Toisen aarre on Papinkatu (Papinkatu 20) is Tampere's largest curated second hand department store — over 1,000 m². In Tampere, second hand increasingly means tidy presentation and real finds, not just a cluttered hall.
Why Tampere?
Tampere has a strong industrial and craft heritage. The city is used to valuing durable, well-made goods — not throwing them away. This shows in second hand culture: here you'll find more quality old furniture, Finnish design tableware and genuine vintage clothing than in most other Finnish cities.
Tampere is also a university city where recycling is part of everyday life. This keeps the offering fresh and varied — sellers change, goods move.
What second hand means — and what it doesn't
It's important to distinguish two different things. A flea market is a self-service hall where anyone can rent a stall and sell anything. A second hand department store is something else: goods are selected, displayed and priced — just like in a real shop.
The difference is about time and the likelihood of finding something. At a flea market you may wade through hours before a find. In a curated second hand store every shelf is designed so finds are possible the moment you walk in.
Toisen aarre — Tampere's largest second hand department store
Toisen aarre on Papinkatu is clearly the city's biggest curated second hand destination. Over 1,000 square metres — a large space — but everything is displayed neatly. Furniture in order, design tableware in its own section, clothes in their own area.
Staff help assess what is rare, what is valuable and what is well priced. A curated selection is not random: goods are chosen and display planned so finds are easier.
“It has been tidied up and curated into a really great place. Design glass, furniture and incredible retro gear.”— Customer, Kirpputorit24
The selection changes weekly. Sellers bring new goods continuously, so the same shelf looks different week to week. This is one reason regulars visit often — not because they have to, but because they want to see what's new.
What to look for in Tampere
Scandinavian design and ceramics. Arabia, Iittala, Rörstrand, Gustavsberg. Finnish and Nordic 1960–1980s ceramics and glass move well in Tampere — there are both sellers and buyers. You'll find everyday sets and rare collector pieces.
Antique furniture. 1950–1970s Scandinavian furniture — armchair, chest of drawers, bedside table — is a category where Tampere does well. The city has had plenty of housing from that era, and these pieces enter the reuse cycle reliably.
Vintage clothing. Tampere is a student city and it shows: vintage clothing circulates actively. Linen, natural materials, 80–90s branded clothes. Finds often take several visits, but they reward.
Books and collectibles. Books and collectibles are strong in Tampere's second hand offering. Vinyl records move well too.
Tips for shopping
Come on a weekday. Weekends are busy, but weekday mornings are when suppliers have visited — meaning the freshest goods have just hit the shelves.
Ask staff: they help find rare items and tell you where to look. You don't get that from an online shop.
Visit often. Second hand rewards regulars. A new find won't wait.
Come to Papinkatu. You'll find something you didn't know to look for.