Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
Immerse your students in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Spain, Italy, and Greece. Your class will explore Madrid’s Royal Palace, enjoy an authentic flamenco performance, and admire the unique architecture of Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia. Your students will also explore the Colosseum and the Parthenon, discover the ruins of Pompeii, enjoy an authentic dinner in Plaka, and participate in a lively debate about the impact of the ancient Olympic games.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Spain (Madrid)
Day 2
Arrive in Madrid
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Madrid city walk
Discover Madrid’s lively spirit with your Tour Director on a walk through its bustling streets. Begin at Puerta del Sol, the vibrant city center, then continue to Plaza Mayor, where centuries of history have unfolded from royal weddings to bullfights. Conclude at Plaza de España, a favorite spot for outdoor cafés and people-watching in the heart of the city.
Day 3
Madrid guided sightseeing tour
Experience Spain’s capital with a licensed guide. Visit the Royal Palace, Europe’s largest, to see lavish halls and frescoes. Stroll Calle Mayor and lively Gran Vía with its theaters, shops, and cafés. Admire the Cibeles Fountain depicting the earth goddess Cybele. See the Neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá in Plaza de la Independencia, a ceremonial gateway to the city. Conclude at Columbus Square, a hub of monuments and museums.
Optional
Toledo guided excursion (optional)
Tour Toledo, long considered the spiritual capital of Spain and once home to El Greco. Visit Toledo Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece filled with treasures such as alabaster sculpture, El Greco’s paintings, and a gilded monstrance carried in Corpus Christi processions. Step into St. Mary’s Synagogue, a symbol of coexistence among three faiths, and explore Toledo’s famous sword-making tradition at a local factory.
Flamenco evening
Discover this world-famous gypsy dance, its music, and rich history as you watch professional dancers perform, and give the intricate footwork and elaborate arm gestures a try yourself.
Day 4
Travel to Barcelona via high-speed AVE train
Las Ramblas scavenger hunt
Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous pedestrian street. Complete exciting activities and solve fun clues, each designed to maximize experiential learning on tour.
Tapas dinner
Day 5
Barcelona guided sightseeing tour
Discover Barcelona with a licensed guide as you explore its mix of Gothic charm and modernist brilliance. Visit Plaza de España, then marvel at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the soaring church that defines the city’s skyline. Wander through Park Güell with its colorful mosaics and sweeping views, and journey to Montjuïc Hill, home to historic fortresses and the 1992 Olympic grounds.
Montserrat guided excursion
Montserrat is famous for its monastery, its caves, its weirdly shaped crags of rock and its amazing mountain. The town lies just 40km northwest of Barcelona and is a summer escape for many.
Paella dinner
Day 6
Optional
Sitges excursion (optional)
Travel to the coastal resort town of Sitges. Once a quiet medieval village of farmers and fishermen, Sitges blossomed into a countercultural haven in the 1960s and today ranks among Spain’s most beloved seaside destinations. Stroll its charming old streets, admire Modernist architecture, and relax on its beautiful beaches.
Paella lunch
Enjoy a paella lunch! Paella is a Valencian rice dish with ancient roots originating in the mid-19th century near Albufera lagoon on the east coast of Spain.
Overnight ferry to Rome
Day 7
Arrive in Rome after overnight ferry
Rome city walk
Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.
Day 8
Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.
Authentic trattoria dinner
Day 9
Travel to Sorrento
Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
From the Bay of Naples, the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you’ll visit the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflecting beneath the water bathes the cave in a shimmering silver-blue light.
Day 10
Travel to the seaport via Pompeii
Pompeii guided visit
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site located in southern Italy’s Campania region. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried in meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Near the coast of the Bay of Naples, the well-preserved site features excavated ruins that visitors can freely explore.
Overnight ferry to Patras
Day 11
Travel to Tolo via Olympia
Ancient Olympia guided visit
Once a major site of ancient Greece, Olympia hosted the original Olympic Games and still inspires awe today. Among shady olive trees and flowing rivers, you can see the remains of temples and the stadium where athletes once competed—and maybe even take a victory lap yourself.
LEAP
LEAP Faster, Higher, Stronger - Inspire!
The Ancient Olympic Games were a major event for the Greeks, showcasing athletic competitions and values of excellence, respect, and friendship. Debate their impact on legacy, politics, diplomacy, and global controversies.
Day 12
Travel to Athens
Mycenae & Epidaurus guided excursion
Visit Epidaurus, once a sacred healing center, and see its 4th-century BC amphitheater. Continue to Mycenae, framed by twin mountains and overlooking fertile plains. Explore the citadel ruins where treasures like gold cups and bronze armor were unearthed, and picture the bonfires celebrating Troy’s fall.
Corinth Canal
Greek dinner in Plaka
Day 13
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Explore Athens with your local guide, where ancient history and modern life meet. Visit the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens, to see the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the elegant Temple of Athena Nike. Admire sweeping views of the city before stopping at the 2004 Olympic site, a symbol of Greece’s enduring athletic spirit. Continue to Syntagma Square to watch the ceremonial changing of the guards at the Parliament, then to Omonoia Square, a lively gathering place surrounded by cafés and olive trees.
Athens city walk
In Athens, history is never far away. Walk with your Tour Director through the Plaka district, where winding streets reveal balconies filled with flowers and tavernas alive with traditional dancing. Then visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century BC and finished by Hadrian in AD 132, and see Hadrian’s Arch, once marking the divide between ancient and imperial Athens.
Day 14
Return home
Optional Extension
Add a 3 Day Aegean Cruise + 1 Day in Athens
Set sail across the Aegean on a cruise with unforgettable stops in Greece and Turkey. In Mykonos, stroll among whitewashed buildings, colorful fishing boats, and lively beaches. Continue to Kusadasi to discover ancient treasures, then sail to Patmos to visit the Monastery of St. John, the capital of Hora, and the waterfront town of Skala. In Heraklion, explore Crete’s Minoan legacy before traveling on to Santorini, where cliffside villages overlook dramatic black-sand beaches. Your cruise includes two guided shore excursions: Ancient Ephesus Through the Ages and Heraklion’s Palace of Knossos. Conclude your extension with a guided excursion to Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon perched above the sea before heading home.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from Spain, Italy, and Greece
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.