Second-Hand Fashion In City Check

It has long been more than just a trend- Second-hand fashionis a statement, a lifestyle, and an expression of individuality. Whether out of a love for sustainability, a search for unique pieces, or simply for the joy of discovery, second-hand fashion inspires us to rethink fashion. If you are planning a city break in Germany and are a vintage fan, here are the best places to hunt for bargains.

Second-hand fashion is trending. This development has piqued the curiosity of Liebeskind Berlin, known for bags, shoes, belts, and accessories made from fine, natural leather: What does the second-hand landscape look like in Germany’s largest cities? They took a close look at the 30 largest cities in Germany in terms of population, as well as all state capitals – from brick-and-mortar second-hand stores to classified ads and planned flea markets.

The result? An exciting insight into Germany’s vibrant second-hand scene, which shows us that every city has its own unique style. For Liebeskind Berlin, second-hand fashion is an inspiring part of the fashion world—and a reminder of how individual it can be. While you discover your next vintage treasure, we’re here to complete your look with a new bag.

Cities with the most second-hand shops

Second-hand stores have long been more than just an alternative—they turn cities into real vintage hotspots. Medium-sized cities perform surprisingly well in this regard: Mainz leads the ranking with 9.97 second-hand stores per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Karlsruhe (9.72) and Braunschweig (9.53). University cities such as Augsburg (8.97) and Münster (8.72) also show that sustainable fashion is particularly popular among young, creative scenes.

And what about cities with over a million inhabitants? Here, there are some interesting differences: Cologne (7.74) is clearly ahead, while Berlin (6.18) and Hamburg (6.08) are in the middle of the pack despite their well-known vintage scenes. Munich follows with 5.88 stores per 100,000 inhabitants, while Duisburg brings up the rear among the major cities with only 2.39 stores.

Whether it’s a vibrant metropolis or a charming university town, the second-hand scene offers variety. Each city tells its own story and makes you want to discover the small and large treasures in its vintage stores.

Online treasure hunt: Here are the most offers

In addition to specialized platforms, classified ads are the place to be when it comes to digital vintage treasures. Since the option of free shipping is particularly important for used fashion, we also took a closer look at the online range of women’s and men’s clothing.

Kiel surprises as number 1: With 11,311 ads per 100,000 inhabitants, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein leads the ranking. Close behind are Hamburg (10,680) and Düsseldorf (10,631), showing that these fashion capitals are not only strong offline but also online – here, wardrobes are apparently regularly cleared out and restocked.

But there are also some unexpected highlights: Bielefeld (10,225) proves that it is more than just a myth, and Braunschweig (10,044) shows that vintage fashion is also booming outside the big cities. Even Munich (10,325), known for high-end shopping, shows its sustainable side – second-hand is just as popular here as luxury.

Things get exciting in cities that are catching up online: Hanover shines with 10,233 ads, even though it ranks in the middle of the pack when it comes to brick-and-mortar stores. Chemnitz (5,653), Mannheim (6,106), and Stuttgart (6,845), on the other hand, remain somewhat more cautious digitally, which shows that second-hand activity varies greatly depending on the region.

Weekend treasure hunt: These cities offer the most flea markets

Flea markets have a special atmosphere: browsing between the stalls, haggling over prices, and discovering unexpected treasures make them a popular destination for second-hand enthusiasts. With the warmer weather, the season is now officially open, so we’ve looked into where you’ll have the best chance of finding cool, second-hand items this year.

Of course, most markets are planned in the largest cities—where there is demand, there is supply—and vice versa. Hamburg leads the way with 244 markets planned (6.3 per weekend), with highlights such as the Isemarkt and the night flea market at Kampnagel. Berlin follows with 233 events (6 per weekend), including the Mauerpark flea market, which is known beyond the city limits. Cologne and Dortmund follow with 4.4 and 4.3 markets per weekend respectively, securing third and fourth place.

Surprisingly strong: Gelsenkirchen (3.9 markets per weekend), Augsburg (3.5), and Nuremberg (3.2). In Augsburg, the city market flea market is particularly popular, while in Nuremberg, the historic Trempelmarkt attracts many people. At the other end of the scale are Mannheim and Münster with only 0.2 flea markets per weekend. Despite their size, Stuttgart (1) and Munich (1.1) are also only in the bottom third. In Dresden, with around 2.0 markets per weekend, the figure is twice as high.

The data suggests that flea market culture depends not only on population size, but also on regional traditions and, not least, on the availability of event space. While large cities naturally offer more opportunities, medium-sized cities can also score points with an active flea market scene.

Second-hand champions: The most versatile cities for vintage lovers

Individual style comes from combining things. If you want to combine your new bag or accessories with vintage pieces to reflect your own personality, you can of course do so anywhere. However, some places offer a wider selection, considering the mix of brick-and-mortar stores, online offerings, and flea markets. Here are some of the vintage hotspots in Germany:

Hamburg turns out to be Germany’s true second-hand champion. The Hanseatic city offers everything: a solid density of stores, a strong online presence, and a vibrant flea market culture with 6.6 markets per weekend. From vintage stores in Schanze to the flea market at Isemarkt, Hamburg is a paradise for style hunters.

Augsburg, the surprise climber. This medium-sized city is right up there with the best in the second-hand league. With an impressive density of shops, a strong online offering, and a lively flea market scene, Augsburg is a real insider tip for vintage lovers far away from the usual fashion capitals.

Berlin remains Berlin – even in the second-hand world. The capital city displays typical contrasts: only mediocre when it comes to brick-and-mortar stores, but a flea market paradise with hotspots such as Mauerpark. Here, browsing becomes a weekend ritual and second-hand shopping a lifestyle event with international appeal.

Braunschweig surprises as a vintage gem in the north. The city scores with numerous stores and an active online market – a sign of a vibrant second-hand culture that successfully combines brick-and-mortar and digital shopping.

Kiel, Gelsenkirchen & Duisburg – the top flops list. Kiel shines online but falters when it comes to flea markets. Gelsenkirchen is a flea market paradise with a weak store inventory. Duisburg remains lackluster in all categories – second-hand culture does not seem to have really taken hold here yet.

Our analysis shows that the second-hand landscape is as diverse as fashion itself. Whether it’s relaxed browsing in stores, targeted online shopping, or the social flea market experience, different cities offer their own unique charms. However, the true vintage hotspots are those that combine all three worlds and thus offer the complete second-hand experience.

Methodology: How we researched the second-hand landscape

Brick-and-mortar second-hand stores: The number of second-hand clothing stores was researched in April 2025 using Google Maps. Only stores that sell used clothing were taken into account. To ensure comparability between cities of different sizes, we calculated the number of stores per 100,000 inhabitants.

Online offerings: To survey the digital second-hand landscape, we recorded the number of private ads for women’s and men’s clothing on eBay Kleinanzeigen per city on April 15, 2025. Here, too, the number of ads per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated for better comparability.

Flea markets: The number of planned flea markets and jumble sales from April to December 2025 was collected via specialized platforms such as meine-flohmarkt-termine.de. Only flea markets and jumble sales were taken into account. The value of flea markets per weekend is based on 37 remaining weekends, starting from April 17, 2025.

The 30 largest cities in Germany in terms of population were selected for the study, and the missing state capitals were added to ensure that each federal state was represented. Due to factors such as market cancellations or postponements, or daily changes in online offerings, there may be discrepancies in the data. The study provides a snapshot of the second-hand scene in spring 2025. Liebeskind does not guarantee or warrant the completeness of the content presented here.

Text/Quelle: Liebeskind, Berlin