The Guides’ School of Greece is a three and a half years university state Institution authorized and run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Greece. Its purpose is to teach and prepare the future official licensed Guides of Greece for practicing their profession, which is to present and represent their country worldwide.
The courses of the school include 28 different subjects/lessons, the main being History (Ancient, Byzantine and Modern), Archaeology (Prehistoric, Classical, Byzantine and Post Byzantine) and History of Arts. The 25 secondary lessons varry and include from History of the ancient theater and architecture, Mythology, History of the ancient Greek literature, Geology, Geography and Ethnology down to Economics, Psychology, First aid and Orthophony.
Having to pass some of Greece’ most difficult university entry, semester and exit exams and of course after being tested in languages, one graduates after three and a half years of study, as an official licensed Guide and that authorizes one to work as a Guide all over Greece.
All official licensed Guides of Greece graduates from the Guides’ School of Greece should wear on them their official badge when guiding.The official Guides’ badge has a photo of the guide, the name of the guide written in Greek and Latin/English, the languages that she/he is allowed to guide on and her/his code number. It necessarily also carries the stamp of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Anyone not having that badge is NOT an official licensed Tour Guide and must NOT be trusted.