THE ASSOCIATION OF
PHILADELPHIA TOUR GUIDES

Upcoming Meetings

November 11, 7-9 pm
Virtual by Zoom

Opening presentation “Preserving Minerva Parker Nichols, America’s First Solo Female Architect” by Molly Lester, the Associate Director of the Urban Heritage Project at PennPraxis, the nonprofit arm of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design at Penn.

more info >

FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE APT MEETINGS WILL BE HELD BY ZOOM, FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.

The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) holds monthly meetings the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm which feature a guest speaker on a topic of historical significance in Philadelphia or a field trip for a behind-the-scenes tour of a local historic site. Meetings are open to aspiring and working tour guides as well as anyone with an interest in Philadelphia-focused history. Attend one meeting for free and then it is $50 to join the association for the year or $10 per monthly meeting event. Please join us for convivial company, good food, fascinating presentations, and lively discussions.

2021 APT fees are waived for all 2020 members. If you have not yet joined or renewed your dues, now is the time!

ABOUT APT

The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) was founded in 2008 to bring professional and volunteer guides together, to act as a voice for our membership, and to ensure a high quality experience for every visitor in our city. The Association conducts the Education and Certification Program for Philadelphia city guides. APT, with a membership of 128 as of December 2019, is a Pennsylvania non-profit organization.

Philadelphia tour guides take great pride in the services they provide to visitors and local residents exploring the rich historical, architectural, and cultural resources of Philadelphia.

Recent reviews on APT

Wonderful tour guides who are great at story telling to weave the rich history of Philadelphia so visitors can re-live the experience in the City of Brotherly Love.

JP Nguyen

I just completed all four legs of the River to River 12 hour tour. Had a different guide for each section and they were all wonderful!

Thanks for a great day and also for the chance to have dinner with the guides! Excellent day!

Karin Rex

Discover the opportunities

Certification

The APT Guide Certification Programs assess basic and master competency for anyone wishing to work as a Philadelphia tour guide.

Membership

Everyone connected to Philadelphia’s thriving tourism industry is invited to join APT as well as anyone interested in Philadelphia and its history.

Training

The APT annual lecture series prepares tour guides while attracting many members of the public fascinated with Philadelphia history.

Membership Specialties

Philly guides are America’s top guides. Guides certified by the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) are the best in the city. Whether you need a walking, bus, bike, or running tour, on a general or specialized topic, we have you covered in every area of the city. Let us share with you the city we love!

Women’s History Tour
African American Tour
Master Guides Tour
Immigrant History Tour
LGBTQ History Tour

FIND A GUIDE

What’s New at APT

Statement of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides APT condemns systemic racism and institutionalized violence, acknowledges the problem of white privilege in historic storytelling, and pledges to play its part in the solution.

Avenue of Freedom Sixth Street in Philadelphia, a 10-block area from Vine to South, is unmatched in American history for its sites about African and American freedom leaders who rejected the profits and shackles of slavery.

Street Renaming Initiatives The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) headed up initiatives to rename parts of Market and Sixth Streets in honor of the founding fathers and black history.