Do you send holiday greeting cards? A charming tradition, isn’t it?
Now, imagine sending your seasonal wishes from somewhere in the heart of Europe. What would you say?
Would you mention how the storybook streets of Colmar become even more colorful beneath festive lights? Would you share the fun of making gingerbread cookies in Nuremberg, and how difficult it is to actually share one once it’s done? Or would you simply send a picture of yourself overlooking the Swiss Alps and spread a little winter joy to the entire world?
Well, bring the stamps, because this year, your travelers may be sending their wishes from far beyond their living rooms.
And here’s what that might look like.
Greetings From France — Celebrating Alsace the Local Way
You'll wish you were here! Strasbourg and Colmar are even more enchanting during the holidays, when their famous holiday markets fill the streets with festive color and the villages of Alsace seem to step straight out of a storybook.
Beyond the markets, the region can be discovered through its traditions. We're talking baking bredele cookies in a local home, wandering through Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, and Riquewihr, and settling into an Alsatian wine cellar for a private tasting before dinner at one of the region’s celebrated restaurants.
Perfect for: Food lovers, couples, and repeat Europe travelers
Greetings From Austria — The Sound of Christmas
Austria brings in the festivities with seasonal concerts, glowing Advent markets, and warm coffeehouses made for lingering and basking in the scent of a fresh brew.
Vienna and Salzburg can be explored in all their glowing glory with a private local guide. Resonant Advent concerts hit all the right notes. And a visit to the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf brings you to the birthplace of one of the world's most beloved carols.
Meanwhile, those dreaming of a truly Alpine Christmas can continue to Lech Zürs and celebrate the holidays among snow-covered peaks and winter luxury.
Perfect for: Luxury travelers, culture lovers, and festive romantics
Greetings From Switzerland — Alpine Magic for All Ages
If cheese and chocolate don't spell "festive," we don't know what does.
From lakeside Christmas markets to snow-dusted mountain villages, Switzerland turns the holiday season into a winter postcard of its own. Scenic rail journeys let you savor its Alpine landscapes in full , while taking the family to Santa’s mountain retreat guarantees an experience that will leave you with memories sweeter than a plate of milk and cookies.
Perfect for: Multigenerational families and couples
Greetings From Germany — Where Holiday Markets Began
Speaking of cookies. Germany is a land of gingerbread, glowing market stalls, and some seriously festive history.
In Nuremberg, a hands-on gingerbread baking class reveals the secrets of the city's most delicious traditions before letting the sugar rush fuel an exploration of one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. From there, journeys to Regensburg, Passau, or Colognemake natural additions to Danube and Rhine River cruises.
Just remember: all other gingerbread may never taste the same again after this.
Perfect for: History lovers, food lovers, and river cruise clients
Greetings From Hungary — Budapest Festivities After Dark
Hungary hits the lights and makes the holidays look even better after dark.
Budapest glows like a warm beacon of atmospheric market squares and glittering historic facades, while a dip in the city’s legendary thermal baths promise more steam than a cup of mulled wine on a cold winter day. And who could resist admiring the city's greatest ornament, the neo-Gothic Parliament building, from aboard a private evening cruise along the illuminated Danube?
A little winter magic, a little indulgence, and a city that knows how to lighten things up.
Perfect for: Couples and celebratory travel
Greetings From the Netherlands — A Festive Crescendo on the Rhine
Ending a festive river cruise through Europe in Amsterdam with canal-side celebrations and private culinary experiences guarantees a windmill of emotions. Sorry, whirlwind of emotions.
Not to mention that taking to its waters after dark on a private boat during the Light Festival turns the city into a floating, luminescent museum of modern art. Meanwhile, in Valkenburg, Christmas markets unfold inside extraordinary underground caves (hopefully without Grinches) and the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas traces the roots of a familiar holiday guest that we now know as Santa Claus.
Perfect for: River cruise clients, families, and travelers seeking something different
Greetings From Croatia — A Holiday Surprise
Croatia has been setting a new travel standard for a while, and it certainly doesn't let it slip during the holidays.
Repeatedly voted as one of Europe’s standout Advent destinations, the capital combines festive charm, local atmosphere, and excellent value. And you don't have to look far beyond its shimmering streets, immersive Advent celebrations, and legendary Christmas market to embrace a holiday atmosphere that feels a little different from the classic Central European circuit.
For travelers who've already drunk their share of mulled wine across Europe, consider this an invitation to send their next holiday postcard from somewhere truly unexpected.
Perfect for: Repeat travelers
Holiday Availability
European holiday magic starts weaving its charms quite early, with the most desirable hotels in Strasbourg, Colmar, Vienna, Salzburg, and Zurich beginning to fill up very quickly.
Private guides and specialty experiences also face limited availability throughout the Advent season, especially around the most sought-after travel dates.
So, for travelers who plan on making their holiday season a bit more European, now is the perfect time to start.
Holiday Wishes from the Rhine or the Danube
Will your travelers be writing their festive wishes from aboard a European river cruise? Then why not give them something to write about by river cruising into the holiday season with Shorex by Travelive’s Pre- & Post-Cruise Packages and Private Shore Experiences?
Because the best river cruise journeys don’t always begin when travelers step aboard or end when they disembark. Adding a few extra nights before or after the sailing makes the most of the destinations along the way and gives travelers more time to experience Europe at its most magical season.
With private transfers, festive touring, local experiences, and carefully planned shore excursions, Shorex by Travelive can help turn a river cruise into an even more rewarding and gift-wrapped journey.
- Basel, Lucerne, or Zurich: 2–3 nights with private transfers
- Vienna: Private festive touring and Christmas markets
- Munich: Beer gardens and Christmas markets
- Budapest: Thermal baths and evening experiences
- Amsterdam: Canal-side festivities and cultural discoveries
Private Shore Experiences for Shorex
Shorex by Travelive can tailor private shore experiences as an alternative to the standard group excursions offered by cruise lines in destinations such as Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest, giving travelers a more personal way to experience the destinations along their cruise.
Warmest Wishes
Stocking up on envelopes yet?
Whether elevating river cruises, creating festive country extensions, or simply spending the holiday season somewhere new, Europe offers plenty to wish for.
And with Shorex by Travelive, your travelers can experience it beyond the usual Christmas markets, from private festive touring and local traditions to memorable shore experiences and carefully planned pre- and post-cruise stays.
So, if your travelers are ready to greet the holidays in Europe, contact Travelive at [email protected] and start penning their festive escape today.
