Birkelunden park, Grunerløkka – 0556 Oslo, Norway
Birkelunden (“The Birch Grove” in Norwegian) is a relatively large park at the top of the Grünerløkka district, where a flea market is held almost every Sunday from January to December. In spring and summer, the park is divided into two parts, with the flea market in the lower part, and the upper part of the park as usual with a fountain and lawns where you can sit and relax and enjoy life.
During the week, Grünerløkka comes alive with locals shopping in the boutiques, having their morning coffee in one of the many cafés or simply walking their dogs in Birkelunden Park.
A paradise for bargain hunters and vintage junkies
Everything changes at the weekend. The shops in the Grünerløkka district close on Sundays to make way for the Bruktmarket, or flea market, in Birkelunden Park from 12 noon to 7 pm. Fashionistas jostle with collectors and bargain hunters as they stroll through a seemingly endless array of vintage clothing, costume jewellery and antique furniture (especially from the 1950s to 1970s).
It is also packed with the usual flea market staples: ceramics, glassware, silverware, pottery, vintage toys, vintage records, books, old militaria and memorabilia from the 60s and 70s, lamps, mirrors, worktops, gadgets, piggy banks, bicycles, funny signs, books, electrical goods and curiosities.
Oslo’s Grünerløkka flea market is a real local gem. This flea market is as much a curiosity as it is a trade; the atmosphere and all the weird stuff make it worth a visit even if you are not necessarily looking for used records or a bright lampshade. If you are on a trip to Oslo and are serious about buying vintage jewellery and other items, plan to spend a couple of hours browsing the stalls. There are plenty of discoveries to be made.
Tips to make the most of your trip to Birkelunden flea market
- Do your homework: Be clear about what you want, and do not hesitate to check prices beforehand. That way, when you get there, you’ll know what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to pay, so you don’t end up being taken for a ride.
- Get ready to haggle: Items sold at the Birkelunden flea market are a little more expensive than elsewhere in Oslo, but do not be afraid to haggle! If you are a regular visitor on Sundays and get to know the traders who work at the market, you can almost always get a good deal.
- Get there early: As with most flea markets around the world, try to get there before the market opens (12pm) so you can get your hands on the best stuff before everyone else. Of course, the earlier you arrive, the harder it is to haggle over prices (the best time to haggle is usually towards the end of the market, when the stallholders are packing up).
- Check things thoroughly before you buy: Flea markets are like the Wild West: there is no such thing as an “exchange policy” for things you buy there!
When: The Birkelunden flea market is open every Sunday from 6 January to 15 December, except on public/religious holidays (31 March – Easter Sunday and 19 May – Whitsun) and on car-free days in Grünerløkka.
How to get there: Birkelunden Park is located along the tram tracks that go up Grünerløkka and to the right of Birkelunden tram stop.
Web: https://markedsutleie.no/
All photos ©parisoslo.com
