Browse, search and find that rare pearl

Start your visit to the north of Paris with a look at the famous Flea Market of Saint-Ouen (Les Puces de Saint-Ouen). Head to the metro station at the Porte-de-Clignancourt, every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, to discover the very first Flea market in the world! Stroll among the vendors, selling everything from rare antiques to second-hand clothes, industrial home furnishings and art-deco jewellery, even keys, doorknobs and archaeological finds. If you're really looking to buy, save time by hiring a guide specialised in the buying and selling of antiques.

Next, take the metro down to Barbès-Rochechouart.  Across from the station sits one of the most famous discount shops of all Paris: Tati. You can't miss it with it's flashy pink and white signs everywhere. The masses of shoppers spill out onto the pavements in this frenetic race to find the best buys in clothing, shoes, linens and other home goods...An unbeatable address for the bargain hunter.

As you leave Tati, you can discover the popular neighbourhood la Goutte d'Or. One of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan areas, named in reference to the golden days, la Goutte d'Or (A drop of gold), when Montmartre still produced wine.  Rummage through the colourful fabric shops offering a wide selection of African designs and the mysterious Arabic music shops. Don't miss a look at the Lavoir Moderne Parisien, a popular cultural centre that operates as a 'multi-cultural laboratory' with a variety of concerts and theatrical shows.

Walk up the Boulevard Rochechouart towards the top of Montmartre, keeping an eye on the white Basilica of  the Sacred Heart church. To your right, take the rue Seveste to the Marché Saint-Pierre (Saint Peter's Market) where dressmakers and fabric fans will be delighted. Five floors of fabrics in all colours and styles await.

A few steps from the market is la Halle Saint Pierre (Saint Peter's Hall). This beautiful building is reminiscent of the pavilions  designed by Victor Baltard, under Napoléon III, to house Paris's commercial activities. It's magical form pays tribute to the open-spaced café and bookshop, not to mention the surprising contemporary exhibitions that are shown here.