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Kaysersberg Christmas market: when to go and how
In brief
The Kaysersberg Christmas market runs from 27 November to 20 December 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 to 8. Around thirty chalets bring together craftspeople vetted each year by the organising association, in the Cour de l'Arsenal and behind Sainte-Croix church. The centre is pedestrianised: three park-and-ride sites serve the village by shuttle.
Kaysersberg runs a market with vetted exhibitors, which sets it apart from most Alsatian markets. It opens only three days a week, and every year that catches out visitors who turn up on a Tuesday. This page covers the market and its practical constraints; what to see in the village the rest of the year is dealt with elsewhere.
A market with vetted exhibitors
The association that runs the market reviews applications every year and accepts only goods made in France by the stallholder. No reselling of imported items, which is rare for a market of this profile. The categories stay consistent from one edition to the next: wooden toys, textile pieces, tree decorations, leatherwork, blown glass baubles. The result is a market that is dearer and smaller than others, but where you rarely leave with something seen in ten other villages.
Where the chalets stand
Around thirty wooden chalets are laid out across two main areas, among the half-timbered houses of the old town. The Cour de l'Arsenal, behind the tourist office chalet, concentrates the crafts. The second group sits behind Sainte-Croix church. Walking between them takes five minutes, and it is this small scale that explains why an hour and a half to two hours is enough, against three for Colmar.
2026 dates and opening hours
From 27 November to 20 December 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 in the morning to 8 at night. The market therefore covers the four Advent weekends and nothing else. This is the constraint people most often miss: a midweek trip finds a decorated, lit village but not a single open chalet. Check the day before fixing your itinerary, especially if you are chaining several villages.
Parking and getting into the village
The centre is closed to traffic on market days. Three park-and-ride sites are set up at the village entrances, linked to the centre by a free shuttle on Saturdays and Sundays. The valley is narrow and the road single: from 11 in the morning on a Saturday the queue starts before the village entrance. Arriving before 10.30, or being dropped straight at the edge of the pedestrian zone, changes the day entirely.
Friday rather than Saturday
Of the three opening days, Friday is by far the quietest. Coach groups come mainly on Saturday, and Sunday afternoon draws the regional crowd. A Friday in early December, between 3 and 6 in the afternoon, offers the best balance of light and numbers. The last hour, between 7 and 8, is also calm, but several craftspeople start packing up.
What the market does not replace
The market occupies two areas of the town; the rest of the village carries on. The fortified bridge over the Weiss, Sainte-Croix church and its altarpiece, and the climb to the castle can be visited alongside and take another hour. A Fortwenger shop sells all year the gingerbread of the house founded in 1768 at Gertwiller. For what to see in the village and where to taste wine, the page devoted to Kaysersberg covers the subject.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kaysersberg Christmas market in 2026?
From 27 November to 20 December 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 to 8. It covers the four Advent weekends.
Is the Kaysersberg Christmas market open midweek?
No. From Monday to Thursday the chalets are closed. The village stays decorated and lit, but there is no market.
Where do you park for the Kaysersberg Christmas market?
The centre is pedestrianised on market days. Three park-and-ride sites sit at the village entrances, with a free shuttle to the centre on Saturdays and Sundays. The access road saturates from mid-morning on Saturdays.
How long do you need at the Kaysersberg market?
An hour and a half to two hours for the market alone. Allow another hour for the fortified bridge, the church and the climb to the castle.
What does an authentic Christmas market mean?
At Kaysersberg it means the organising association vets the exhibitors: only craftspeople manufacturing in France themselves are accepted, excluding the resale of imported goods.
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