Overview
Travel from Venice to Athens! Tour the beautiful floating city of Venice and take a ride along the Grand Canal. Then head to Florence and view amazing sights, such as Michelangelo's David at the Accademia. Travel to the great city of Rome and tour landmarks such as the Colosseum and Forum Romanum. Explore Vatican City and view Michelangelo's amazing frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. End the trip at one of the world’s oldest cities, Athens, and visit Acropolis and the Parthenon.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Italy (Venice)
Day 2
Arrive in Venice
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.
Day 3
Venice guided sightseeing tour
Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.
LEAP Behind the Carnival Mask (optional)
Create a Venetian mask inspired by the Italian Carnival, the Commedia dell'Arte - or by your imagination! Learn the meaning of the mask and its historical significance, then decorate yours using professional techniques.
Day 4
Travel to Florence via Ravenna
Mosaic Sites
Marvel at the early Christian and Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna.
LEAP Patron of the Renaissance
Imagine you’re a Medici. Suppose you’re a Sforza. Use this innovative activity to explore the motives of the patrons of the Renaissance.
Day 5
Florence guided sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Accademia visit, Baptistery Doors, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio
Uffizi Gallery (optional)
Opt to spend the afternoon exploring the famous Uffizi Gallery, one of the most popular attractions in Florence. With works dating back to the 16th century from artists including da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, there are plenty of beautiful artworks to observe and discover.
LEAP Cucina Fiorentina!
Cooking class with dinner
Day 6
Travel to Rome
Rome guided sightseeing tour
Colosseum visit with Whisper headset, Arch of Constantine, Forum Romanum visit
Day 7
Vatican City guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Day 8
Fly to Athens
Free time to explore Athens
LEAP Return or Remain: Who Owns Art?
The Parthenon Sculptures, taken by the British Earl of Elgin in the early 19th century, are now housed in the British Museum. Their presence continues to spark debate over whether they should remain in London or be returned to Greece.
Day 9
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Acropolis site visit, Parthenon, Syntagma Square, Agora, Theatre of Dionysus
Acropolis Museum guided visit
At the Acropolis Museum, students engage with the rich tapestry of ancient Greece's history, art, and culture. Nestled at the foot of the Acropolis, this experience offers a unique opportunity to explore artifacts spanning from the Archaic period to the 7th century AD. Through interactive exhibits and guided discussions, learners will connect historical events to art, fostering critical thinking about the Parthenon and its significance in shaping Western civilization.
LEAP Mousaka & Sousta
Greek Taverna dinner, Greek dance lesson
Day 10
Flight home from Athens
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
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
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
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.