The scent of leather goods, the sound of vinyl records, the feel of hand-stitched home decor, and the sight of clunky, colourful jewellery – is there anything better?
A city’s vintage stores aren’t only great places to find one-of-a-kind pieces; they’re gateways to its past. They shed light on a destination’s history of fashion, interests and technology, and it can be ridiculously rewarding when you hit the jackpot of an irreplaceable find. And, of course, they’re sustainable – and more of us than ever are choosing to refresh our wardrobe with second-hand finds.
To help vintage enthusiasts, global booking platform Omio has rounded up data from the 10 most populated European cities to find the greatest destinations for thrifting on the continent.
With over 400 shops to choose from, London has landed at the top of the list. But don’t mistake quantity for quality – the UK capital also received the second-lowest review average at 4.46, meaning you’ll have to dig through a lot of dirt to find the buried treasure. And often, it is overpriced. But with enough patience, you’ll find a priceless piece that will make you feel like you’ve won the lottery.
Paris comes in second. While the French capital has nearly half the number of vintage shops as London with 226 options, that’s still a load more than the city in third place, Berlin, which has 165 second-hand shops.
Ironically, the cities with the least number of shops proved to have the best success stories. Athens’s 46 vintage shops had the best review average at 4.75, tying with Manchester, holding the title for the least number of vintage shops on the list with only 22.
So, ready to rifle? Here’s the full list of Europe’s best cities for thrifting.
These are Europe’s 10 best cities for vintage and second-hand shopping
1. London, UK — 409 shops — 4.46 average
2. Paris, France — 226 shops — 4.52 average
3. Berlin, Germany —165 shops — 4.57 average
4. Rome, Italy — 102 shops — 4.45 average
5. Milan, Italy — 101 shops — 4.51 average
6. Barcelona, Spain — 90 shops — 4.64 average
7. Madrid, Spain — 81 shops — 4.60 average
8. Lisbon, Portugal — 54 shops — 4.55 average
9. Athens, Greece — 46 shops — 4.75 average
10. Manchester, UK — 22 shops — 4.75 average
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