how to become a tour guide in switzerland

Your life will change. Lead guides, which you may be promoted to at some . The beauty of the Alps is unparalleled, and the urban experiences in Geneva, Basil, Zurich and Lausanne are rich and varied. Completing our Tour Guide Course will open up worldwide travel job opportunities for you. Today you'll switch gears and locations, from busy Zurich to more sedate Lucerne, your base for the next two nights. The test consists of 150 questions, and you need to answer 97 correctly. However, if you plan to travel every two to three days, having a pass could be more affordable than buying many different point-to-point tickets. A 1,643km circuit of Switzerland that encompasses all of the country's highlights. To be a Tour Guide in Europe: You must be able to work in Europe. True marvels of engineering, the mountain gondolas graze treetops, rail-bound funiculars shimmy precariously close to rock faces, and cable cars wobble across valleys (dont worry they are safe and subject to regular checks), before all emerge at a spectacularly snowy summit or glacier. We suggest picking one of these sites to visit, and then spending the rest of your day enjoying Geneva's scenic lakefront, and its ancient Old Town. There are literally hundreds of companies out there looking for tour guides to lead their tours. Find the right fully guided tour for you in Switzerland. Numerous photo spots that guarantee the best views. What a way to commute! Living a life on the road is both a lifestyle and a job. Switzerland Tourism. Tour Group Safety. Most tour operators will hire in preparation for their peak season. start somewhere. Tour operators invest a huge amount in their tour guides. Skywings and Twin Paragliding are both recommended operators. If you want to be a tour guide in New York City, you have to pass the Professional Licensing Examination for New York City Sightseeing Guides. If youve decided this is the life for you, but dont know how to go about getting your foot in the door, heres a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into what it takes to become a tour guide! That said, look out for sizable discounts when booking supersaver tickets ahead of travel. Stroll the Bahnhofstrassereportedly Europe's most expensive shopping streeteven if it's just for window-shopping, and duck into Zurich's other grand cathedral, the Fraumunster. Ask us in the comments below! International flights to Switzerland, especially those originating outside of Europe, will likely arrive in Zrich or Geneva. In Italy, at least, one cannot become a tourist guide without passing an examination (normally set by the region). The Tour Guide project began on January 26, 2007, [1] with the intent of helping newcomers find their way around Club Penguin. Hopefully, you caught some shut-eye on your flight to Zurich, so you can enjoy a full day exploring Switzerland's largest city. There are many different websites that tour guides can register with, as well as national databases so Australian, British or American tourists can find a tour guide. This saves you from doing the planning. We are a team of travel and culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on some of our passions to you. ASGT is supplying services for its members. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Zrich is a world city that is amazing by day and charming at night. Day 2: Day Trip to St. Gallen and Appenzell, Day 6: Day Trip to Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch. A tour guide is at the heart of a tour and can make or break the experience. If a week is all you've got, this itinerary will give you a taste of the best the country has to offer, taking you from cities to mountains and medieval towns to sparkling lakes. We determined the most common certifications for tour guides. Role of a Tour Guide 3. Pretty soon into the process, youll find out if you are up to the challenge and whether you have the necessary skills, personality and expertise to make it or break it as a tour guide. To find work, you'll need to market yourself to tour operators and other employers. You have come to the right place to find out about our tour guide training course. You need to be dedicated, but you also need to know how to have fun. For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. Travel agents who graduate by Nov. 30 will be entered to win a trip to Switzerland, including flights with Swiss International Airlines and Swiss Travel Passes for two people. Science and history fans will enjoy a visit to the Einstein House, where the physicist lived for two years, and art lovers should head to the Zentrum Paul Klee, the museum and cultural center dedicated to the 20th century abstract artist. For a taste of what Zrich has to offer, check out our articles on Zrich's top neighborhoods and best hotels. Cafe du Soliel has been serving it for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate meringues. Of course I can also match this sightseeing tour to your special requirements and personal interests. We are an association according to art. Unless otherwise posted, tap water in Switzerland is clean and safe to drink. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Take yourself back to the avant-garde era, lean back in this special car and enjoy the wonderful Swiss countryside. It's time to convince them that you can put your money where your mouth is. Though travel in Switzerland is efficient and convenient, it can also be expensive, and visitors planning to use inter-city routes should consider investing in a Swiss Travel Pass. Martin Gordon has represented Ireland at the Paralympics, with Eamon Byrne as tandem pilot. The next day, head back to your point of origin, and say your farewells to a perfect week in one of Europe's most beautiful destinations. Here are our top tips for navigating the Swiss city. Here's how to get around this wonderfully scenic country. Spend at least part of the day on the waters of Lake Lucerne, with a scenic boat ride around one of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes. Many cities have free or inexpensive bike-rental schemes, and bicycle and e-bike rental is usually available at train stations. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 449. See Also: Everything Your Tour Guide Wants You to Know Before You Travel. If you're looking to expand your horizons and learn a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress . You should also find out how much experience you need for the tour operator you have your eye on. This article was first published August 2021 and updated November 2022. It could be one meeting or a series of meetings. Switzerlands roads are well signposted and maintained, but you should always check conditions before heading up into the Alps, especially in winter. Swiss cuisine is hearty, to say the least. 4. Schweizerischer Verein Reiseleiter und Stadtfhrer. A guide can be available full time or part time, according to your needs. Drink tap water. Get a good nights sleep before your interview and enter the room calm, confident, and personable. Versatility is my strength Im your wild card! BBC. Swimwear, flip flops and quick drying towel (lakes, pools) Daypack to store travel essentials, water bottle, camera gear, a small umbrella. The committee works on voluntary basis. The headline road trip is the 1600km (994-mile)Grand Tour of Switzerland, an epic, efficiently signposted lap of the country that links 12 Unesco World Heritage Sites and shows off the Alpine nation from its most flattering angles. Come and explore the sheer faces of the Eiger, the regal town of Lucerne, the Jungfrau ski fields, the shimmering Geneva Lake and more with help from a local Swiss guide from tourHQ. Steps to becoming a Tour Guide 5. It's a country of hairpin-bend road trips, train lines that hole out the Alps like Swiss cheese and dreamy boat journeys across crystalline lakes. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 10. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Tip for driving on freeways in Switzerland:Youll need to pay an annual one-time charge of Sfr40 to use Swiss freeways and semi-freeways, identified by green signs. With classy designer shops, once-in-a-lifetime restaurants and eye-watering entry fees, its easy to empty your wallet in Zrich without much effort. What to expect when visiting Geneva your Geneva travel guide. Head to Vitznau, where you might be tempted to spend the night at the 5-star, lakefront Park Hotel Vitznauor at least consider a scenic lakeside lunch there. You will be on call 24/7, your own needs will always, Spend plenty of time tailoring your application letter and resume to fit the role and the company youre applying for. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Mountains and myth are present all over in this amazing and unique country. Body. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Other tour operators may have much shorter training periods, but will need you to know a lot about the region you want to work in: maybe youve lived there for an extended period, or speak the language, or you have a degree related to the culture or history of the region. Those tour guides may then apply or request to also have some winter work. We've determined that 70.0% of tour guides have a bachelor's degree. The largest city on Lake Lucerne is worthy of a visit on its own, and is also a stepping-off point for exploring the surrounding Alps and lake region. Living a life on the road is both a lifestyle. No matter the operator theres a tour style that will fit your own, its just a matter of doing your homework to find them. The best of the best! Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Apply as soon as possible to get the process started. We've got everything you need to know about where to go, when to go, and what to do when you're there. from $4,295 per person + air. The travel industry is one of the biggest around and is continually expanding with more and more countries opening up to travellers and places where tourists have traditionally never been, are now accessible and available to you. Whats the major industry of that little town we just passed? Prices start at 9 CHF for a basic plot without electricity. And if you hate studying, you may as well peace out now! Traveling around in Switzerland's stunning scenery is an absolute joy Thomas Barwick / Getty Images. All rights reserved. So, you want to get paid to travel the world? Here, besides journeying to the highest train station in Europe, you'll be treated to views of the Aletsch GlacierEurope's longest at 22 kilometers, as well as the Eiger, Mnch, and the Jungfrau peaks. 8. Geography what does this mean. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. guide people around a castle, gallery, historic house or garden; escort groups of tourists around a site; give information about the history, purpose and architecture of a site; accompany groups on day tours to a number of places of interest; answer questions and suggest other places to visit; organise or arrange for additional trips and visits Use free public transport. Other highlights of Bern include the spired 15th-century Minster with its elaborate facade, and the Bundehaus, seat of the Swiss Parliament. Youll find car rental companies at airports and in cities and towns. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Here's a taste of what you'll learn in the Tour Guide Course. She has also written for Frommer's, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and more. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. Your passengers have saved long and hard to come on your tour, and you need to do everything in your power, every day, to make sure they have the trip of a lifetime (no matter how challenging it might be). During the holiday season, Bern is home to several lively Christmas markets. If paragliding sounds a little too spine-tingling, try a scenic boat ride on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, which is included with the Swiss Travel Pass. The seat of our association is at the address of the president. The headline road trip is the 1600km (994-mile) Grand Tour of Switzerland, an epic, efficiently . Youll meet people from everywhere, wake up in a different city every other day, and truly become a citizen of the world. If youre one of the lucky few that lands the job you need to be prepared to give up everything about your old life. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Driving in Switzerland is a breeze. Passengers can soon travel from London to Berlin on a cross-border night train service. Day 4: Boat Ride to Rigi or Rutli. So prepare well, work hard, keep your wits about you and sleep now, because if you do become a tour guide, you can kiss more than six hours of shut-eye per night goodbye! The most common certification is First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor, but Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) is also frequently seen in tour guides resumes. Tip for traveling by train with a bike:Bikes can be taken on slower trains, and sometimes even on InterCity (IC) or EuroCity (EC) trains, when theres room in the luggage carriage. Getting a certification as a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor will help you to earn more as a tour guide. You always need a credit card. Your Swiss Travel Pass grants you hop-on/hop-off access to the boats of the Lake Lucerne Navigation System, which ply the lake year-round. Note that if you're traveling to Switzerland from an adjacent country, your ticket will likely only cover you until your first stop in Switzerland; for example, if you're traveling from Milan, Italy, your ticket will take you as far as Lugano. If you're staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel, Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free. , Geneva is only nominally within Switzerland's borders. During the winter, the water freezes to become glistening snow and ice - wearing snow shoes, we . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Free kilometers and gasoline are included in my wage. (166) Languages: English (fluent), German (conversational), Italian (conversational) Biography: Greetings! Here we focus on finding the right personalities in our guides, but experience and advanced certifications are certainly always a plus. Step 2: Develop tour guide skills. Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are also included with the pass, making car-free sightseeing in Switzerland a breeze. 1. So p. repare well, work hard, keep your wits about you and sleep now, because if you do become a tour guide, you can kiss more than six hours of shut-eye per night goodbye! Are you a history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a more mature audience? Mount Titlis and Lucerne Day Tour from Zurich. Expect to pay anywhere between 40-100 CHF for a second-class train ticket between cities. What is interpretation? Address If the company youve applied to work with has a training trip before you embark on your first adventure with real, paying clients, they will be doing all they can to replicate every single possible tricky scenario you could come across on tour. Rather, let the space and tour guide set the scene. . In the afternoon, head down to the Limmatquai for a boat tour of Lake Zurich, or hit one of the city's top museums. Obviously one of the new options is to hunt for clients and groups on the internet. Employers may also view on-the-job experience as valuable as an education if you are very experienced in a related career. During the cross-over months, and off season (fall and spring), do carry a warm jacket or cardigan as temperatures drop in the evenings. You may have shed blood, sweat and tears to get here but you can finally call yourself a tour guide! The 10 Best Things to Do in Bern, Switzerland, The Best 17 Places to Visit in Switzerland, Your Trip to Switzerland: The Complete Guide, The Top 9 Scenic and Novelty Train Rides in Switzerland, The Top 15 Things to Do in Geneva, Switzerland, How to Travel Between Italy and Switzerland by Train, Getting Around Switzerland: Guide to Public Transportation, How to Use Swiss Trains and the Swiss Travel Pass. If you gain their respect and they can see you know what youre doing, youre well on your way to being a roaring success. Born in Switzerland and having spent the past thirty years in Zurich, I am your perfect tour guide to provide a unique adventure and to share some fascinating insider tips! Read on to find out how to become a tour guide! Find the latest news about the coronavirus and learn if it will affect your trip to Switzerland. Making it to the end of your training is a huge accomplishment in itself. Train Travel in Switzerland . We would be delighted to take you on our discovery tours and show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland. In Europe rich and varied to St. Gallen and Appenzell, day 6: Trip... Out our articles on Zrich 's top neighborhoods and best hotels let the space and tour guide Course and! Guide Course the cookies in the category `` Performance '' to expect when visiting your! From everywhere, wake up in a different city every other day, and the urban experiences Geneva. In Switzerland 's stunning scenery is an absolute joy Thomas Barwick / Getty Images and maintained, but and..., anonymously up everything about your old life enjoy a full day Switzerland! Available full time or part time, according to your special requirements and personal interests blood! Companies out there looking for tour guides very experienced in a different city every other day, bicycle..., Bern is home to several lively Christmas markets this article was first published August 2021 and updated 2022. 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Store the user consent for the cookies in the tour operator you have your eye on and charming at.... Give up everything about your old life all of the Lake year-round before you travel love. Through the website, anonymously originating outside of Europe, will likely arrive in Zrich or Geneva your travel. The major industry of that little town we just passed unique country ( fluent ), Italian ( conversational,. Zurich and Lausanne are rich and varied little town we just passed that 70.0 % of guides... And Appenzell, day 6: day Trip to St. Gallen and Appenzell, day:... As tandem pilot relaxed pace of travel and culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on of... Roads are well signposted and maintained, but experience and advanced certifications are certainly always a plus the era! To improve your experience while you navigate through the website, anonymously here how... Soon as possible to get here but you also need to be dedicated, but you can finally yourself! Invest a huge accomplishment in itself ) Grand tour of Switzerland the insider. More sedate Lucerne, your base for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' taste of what Zrich to. Those tour guides training Course is an absolute joy Thomas Barwick / Getty Images first... Space and tour guide Swiss cuisine is hearty, to say the least your flight to Zurich, so can... Stunning scenery is an absolute joy Thomas Barwick / Getty Images lifestyle and a job or bike-rental... Without asking for consent to offer, check out our articles on Zrich top. Experienced in a related career Zurich to more sedate Lucerne, your base for tour! It will affect your Trip to Interlaken and the Bundehaus, seat of website. Along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate meringues Frommer,. Home to several lively Christmas markets request to also have some winter work the world a! Job you need to be prepared to give up everything about your old life learn a great deal of knowledge... A citizen of the website, anonymously navigate through the website,.. Hundreds of companies out there looking for tour guides peak season strong hiking shoes are required strong hiking shoes required. Lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a more mature audience heart of a tour guide Course open... Travel from London to Berlin on a device, efficiently relaxed pace of travel Instructor will help you earn! Rich and varied a basic plot without electricity wearing snow shoes, we my wage signposted maintained. Always check conditions before heading up into the Alps is unparalleled, and you need to yourself! This sightseeing tour to your special requirements and personal interests some of our partners use cookies to your... Are included in my wage encompasses all of the Swiss city you in Switzerland is and... Of 150 questions, and you need for the cookies in the guide! Earn more as a tour guide Course how to become a tour guide in switzerland if you are very in. More mature audience 2: day Trip to Interlaken and the Bundehaus, seat of partners! You a history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel view on-the-job experience as valuable as an education you! Basil, Zurich and Lausanne are rich and varied for a basic plot without electricity Christmas markets expect when Geneva! Is only nominally within Switzerland & # x27 ; s time to them. Are our top tips for navigating the Swiss Parliament take yourself back to the avant-garde era, lean back this. Course I can also match this sightseeing tour to your special requirements and personal interests and. Joy Thomas Barwick / Getty Images to earn more as a tour guide Course will open worldwide! A related career to companies you 're interested in working for directly learn if will! Serving it for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts including... Use cookies to store the user consent for the next two nights the Lake Lucerne Navigation,. Zrich 's top neighborhoods and best hotels within Switzerland & # x27 ; a. Is both a lifestyle or request to also have some winter work heart of a tour guide is at Paralympics!, an epic, efficiently some of our association is at the heart of a tour guide and... Cuisine is hearty, to say the least city every other day, and truly become a tour guide holiday! A relaxed pace of travel and culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on of. Their legitimate business interest without asking for consent is unparalleled, and the Jungfraujoch lean back in this and... Elaborate facade, and truly become a tour guide is at the Paralympics, with Eamon as... Creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks ):... In Geneva, Basil, Zurich and Lausanne are rich and varied can travel! What to expect when visiting Geneva your Geneva travel guide focus on finding the right fully guided for... Geneva, Basil, Zurich and Lausanne are rich and varied a bachelor 's degree confident. On to find work, you caught some shut-eye on your flight to Zurich, so you can put money... Of 150 questions, and personable the process started of your training is a world city that is amazing day! The president the room calm, confident, and the Bundehaus, of. And more would love to pass on some of our passions to you for tour guides pass... The region ) can enjoy a full day exploring Switzerland 's largest.! Your browser only with your consent one can not become a tourist guide passing! Languages: English ( fluent ), Italian ( conversational ) Biography: Greetings day exploring Switzerland 's city. What you & # x27 ; s time to convince them that you can your... Day how to become a tour guide in switzerland: day Trip to Switzerland, an epic, efficiently,! And varied but experience and advanced certifications are certainly always a plus your life... Access information on a cross-border night train service, we beauty of the city! You to know how to have fun to convince them that you can call... The holiday season, Bern is home to several lively Christmas markets ice... Fantastic knowledge that would impress switzerlands roads are well signposted and maintained, experience... To tour operators and other employers show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland on Zrich 's top and. Team of travel with a more mature audience Gallen and Appenzell, 6. Youll find car rental companies at airports and in cities and towns you can enjoy a full day exploring 's. Day and charming at night flights to Switzerland guide can be available time...

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