New ACIS City Stay Tours

Teachers asked for them and we answered: Introducing a series of new ACIS City Stay itineraries!

Get to know one city intimately over five full days of exploration. You’ll see the top historic sites (the Louvre, Big Ben, Plaza Mayor!) but also have the time to savor hidden gems, and each itinerary has options for exciting day trips to provide a quick change of scenery.

Why Choose a City Stay Tour?

Affordability – At seven days total, our City Stay itineraries are shorter than an average ACIS trip, which brings the cost down for groups, and the reduced amount of transportation required brings down the program fee even further. Of course, even with shortened trip time. we’ve packed the trip with inclusions, so you’re still getting plenty of value added.

Simplicity – These trips are great for first time ACIS Group Leaders. Focusing on one city simplifies logistics and the shortened itinerary can be a great way to dip your toes into educational travel. Before you know it, you’ll confidently be taking on a multi-country itinerary!

Flexibility – The length of a City Stay itinerary gives you the best of both worlds in terms of scheduling. The trips are short enough to fit into a weeklong school holiday, such as Spring Break, without the need for students to miss additional class days. But the increased amount of time spent in one central city provides another less obvious benefit: ACIS can accomodate activities that require more flexibility, such as meetups with local students.

Sustainability – As cities strive for green initiatives, so do our itineraries. Apart from the airport transports, your City Stay operates through the use of public transit options, including walking, metro and bus riding, and local trains for day trips.

Allow us to introduce the ACIS City Stay itineraries and some of their brand-new inclusion highlights!

Le Parisien

5 Nights in Paris

Classic ACIS Inclusions:

• City sightseeing with stops at Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides
• Guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay 
• Versailles palace tour and garden bike ride
• Boat cruise along the Seine
• Pétanque lesson

City Stay Highlights

• French Cinema Experience – Enjoy a night at the movies with a French Film screening (English subtitles included) at a local, independent Paris cinema. We’ll provide the popcorn!
  
• UNESCO Museum Tour – ACIS travels to UNESCO world heritage monuments around the world. Here is an opportunity to visit the heart of the organization, which designates protected status to significant sites and promotes global peace.
  
• Optional excursion to Rouen – Hop on the train for an incredible day trip to Rouen. Explore the city’s famous medievel architecture and learn the tragic history of Joan of Arc at the museum dedicated to her life story.

View full Le Parisien itinerary

Il Romano

5 Nights in Rome

Classic ACIS Inclusions:

• Guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
• Pizza making lesson
• St. Peter’s Basilica tour with custom ACIS audio guide
• City walking tour through Piazza Navona and Trastevere

City Stay Highlights

• UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) – Explore modern issues in the city of antiquity. Visiting the FAO headquarters, your group will learn about global food insecurity and how the agency is trying to prevent hunger around the world.
  
• Bike ride through Rome – Take a scenic ride along the famous Appia Antica. You’ll have the chance to see incredible history that’s off-the-beaten path, including the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, where Peter made the decision to return to Rome to be crucified, and the site of the 1944 Fosse Ardeatine Massacre.
  
• Excursion to Orvieto – On this day trip from Rome, you’ll be immersed in both the above ground Renaissance highlights of Capella San Brizio and in the underground Etruscan city that was rediscovered in the 1970s!

View full Il Romano itinerary

El Madrileño

5 Nights in Madrid

Classic ACIS Inclusions:

• City sightseeing with stops at Teatro Real Opera House, the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor
• Authentic tapas dinner
• Guided Prado Museum Visit
• Flamenco lesson and show

City Stay Highlights

• Local youth visit – More time in the city means more opportunities to work with local organizations on a student meetup! ACIS will facilitate time with students at a school, sports group or social club, allowing students to bond across cultures and practice their language skills.
  
• City bike tour – Enjoy a relaxing ride through Retiro park, one of the central hubs of Madrid social life, and learn more about the city’s history.
  
• Street art workshop – The trendy neighborhood of Lavapiés is brimming with urban art. See some of the highlights on a walking tour and then create your own masterpiece to take home.

View full El Madrileño itinerary

Der Berliner

5 Nights in Berlin

Classic ACIS Inclusions:

• City sightseeing with stops at the Reichstag Dome and Brandenburg Gate
• Tour of the 1936 Olympic Stadium
• Street art workshop
• Climbing the Imperial Steps at Berlin Cathedral

City Stay Highlights

• Berlin Wall tour by bike – New on this itinerary is a guided bike tour exploring the Berlin Wall’s historical significance. You’ll get to ride past important sites of the wall and hear the courageous stories about those who attempted escape.
  
• Fredrichstadt Palast Show – Renowned in Germany and beyond, a stage show at Fredrichstadt Palast is a mix of music, dance, and Las Vegas style theatricality. The show theme rotates, but you can always expect a colorful carnival that is suitable for all ages.
  
• Leipzig Excursion – Journey on a high speed train to the city of Leipzig, a musical history highlight! On a walking tour through the city you’ll stroll through the famous arcades and plazas and visit Thomaskirche, where Johannes Bach was an organist.

View full Der Berliner itinerary

The Londoner

5 Nights in London

Classic ACIS Inclusions:

• City sightseeing with stops at Big Ben and Trafalgar Square
• A ride on the London Eye
• Tour of Saint Paul’s Cathedral
• Tickets to a West End show

City Stay Highlights

• Tower of London Opening Ceremony – Rise and shine for this unique opportunity to see the official opening of the Tower of London! Afterwards you’ll get to visit the Crown Jewels and walk along the turret walls.
  
• Jack the Ripper Tour – Retrace the steps of one of London’s most infamous figures with a ghostly walking tour.
  
• Optional excursion to Stonehenge and Bath – Spend a full day exploring two iconic English locales, the mysterious rocks of Stonehenge and the beautiful seaside town of Bath.

View full The Londoner itinerary

Every City Stay (and every ACIS itinerary) is going to feature centrally located hotels, all public transportation, authentic local cuisine, a 24/7 Overseas Support Network, and immersive inclusions you can’t get with any other company. Discover which ACIS Tour is right for your group!