Meet Our Team

Get to know the people behind Art of Touring

Nadia Dadgostar

Founder & Managing Director

Born in Teheran in 1976, Nadia was raised in Isfahan (Iran), and Florence (Italy). She has resided in Germany since 1991. Throughout the years, these three cultures exerted a massive impact on Nadia’s mentality and business philosophy, combining the best of all three worlds: the hospitality of the Iranian people, the versatility of the Italians, and the efficiency of the Germans.

Nadia attended FHDW Business School where she received her MBA, followed by international internships in Asia and Europe. Since 2004, Nadia has been working as a tour guide and destination expert with a passion for sharing the cultural wealth of the Cologne & the Rhineland region.

“I believe our approach to guided tours is unique but actually quite simple. In a nutshell, our philosophy at Art of Touring is to treat every single one of our clients’ tours and events as if we were planning them for ourselves.”

Hobbies and recreational activities: Nadia loves traveling. Active holidays are her passion, such as long bike rides in the Alps or traveling through Australia with a camper van. Nadia speaks 4 languages: German, English, Italian, and Farsi.

Megan Arzbaecher

Marketing Manager

Originally from the United States, Megan is a passionate travel & food expert now living in Cologne. Travel has been a major part of Megan’s life, shaping her career path and personal ambitions. She completed her MBA in sustainable tourism management at CBS International Business School. She has ten years experience working in the travel industry, specifically in content marketing, travel writing and web design. Megan has traveled to 60 different countries on all 7 continents.

“My favorite thing about Cologne is the people. When I first moved to Germany, I was worried I would feel like an outsider not knowing the language or culture. But the people of Cologne immediately felt open and warm. It is a nice feeling when people smile at you on the street or start chatting with you while waiting in line. It makes Cologne feel like home now.”

Hobbies and recreational activities: Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and two cats, taking care of her 50+ houseplants, riding bicycles, and cooking vegan food.

Benny Bach

Tour Guide Supervisor

Born in Brazil and raised in a Brazilian-Italian household, Benny moved to Germany in 2021. Growing up between two cultures and later adapting to life in a third country strongly shaped his mindset, communication style, and cultural sensitivity. He is currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Information Systems while working as a tour guide. Benny supports both the operational and organizational side of our tours, helping ensure smooth workflows, clear communication, and a high-quality guest experience.

“For me, a great tour is not just about facts and landmarks. It’s about making people feel welcome, understood, and genuinely connected to the place they’re visiting. I want to provide an incredible experience for my guests, not a history class.”

Hobbies and recreational activities: He enjoys traveling, discovering new cities, fitness and hikes, and learning about history and different cultures. Benny speaks Portuguese, English, and German.

Kesi Haxhiu

Tour Operations Assistant

Originally from Albania, Kesi is a tour guide & tour operations assistant. With a background in linguistics and a strong interest in travel and culture, she enjoys working with international guests and contributing to smooth, well-organized tour experiences. Her work focuses on clear communication, reliability, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. She holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Cologne and feels especially comfortable in multilingual and multicultural environments.

“What I enjoy most about Cologne is its character — a mix of history, humor, and everyday life, influenced by its international and multicultural vibe. It’s a city that feels real and easy to connect with.”

Hobbies and recreational activities: She enjoys traveling and exploring the historical sites of each place she visits, always curious to learn more about local history and culture.

Our Expert Tour Guides

Meet a handful of the tour guides on the Art of Touring team. These are the folks walking the streets of Cologne each and every day, showing off this amazing city!