Cards after lunch. The nonchalant merchants were more interested in their game than conducting business. Want to buy that painting – you’ll have to wait.

Dare to haggle. Set limits on how much you want to spend.

A DIRECTORY:

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen (largest in the world)
48, rue Jules Vallès (Marché des Antiquaires) Saint-Ouen
(between the Porte de St-Ouen and Porte de Clignancourt, just outside 18th arrondissement. from the metro, follow the crowds to main shopping alleyways

Hours: Sat. – Mon., 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,Sat. – Mon., 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., metro: Porte de Clignancourt (line 4), Porte de St-Ouen (line 13)

Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves
avenue Georges Lafenestre & avenue Marc Sangnier, 75014

Hours: Weekends; avenue Marc Sangnier until 1 p.m.; avenue Georges Lafenestre all day. metro: Porte de Vanves (line 13)

Marché aux Puces de Montreuil
avenue de la Porte de Montreuil, 75020, Hours: Sat. – Mon., 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., metro: Porte de Montreuil (line 9)

Marché d’Aligre (includes indoor food market)
Place d’Aligre, 75012, Hours: Tues. – Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. metro: Ledru Rollin

Marché du Livre Ancien et d’Occasion
Parc Georges Brassens, 104, rue Brancion, 75015
Between 60 and 80 bouquinistes (book dealers) gather every weekend underneath the former horse slaughterhouses of Vaugirard. Hours: Weekends, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
metro: Convention (line 12), Porte de Vanves (line 13); Bus: lines 48, 62, 89, 95