Study Abroad in Athens, Greece with WorldStrides

My study abroad experience in Greece was truly unforgettable and gave me the opportunity to experience a new culture while learning outside of a traditional classroom setting. What made the experience unique was being able to explore Greece firsthand, visit historic and beautiful locations, try new foods, and learn about Greek culture and history directly from the places and people around us. I especially enjoyed getting to know the other students and making memories together throughout the trip.
For future participants, I would recommend being open to trying new things and taking advantage of every opportunity the program offers. There may be moments when the schedule is busy or you are outside of your comfort zone, but those experiences often become some of the most memorable parts of the trip. I would also encourage future students to take lots of pictures, ask questions, and really immerse themselves in the culture. Studying abroad in Greece was an experience I will always remember, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to see and learn about the country in such a meaningful way.

Studying abroad in Athens with worldstrides was such a great choice! The staff was great and put on very good events that most of the students went to. They house you with location in the US in mind so I ended up living with and making many friends from around me back home. Athens itself was also a great choice and Greece was my favorite country I’ve been to in Europe. There’s tons of cool places to go to in Greece including islands and places on the mainland. Some of the adventures we did included going to the mountains to a winery for a tour and a trip to Crete. All of the events are very organized and well planned out but also allow you some free time to do whatever you want.

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 cannot recommend studying abroad in Athens, Greece more. This truly was a life changing experience. I grew into myself, learn how to adapt, and fully embraced the Greek culture. My advisors, Eugenia and Tess, curated an exciting learning environment through their warm smiles and kind hearts. Additionally, I genuinely feel like I met my lifelong friends on this trip. Because of them and my experience in Athens, I have become a stronger, more confident person and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. 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!!