For the Bernkastel-Kues Christmas market, a practical option is the Altstadtparkhaus at Cusanusstraße 5a in Kues. It is open around the clock, has a 2-metre entrance clearance and its own tariff: the first daytime hour is free, then 1.50 euros per hour up to 12 euros. From there you walk across the Moselle to the market in Bernkastel's old town. The Bernkastel-Kues guide covers parking alongside routes for your day.
Choose the right riverbank
The market is in Bernkastel, but parking in Kues can make sense, especially if your day begins with a cultural stop there. The Cusanus birthplace museum and the Cusanusstift are both in Kues, so you avoid extra driving between them. Afterwards you walk to the old town and the market.
Save your parking location, the return route and your planned parking duration before you walk away. The tourist office gives an estimated walk to the old town, but it is not a promise about your pace or an accessible route.
The Altstadtparkhaus in detail
Address: Cusanusstraße 5a, Kues
Hours: open around the clock
Height: 2-metre entrance clearance. With a taller vehicle or a roof box, check your actual vehicle height.
Daytime, 06:00 to 20:00: first hour free, then 1.50 euros per additional hour, up to 12 euros
Overnight, 20:00 to 06:00: 1 euro in total
A simple example from the guide: four daytime hours cost 4.50 euros, one free hour plus three hours at 1.50 euros. This only applies if your stay lies entirely within the daytime tariff. Check the display at the entrance and how charges are calculated when your stay crosses from day into night.
Other parking areas
Do not confuse the car park's tariff with the general charging hours of the riverside parking areas. Tourist information for the Nikolausufer gives prices that differ from older municipal publications. For that reason the guide does not claim one uniform tariff for every parking area. Check the current signs at the place you choose.
Municipal parking information identifies spaces for disabled visitors. The stated total does not match the itemised list, so the guide gives no number. Choose a specific area and check the signs, eligibility and the route onward.
Event days need extra time
On Saturday 5 December, the torchlight swim brings spectators to the Bernkastel riverbank around 18:00. On Saturday 19 December, Christmas fireworks with music are announced. Special events may change vehicle access or the walk from your space. On these days:
Check current closures and spectator guidance before you set off.
Arrive earlier and park before the evening build-up.
Plan the walk back to the car as part of the evening, not as an afterthought.
Consider the overnight tariff if you stay in town after 20:00.
If you arrive by car on a quieter weekday, the same car park works well for a relaxed afternoon in Kues followed by the market in Bernkastel.
Frequently asked questions
How much does parking cost at the Bernkastel-Kues Christmas market?
In the Altstadtparkhaus, the first daytime hour is free, then 1.50 euros per hour up to 12 euros. The overnight period costs 1 euro. Other areas have their own tariffs, so check the signs.
Is the Altstadtparkhaus suitable for vans?
The entrance clearance is 2 metres. Measure your vehicle including any roof box before you drive in.
Should I park in Bernkastel or Kues?
If you start with a museum in Kues, parking there avoids extra driving. For a market-only visit, compare the walk from each area.
Research status: 27 October 2026. Parking prices and access are planning information, so please check the signs on site and the official sources before you travel.
