Athens
Athens, Greece

Arts & Architecture

Social Studies

Dates

-

3 weeks

Highlights

3-D model

Daily activities and excursions

Design workshops

Hostel/hotel

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Highlights

3-D model

Daily activities and excursions

Design workshops

Hostel/hotel

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
Dive into design, culture, and creativity all summer long in the birthplace of Western architecture.

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.

A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future

Explore

Have fun discovering Athens through the eyes of an architect and historian.

Network

Meet new friends and designers. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Launch your future today! Get inspired by centuries of architeture and design. Train your eye and develop the skills and experience you need to kickstart a career in architecture or design.

Destination
  • study abroad in athens flag acropolis
  • athens-greece-white-walkway-plants.jpg
  • Athens

The Destination

In Athens, you don’t just visit archeological sites—you walk past them on your way to get gelato. The Parthenon lights up the skyline at night like a glowing crown. Street art sprawls across centuries-old walls. One moment you’re ducking into a record shop covered in graffiti, the next you’re sketching the columns of the Acropolis or exploring the quiet hillside homes of Anafiotika. That contrast is everywhere, and it’s what makes Athens unforgettable.

The streets are alive. Cats stretch out on marble steps. Souvlaki sizzles on street carts. Bakeries spill the smell of fresh spanakopita into the air. You’ll wander the winding alleys of the Plaka, sit in the stone seats of the Acropolis, and explore the civic ruins of the Ancient Agora. People live outside here—meals last for hours, plazas hum with music, and nighttime feels just as alive as day.
This is a city that wears its history like street fashion—bold, layered, and full of character. In Athens, every building, every alleyway, every public space has a story. All you have to do is look up.

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.

Itinerary

Daily Life

Monday–Friday  

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

  • Breakfast
  • Hands-on classes with expert instructors and writers
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators   
  • Out and about for a cultural activity or workshop   
  • Dinner at restaurants

Weekends  

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites
  • Quality time with friends

Hotel/Hostel

Activities
Athens Temple of Hephaestus

Sample Activities

  • Visit the Acropolis and walk beneath the Parthenon’s iconic marble columns,  enduring symbols of Classical architecture and civic design.
  • Explore the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman-era open-air theater still used for concerts today.
  • Step through the Ancient Agora, once the bustling civic and commercial heart of Athenian democracy.
  • Wander Anafiotika and Plaka, two of Athens’ oldest neighborhoods, where Cycladic island homes and neoclassical mansions meet in maze-like streets.
  • Sketch architectural details across the city, from column styles and decorative facades to balconies, courtyards, and how buildings shape Athenian street life.
Testimonials
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How Can I Help My Teen Pick a Study Abroad Program?

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Eligibility

Eligibility

Eligibility 

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.  
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee  

$25  

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.     

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2026 3 weeks Start Date End Date
Program Summer Session II 2026 3 weeks Start Date End Date

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Francisco Diez

Regional Director of Operations for Europe   

Francisco Diez is the Regional Director of Operations for Europe including Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Florence, Milan, Tallinn, and Prague.

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're on step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect with your Teachers or Parents

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about enrolling.

Request Info