on the other hand, is mainly outside in the street section. There’s also a great rotisserie selling roast chicken—these stalls are a mainstay of French markets, and if you fancy sharing a chicken and a basket of roast potatoes, it makes a great (if greasy) Sunday lunch.
The Aligre market also has a great international vibe, with shops like Sabah selling Middle Eastern foods: feta and halloumi cheese, dozens of kinds of olives, dates, and spices.
Honorable mention: Marché Dejean in the 18th arrondissement is another cosmopolitan Sunday market, with a strong West African flavor—think manioc, yams, tilapia, and loads of spice. Chateau Rouge metro will get you there.
Marché Raspail
Marché Raspail is a regular French market on Tuesdays and Fridays, but on Sundays, it’s transformed into the biggest organic (“bio”) market in France.
The atmosphere here is great: stallholders are dedicated to organic and sustainable agriculture, and have a real passion for what they do. This is what all farmers’ markets should be like! However, as you might expect in the chic 6th, this market can be a bit pricey.
Foodie find: For snacks, head for Les Gallatins, which serves up crispy potato fritters.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
At the top of the gourmet tree is the little Marché des Enfants Rouges in the Marais.
It takes its odd name from the red-uniformed children of an orphanage that once stood on this site. Today, this covered market has become a cosmopolitan foodie paradise, complete with Lebanese, Italian, Moroccan, Antillean and Japanese food stalls.
One of our favorite bites here comes courtesy of La Petite Fabrique‘s pastry chef, Carole Belenus, who makes a delicious raspberry tart with just enough acidity to wake your taste buds up.
La Bastille
The biggest of all the Sunday markets in Paris is the huge open air market at Place de la Bastille.
This is a mixed market, so in addition to food, you’ll also find cashmere scarves, handmade notebooks, soap, tea towels, and even potato peelers on sale. (If you don’t have a French économe yet, you should—it’s the only way to peel potatoes!)
Out of all the markets listed, this is probably the closest you’ll get to the kind of place where the majority of French residents shop. It’s got a huge range, from pile-it-high-sell-it-cheap items to more gourmet delights.
La Bastille can be a good place for those on a budget, but comparison shopping is the name of the game. Some stalls have really good offers; others are pricey.
When you get hungry, snacks here include shrimp fritters from the Caribbean, Lebanese wraps, or what is rapidly becoming the unofficial French national dish: crêpes with Nutella (bananas optional but encouraged).