Welcome to the first day of our Advent Calendar series – I’m glad you’re joining us for this!
From now through December 24, if you’re opted-in, you’ll receive a daily post from me and the wider AWS team via email, or you can check back here to find the latest entries.
We’ll be sharing a mix of reflections, travel moments, seasonal notes, holiday insights from around the world and maybe even a few behind-the-scenes updates from the work we’re doing. Think of it as a steady December companion as we countdown to Christmas, one small piece at a time.
To start things off, I’m sharing something exciting we’ve been working on: our 2026 Christmas tours, which open today for everyone. Below is the full announcement, including all of the itineraries (bar one, keep reading to find out why). If you’ve ever considered joining us for a holiday trip, this gives you the full picture of what we’re offering next year:
🇫🇷 Paris & Strasbourg Christmas 2026
Our original, beloved Christmas tour, one that has had guests returning to do it again! You’ll get to be a temporary local on the cozy Ile Saint Louis, strolling Christmas markets, cooking with a Parisian chef, enjoying a Christmas concert, and soaking in Parisian life off season. We will also take a day trip on the TGV high speed train to enjoy one of Europe’s legendary Christmas markets in Strasbourg. Led by Lucca.
🇦🇹 Vienna & Salzburg Christmas 2026
Vienna is famous for its bustling Christmas markets, but there’s more to see at the holidays, including Christmas concerts and carriage rides through snowy, lighted streets. This year’s tour will also stay in the lovely alpine city of Salzburg, famous for “The Sound of Music” and full of Tyrolean character. Led by Sarah and Andrew.
🇨🇿🇭🇺 Prague & Budapest Christmas 2026
Our guests have raved about our Budapest Christmas tour, and now, with Prague, our tour will take us further into Eastern European holiday traditions. Our tour will also venture into Moravia and explore some smaller villages on the way to Budapest. Led by Andrew and Gabor.
🇩🇰 Copenhagen Christmas 2026
For a Nordic Christmas, our Copenhagen tour will delight you with sparkle, great food, walking tours and a delightful atmosphere. Led by our Danish guide Nina.
🇩🇪 German Christmas Markets 2026 — “Trust Me” Edition
This year’s signature release, and the tour I’m most looking forward to personally. Following the format of our “Trust Me” tour that I recently wrapped up in Rome, this trip will not publish its itinerary in advance.
Our Trust Me tours were a concept that Andrew and I came up with after discussing how social media has had a troubling effect on the joy of travel. Travel should be full of spontaneous delight, but little is a surprise these days. Group tours also lack the spark of individual discovery, so we thought we’d make every day an unexpected surprise. Unconventional, yes, but our guests have loved every day being a new gift to unwrap.
This tour will cover two or three German cities, and will include walking tours, a cooking class, fun meals, and whatever other nonsense I come up with. You’ll receive information on your arrival and departure cities at least 6 months before the tour departs. This tour will be led by me!
And that’s Day 1. I’m excited to finally share these tours publicly, and even more excited to spend the next few weeks together as we work through this Advent series.
If you’ve joined one of our Christmas tours before – or if you’re thinking about it for 2026 – feel free to reach out with questions. We’re here to help you pick the right fit.
More tomorrow,
Sarah
