This year, skip the guesswork and gift something people actually remember: time together, guided by experts.
Context offers scholar-led walking tours and experiences in 70+ destinations worldwide designed for curious travelers who love history, art, food, and the stories that stitch them together.
Whether you're shopping for a history buff, art enthusiast, or someone simply looking for more meaningful travel, Context Travel has curated experiences that will leave a lasting impact. This holiday season, look beyond the physical presents and cherish new moments with loved ones. Gift the joy of time spent together, because these moments, once lived, become treasures forever.
Need a quick gift? Context Travel gift cards are delivered instantly for an "I'm thinking of you" moment that will be remembered for years to come.
What's Inside
Holiday Tours
Hanukkah & Jewish Heritage
Cold-Weather Crowd Pleasers
For Foodies: Tastes of the Season
At-Home Gifts: Audio Guides and Talks
How to Gift a Tour
FAQs
Holiday Tours
These festive walks only run in late November through January and they sell out early. Ideal for families, couples, and anyone who loves cities in their winter finery.
New York City Holiday Season Tour: Traverse the sparkling streets of New York during the festive season, from the iconic 5th Avenue to the shimmering Rockefeller Plaza, where the monumental Christmas tree lights up the cityscape.
Paris Holiday Food Tour: Delight your palate with Parisian yuletide treats. This gastronomic journey lets you savor the seasonal flavors, from roasted chestnuts to indulgent pastries, revealing the French capital's culinary holiday traditions.
Christmas in Naples Tour: Experience the magic of an Italian Christmas in the heart of Naples. Wander through the vibrant streets, and immerse yourself in festive traditions, local crafts, and the world-renowned nativity scenes.
Vienna Christmas Market Tour: Warm punch, roasted chestnuts, and seasonal treats, all couched in the stories behind Vienna’s markets, as told by a local historian.
Rome Holiday Food Tour: Panettone, torrone, and twinkling lanes. Get ready to taste your way through Rome’s seasonal specialties in the the vibrant Piazza Benedetto Cairoli and the Jewish Ghetto.
Tip: Prime dates around the first two weeks of December and the week between Christmas and New Year’s go quickly. If you have set dates, grab them now.
Hanukkah and Jewish Heritage
Give a meaningful encounter with Jewish history and today's culture. These experiences are powerful during Hanukkah, but they resonate any time of year.
Jewish Amsterdam Tour: Visit both sefardim and ashkenizim synagogues, including the stunning Portuguese Synagogue, and learn about the history of Jewish people in Amsterdam from pre-WWII to today.
Jewish Prague Synagogue Tour: Explore synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the layered identity of “the city of a hundred spires.”
Jewish Berlin History Tour: Explore the triumphs and sorrows of Jewish thinkers, artists, public figures, and everyday people who have called Berlin home. Visit the New Synagogue and Berlin's Jewish Quarter while tracing the 800-year history of Berlin’s Jewish population.
Jewish Buenos Aires History Tour: From Once to AMIA, examine immigration, tragedy, and vibrant contemporary life in Latin America’s largest Jewish community.
Cold Weather Crowd Pleasers
When it’s chilly, go where the masterpieces live. These tours keep you toasty while feeding the mind and are great for mixed‑age and interest groups.
Vatican Highlights Express Tour with Sistine Chapel: Explore stories of popes, patrons, and Michelangelo. Glide through the must‑sees without the overwhelm: a curated path from classical sculpture to the Sistine ceiling, with the stories that make each room click.
Louvre Highlights Tour: A structured circuit linking Egyptian antiquities, Italian Renaissance icons, and French masterpieces—anchored by a simple framework for reading art so you can navigate the museum on your own later.
British Museum Tour for Kids: Hands‑on storytelling turns mummies, marbles, and myths into puzzles kids can solve, without losing the adult‑level depth. Expect object handling (where permitted) and guided discovery.
Uffizi Gallery Tour: Trace how ideas traveled—from guild workshops to Medici courts—while standing before Botticelli, Leonardo, and Caravaggio. Guides provide tips for looking at Renaissance art.
Prado Museum Tour: Move from court portraiture to political critique with Velázquez and Goya as anchors, reading brushwork and symbolism like a pro.
Rijksmuseum Tour: Vermeer’s quiet rooms, Rembrandt’s drama, and the trade networks that paid for them are tied together in a crisp, thematic route that beats museum fatigue.
Private or small‑group: Many of these run in both formats during peak travel months. Choose what fits your moment (family trip, reunion, gift for two).
For Foodies: Tastes of the Season
Craving a deeper connection to the flavors that define a city? Let our Context food writers, chefs, and foodies take you to the vibrant markets and local shops where you can taste the authentic flavors of a destination.
London Food Tour: Essentials of British Food Culture: Meet shop owners, taste artisanal products, and learn how London has become a culinary mecca that never fails to surprise.
Barcelona Food Tour: La Boqueria Market: Learn to order like a Catalan, spot quality jamón, and map the market to wider Barcelona food culture, tasting everything from convent sweets to cutting‑edge tapas.
Lisbon Food Tour: Chiado and Baixa Neighborhoods: — Taste pastéis de nata at a benchmark bakery, then sample bacalhau and conservas while your guide connects recipes to maritime history and today’s food scene in Lisbon.
Tokyo Food Tour: Savoring Tsukiji Outer Market: Navigate etiquette and seasonal seafood with a food scholar. Sample a variety of key ingredients, such as a rainbow of pickled things (tsukemono), Japanese plums (ume), tamagoyaki, and other diverse culinary ingredients.
At-Home Gifts: Audio Guides and Talks
No‑shipping, no planning. Get instant‑delivery gifts for the curious, perfect stocking‑stuffers or add‑ons to a future trip.
Audio Guides: Self‑paced, expert‑narrated walks allow travelers to explore a destination on their own time. Using your own headphones, enjoy the guidance of a well-respected Context historian in your ear. Stop and start at any point; perfect for popping into local shops or pausing for a bite.
Pre-Trip Talks: Deep‑dive sessions with historians, archaeologists, and chefs allow you to gather information before a trip or explore from the comfort of your home.
How to Gift a Tour
Option A: Gift Card
Choose a gift card amount, add a personal message, and checkout. (You will need the recipient's email address.) Feel free to send your gift to the recipient immediately, or you can also schedule it to be delivered on a specific date.
Your gift recipient can redeem their gift card for any Context tour when they’re ready.
Option B: Book a Specific Experience
Pick a tour and date.
Add recipient details at checkout. This will include full name, age, and any accessibility or dietary needs. Don't worry, you can still keep it a surprise!
We’ll send a polished confirmation you can forward or print.
Need help? Our team can recommend tours based on interests, mobility, and group size.
FAQs
When should I book?
Popular dates (early December, Christmas week, New Year’s week) fill first. If you have fixed travel dates, book now; if you’re flexible, consider weekday mornings.
Can I gift something last‑minute?
Yes! Gift Cards and At‑Home Gifts deliver instantly via email.
Are these tours accessible for kids and grandparents?
Yes. Many of our walks are family‑friendly, and we can tailor the pace and content. Let us know mobility needs at checkout.
What if the weather is bad?
We tour in all seasons and weather conditions. If your tour will be outdoors, come prepared with warm clothing and comfortable, but warm shoes.
Takeaways
This season, remember that memories and experiences often last much longer than physical gifts. Gather with your loved ones near and far for a walking tour, online pre-trip talk, or audio guide, or consider giving the gift of deep, immersive experiences with a Context Gift Card.
When you gift a Context Experience, you're not just giving a gift; you're providing a gateway to a world of exploration and understanding. Embrace the true spirit of the season by sharing experiences that resonate, inspire, and continue to give long after the holidays have passed.
