Secondhand Shopping in Hannover

I have a problem. It’s not a new problem, but Germany didn’t help. I went secondhand shopping  in Hannover, found a vintage bakelite hand-crank telephone, a retro JVC radio cassette player, and a gorgeous old suitcase and I had to walk away from all of them. Luggage restrictions are the natural enemy of the travelling secondhand shopper, and I learned this lesson the hard way in Hannover.

If you’re planning a trip and you’re anything like me, you’ll want to know where to go before you arrive. So here’s what I found, what I would have bought, some tips. And I’ve popped all the ones I visited on a map.

Secondhand Shops

I only had a limited time in Hannover but I was pleasantly surprised by the secondhand stores I did manage to squeeze in. I visited four shops in total, a mix of secondhand shops and a couple of clothes-only stores. Here’s the rundown.

fairKauf – The One That Got Away

 

fairKauf (which roughly translates to “fair purchase”) is the secondhand shopping experience I wasn’t expecting. Spread across five floors in the city centre, it’s a proper secondhand department store stocked with donations, clothing, books, homewares, furniture, tech, toys, and more. The further up you go, the more interesting it gets, with the retro and vintage pieces mostly living on the upper floors.

That’s where I found them. A JVC radio cassette player for 25 euro. A beautiful old black bakelite hand-crank telephone for 30 euro. A vintage suitcase that would have looked perfect in my lounge. All completely reasonable prices and all completely impossible to get home. I took photos instead and tried not to think about it too hard.

There’s also a genuinely lovely story behind the shop. fairKauf is a non-profit cooperative and uses the proceeds from sales to employ and train long-term unemployed people, so every purchase goes towards something worthwhile. It’s the kind of place where the op shopping feels good on multiple levels.

One thing to know before you go: you pay separately on each floor rather than at a single checkout. I’d read about this quirk in reviews and it genuinely catches people out, you can’t load up a basket across multiple floors and pay at the end. Keep cash or your card handy as you go up.

Oxfam Hannover

 

The Oxfam on Karmarschstraße felt familiar in the best way – clean, well organised, and the kind of shop where things are actually priced to sell. It reminded me of op shops back home in New Zealand, you’ll feel right at home here.

I spotted two gorgeous old wooden sewing boxes, one priced at 15 euro and the other at 12.50 euro, which is frankly excellent value. There was also a bed coverlet for just 5 euro. Nothing earth-shattering, but solid finds at honest prices, and the shop has a good craft and haberdashery section worth a browse if that’s your thing.

Secondhand Clothing

I also popped into Einzigartig/Stilfrei (second hand & Kreatives) and Vintage Queen Secondhand Hannover while I was exploring the city, both were mostly clothing. Worth knowing if homewares and retro pieces are your priority – skip these and spend the extra time at fairKauf instead. If you’re after secondhand fashion though, they’re worth a look. For their location see the map link above.

Tips for Secondhand Shopping in Hannover

Hard-won wisdom from someone who left a bakelite telephone in Germany:

• Sort your luggage situation before you go. Seriously. If you’re anything like me, you will find things you want. Either travel with an empty bag or pack a foldable tote that can come home as checked luggage. I cannot stress this enough.
• Go to the top floor at fairKauf first. that’s where the good retro stuff lives. Work your way down rather than up or you’ll run out of time and energy before you get there.
• Map out the Stores beforehand This help make sure you’re not wandering all over and retracing your steps
• Bring card and some cash. Most places accept card, but having a few euro on hand never hurts.
• Don’t rush fairKauf Five floors takes time, especially if you’re a proper browser. Give yourself at least an hour, ideally more.

 

Hannover Secondhand Shop Video

 

Final Word

Secondhand Shopping in Hannover is a great way to slow down and see a city differently. If you’re spending a few days in Hannover, it pairs well with a wander through the Altstadt or a coffee stop somewhere nearby. To get the most out of your visit read all about the different experiences in Hannover

Happy op shopping, Jenny x

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Local treasures

items in the shop from New Zealand