Christmas tree decorations

I have been doing the same for our grandchildren for the past 22 years. Admittedly, I always buy one for our own tree too. So much fun! Cannot speak for those specific cities but, regardless of month of travel, I have found interesting ornaments in all parts of the world: Europe, Africa, SE Asia, South America, Middle East as well as Native American and US artisan made. Have had the best luck in small, local craft shops. Happy shopping!

For ornaments I buy key chains that have the picture of the place.we are visiting such as Windsor. Hampton Court etc. Then when home I take the ornament part of the key chain off and use ribbon to be able to hang on the tree. It takes up such little room in luggage and is a good visual of the place we have been. Plus it is very cost effective.

I have always found ornaments available all year round in Europe. Perhaps each grandchild could choose a theme, like Santa's, reindeers, Xmas trees, snowmen, etc.
Have a great trip!

I bought a whole tote full of ornaments for myself, sister-in-law and friends when I did the same tour in June. You can visit all during your free time.

Here’s my suggestions where I found the best selection:
Berlin: Kaethe Wohlfart Christmas specialty shop, https://www.kaethe-wohlfahrt.com/en/home/
I shopped there the day before the tour started; Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche is a block away.
Ampelmann stores didn’t have ornaments but had cute key chains. https://www.ampelmann.de/en/discover-berlin/with-the-ampelmaennchen-on-tour-in-berlin/ampelmann-shops/
Prague: Christmas Shop Praha, no website but you can find info on Google maps. As you leave Prague Castle, there is a long flight of stairs. The store is half way down the stairs. I had to ask a policeman for directions.
Vienna: Cecconi is small but has nativity and pewter ornaments. located behind St Stephan’s. https://cecconi.shop/
The gift shop at the Spanish Riding School has ornaments, key chains and cute horse book markers.

Enjoy your tour. It’s interesting but intense because of the 20th Century history. Plan ahead to get tickets to the Bundestag/Reichstag tour, not just the dome, when you’re in Berlin. https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/tours

What may be fun is to look for cookie cutters that are in the shape of the landmarks in each city. Attach a colorful ribbon and you have a unique ornament for each city.

Museum shops, especially art museum shops, almost always have a year-round Christmas ornament section. Same for major cathedrals or their adjacent museums. Definitely you should be able to find something to start the tradition at the Kunsthistorisches in Vienna or the Louvre in Paris, based on artwork specific to those places. Or another option might be to purchase the postcard or a notecard of your favorite piece of art and turn it into an ornament with some ribbon when you get home.

I always buy a Christmas tree ornament for new places we visit. I have never had trouble finding them any time of the year. Smaller shops have panned out better for me.

I have never traveled during the Christmas season but I have a large collection of ornaments I have brought back from Europe so they are always available. If you're on a tour you can always ask the guide for suggestions on where to find them. But I think you'll find that you see them most places you go. Also as others have said, you'll find cool things that may not be specifically Christmas ornaments but will make interesting ornaments on the tree anyway.

I have always had a tradition of buying a Christmas ornament wherever we go--local trips, Europe or Latin America or other parts of North America. Along with a nutcracker collection I try to add to when I can. In fact we now are starting to cut back and not buy one on every trip--too many boxes!

Also as others have said, you'll find cool things that may not be specifically Christmas ornaments but will make interesting ornaments >on the tree anyway.

We spent a week in Provence in the summer. At a small museum shop I found the perfect "ornament" that said "Provence" to me. A small gold tone Cicada brooch. Inexpensive costume jewelry, it was probably my most out of the box thinking for a perfect ornament :)

We also have bought Christmas ornaments , or things we can use as ornaments, all over the world. They continue to bring us and our family joy as we remember our travels.

Wow wow WOW! What great suggestions from all of you. So appreciated.

You’ve helped me think outside the box. I am an (honorary) Grandmother to 2 sets of girl twins…1 year olds and 3 year olds. My idea was to start giving them decorations that would be just for them. Something they didn’t need to share. Now I’m thinking that giving them something from a meaningful (to me) place, will create memories for them and enhance my relationship with each of them. I can tell them stories about the places these decorations represent. As a few of you suggested, they don’t need to be about Christmas

Syd, that cicada brooch was such a find! What a great memory of a special place.
Gail, love the idea of keychain ornaments. Who wouldn’t like hanging the Eiffel Tower from their tree?
History Traveler, thank you for suggesting actual stores on my route.
Horsewoofie, we’ve had a few discussions about this tour. Letting me know that I can find those shops (and giving me directions!), and knowing I can get there during my free time on the tour is so helpful.
Pat, if I let the girls choose a theme, there would be a plethora of unicorns hanging from the tree!

I just pack carry on, but I think I may need to leave a few T-shirts behind so I will have room in my bag. I intend to get enough decorations for a few years of gifts for all 4 girls. At some time, I’ll get each of them a red velvet lined pretty box to store their own decorations.
I may have just as much fun gathering these treasures as going on the tour.

Thank you all.