Arts Study Abroad Programs in Greece

I recommend everyone study abroad! AIFS made the process seamless and easy. The experiences I had here exceeded my highest hopes. Greece was the perfect place for me and had many supports there. I’ll spend forever reminiscing on this incredible experience!

This program was the only study abroad that was able to offer me the courses I needed to stay on track. Since ACG is an entire university, there is a full course, meal plan, beautiful campus, a large amount of students there who are not study abroad students but Greek locals, giving a true immersion experience. The quality of education at the school was challenging and impressive. It is so cool to learn about history and foundational concepts in the classroom and go visit them in a museum the next day. AIFS treated us so well from taking us out to delicious dinners, to amazing educational excursions. The staff at AIFS, Alice, was such a joy and pleasure and made sure to make herself available for any of our needs.

When I decided I wanted to go abroad, I was nervous about a lot of things. First off, I was scared that when I went abroad I would have to settle for a location I did not want to be in because I needed my credits to transfer over. Luckily AIFS had a program in a wonderful city with a bunch of classes that would transfer back to my home university super well. When I chose this program, I was overjoyed but nervous about living in a homestay. When I got there I was happily surprised to find that my host family was amazing and provided me with an experience I would not have been able to have if I had been in a dorm/apt. The people that I met in the program were some of the coolest people I have ever known and am happy to call them my friends to this day. If you are looking for a great program in Paris where you have the freedom to meet new people, travel, and find yourself in a new place, I would 100% recommend this to you!

I know everybody says that studying abroad changed their life, and now I understand why. While I was in Athens, I was so taken out of my regular routine that I was able to reflect on the ways I was living my life. Now, back in the US, I'm so much more intentional with how I spend my time. The perspective gained from living in Athens is worth every risk I took studying abroad there. There's so much to do and explore that I never felt bored or tied down to a certain routine, which was an amazing way for me to get out of my comfort zone. Transportation was really cheap and easy to understand (after a few weeks of practice), which made traveling in Greece and to other countries very convenient. The professors at the American College of Greece were extremely kind and welcoming to study abroad students, and they were eager to answer any questions I had. The grading scale is a little wonky in Greece - your entire class grade is mostly made up of your final and midterm tests. The Greek students were pretty laid-back in my experience and asked questions less frequently than we do here. The WorldStrides excursions were one of my favorite parts of studying abroad in Greece. They were all included in the program and all amazing! We visited Hydra, Meteora, and many other fascinating parts of Greece that I wouldn't have known to explore without WorldStrides. Long story short, go to Athens!

During my 4 months abroad in Greece, I was immersed in the culture, traveled the world, met lifelong friends, tried wonderful food, and gained a good education that will help me later on in my career. I was able to gain a global mindset, which helped me grow so much personally and will follow me throughout my future career. I genuinely had the best time abroad and would do it again in a heartbeat.

My time studying in Athens was unparalleled. At first, the environment seemed hostile and unwelcoming, but that all comes with the sole purpose of studying across the world; these things that are foreign to you soon start to feel like home. The small, uneven sidewalks, the fact that pedestrians don't have the right of way, and the hospitality culture are all different from what I experienced in America, but I got used to them as time went on. One thing I loved was the liveliness of downtown Athens, which was only a 20-minute metro ride from my campus building. I was lucky enough to experience parts of the bustling city as well as the peace of Agia Paraskevi, where my school was located. I loved that my program offered things that both abroad and local students could participate in, like pottery classes or intramural sports. My program also allowed us to immerse ourselves in the history of Athens through tours of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and overnight trips to Meteora with fellow abroad students. One minor thing I wasn't expecting was the amount of money I would spend on laundry. I ended up spending almost 8 euros on one load of laundry, and even sometimes had to hang dry my clothes (this was expected, going to Europe, but I didn't know it would cost so much). A pro of my living situation was how the buildings were somewhat newly renovated and came fully stocked with most kitchen utensils and things we needed. The rooms and living spaces were fairly spacious; however, you will most likely be sleeping in a bunk bed, whether you have a shared room or a single. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and many other essential local amenities are all within a 5-minute walk from student housing. I visited my favorite coffee shop, Dimellos, every morning on my walk to class and quickly became friends with the store owner. Everyone is so friendly, and I always saw a familiar face, whether it was walking to class or out at night, and it fostered a sense of community. Travelling was made easy and became second nature the more you did it. These are some things that made my time abroad so memorable, and if you are unsure where to study, you should consider Athens, Greece, as it was not originally an option for me, but now I see it as my second home.

I cannot emphasize enough if you are even slightly considering going abroad- DO IT. The program in Athens, Greece was truly a remarkable experience. I was a little nervous to go to a country that uses a completely different alphabet & is very culturally different than America, however looking back I can't see myself studying anywhere else. My courses taught by Greek professors were super engaging & I will never forget the relationships I built with my professors & peers. Also making friends in this program was super easy- everyone who participates in ISA meets each other through program-sponsored events as soon as the first day you are in Greece. The cultural immersion experiences organized by the program were amazing- we took Greek cooking & dance classes (and even got to go on an overnight trip to the Meteora monasteries in Greece!) Everything about this country & program was fantastic- I will never forget my experience in Athens and 10/10 encourage you to go out of your comfort zone and study abroad with them!

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece was the best four months of my entire life. ISA made the application process super simple and the on-campus advisors helped facilitate the program while I was there. I studied at the American College of Greece and was able to join clubs like dance club and surfing club. There are so many activities on campus and everyone is super inviting. They took us on some amazing excursions like Voulagameni beach and Meteora. I highly recommend studying abroad with ISA as they have so many destinations to choose from and have programs for most majors!!

I studied abroad with CIS in Athens, Greece in the Fall of 2024 for a semester. The opportunities I was met with were life changing and I am so grateful for all of the people who made my trip a possibility. Meeting new people was easy because of the residential dorms as well as the welcome dinner that gave us all the opportunity to mingle with each other and meet like-minded others. I was unsure of what to expect from Greece, since I had only really seen movie depictions of it in my past. Some of my favorite experiences from the trip were the CIS excursions, especially the one traveling to see the Meteora of Kalabaka and Kastraki which is not something that would have been on my radar without the influence of CIS. Of course I had to see some of the most notable places like the Parthenon, Acropolis, and the Oracle of Delphi, but my favorite places to travel to during the trip were the islands that were only a short of Kea, Hydra, Agistri, and Aegina that were only a short ferry ride from the port in Athens. There are endless possibilities for adventures in this program and I would recommend anyone who wants to have an incredible adventure to take action and get involved with CIS!

Alexa and Adria were amazing all semester they were the best RAs. Although it was a little annoying not having any curtains upon arriving I had no shower curtain no toilet paper and no curtain on my balcony so I had to go out and buy all of that after a extremely long travel day

My semester abroad in Granada, Spain was absolutely unforgettable. I decided to stay with a host family and I lived in their home with another student in the same program. Living with a roommate, we became really close friends. My host family was so kind and welcoming, they included us in everything they did. I learned so much Spanish culture and tradition from spending time with the family. The school was called Center of Modern Languages and I had a mixture of Spanish and Business classes. I loved speaking Spanish in class and getting to know other students. AIFS provided a level placement test at the beginning of the semester so that everyone found courses that were appropriate for their knowledge of Spanish. The classes were very fun and I enjoyed going to class. The AIFS program excursions were some of the best experiences/trips that I went on. I was blown away by the Morocco trip as well as the Seville/Córdoba/Gibraltar weekend. The trips were well planned, affordable, and allowed for free time to explore with friends. I made so many connections with locals, got to experience once in a lifetime activities like riding camels next to the ocean, and tried amazing foods. The program application process was hassle-free and the program advisors in Granada are so helpful. I would often visit their office and just chat with them or ask their advice on where to visit on the weekend. They organized cooking classes, art classes, sporting events, and cultural activities like a flamenco show. Granada is such a wonderful city. It is very walkable and the people are very friendly. There are endless tapas bars in the city where you get free food with each drink purchase. I made friends with lots of locals and other students from across the US. I attended exchange club meetings where you get drinks and tapas, and you chat in whatever language you are trying to learn with people from around the world. AIFS did a wonderful job providing opportunities for all of the students in the program to get to know each other. I made a close-knit group of friends and we spent so much time together. I am so thankful for having met them thanks to AIFS. We even visited each other once we arrived back in the US! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience Spain on a more personal scale compared to bigger cities. I think Granada is the most beautiful city, and the Alhambra is a must-see!

I studied abroad in Greece in 2022, and I had the most incredible experience! our living situation was wonderful! We were just a short walk away from a beautiful school beside the mountains. The small town where we studied was full of fun, restaurants, stores, and other things we needed! We could take a quick metro ride to downtown Athens, very easily! My favorite part of my study abroad experience was the people that I met! I truly made some of my best friend, and it was so fun being able to travel all over Europe every weekend with my new friends! I couldn’t recommend studying abroad more, it ignited my love for traveling, and I have traveled to so many other countries since living in Greece! I think Greece is the perfect place to study abroad, because the weather is beautiful, you can easily access all of the islands for weekend trips, and it is essentially located to take trips to other countries as well! I could do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same way with this program in Athens through ISA!

I truly believe that going to Greece to study at the American College of Greece was one of the best things I have done in my life. This experience has stuck with me every second that I have been back home. Tess and Eugenia did an amazing job of making us feel loved, welcomed, and supported. Immersing myself into the Greek culture is an experience I truly hold near and dear to my heart and will forever more. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go abroad and I encourage everyone who is thinking about studying abroad to take the leap!

My study abroad summer trip to Athens Greece was nothing short of unforgettable. Having never travelled abroad for an extended period the summer session was the perfect opportunity to dip my toes in. Of course this left me wishing I could stay for much longer. I had decided to take this trip solo and that was honestly the best decision I could have made. Almost everyone I met had chosen to do the same, and I made friends who I got really close with very quickly. I enjoyed the luxury of being close enough to walk to campus, shopping, markets, and different restaurant's. Public transportation was also super easy to navigate and we took many trips downtown on the metro and the buses. I went on many weekend trips with my program to historical sites and different islands. Big groups from my program also planned many weekend trips to different islands such as Mykonos and Paros. We booked boat cruises where we stopped at numerous islands or in the ocean to swim off the boat. The campus was beautiful as it sits on a mountain. The academics were a bit different than the U.S. as their grade scale and system is not the same, with little to no daily coursework. However, it is definitely manageable if you take the time to study for your midterm and final. I really enjoyed the cuisine as well, eating gyros almost every other day. There were lots of options for fresh produce and juices as well, and so many different authentic Greek dishes to try. Every Greek I met was very kind and helpful with any questions I had whether it be recommendations for places to visit or foods to try. Almost everyone speaks some English which made it especially helpful to navigate everything. My Greek classmates and Professors were very eager to answer our questions. Our accommodations were very close to the college and the apartment style living with everyone in our program made it so much fun to spend time together. The RA's living in the buildings were extremely kind and helpful and even spent time with us on various outings. I loved being in close proximity to everyone and so close to town where we could always find something to do. The views of course were extravagant. The beaches are unreal, with water so clear you can see completely to the bottom far off the shore. With the hot summer climate the water felt amazing. The historical sites and temples are truly something to behold, so much ancient history and Greek mythology associated with every place. It seemed that every site had a story of sorts behind its name. Greece in itself is truly everything I anticipated and more, I had many moments that felt so surreal. My biggest takeaway however, is the relationships I made. I was very fortunate to have met so many amazing people, and many which I kept in touch with after my trip. It is hard to see people you spent everyday with return back to every corner of the U.S. but I am so grateful to have experienced my summer abroad with them.

I had the absolute best time on my study abroad trip this past summer! The ISA representatives were so attentive and always made sure we were adapting well to the culture of Greece! The school was fantastic and the students and teachers were very friendly and accommodating! I made friends on this trip from schools all over the country and we continue to talk on a daily basis, and I was also exposed to culture that you simply cannot find anywhere else! Overall, this program is one of the most memorable experiences i have ever had and i would recommend it time and time again!!

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece was an unforgettable experience filled with countless memories. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the rich history, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality of the city. The opportunity to immerse myself in such a dynamic environment allowed me to forge meaningful connections with people from all walks of life, each encounter leaving a lasting impression. Exploring the bustling streets, indulging in delectable Greek cuisine, and embarking on adventures throughout Europe added layers of excitement to my journey. Every day brought new discoveries and adventures, shaping an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. Athens truly stole my heart, leaving me with a profound appreciation for its beauty and the invaluable lessons learned during my time there.

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece this past summer was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I met so many amazing people and engaged in an experience that showed me the beauty of our world while being on the other side of my home. If you are considering it, do it!!

My experience was unique just in the choices I made such as going to a semester and choosing Greece in the first place because not many think of Greece but Paris or England. ISA is very user-friendly and friendly in person as well, I would never regret studying abroad with ISA with so many choices. I got to meet so many people from different countries going to my college, my advisors were excellent with so much advise! The dorms were manageable with people from all over the US in the dorms. I wish I could go again!!!

I spent 5 weeks in Athens, Greece with AIFS and it was one of the best experiences of my life. They took care of finding me housing and scheduling my flight. With these stressors being removed I was able to focus on having fun. When I got to Athens, I was greeted along with other AIFS travelers and they took us to campus. No hassle trying to find a taxi, rather I got to start socializing with other students. I created memories and friends that will last me a lifetime!

I loved spending a semester in Greece! The onsite person, Alice, is wonderful! She is very kind and helpful if you find yourself in any tricky situations! I really enjoyed my classes and found them all to not be too challenging or too easy. All of the school/AIFS arranged excursions were pretty well planned out and there was a wide variety of sites/experiences! I didn't have to go to the doctor at all but from others experience's, it was very easy and simple. Getting around was pretty easy too, we would walk to the metro and then stay on one line to get to downtown Athens, there are also buses to and from the airport and around town that are easy to figure out. The only bad thing was the apartment, there are six different buildings that you can live in and the one I was put in were suites where 12 girls all shared a kitchen/living space which was very small for the number of people. The rooms were also pretty small too when you had to share. And we had to pay for our own laundry which was 3 euros to wash and 2 euros for twenty minutes in the dryer. I met my closest friends from being roommates but 12 people is just a lot to all live together. Overall, it was a great experience that I'm so glad I participated in!