1. To get there by Metro get off at the metro stop Porte de Clignancourt on line 4. Exit the underground metro and orient yourself. There is a McDonalds across the street and you should look for this sign immediately. "Les Puces" which means "The Fleas." Some nice person put a sticker right over the arrow but still follow it best you can.
2. Stay on the same side of the street (it has less people trying to sell you things, that is unless you need a cheap cell phone case or counterfeit Hello Kitty keychains) and follow the direction of the arrow on the sign north.
3. There are no more signs after that so continue walking the threeish blocks to Rue des Rossiers (which is the main street where all the flea markets are.) Look for this underpass with the circles on it and head towards that.
4. Do not stop and think this swap meet is the flea market, because it isn't. (We came here on our honeymoon and I thought it was, aw, we were so adorable. Lost, but adorable.)
5. As soon as you go under the underpass, cross the street and look for these green signs that are at the beginning of Rue des Rossiers. You've arrived!
Here is a little map of the different parts of the flea market. It is HUGE. I've been there four times and only seen about half of it. I'll make this into a printable pdf later today so you can download it.
Thank you for this! Last time I was in Paris, I must have stopped at the swap meet thinking I was at the flea market :( Needless to say, I was disappointed. I am bookmarking your post so I have it for my next trip to Paris, whenever that will be.
ReplyDeleteLove the directions! Thanks so much!!! Will definitely come in handy on our next trip there in fall :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great map! When I was in Paris I saw the street vendors and was confused---but I convinced my husband to press on saying "We'll find them eventually!!". We spotted them through a tiny alley and much to my husbands' surprise, found ourselves there surrounded by treasures.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI totally found my way to that swap meet last time I was in Paris, and never did find my way to the flea market. I had been there in my 20s with people who knew the way. Now, next time I'll know- Thanks!
Merci beaucoup! This is bookmarked for my next trip to Paris!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the picture of those keys =) Neat post!
ReplyDelete- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/
Oh wow. Thanks for this map. This is going to be the highlight of my trip.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was in Paris I was determined to find Les Puces, even though I had no other information than the Metro stop. My boyfriend and I literally wandered around until we saw a young man dressed very smartly in 1940's vintage walking very determinedly. We both said, "He knows where they are!" and we followed him. Wouldn't have found it otherwise.....
ReplyDeletethanks so much for the clear directions! I'm Paris-bound in ten days...perfect timing!
ReplyDeleteI went there last summer and got the coolest handkerchiefs. So happy for you being a paris!
ReplyDeleteYup, we too stopped at the swap-meet and left very disappointed. I knew that couldn't have been it but was at a complete loss. Luckily, we're going back to Paris this Summer so I'll definitely give it another crack. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteoh how perfect is this...wish I knew this 2 years ago as I was in Paris...didn't go because it seemed too hard to get there and we had a 3 year old with us. Will definitely keep this in mind for next time I visit Paris. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am also one of the many who got lost in the swap meet. I kept saying to myself, "This cannot be the world's largest flea market!" Eventually, I wandered under the overpass and made my way to the treasure trove!
ReplyDeleteDo you know this iPhone app by The Paris Apartment on Parisian flea markets and brocantes?
ReplyDeletehttp://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/keys-to-the-fleas/id380432477?mt=8
Jordan I think your directions and map are brilliant. We went in December and even though I had read the directions carefully on how to get the market we found it very confusing and had to stop and ask a policeman.
ReplyDeleteAll of your Paris posts are just amazingly helpful! Thanks to you I will be set for my trip their this fall, I have no doubt. Brava!
ReplyDeleteGreat map -- it is tricky to find the first time! Have you been able to locate the restaurant Le Soleil (109 avenue Michelet, 93 Saint-Ouen) in the middle of the market? My husband and I walked about for 2 hours trying to find it without success...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, those wooden puppets are amazing! I desperately want that little eggplant guy!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Paris tales...I am going this fall and you are making my research for similar interests that much easier! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, I'm archiving this post for the next time I visit Paris!
ReplyDeleteI hope that one day I can use this awesome info!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I made it to the flea by sheer luck last time I was in Paris and trying to track down directions was a bit of an ordeal. This will be so helpful to so many of your followers.
ReplyDeleteSuper helpful post! I remember walking through the outskirts on my first visit and almost giving up before getting to the real market. I'll be sure to share this with friends making there way there. Merci!
ReplyDeleteJeanne
Yay! I'll be in Paris in a fortnight and this will come in so handy. THANKYOU!
ReplyDeleteMerci! Hoping to make it there this weekend. Leaving SF in a day! Excited!
ReplyDeleteWish I had had this guide my first time there. I convinced a bunch of friends (who didn't find flea markets quite as exciting and marvelous as I) to come with me (bad decision). Well, we hit the street vendors after the metro, they thought that was all there was to it and wanted to leave. I kept telling them, "no! It gets better, it HAS to get better!" So I only spent about twenty minutes in the real deal. Sad.
ReplyDeleteBut I went back with more devoted friends and it was amazing, now I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to go : )
Thank you so much for this! Very timely indeed, I'll be in Paris in a little over 2 weeks time, can't wait!
ReplyDeletethank you!
ReplyDeleteAm loving all the great Paris info! I've bookmarked your directions - thanks! My husband & I want to travel to London & Paris in the fall. He's never been, I've been as a student for 1 day. Definitely planning the trip so we can hit Portabello Rd in London & a flea market in Paris. I'd love to see more posts on your opinions of the different flea mkts & their pros/cons. My husband loves the cheap/junky venues, where you spend hours sifting through piles of stuff to find that one treasure. I tend towards the 'nicer' antique items but I that kind of stuff is going to be out of my price range.
ReplyDeleteif only i was in paris...i'd purchase a bunch of those amazing vintage keys!!
ReplyDeleteUm...You are pretty awesome for posting this. I cannot wait to head to the flee market this coming fall!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I will be useing this in May. Can't wait! I have been there before but now I will not have to look up the directions. Thanks for all the info you are giving. In California taking notes..:)
ReplyDeleteYou can also get there stopping at the underground station "Garibaldi" (line 13) and you get the directions directly from there. It's a 5 min walk, very easy! And just a little adjustment! it's rue des Rosiers not Rossiers).
ReplyDeleteI live very nearby and I hope everybody has a nice time there!
When I was in Paris last year we visited the Puces de Vanves market.... http://www.polkadotchair.com/2010/03/in-which-jeff-incorrectly-orders-worlds.html
ReplyDeleteI really liked it, it was smaller so it seemed less intimidating to me, plus it was so easy to get to, right of the train stop.
We never ventured up to Puces St. Ouen, mostly because it was hard to figure out how to get there- next trip I'm going there for sure.. thanks so much for the directions.
Melissa
This is an awesome map! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I will save and pass around this post to everyone!!
ReplyDeleteso that's where i went wrong! i was clearly at the swap meet, haha.
ReplyDeletei will have to go back to experience the real flea market, now, perhaps next weekend. thanks for the post!
bon week-end ! :)
Oh my goodness, I wish I could go there tomorrow! I used to love to go to the ones in Italy when I lived in Florence. :) Happy memories.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this amazing post. I can't wait to get back to Paris and I will definitely use this! I am so thrilled to be living out my Paris fantasies through you.
ReplyDelete:)
I just printed out your instructions as I'm leaving for Paris this weekend! Thanks so much for posting :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am glad I'm not the only one who was clueless!
ReplyDeleteI am going to print this out and put it under my pillow tonight. Paris Trip Fairy, can you help a girl out??
it is sunday and i just arrived in Paris for the first time. and getting her has been tough (mechanical failure on the plane, missed connecting flight, miami sucked, luggage not here). trying to stay positive. it's sunday...where should we go to relax and enjoy the city? have loved your blog for years....x
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excellent directions with pics. Think this will be a big help. Now putting it on my 'to do' list!
ReplyDelete