Don’t forget to pack: sunscreen, skirts (Greeks dress slightly more formal and modestly than people do in the U.S.), swimsuit, sturdy sneakers/hiking shoes, a bag that you can keep on your front (to avoid pickpockets), and layers (it is hot in the summer, but extremely variable in the fall).
Best places to eat: Gill & Pita, Meat n Roses, Mavros Gatos, Mavro Provato, Stou Korre, Mantra Fagopotion, Scholarhio, and En Iordani.
Best places to study: Kekkos Café and Pastry and College Year in Athens Student Union (CYA).
What to do in your free time: exploring the National Gardens, shopping in the city, hiking in the hills around Athens, eating gyros at the Panathenaic Stadium at sunset, exploring Athen’s beaches, trying out the many open-air cinemas, and attending the farmer’s market in Pangrati.
Must try local dishes: Dolmades, Moussaka, Stifiado, Greek Salad, Stuffed Tomatoes, Pastitsio, Souvlaki, and Gyros.
Best part of the College Year in Athens (CYA) experience: CYA took us on multiple amazing field studies across Greece. Our professors gave us tours of many different ancient and modern sites with their expert knowledge. They were built into the program.
Most interesting class: Life & Death in Ancient Greece & Everything in Between: An Intro to Athenian Society. It was so interesting to learn about what life was like in Ancient Athens and how that shaped the country of Greece today. Our professor also took us on so many field trips to places like the Acropolis, the National Archeological Museum, the Ancient Agora, and more!
Craziest experience: Hiking Mount Olympus!
Unforgettable weekend trips: Crete, Delphi & Olympia, the Peloponnese, the Island of Chios, and Meteora.
Memorable cultural experience: learning how mastic is grown/harvested on Chios.
Best photo-ops: up on the Acropolis by the Parthenon, Ardittos Hill, National Gardens, and Mount Lycabettus.
Pro tips: Don’t be afraid to try new things and always double check that you have your passport on trips!