COLORFUL SISTERS

Haifa Flea Market – Treasure Trove of Vintage and Retro | Israel Travel

Interesting little trinkets everywhere. 1960s cameras, vintage tea sets, leather bags, and piles and piles of what some would think junk lying on the somewhat dirty streets. But somewhere, somehow, the goodies can be found. Vintage, retro, if you’re lucky even antiques. The flea market in Haifa, Israel, also known as Shuk HaPishpeshim שוק הפשפשים is full to the brim of unique pieces and amazing goodies just waiting to be found.

Haifa Flea Market Israel

Unlike Israel’s other famous flea market is Jaffa, the flea market in Haifa tends to be less frequented by tourists, making it all the better destination! Far better prices, amazing finds, and kinder merchants. Don’t get me wrong, the flea market in Jaffa is also amazing, but it would probably be more classified as outdoor stores as the prices can get extremely high. In Haifa, however, it is still very much possible to get a good deal!

The Haifa Flea Market

Who doesn’t love a good flea market? The dusty smell of countless goodies all piled on top of each other, in a big disorganized mess. A treasure trove of amazing things waiting to be found. Vintage clip on earrings, hand knit sweaters from the 30s, retro sunglasses, 1960s polaroid cameras. It’s a treasure hunt.

Haifa Flea Market Israel

Haifa’s Flea Market is no exception. In fact, it’s a truly lovely balagan (Hebrew word for disaster) of goodies. Whether you’re looking for restored items or true vintage pieces, you can find it all!

One of our favorite shops in the market is called Bon Bon Vintage, a huge 600 square meter haven of vintage chairs, vinyls, typewriters, lamps, window panes and so so much more. A little coffee shop adorns the entrance as you walk into the maze of multiple levels of treasure hunting. The never ending doorways just lead to more and more rooms of pieces waiting to be discovered (and an photographer’s haven for amazing backdrops!) Not to mention that the owners were incredibly nice and friendly! By far our favorite spot in the marketplace.

Haifa Flea Market Israel

If you keep walking through the narrow streets lined with vendors selling their wares, you’ll be sure to find something that catches your eye. One shop that sells only vintage clothing, a plant store, homemade soaps, the options are endless.

Haifa Flea Market Israel

How to Get There

Haifa, located in Israel’s north, is about a two hour drive from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Although the fastest way to get anywhere is usually by car, Israel does have a good public transportation system and it is possible to reach the flea market by both bus and train.

Haifa Flea Market Israel

Bus

Depending on where you are coming from, there are many, many different bus lines that run to Haifa. However, they usually do have a lot of stops, especially if coming from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and it can take many hours to arrive. The perk is that you can get a bus that will take you pretty close to the flea market itself! Be sure to download the app Moovit to help you navigate throughout Israel.

Train

In Israel, the train lines are very dependable and are probably the fastest way to arrive to the flea market in Haifa. Haifa’s main train station is under 2 km away from the flea market, so either a quick bus or a 20 minute walk and you’ll be right there! Again the Moovit app with help you get the fastest route!

When to Go

The Haifa Flea Market’s official hours are Monday- Friday from 9:00am to 3:00 pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm, and Sunday from 9:00am to 7:00pm. As with all marketplaces, I would suggest going there early if you want to avoid the crowds. However, also be aware that some of the street vendors do not set up their goods until a bit later in the morning, so don’t go too early!

Haifa Flea Market Israel

Although most things in Israel are closed on Saturdays because of the Jewish Sabbath, Haifa is the exception and even has public transportation while the rest of the country does not. That means that the flea market in Haifa tends to be the busiest on Saturdays as many people come to visit the only marketplace that is really open. That means that more vendors will probably be there, meaning more goodies available, but there will also be more people!

Things to Do in Haifa

Haifa is Israel’s third largest city, after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, meaning that there is no end of amazing things to do in this underrated city!

Bahai Gardens

The Bahai Gardens are by far Haifa’s most famous tourist attraction. Stunning terraces make their way up the Carmel Mountain of this holy site to the Bahai faith. Stunning views, amazing architecture, and incredibly unique history, this is not a place to be missed!

Beach

Israel is a very lucky country, with over 250 kilometers of coastline! That means that many of its major cities are right on the beach. Haifa is no exception! The city boasts a number of lovely beaches, so be sure to consider taking a dip on your visit!

Carmel Mountains

Haifa sits right on the slopes of the Carmel Mountains, giving the city some truly stunning views. Beach and mountains in one? Hard to beat! But the area around Haifa also has countless amazing hikes and forest excursions into the surrounding mountains.

Check out this post for some countryside inspiration in the Carmel Mountains: 4 AMAZING PLACES TO VISIT IN NORTHERN ISRAEL | DAY TRIP ITINERARY

Tips for Visiting the Flea Market in Haifa

Haifa Flea Market Israel
  • Bargain – The most important tip for visiting just about any marketplace in Israel is to BARGAIN. Bargain, bargain, bargain. Vendors are known to start out with a much higher price than they expect to actually get, so please make sure to at least bring it down a little bit! Especially if you’re visiting Israel as a tourist, they will try to raise the price even more.
  • Dig – At first it may seem a little overwhelming, the endless piles of what looks like junk, but the goodies are in there somewhere and you just have to dig for them. Lift up the piles, look underneath things, it’s all part of the flea market experience!
  • Have fun – There is so much to explore and enjoy in the area. Make the best of this amazing place!
Haifa Flea Market Israel

Looking for more amazing places to visit in Israel? Check out all of our tips and tricks for travel throughout the country.

Lots of Love and Safe Travels,

Danielle and Brooke, Colorful Sisters

58 Comments

  1. The pictures and the poses though👏👏❤❤❤
    Nailed it😉😉😉

    1. Thank you so much!!!

  2. Such a fascinating post. I loved your blog. I love those little details along with the images you have shared as well.
    I will definitely go through all the posts. Travelling makes me happy 💗

    1. Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed and I hope that you find some of our other posts to be just as interesting! 🙂

  3. Seems like a real gem of a place. Good job!

    1. It truly is!! So much to discover 🙂

  4. Beautiful pictures!

    1. Thank you so very much!!

  5. Awesome stuff as usual. High production quality. Keep up the amazing work!

    1. Thank you so much!! So kind of you 🙂

  6. Sounds great. Beautiful pics

    1. Thank you so much!!!

  7. Lovely Article, would love to Isreal visit one day! 😊🙏💕

  8. These pictures are so beautiful!! I love the outfits!!

    1. Thank you so much!!!

  9. I haven’t been to a flea market for many months… over a year. Love an eclectic and interesting flea market. It looks like you found a fabulous one. Love the boots!

    1. Oooo thank you! We got the boots second hand the day before we took this shoot 🙂 I hope you can visit a flea market soon! They’re so much fun 🙂

      1. Nice! I hope so too and yes, they are. 😀

  10. Looks amazing. Was that recent?

    1. Thank you! Yes it was from just a few weeks ago 😊 things were open in Israel just for a little bit… But now we’re in lockdown again 😔

      1. I’m off to Sweden fingers crossed. Never can be sure….

      2. Ooo sounds amazing!! Hope it all works out 😍

      3. Ooooops! No. Just spoke to Embassy and only people living and working there. You have to prove you’ve got a business meeting for any kind of leeway. Back to the drawing board 😂

      4. Oh nooo I know the struggles of trying to find a place to travel! It’s certainly hard as very few countries are open!

      5. I cancelled Mexico because MC is in lockdown, now I’m thinking there again! Maybe Merida

      6. Oh nooo what a bummer! I know some Eastern European countries are open, also Turkey and multiple countries in East Africa. Not sure what you’re thinking about but hope you manage to find somewhere nice!

      7. Turkey would be great. Cheers I’ll check tomorrow x

      8. Yesss it’s an amazing country as well!! Hope you can visit one day 🙂

      9. Belarus now I think! It’s open!!!!

      10. Ooo yess! Seems like a very unique place! 🙂

      11. Starting looking into it tomorrow. No visa and you can stay a month

      12. Sounds perfect!! I hope it works out 🙂

  11. It would have been nice to visit Haifa when I was there, but my tour did not go there.

    1. Yess very few tours go there and usually only to see the Bahai Gardens if they do. Maybe if you visit Israel again one day you can stop by! 🙂

  12. Your pictures are amazing! I can’t wait to visit Israel again just to check out your reccommendations! 🙂

    1. Oh wow thank you so much! We’d be so happy if our pictures could be an inspiration to you! 🙂

  13. This is my THIRD attempt at thanking you for liking, commenting on and following my little blog! You seem like really nice people. I have followed your blog coz I adore fashion. Enjoy the year ahead and your successful business.

    1. thanks so much!!

  14. That flea market looks incredible… what a place

    1. It’s really such a cool place! Always find so many goodies when we visit 🙂

  15. Unfortunately my visit to Israel didn’t include Haifa, there wasn’t enough time for a working gal. Nonetheless, we did enjoy our visit there and shall remember it always. Enjoyed this post particularly.,

    1. Thank you so much!! A bummer that you didn’t get to visit Haifa on your trip to Israel….but hopefully next time 🙂

  16. Being someone who loves to rummage through piles of old dusty stuff and inhale that old smell of history – this market, and especially the mentioned shop looks like a pilgrimage 🙂 very interesting read indeed!

    1. Ooo wow I’m sure you would love it so very much! It’s really an amazing place 🙂

  17. Amazing photos – you guys are way too cool for me 🙂

    1. Hahahahaha thanksss ….and nahhhh…define cool hahahaha

  18. This was a great blog! Makes me want to visit this market. Thanks ladies 😀

    1. Thanks so much! I hope you are able to visit one day! 🙂

  19. Hey@colorfulsisters, thank you for checking out my website. You definitely got yourselves I nice site going yourselfs and pictures look amazing. How can I get to travel with you? Haha Mabye in the future?! Looks like fun to me. Wish you both the best and I will make sure to see where you end up next.

    The MMA Historian
    Adam

    1. Hi Adam, thank you for likewise checking ours out! And thank you for the encouragement! We’re so happy that you appreciate! Danielle and Brooke 🙂

  20. Liked & Shared. Thank you. Happy & Prosperous 2021.

    1. Thank you so very much!!

  21. Hi, Colorful Sisters, I stopped by to welcome you to annieasksyou! I hope you’ll visit as often as you can and comment as you see fit.

    And now I see the treasure trove you’ve created. I’ll be back when I can make a leisurely visit.

    Cheers!
    Annie

    1. Hi Annie! Thank you as well!! Hope you’ll be back again too 🙂

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