Hunt for treasures in Saint-Ouen, home to one of the biggest and most famous flea markets in Europe. Beyond shopping, the neighbourhood is a gateway to iconic sights and attractions across northern Paris. Track down the tombstones of famous French artists in Cimetière de Montmartre and stroll around the bohemian Montmartre neighbourhood.
Things to do in Saint-Ouen
Held every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Marché aux Puces attracts treasure hunters from Paris and beyond. The seven-hectare flea market is enormous and features thousands of vendors selling everything from antiques and vintage clothing to art and jewellery. Get lost in a labyrinth of covered, open-air markets and sidewalk markets.
Pick up coffee and croissants from a local bakery and stroll down to Grand Parc des Docks. The park is set on the banks of the Seine and features grassy lawns and flower-filled gardens. The handsome, Classicist-style chateau on the eastern end of the garden houses a local music school.
Stroll around Cimetière de Montmartre, one of the largest and most evocative cemeteries in Paris. It was laid out in the 19th century and is the final resting place of French icons like novelist Émile Zola and Impressionist painter Edgar Degas. You’ll be amazed by the elaborate gravestones, tombs and mausoleums created by talented sculptors.
Saint-Ouen borders the 18th Arrondissement, where you’ll find some of the most visited sights in Paris. The beautiful Sacre Coeur soars over the neighbourhood and welcomes you with a dreamy, snow-white façade. Walk down the hill to Montmartre and explore a maze of cobbled lanes and staircases. The bohemian district is a former stomping ground for artists like Monet, van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Getting around Saint-Ouen
Saint-Ouen is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. Access the neighbourhood via Saint-Ouen Station on Line 14 of the Paris Metro. Trains run between Saint-Ouen and Central Paris in 20 minutes. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is a 30-minute drive away and 45 minutes by train.