The 11 Best Thrift Stores in Europe

It’s all about charity shops in Dublin, and Capel Street is a fashion center downtown with a visit-worthy selection among its five charity shops. Here look for Irish Cancer Society Shop for books and a great selection of lightly worn clothing as well as trinkets, ceramics and household items; it’s also a good place to stock up for winter warm stuff among friendly and enthusiastic staff.

Look for Ireland-made goods throughout to bring home truly sustainable memories. I was thrilled to find some barely used knit baby clothes, some with Irish motifs, for just a euro each…and so was my daughter who had just had a baby girl a couple months before my trip.

Hint: Charity shops are also called Op Shops throughout the UK and Ireland as well as the Commonwealth, like Australia.

Northern Ireland tends to be a bit less expensive than the country of Ireland, making thrifting even more intriguing. The pound is the currency here and the city is a great mix of established families and young student energy.

 Fortunately for us thrifters, given the proliferation of tags still hanging on donated good, people with money to spend on high-end fashion tend to wear and discard their clothing and, many times, forget to wear the pieces at all. On Lisburne Street, look for The Marie Curie shop where a nicely curated selection of donated clothing fulfills hip fashion needs as well as budgetary constraints.

When in Madrid, do what the Spaniards do and head for the Humana charity stores. These are Spain’s equivalent to Goodwill Stores and they can be found throughout the country. Although the one in Centro Madrid has high end merchandise and slightly elevated prices, the store has an organized layout, is clean and more boutique than “secondhand” shop. 

In Madrid, there are also plenty of for-profit and unique upscale vintage shops, making the city truly a haven for those looking for sustainable fashion. Wherever you are in the city, start with a Humana Store and then go from there. Humana can be found in Centro, Palacio, Lavapies, Atiha and other parts of the city.

Humana remains the destination for secondhand charity items and there are many scattered throughout Barcelona and, as is true throughout Spain, proceeds go to charity. In Barcelona, with its arts culture and ready supply of tourists, thrift also takes a twist with its line of Humana Vintage, which is a more curated, slightly more expensive version of the original.  

Check out Humana Vintage for real discounts during their happy hour where many items are discounted.

I wrote about thrifting in Paris last year in this publication and the fact remains that it is a great city to discover high-quality secondhand finds. Paris can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be (at least when it comes to shopping). 

Check out Emmaus and Emmaus Boutique for finds throughout the city that are 100% charitable and represent sustainability at its truest. In the Emmaus Boutique discover designer bags, shoes, and clothes in excellent condition for a minimal price at a shop staffed with no attitude and all helpfulness, a rarity in Paris. Emmaus is where to find less-curated clothing selections, furniture, books, and decor.

For best thrift picking go a bit outside of Paris to Versailles where everything is a bit cheaper, including hotels, at a quick train ride away. Emmaus stores can be found in Marseilles, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, and other places you may want to visit and thrift along the way.

Finding a coat with timeless style—and necessary warmth—was a major coup for me, and finding deals throughout London did not end with that prized purchase. When my partner and I head to London, we go for the theatre, where we can find amazing seats at a fraction of New York’s Broadway prices, but we also go to shop at the charity thrift stores.

In the city of London, the best thrifting can be found near the more affluent residential areas like Chelsea, Clappam, Parson’s Green, and Fulham. Without knowing my luck last November, our boutique inn happened to be in Fulham, where, every time we had a break from the West End, I shopped. Check out the FARA stores which is a network of smaller boutiques that specialize in donated items that fit a category like children’s clothing, décor, or women’s upscale pieces. I scored barely-used French and Italian toddler clothes, including Petit Bateau and Jacadi, for about 2 pounds each.

Cyprus is an island at the intersection of Europe and Asia with a long and tumultuous history. Now an independent nation, Cyprus is finding its way onto maps of contemporary travelers who seek a new and authentic experience. The citizens of previously feuding nations now share the island to enjoy its wild and savage beauty and its many beaches.

The best way to shop sustainably and give back on Cyprus is by visiting the PASYKAF charity shops in the towns of Lemesos, Pafos, Larnaca and Paraliimni. PASYKAF stands for the Association of Cancer Patients and Friends and the shops are packed with donated goods like clothing and housewares that serve perfectly as sustainable souvenirs reflecting the Cypriot culture.

 Heartwarmingly, the stores are staffed by volunteers, many with family and friends affected by cancer.

As in Spain, Humana is big throughout Italy and there are several in Rome that give back and Humana Vintage in the area of Rione VI Parione is well organized and in a cool architecturally interesting store tucked under ancient arches.

For other cool vintage, look especially in neighborhoods like Trastevere where a popular thrift store called Twice Vintage sets the standard with loads of used clothing and accessories arranged with care by a savvy staff. Many pieces here are true rare finds and date to the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Can’t make it to Rome? Shop Twice Vintage online.

In the same area Sant’Egidio Soffitta Ecosolidale is a tucked away charmer that supports ecological efforts. “Soffitta” means attic in English.

In Venice, TIBERIADE in Santa Croce is where to go for your Venetian carnival finds like masks and accessories; all proceeds go to the church for charities working with disadvantaged individuals and families in need.

 With items arriving daily and Italian (only) speaking staff happy to help, this is a delightful way to support this unique one-off shop that benefits from both enthusiastic donors and buyers. Yes, this is a place for souvenirs and Italian fashion pieces at great prices; maybe some Murano glass or Venetian slippers. Search for Italian-made goods (check the labels) to feel the true luxury of thrift.

On the Way is a true charity shop where all proceeds go to help the homeless and socially disadvantaged. There’s a decent selection of decorative accessories and gift items as well as clothing, most in very good condition. Plenty of privately owned thrift shops can be found throughout the city, which is why its hip vibe is likened to Berlin, Germany.

Hip neighborhoods like Psiri and Exarchia have a great variety of bars, restaurants, and secondhand stores selling upcycled and cool vintage items.Try Patision Street for more reliable thrift.

Insider tip: Monastriki is the big flea market and many religious organizations have thrift shops and are known to throw bazaars in the weeks leading up to Christmas and Easter that are worth checking out.

In Berlin, Buzzer Berlin (formerly #HAHAYOUREULY) is an opportunity to take ugly old clothes and make them fresh, or “upcyced”. The store has metamorphosed from a flea market stall to chic boutique but the delicious one-off finds are still there as well as plenty of classic sweaters and trendy jackets ready for a new home. You only need a couple of bohemian style pieces to make a statement. What’s more: Germany loves a good eco story (households have no less than five bags to sort trash into recyclable categories), so this store fits the bill.