Physical Therapy Internships: Intern abroad in Athens, Greece
Learn modern physical therapy techniques by interning alongside experienced local therapists in general hospitals and clinics. Physical Therapy interns shadow and assist in a wide range of departments, learning about different specialties and treatments and experiencing real life therapies in action.
What to expect from your Physical Therapy internship:
- Learn about modern physiotherapy practices and specialties.
- Gain sought-after practical skills and experience from local practitioners.
- Experience the popular attractions and lifestyle in Athens and wider Greece.
Your internship abroad host organization:
- General hospitals
- Specialist private clinics
Internship details
Learn modern physical therapy techniques by interning alongside experienced local therapists in general hospitals and clinics. Physical Therapy interns can shadow and assist in a wide range of departments, learning about different specialties and treatments and experiencing real life therapies in action.
In addition to these Physical Therapy internships in Athens, Intern Abroad HQ also offers Physical Therapy internships in Thessaloniki. Spaces are limited on both programs, so applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm participation in advance for their preferred internship location.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation provided.
This is a fantastic internship opportunity for physical therapy students wanting to add to their theoretical understanding by experiencing the application of therapy treatments in real life. Physical Therapy internships are available in hospitals and private clinics, where interns shadow and assist qualified physiotherapists in their daily duties.
Interns can gain experience in a wide range of treatments and specialties, including physiotherapy in cardiovascular, clinical, electrophysiology, geriatric, kinesiology, neurological, orthopedic, pulmonary and rehabilitative disciplines. Depending on program duration, interns can anticipate experiencing the journey from trauma to surgery to rehabilitation.
You can have the opportunity to be mentored by a physical therapist of the Greece basketball team, who has many years of experience with sports therapy and the demanding needs of professional athletes. Interns can also assist orthopaedic doctors or surgeons with therapies related to their specific fields.
This internship is conducted in English, though some therapies may be conducted in the Greek language. In these instances, your supervisor will be able to debrief sessions afterwards, ensuring interns have full understanding of how treatments address patient needs.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
Typical Schedule
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Monday to Friday, up to 8 hours per day. Flexibility is a key requirement, as the unpredictable nature of tasks may require shift work (8am to 2pm or 2pm to 8pm). Interns should be adaptable, proactive and willing to help where it’s needed. You will be welcome to adapt your schedule or contribute extra hours, provided that discussion and agreement to do so takes place between you and your coordinator/supervisor.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Physical Therapy Intern?
Physical Therapy interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Observing and assisting therapies
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Debriefing and reflecting on therapies afterwards
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Contributing to treatment research
Professional development opportunities:
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Observe physical therapy treatments being run by an experienced clinician.
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Experience how a modern physiotherapy practice operates.
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Gain experience with state-of-the-art rehabilitative technology.
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Build specialist therapy skills in an area that suits you.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Greece photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Physical Therapy Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $2,414 Equivalent to $172 /day |
| 3 weeks | $2,954 Equivalent to $140 /day |
| 4 weeks | $3,534 Equivalent to $126 /day |
| 5 weeks | $3,964 Equivalent to $113 /day |
| 6 weeks | $4,389 Equivalent to $104 /day |
| 8 weeks | $5,179 Equivalent to $92 /day |
| 10 weeks | $5,904 Equivalent to $84 /day |
| 12 weeks | $6,294 Equivalent to $74 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- US$400 refundable accommodation security bond
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Athens
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Athens! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
A Culinary Journey Through Athens
Sail into the Saronic Gulf, stopping at three of the most picturesque islands - Hydra, Poros & Aegina.
Taste Your Way Through Athens!
Arrival and Orientation
When are internships in Athens, Greece available?
Internships in Athens are available every Monday. Placements are closed during the month of August. Exceptions to this schedule may be made when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions, or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
When do you need to arrive and check-in?
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays. Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
The typical port of entry is the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH). In order to receive the airport pick up service, interns are required to arrive on the Sunday before their Monday start date, between 9am and 6pm. An extra charge applies to any airport pickups outside this timeframe.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Greece prior to your internship and will not require an international airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday.
Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
What does the internship orientation cover?
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Check what's required to visit Greece
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Physical Therapy internship in Greece, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
What kind of accommodation is provided for interns in Athens?
Interns stay in clean, comfortable furnished apartments with bedding, basic furnishings, and shared spaces such as a lounge, kitchen, and laundry. Standard amenities include a washing machine, stovetop, fridge, microwave, and clean linens. Apartments are cleaned before new occupants arrive; after that, guests are responsible for keeping their own common areas tidy. Laundry facilities are available on-site.
Please note that WiFi is not always included, or may be slower than what you’re used to. Interns are encouraged to purchase a local SIM card to ensure reliable internet access.
It is important to note that an accommodation bond will be requested from the accommodation provider. The cost of the bond is US$400, so you must budget for this. However, this bond is fully refundable to you, upon your departure, provided that inspection has been completed to confirm that you have not caused damage to the property.
The accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities, to what is shown here.
Any requests to exclude the accommodation service from your internship experience, in order for you to make independent arrangements, must be discussed and confirmed in advance.
Is the accommodation shared?
Yes, it is intended to be shared accommodation. In most cases, between two to six guests can be accommodated per apartment, so you should be prepared to share living arrangements. Each guest will have a single or double bed.
Rooming arrangements are same-sex, however the apartments themselves may be mixed gender. Single sex apartments are possible, but this needs to be specified in advance and is subject to availability.
Requests to intern alongside friends and stay with them, in the same accommodation, are always welcome. Likewise, requests for any exceptional accommodation arrangements are subject to availability and must be communicated in advance of the internship start date.
Where in Athens is the intern accommodation located?
Our accommodation options in Athens are located in urban areas of the city, with convenient access to public transportation routes and shopping areas. Your internship placement will always be arranged first and your accommodation plans will be made secondarily. This ensures that your assigned accommodation takes into consideration the location of your internship.
What is required for commuting between the accommodation and internship placement?
Due to the layout of the city’s urban and residential areas, it is normal to expect an approximate commute (to / from an internship placement) of around 30 minutes. Interns should budget approximately 30 Euro per month for transportation (about US$35). The Athens Metro system makes it easy to get around the city and explore.
Meals
Internships on this program do not include meals, as affordable supermarkets are easily accessible. Greece has a thriving coffee culture which is delightful to partake in (there is also WiFi in almost all coffee shops and restaurants). Try Ellinikos (a favorite style of coffee) along with Freddo Espresso / Cappucino and Frappe.
For eating out, interns may budget approximately 3 - 5 Euro for a light breakfast (about US$5 - 7) and 5 - 10 Euro for a simple lunch (about US$5 - 12). There are ample dining options ranging from budget to high end. Greek cuisine offers a range of incredible dishes to experience, including well known classics such as Moussaka and Souvlaki. The Mediterranean diet features meat (cow, chicken, lamb), pasta, rice, pulses, vegetables, and a variety of fish and seafood. When in doubt, skip straight to dessert and order Galaktoboureko (with ice cream)!
Essential country information
| Capital | Athens |
| Population | 10.75 million |
| Languages | Greek |
| Currency | Euro (€ - EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 |
Weather and climate:
With its Mediterranean climate, Athens is one of the warmest capital cities in Europe. The summers are long, hot and dry and the winters are mild. The best time to visit Athens for the hot weather is from mid June to mid September. The hottest month is July, in which the temperature may peak around 92°F / 33°C. Heatwaves in Greece may occur but they are usually not prolonged (that coast moderates temperatures with coastal breezes). The cooler months are November through March. During this period, it rarely gets any colder than 42°F / 5°C in Athens (February is the coldest month). Rainfall in Greece varies throughout the year, although the summer months are drier in comparison. December is usually the wettest month of the year. Outside of Athens, the climate of Greece remains primarily Mediterranean. However, due to its mountainous regions, there is a range of microclimates and local variations. Snow regularly falls in the high mountains.
What recent Physical Therapy interns said about their experience
My experience shadowing an orthopedic surgeon has been pivotal in pursuing my dream of a career in orthopedics. Observing complex surgeries has deepened my understanding of orthopedic techniques and patient care, while time in the PT clinic has enhanced my appreciation for comprehensive rehabilitation processes. Interacting with diverse patients and healthcare professionals has honed my communication and empathy skills, vital for my future role. This international experience has also improved my adaptability and cross-cultural competence, directly contributing to my long-term goal of becoming an accomplished orthopedic specialist.
This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern in Athens, Greece. During my internship, I worked with patients in a gym/clinic setting, shadowed surgeries, and worked one on one in an inpatient setting. I worked alongside the head Physical Therapist to help assist patients in their bed to increase strength and better their range of motion. Whether it was recovering from a knee replacement surgery or a cancer patient learning how to walk again, each case was very unique in its own ways. This was a very eye opening experience for me working with these patients and making sure they get to where they need to be. During my time in the hospital, my understanding and knowledge of the importance of inpatient physical therapists grew exponentially. I also had the honor of scrubbing in for a surgery and assisting the doctor in successfully operating an ulnar nerve decompression. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity given to me by Intern Abroad HQ and I look forward to applying what I learned in future settings.
This international internship has been an important step toward achieving my long-term goal of working in healthcare, specifically in a patient-centered role such as physical therapy or rehabilitation. I’ve gained firsthand experience in observing treatment plans, understanding the day-to-day responsibilities of healthcare professionals, and seeing how patient care is tailored to individual needs. This Physical Therapy internship in Greece has not only confirmed my interest in healthcare but also expanded my understanding of what it truly means to support and empower others in a clinical context. After completing this Physical Therapy internship abroad, I feel significantly more empowered to be successful in my field.
I’ve met some of the coolest people through this experience, and I truly hope to remain lifelong friends with many of them. During my internship, I really enjoyed observing the physiotherapists and doctors. Most were very accommodating of the language barrier while still sharing and embracing their culture. I learned a lot through hand gestures, observation, and immersion. I especially enjoyed the inpatient work with the Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist. I had the opportunity to see some unique cases and gain insight into what a full day in that role looks like. I also learned new techniques that I hadn’t seen in the U.S., which allowed me to compare and appreciate both the similarities and differences in practice. Overall, I had a blast and was able to integrate into the culture so well that it felt like home. I only wish I had more time to spend in Greece with Intern Abroad HQ and my local team. I can’t wait to return with my family, show them my favorite food spots and introduce them to the amazing people I met during my placement.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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