Who are the greeters?


  • The word "greeter" is derived from the English word "to greet".
  • The Greeter idea originated in New York. Since 1992, New York Greeters have been welcoming guests from near and far and showing them the best parts of the city – in a very individual and personal way. We call such a walk a "Greet."
  • Greeters now exist in many countries around the world. In Germany, 24 cities already offer greets.
  • Our motto "Come as a guest, leave as a friend" expresses that we want to show our guests Nuremberg in a Greet the way we show it to a friend.
  • That's why the greets are free! We enjoy volunteering. Our reward is the wonderful encounter with people who initially seem like strangers... But after the 2-3 hours a greet lasts, you feel like you're no longer strangers. Therefore, the group size is limited to a maximum of 6 people. (Greeters do not accept tips, but the association appreciates a small donation).
  • Greeters are usually people who enjoy traveling themselves. They are open-minded and want to share the wonderful things they have experienced while traveling. We Nuremberg Greeters love our city and want our guests to experience the same.
  • We want to make it clear that we are not a competitor to the city's tourism offerings. We are not professional tour guides, but rather complement the tourist offerings of our city.


All Greeters worldwide share the following core values:


  • Volunteer locals
    Greeters are volunteers, a friendly face for visitors to a city/destination.
  • Small groups of up to six people
    Greeters welcome individuals and can supervise small groups of up to six people.
  • Free of charge
    Meeting a greeter is free of charge.
  • No discrimination
    All visitors and volunteers are welcome without any discrimination.
  • Sustainable tourism
    Greeters support sustainable tourism. They respect the natural and man-made environment and enrich local communities both culturally and economically. Greeters strive to maintain a lasting positive image of their destination.
  • Cultural exchange
    Greeter organizations create a mutually enriching opportunity for cultural exchange and build connections between people to create a better world.


Lynn Brooks – how it all began in 1992


This is the story of Lynn Brooks, founder of Big Apple Greeter, the very first Greeter destination.

Born and raised in the early 1900s, Lynn lived her life in New York, where she sadly passed away in 2013.

Lynn always loved her city. Of course, she knew that New York had faced some tough times, especially at the end of the last century. However, she decided to change that image and change the world, ‘even if it's just a little bit,’ she said. She came up with Greeters, and the idea was as simple as it was brilliant: "I want other people to understand New York the way I do. I want them to experience the city the way I do. All I have to do is invite visitors to spend time with me or a New York resident – to show them the hidden and beautiful life in this city. We'll show them the delicatessen where we get our sweets, tell them about the beautiful music events in smaller theatres, explain how to get around, tell them about our lives." Lynn began talking about the idea with friends and people who could support her. Big Apple Greeters was founded in 1992. The local press picked up her story, as did the national press, and through them, visitors. Visitors were inspired by the experience and some started their own greeter organisations. So in 2005, Lynn and her colleagues organised a meeting to which all greeter organisations around the world were invited – thus founding the Global Greeter Network, the predecessor of the International Greeter Association. In 2002, ten years after Lynn founded Big Apple Greeters, there were five Greeter destinations (cities) worldwide; in 2010 there were around 25, and by 2015 we had already exceeded 100! The concept shows that it touches people all over the world. We therefore expect the number of Greeter destinations to increase rapidly in the coming years. By 2024, there were 47 countries and 171 destinations.