Study Abroad | Athens

Housing

Student Residence

You will live in a beautiful residence complex approximately 10-20 minutes’ walk from the campus in the leafy suburb of Aghia Paraskevi. Transport into the city center (by public bus and Athens’ modern metro) takes about half an hour.

• Shared double room in two to six-bedroom apartment
• Fully-equipped kitchens and shared bathrooms
• On-site laundry facilities
• Quiet study areas, outdoor areas for BBQs, large lobby with TV and games for casual group gatherings, fitness center on-site
• Single rooms may be available for a supplemental fee

Meals

ACG Campus Dining Meal Plans are available for an additional fee. Students can sign up directly with ACG prior to the start of the semester and/or at any time during the semester.

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Athens.

City Facts

History

Athens was one of the most important and powerful cities in Greece during the Classical period and it was also the first of the Greek city states to fully develop democracy. 

Sports

The successful Olympic Games in 2004 steered Athens towards becoming a radically different city – a more attractive, cleaner, greener and more efficient capital. 

Culture

As the largest city in Greece, Athens is now sophisticated and cosmopolitan with a vibrant street life and a relaxed lifestyle.

Site Staff

AIFS in Athens Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Alice Anastassiou

Hello! I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Athens – my hometown. I studied economics at the American College of Greece (ACG) and then did postgraduate work in the U.K. I am very familiar with student life at ACG and at the same time, have firsthand experience of living and studying abroad.

I am here to make you feel comfortable and safe, and provide you with all the vital information and guidance to get the most out of your experience in Athens, not as a tourist but with a glimpse of how locals enjoy their city, their walks along ancient paths, the coffee shops under the sun, local tavernas with traditional Greek cuisine, beaches and islands.

Athens is a beautiful city, one of the oldest in Europe with a unique blend of rich archaeological sites, numerous museums and a vibrant cultural life. The Athenians and Greeks in general, are known for their philoxenia, graciousness and hospitality, they will welcome you with a smile!

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

In addition to day trips and excursions, a cultural calendar of weekly activities and social events is included in your program fee. These activities will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of Greek life. Typical activities, tours and visits include:

• Walking tours of Classical Athens
• The Acropolis and The New Acropolis Museum
• National Archaeological Museum
• Athens Concert Hall
• Ancient Agora
• Plaka
• Welcome reception dinner
• Host family evening – an opportunity for students to spend an evening with a local family in Athens

Community Engagement and Service Learning

Students studying at ACG have the opportunity to take part in a non-credit bearing community engagement and service learning experience. Students are prepared for these field experiences with team building sessions, workshops on health and safety in the field, how to identify appropriate actions and reflect on them and talks on servant leadership. Examples of such experiences include volunteering at a local school, painting a nursery school, working with vulnerable people and visiting a refugee camp. A series of activities also take place in Athens throughout the semester when specific needs are identified. Each semester ACG arranges a Meaningful Engagement Trip (MET) where students spend 2-3 days traveling in Greece engaging in service. 

ACG Philoxenia Cultural Exchange Program

‘Philoxenia’ is an important Greek word meaning ‘love of strangers’ or ‘love of foreigners’, and Greeks know that ‘philoxenia’ is at the heart of their great tradition of hospitality. The goal of the Philoxenia Program is to foster friendships and cultural understanding among the many nationalities at the college. A Greek student will be paired with a study abroad or other international student for friendship and cultural exchange. While there is no set time commitment, paired students are asked to communicate or get together every other week or so for lunch, coffee or just to hang out. As everyone knows, you cannot truly understand a new country without getting to know its people and their experiences.