MEDITERRANEAN & GREECE DISCOVERY

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better sense of this experience. The actual program may vary, and an itinerary will be distributed no later than two weeks before the program begins. Even after the itinerary is sent, adjustments may still be made in coordination with tour guides and the tour operator—both leading up to and during the program—based on local conditions.

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Europe on an overnight flight. The program starts with our Mediterranean Discovery program. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.

DAY 2–4 | VENICE, ITALY
Our adventure kicks off with an arrival in Milan, followed by an orientation tour of the city. We’ll then take a water taxi ride into Venice, checking into our accommodations before an evening walk through Venice’s enchanting streets. Over the next few days, we’ll visit Murano and Lido Island, tour a traditional Venetian glass-making factory, and enjoy some relaxing beach time on Lido. Explore the Jewish Quarter and join Shabbat services at a Venetian Synagogue. Discover the highlights of Venice with a walking tour that includes St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and a scenic gondola ride through the canals.

DAY 5–6 | KRANJSKA GORA, SLOVENIA
We’ll depart Venice and head to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia, with a stop in Kobarid for lunch and an exciting rafting adventure down the Soča River. After checking into our accommodations, we’ll explore Lake Bled with a boat ride to the tiny island in the center, visiting St. Mary’s Church and ringing the island’s legendary wishing bell. Enjoy time at Adventure Park in Bled, known for summer tobogganing and other thrilling activities.

DAY 7–8 | LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
From Kranjska Gora, we travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. Take in stunning views from Ljubljana Castle via a funicular ride on a glass cable car. Test your racing skills at Grand Prix go-karting and later, enjoy a day of outdoor fun with activities like sheep games, hiking, or an e-bike tour in Bela Krajina. Wrap up with an exhilarating rafting trip on the Kolpa River.

DAY 9 | VERONA & POSTOJNA, ITALY
On our way to Italy, we’ll explore the Postojna Cave, one of Slovenia’s most famous natural attractions, followed by a visit to Gardaland Amusement Park for an afternoon of rides and fun. Afterward, we’ll travel to Verona, where we’ll check into our accommodations and enjoy a group dinner.

DAY 10–11 | FLORENCE & BOLOGNA, ITALY
Journey to Florence, where we’ll explore the city’s iconic landmarks, including the Duomo, Piazza San Lorenzo, and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). Climb Giotto’s Campanile Tower for panoramic views and visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David. After touring the Grand Synagogue, we’ll continue to Bologna for Shabbat services and a relaxing day with free time to explore.

DAY 12–13 | FLORENCE & ROME, ITALY
We’ll revisit Florence briefly before traveling to the Vatican City in Rome to explore St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel. Walk in the footsteps of the Roman Empire with stops at the Arch of Titus, Colosseum, and Forum Romanum. Get into character with a fun Gladiator-for-a-day training session.

DAY 14 | ROME & POMPEII, ITALY
A day trip to Pompeii awaits, where we’ll explore the ancient ruins preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. After lunch, we’ll relax at a beach in Minturno before returning to Rome for a farewell dinner and some final free time with the group.

DAYS 15–18 | ATHENS, GREECE
Teens will continue to build on this awe-inspiring adventure by connecting into our  Greece Discovery trip. Welcome to Athens! Upon arrival, meet your tour guide at the airport and travel to your accommodations along the Athens Coast. Relax and enjoy lunch at the Glyfada shopping center before heading to Varkiza Beach for swimming and water sports. The next day, start with an e-bike tour of Athens' historic center, stopping for amazing views of the Acropolis from Pnyx, visiting the New Museum of Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, and more! Explore Plaka and important Jewish sites in the area, and enjoy free time for lunch in Old Athens. Visit the iconic Acropolis and observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city.

Spend a relaxing Shabbat with free time at the hotel pool or a nearby beach. Enjoy a buffet lunch at the hotel, a leisurely walk to the Glyfada shopping center, and end the day with dinner at the hotel.

DAYS 19–23 | SANTORINI, GREECE
After breakfast and checkout, take a ferry from Piraeus Port to the stunning island of Santorini. Tour Fira, the capital of Santorini, and admire the breathtaking Caldera Volcano view. Check into your accommodations in Oia Village and enjoy a half-day tour of Santorini’s most beautiful spots, including the famous Oia sunset.

Explore the narrow paths of Fira on a walking tour, take the cable car down to the old port, and return via an exciting donkey ride. Spend time at the black sand Kamari Beach enjoying water sports and relaxing. Embark on a Red Cruise from Athinious Port, sailing on an open-style catamaran into the Caldera, with stops for swimming and snorkeling at the Red and White Beaches and the hot springs. Discover Pyrgos Village and its castle before dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Continue your exploration with the most scenic hike on the island from Fira to Imerovigli, offering stunning views of the Aegean Sea and the island's key villages. Visit the Perissa ‘grey’ Beach for more swimming and water sports. Wrap up your Santorini stay with a visit to Megalochori Village, where you’ll walk through traditional white houses, churches, and explore the intriguing underground cave houses. Then, transfer to the port for a high-speed ferry ride to Piraeus and return to Athens for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAYS 24–25 | THESSALONIKI, GREECE
Travel to Thessaloniki, exploring the city’s rich history with visits to Jewish landmarks, the White Tower, and other significant sites. Celebrate Shabbat with dinner at a local restaurant. The next day, enjoy a guided walking tour of Thessaloniki’s City Center and more Jewish landmarks, followed by a light activity and a Shabbat lunch. Spend the afternoon walking around the beautiful port area before having dinner at the hotel.

DAYS 26–27 | KALAMBAKA & DELPHI, GREECE
After breakfast, head to Waterland, one of Europe’s biggest and most fun waterparks. Enjoy the slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools. Visit the Museum of Illusions in Thessaloniki before driving to Kalambaka for dinner and an overnight stay. The next day, visit the breathtaking Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage site with monasteries perched atop towering rock pillars. After lunch in Kalambaka, drive to Delphi, check into the hotel, and enjoy dinner and some free time.

DAY 28 | DELPHI & ATHENS, GREECE
Explore the Sanctuary of Delphi and Museum, once the religious center of the ancient Greek world. After lunch in Delphi, return to Athens and enjoy a fun visit to Allou Fun Park, Greece’s largest amusement park. Relax at the hotel pool before your final dinner in Athens.

DAY 29 | RETURN FLIGHT
After an early breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to Athens Airport for your flight back to the U.S. It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Cherish the friendships and memories made on this incredible journey through Greece!

Our most frequently asked questions about this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Still need something? We’re here to help! Contact us.

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How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO requires all North American participants to fly on the group supervised flight for this program. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, in the spring. The supervised flight for this program will depart from the New York City area, typically Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Learn more about flying to the program.

Where will my teen be sleeping?
The group stays in a variety of 3-star hotels. When booking our accommodations, we request for each teen to have their own sleeping accommodations in a shared living space. On a rare occasion, your teen may share a large bed with another teen of the same gender. We try to avoid this as best as possible, but sometimes have limitations due to hotel space.

How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors), a local European tour leader, and a bus driver. Senior field staff also circulate between our groups for extra support. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Staff are asked to make welcome calls to teens before departure. Feel free to ask them any remaining questions you may have. Learn more about our staff team.

What’s the summer weather like?
The weather throughout Italy, Slovenia, and Greece is a typical Mediterranean climate—dry heat, cool evenings, and little to no rain. Temperatures will typically be in the 80s and 90s. Due to the dry nature of the heat in the Mediterranean, the sun is deceptively strong and you should plan to bring plenty of sunscreen and a good hat for outdoor touring.

How do you approach security?
The safety of the teens under our care is our guiding consideration. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety & security.

What’s the typical group size?
Although it varies from year to year, our average group size for Mediterranean & Greece Discovery is 35-42 teens. Some teens choose to sign up together with a friend or two and most teens choose to come on their own. Either way, our participants will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of peers from various locations across North America which makes exploring a new place together even more exciting. On some programs, we might have multiple parties from the same area register together. In this case, we are unable to inform families when this occurs and though we are always willing to share the group dynamics of the current registrations, we typically have a good idea of the general group make up after our cancellation deadline.

What’s the food like?
Expect foods like pizza, pasta, and gelato in Italy and Slovenia. You’ll try delicacies like tzatziki, olives, baklava, and stuffed grape leaves in Greece. When traveling, your teen may encounter new foods that will not be to their liking, so we ask teens to be flexible and have snacks and other alternatives on hand just in case.

As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, catered meals, and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian, pescatarian, or dairy options available and we will not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice.

Some meals may be provided via a cash allowance where teens will be given money to purchase the food of their choice, called a pizur meal. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options and teens can choose the food of their liking. When time is limited for meal choice, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds.

Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Will I need a visa?
Starting in 2025, the European Commission will roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorization system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. Additional information about this system can be found here: https://etias.com/.

ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, must be applied for online prior to arrival to the EU. Each eligible traveller, regardless of age, will require an ETIAS to visit EU member countries. Citizens of countries that have visa-free access to European Union countries will require an ETIAS. Dual citizens that hold passports to an EU and ETIAS-eligible country will not require an ETIAS if they enter and exit Europe using their EU passport.

The following data will be required for each ETIAS application: personal biometric data (e.g. name, gender, data of birth, etc), passport or travel document information, EU member state of entry, background questions on an applicant's health, criminal record as well as previous EU immigration history.

Fee: The cost of an ETIAS is €7, however, individuals under the age of 18, or over the age of 70, will not need to pay the fee.

What are the payment and cancellation terms?
All of these details are available here: Registration Terms.

For more information, check out our general FAQs or the pre-trip preparation manual.

Looking to combine two experiences for an extended summer of adventure, learning, and self-discovery? BBYO makes it easy! This trip connects our Mediterranean Discovery program with our Greece Discovery program. Check out these other trips that connect into one of these two European experiences:

• Ultimate Greece Israel
• Ultimate Mediterranean Israel
• Central Europe & Mediterranean Discovery
• Western Europe & Mediterranean Discovery

Learn more about our trip connections.