CIEE HS Summer Abroad: Arts & Architecture in Athens

Once the powerful center of Classical civilization, Athens today is a Mediterranean metropolis of over 3 million, where ancient temples and modern street life share the same sunlit streets. Join a community of curious, design-loving teens and spend your summer exploring one of the world's most inspiring cities as you develop our own 3-D cardboard model for an original architectural concept.

Through hands-on classes and sketchbook-in-hand city walks, you'll explore how architecture reflects identity, shapes society, and adapts to change. Learn from professional architects, historians, and archaeologists who’ll help you decode Athenian design—from the ancient open-air theater Odeon of Herodes Atticus to the soaring columns of the Parthenon.

And there’s time for pure adventure, too. Eat souvlaki in bustling squares, shop for vintage finds, and watch the Parthenon light up the night. Travel to the seaside town of Nafplio and the mountain villages of Corinthia. All the while, ask yourself what kind of story you want your designs to tell—and dare to dream about the possibilities of your own future.