Culture, Mythology, History: Study In Greece!

Greece, the country of white and blue, is located in southeast Europe at the junction of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The country’s unique geography consists of two peninsulas and more than 6,000 islands. The diverse landscape is filled with some the world’s most well known ruins, and it’s easy to see how both democracy and mythology were born among the brilliant landscape in Greece.

Hop on a ferry to travel across islands and experience the history that Greece offers. Hop on a ferry to travel across islands and experience the history that Greece offers.
Photo by Jonathan Miers

Join The Crowd: Greece For Study Abroad. Athens, Greece’s capital and largest city, has been one of the top 10 cities in the world for study abroad for many years. It is an inviting city full of all the experiences a curious traveler and student could want. Athens is an easy hub for other travels as well. Since the metropolis offers both new and old, it is a great place for immersion and diversity.

The county’s history and general location make it a very popular site for shorter term cultural and art programs that include the main historical sites and some island hopping. But, everything from 10 day tours to year long exchanges are available. GoAbroad offers links to 45 organizations that offer an array of programs there so you can hunt by location, time and program of study.

The Mediterranean climate offers lots of sunshine and minimal rainfall, but the mountains provide cooler temperatures year-round. Northern Greece has more extreme temperatures with very hot summers and freezing winters. May through June and September through October are the recommended travel seasons, and some of the islands actually close during the winter.

While you do need a passport to study abroad in Greece, usually a student visa is not required. Check for the requirement of entry for your home country on the passport and visa page of Greece’s tourism site.

Celebrate Ancient History In Modern Times. There are several festivals and events which commemorate Greece’s long and storied history. Some festivals last for months and overlap, which makes finding a lively festival in Greece as easy as turning a corner. One of the best known is the Hellenic Festival, held in Athens. It uses some of the ancient theatres as festival venues, and lasts from June to September.

Studying abroad in Greece means daily contact with esteemed culture and history. Greece’s famous landmarks include ancient cities where stories of heroes and epic battles began and ended. Here, one can take firsthand looks into one of the world’s most studied and influential societies. Ancient Greeks created groundbreaking art, architecture, and philosophy. Their legacy comes to life vividly with visits to the Acropolis, the city of Troy, and the original school in Athens where Aristotle taught. Troy houses more than 4,000 years of history and is a keystone in understanding the development of European civilization. It is the site of the epic story of the Trojan horse delivered by the Spartans and made famous by Homer’s Iliad.

Getting Around: Greece And Beyond. Since Greece is made up of thousands of islands, ferries are a main mode of transportation. It is easy to find ferries from neighboring countries and inter-island after arrival. There are also buses and trains that run daily between the main cities. They connect with the crossing points of the neighboring countries of Albania, Macedonia, Turkey and Bulgaria as well.

About the Author
Annie Bierbower

Annie is originally from Nebraska and graduated with a BA in Mass Media Communications and a minor in Graphic Design from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She spent her last semester studying and volunteering abroad in Lima, Perú fueled by a desire to learn Spanish and experience the culture of South America. She has dreamed of traveling for as long as she can remember and started saving by putting dollar bills in a shoebox as a child. She interned in videography and worked as a Production Assistant for the local television station in college. After graduation, she worked as a newspaper reporter and in bilingual customer service before finding her ideal position as a Content Manager with GoAbroad. Her free time is filled with hiking, volleyball, and eating ice cream.