One of the (many) things I love about Germany is the openness of people shopping second-hand. Not only is it a way to live more consciously, but it also helps you save a little money! Especially with kids, who outgrow things so quickly during their first years, there is no need to spend too much on things like clothing. While there are obvious benefits to shopping second-hand and visiting your local flea market (der Flohmart), before moving to Germany I never thought of flea markets as my first choice when shopping. In my opinion and from experience, this is partly due to the fact that in the U.S. this was not the mentality and flea markets were not advertised as much in my area.

Now as a new parent living abroad and raising children in Germany – where there is more encouragement to live consciously, I am more aware of how I shop. To help you and your families live more consciously, here are some of my favorite children’s flea markets (der Kinderflohmarkt) in and around Frankfurt:

Herbstbasar at the Familiengesundheitszentrum: Happening every fall (typically in September), this children’s flea market at the Familiengesunndheitszentrum is my favorite by far! The staff sets up a small room at their Günthersburgallee location with multiple tables both indoor and outdoor where people can sell their items. The space is small and quaint and they also sell baked goods and coffee. It is a nice event to not only shop but also, connect with other families. Plus, I always find very good deals here! Since the space both indoor and outdoor is small, I recommend leaving your stroller at home if possible as there is not a lot of room to park it. Easy to reach via public transit via tram lines 18 and 12.

Babyflohmarkt at the Familienzentrum Westend: The flohmarkt at the Familienzentrum Westend is similar in size to the one at the Familiengesundheitszentrum in Nordend except, the space is a bit larger and everything takes place outdoor. This family center hosts their children’s flea market every fall (typically in September) at the Hort der Jüdischen Gemeinde im Ignaz Bubis Gemeindezentrum location at Savignystraße 66 (just a 5 minute walk from the Familienzentrum Westend office location). The space is large and there is enough room to walk around with and park your stroller. Children can freely walk around while parents shop. You can reach the location via tram lines 11, 14, 16, 17, and 21 and walk a bout 10 minutes from Platz der Republik.

Flohmarkt für Kinder Kleidung und Spielsachen at Ev. Kirchengemeinde Frieden und Versöhnung: This church hosts one of the largest children’s flohmarkts I have been to in Frankfurt! The space was large and had two floors and a sea of tables one right next to the other. Taking place every summer (typically in July), this flohmarkt is definitely not one to miss. Since it is so large, I recommend coming early and focusing on one section at a time as it can get very overwhelming. There is a space outside for strollers, however I would recommend leaving it at home if possible as it gets very crowded. For me, this one was nice as I got to meet other families living in my area. You can easily reach this flohmarkt via public transit from Galluswarte Sbahn stop or tram lines 11, 14 or 21.

There are many other children’s flea markets happening in and around the city so always be on the lookout for any posters or postings from your local family centers. There is certainly a lot that I have learned from parenting abroad in Germany including shopping and living more consciously – all while saving myself a little bit of money along the way!

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