Greece & Italy School Trip Overview
There’s no better way to introduce students to classical cultures than by bringing them to where it all began: Greece and Italy. Don’t just teach students about democracy; bring them to the Agora in Athens so they can see its origins for themselves. Marvel at the ancient temples and enduring architecture of the Roman Empire in Ostia Antica, and of course, no classics-oriented trip would be complete without visiting Pompeii, one of the world’s most important archaeological excavations. This tour also allows students (and teachers) the chance to relax on world-class Italian beaches, snorkel through turquoise Greek waters, and get immersed in local culture with an incredible cooking class.
Our mission is to provide an authentic experience rooted in “teaching teens to be travelers, not tourists.” Our staff will give students the tools they’ll need wherever their travels might take them. TFT’s years of experience bringing students to Europe means that we know exactly how to educate, excite, and inspire. Join us for the chance to immerse your students in the best of Greece and Italy, and leave them with memories to last a lifetime!
Did You Know? Teachers travel for free! Enroll just six paying participants and your trip is covered. Learn more about the Benefits for Teachers.
During this trip, you and your students will…
- Walk in the footsteps of history at the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the abandoned city of Ostia Antica
- Marvel at Michelangelo’s impressive paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceilings
- Wander through ancient Roman neighborhoods, like Trastevere
- Step back 2,000 years into the Pantheon
- Catch the best views of Rome from atop the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument
- Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, guaranteeing your return to the Eternal City
- Stroll down the streets of Pompeii that were covered in ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
- Relax on a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast
- Snorkel and swim in the clear waters around Hydra, Sorrento and Positano
- Gaze out over the turquoise Mediterranean Sea from atop the elegant island of Capri and from mythical Hydra
- Visit the heart of classical civilization at the Acropolis of Athens
- Go on a scavenger hunt in the Agora, the birthplace of democracy
Detailed Trip Itinerary
Learn more about what each day is like on tour! Click on the day to discover the different sites and activities you will experience
DAY 1: Depart for Europe!
Flight from your preferred airport to Rome.
DAY 2: Buongiorno Roma!
Upon your arrival in Rome, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into the hotel, we’ll have lunch and head down to the Colosseum, perhaps one of the most famous sites in all of Rome. Tour this incredible structure that has been standing for millennia, and learn about the battles that Gladiators fought here. Then visit the Roman Forum to learn about ancient Roman government. We’ll top off an exciting first day with your first taste of authentic Italian cuisine at one of our favorite local restaurants.
DAY 3: The Vatican & Trastevere
Cross another country off your bucket list today as we visit Vatican City. Begin in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, before continuing to the Vatican Museums to marvel at the archaeological treasures in the Church’s collection. After a lunch of pizza al taglio, we’ll explore the beautiful neighborhood of Trastevere. See the Basilica di Santa Maria and wander the ancient cobblestone streets. We’ll enjoy dinner in Trastevere tonight at a traditional trattoria.
DAY 4: Explore Ostia Antica
Start the day with a visit to the abandoned city of Ostia Antica for some of the best-preserved ruins in Rome. You’ll see ancient temples and learn why residents had to leave the city suddenly. After returning to downtown Rome, have some time for souvenir shopping on the Via del Corso and enjoy a delicious dinner in Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. Of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without enjoying a homemade gelato for dessert every night!
DAY 5: Pompeii
Today we say arrivederci to the Eternal City and depart for the beautiful south of Italy. We’re off to Pompeii, the city that was buried in ash by a sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius hundreds of years ago and only discovered by archaeologists in the 18th century. Take a guided tour of the city, walk down streets that were hidden for 1,600 years, and even see the plaster casts of the people who were caught in the eruption. In the afternoon, board our private coach to the beautiful seaside town of Sorrento. Here, we’ll relax on Mediterranean beaches, savor delicious southern Italian cuisine, and enjoy the perfect views of Vesuvius from across the water.
Day 6: Amalfi Coast
What better way to see the Amalfi Coast then from aboard our own private boat? Today, cruise through turquoise Mediterranean waters from Sorrento to Amalfi and Positano, some of the most beautiful villages in the south of Italy. Stop along the way to snorkel, swim, and explore these quaint towns. Get a fresh lemonade, and lay out and soak up the sun!
Day 7: Athens
A short flight from Naples to Athens brings us to the next country on our journey: Greece! Upon our arrival, we’ll jump back in time 2500 years at the Acropolis Museum, one of the ten best museums in the world. From there we’ll marvel at the Acropolis, still standing after millennia. Tonight, enjoy your first taste of Greek cuisine at one of our favorite tavernas!
Day 8: Hydra
Greece is one of the world’s most famous archipelagos, so today we’ll make like the Greeks and board a ferry to a beautiful island just off the coast of Athens: Hydra! Explore this ancient village and have time to go for a dip in the sparkling Aegean Sea. For dinner tonight, try your hand at making your own Greek delicacies in our private cooking class.
Day 9: Classical Athens
On our final day in Greece, we’ll begin the day with a scavenger hunt in the Agora, the birthplace of democracy in the heart of historical Athens. This afternoon, you’ll have free time to do some souvenir shopping in the hip neighborhood of Monastiraki, or to visit any museums or sites you may have missed. To celebrate the end of an amazing journey, we’ll enjoy an upscale dinner dressed in our finest and reminisce on the memories we’ve made in Italy and Greece.
DAY 10: Departure Day
Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.
The TFT Difference
We Never Combine Groups
Your tour should be special and just for you and your students! We will never combine two or more groups on the same bus or tour. We will lead a trip with as few as six people and a teacher. Your Trip Director travels with you for the duration of your program.
Stress-Free Planning and 24/7 Support
We are there for you every step of the way, and our support begins the moment you decide to do a TFT trip! We will provide you with a team member who will help bring your tour to life, along with everything you need to help get students to sign up for the adventure! On the tour you will have 24/7 dedicated staff with you to ensure everything runs smoothly and because we know travel is full of surprises, solve anything that may pop up along the way.
Photos and Email Updates
Your trip is special and you and your students should have those memories captured forever! Expect frequent personal email updates and hundreds of photos from your TFT staff shared with you and your students’ families so everyone can follow along on the journey. We are the only teen travel program to offer this in-depth trip communication and it truly makes all the difference!
Central Accommodation and Local Meals
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. We stay at locally owned accommodation in the city center so you don’t waste your valuable time commuting. We dine at charming authentic restaurants to get a real flavor (literally!) for the local culture. The best way to travel is like a local. So ditch the tour bus and have a real traveler’s experience with us!
Photo Gallery
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. Eat, stay, and travel like a local.
Check out what past travelers have to say about TFT and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
