Antiques Hunting in Village Saint Paul (Self Guided), Paris

Paris is an intensely vibrant modern city with a historic heart and many gracious old buildings. The French capital is also a fantastic place to come for those in search of antiques, with flea markets and stores busting at the seams with old collectibles. The Saint-Paul Village with its covered passageways and interconnected courtyards is a haven of antique stores, art galleries and artisan boutiques.

Wander through arched passageways on stone streets to find approximately 200 antique dealers selling everything from medieval pieces to '60s and '70s retro gear and pop memorabilia. If you see something you like, don’t accept the first price you are offered as prices are sometimes set according to the purchaser’s appearance. In other words, higher if the vendor thinks you are loaded. The village is a self-contained area that has an old world charm about it that is enjoyed whether or not you are actually there to pick up antiques for bargain prices.

Soak up the beauty of the old buildings with their wooden shutters, iron balcony railings and green shrubs creeping up their façades. Among the other opportunities to find something fascinating and valuable, such as 17th-century trinkets is at the neighborhood’s weekend yard sales.