With warm temperatures, more sunshine, and a wealth of local and national traditions rooted in the season, summer is an ideal time to set out and experience new holidays around the world. And between patriotic parades as well as ancient religious traditions, the world comes alive in ways as diverse as the cultures behind them. For students studying or interning abroad during the summer, it’s the perfect time to dive headfirst into local traditions, broaden your worldview, and make memories that go far beyond the classroom.
Discover some of the most exciting summer holidays you can experience when you choose a summer study abroad or international internship program with AIFS Abroad!
Festas de Lisboa — Lisbon, Portugal
June
June in Lisbon is one long, joyous celebration. Festas de Lisboa (“Lisbon Festivals”)—also known as Festas dos Santos Populares (“Festivals of the Popular Saints”)—fills the entire month with street parties, sardine grills, parades, and music that echoes through the city’s historic neighborhoods well into the early morning hours.
The festivities center around Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Lisbon, known as the saint of the poor, miracles, and marriage. While Festas de Lisboa is celebrated throughout the month, the energy peaks on the night of June 12th into the 13th, when neighborhood groups parade down Avenida da Liberdade in elaborate costumes, dancing and performing to original songs in the beloved Marchas Populares, as group marriages are held at Saint Anthony’s Church. The narrow streets of Alfama, Mouraria, and Bairro Alto come alive with arraiais—open-air street parties filled with traditional pimba music, the aroma of grilled sardines, and locals offering manjericos (small basil plants with love poems) to their partners. On June 13th, a public holiday in Lisbon and Saint Anthony’s feast day, the city holds a solemn procession from Sé Cathedral to the historic center.
Independence Day — Buenos Aires, Argentina
July 9
On July 9th, Argentina celebrates Día de la Independencia (also called 9 de Julio), the anniversary of the country’s 1816 declaration of independence from Spain. It is one of the most significant national holidays in the country, marked with patriotic pride, live music, parades, and community celebrations from Buenos Aires to Patagonia.
In Buenos Aires, the capital city, the day is filled with official ceremonies, fireworks, and a festive atmosphere that invites locals and visitors alike to celebrate together. Cafes and street vendors serve up traditional treats, Argentine flags fly from every corner, and the city takes on a warm and bright energy that’s unlike any other time of the year. For anyone studying or interning abroad in Argentina during the summer, July 9th in Buenos Aires offers the chance to experience an authentic glimpse into the spirited Argentine culture and national identity.
While July is technically winter in Argentina (and all of the Southern Hemisphere), it’s still an excellent option for anyone who wants to experience an international holiday during their summer term abroad.
La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) — France
July 14
Every July 14th, France celebrates its national holiday—known officially as La fête Nationale and colloquially as Bastille Day or Quatorze Juillet (“July 14th”)—with a spirit of liberty, unity, and pure joie de vivre. The holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a symbol of the oppressive reign of King Louis XVI, and marks the beginning of the French Revolution.
The festivities begin the eve of the 14th, when fire stations across France open their doors for the beloved Bals des Pompiers—festive all-night parties filled with dancing, live music, and libations—while others flood into the streets for lively block parties. On July 14th itself, Paris hosts more sober and patriotic celebrations, including a grand military parade down the Champs-Élysées, followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the Eiffel Tower. Beyond the capital, every city, town, and village in France marks the day with shared meals, concerts, and fireworks of their own. So, whether you’re studying or interning abroad in Paris or a smaller city like Grenoble, Cannes, or Antibes, you can enjoy this iconic summer holiday no matter where you are in France.
Galway International Arts Festival — Ireland
July 13 – 26
Each July, the Irish city of Galway, referred to as the Cultural Heart of Ireland, hosts one of Europe’s most celebrated arts festivals. The Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) transforms the city for two weeks with hundreds of events spanning theater, music, visual art, opera, dance, and street performance, drawing world-class artists and audiences from across the globe. The Irish Times described the festival as “The biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has.”
What makes GIAF special is the way it turns all of Galway into a stage. Acclaimed productions fill the city’s theaters and galleries, while free outdoor events and exhibitions spill into the streets and the banks of the River Corrib. The festival strikes a perfect balance between internationally acclaimed work and distinctly Irish storytelling—making it a rich cultural immersion for anyone lucky enough to be studying or interning abroad in Galway (or those in nearby Dublin, Maynooth, or Limerick who can pop over for a day trip!).
Boryeong Mud Festival — South Korea
Late July – Mid-August
Every year from late July to mid-August, South Korea hosts the largest summer festival in the world! The Boryeong Mud Festival, centered at Daecheon Beach, was originally conceived to promote the region’s mineral-rich mud—long prized for its skincare benefits—but has since grown into a multi-day celebration drawing millions of visitors from every corner of the globe.
At the heart of it all are the mud zones at Daecheon Beach, where festival-goers dive into mud pools, race down mud slides, and take part in mud body painting and wrestling competitions. It’s a unique summer festival that’s always filled with lots of joy and laughter. As the sun sets over the shimmering Yellow Sea, the event transforms into a music festival, with DJs and live performances turning the beach into an open-air party that goes well into the night. It’s a summer experience unlike any other—one that’s sure to clear your pores and cleanse your spirits!
Students studying abroad in Seoul with AIFS Abroad can easily make the trip to Boryeong via a direct shuttle from the city, making the Mud Festival a perfect summer weekend adventure.
Nit del Foc & La Tomatina — Spain
Summer in Spain is packed with a couple of the most exhilarating holidays and festivals—and with AIFS Abroad programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Granada, and Salamanca, students can easily take part in the fun.
Nit del Foc — Barcelona — June 23
On June 23rd, the eve of the Feast of Sant Joan, Barcelona ignites as the city fills with bonfires, fireworks, and all-night revelry in celebration of Nit del Foc (“Night of Fire”). This unique midsummer tradition blends both ancient pagan and Christian traditions—celebrating the summer solstice and the birth of John the Baptist.
Festivities kick off with the arrival of the Flama del Canigó—a sacred flame lit atop Mount Canigó and carried to other mountain peaks, villages, and towns across Catalonia. Bonfires are also built along Barcelona’s famous beaches. People leap over the flames to burn away bad luck, feast on coca de Sant Joan (a traditional sweet flatbread) with cava, and make merry along the beaches of Barceloneta and in the city’s streets until sunrise. While the main festivities occur on the night of the 23rd, the 24th is a public holiday in Catalonia—and the actual date of the Feast of Sant Joan—giving revelers a well-earned day to recover and reflect.
La Tomatina — Buñol — Last Wednesday of August
On the last Wednesday of August, the small town of Buñol (located less than an hour from Valencia) hosts the world’s largest food fight. Some 20,000 people from around the globe buy tickets to take part. Participants descend on the town’s narrow streets as trucks unload an estimated 300,000 pounds of overripe tomatoes, turning everything and everyone into a vivid shade of red within seconds. What started as a spontaneous 1945 food fight has grown into an internationally beloved spectacle and a symbol of pure summer joy. And for a comfortable trip back to your housing, we offer one piece of advice—bring a change of clothes!
Infiorata & Ferragosto — Italy
Italy’s summer is bookended by two beautiful Italian traditions—one an explosion of floral artistry, the other a distinctly Italian take on a globally celebrated summer holiday.
Infiorata — Late May or June
Study or intern abroad in Italy during the month of June to witness towns and villages across the country celebrate Corpus Christi with Infiorata—a breathtaking tradition in which artists and locals work through the night to create intricate, large-scale mosaics made entirely from flower petals, laid out across the streets and piazzas. The tradition, which dates back to the 17th century, is a vivid expression of faith, community, and Italian artistry. Some of the most spectacular displays can be found in Spello (between Florence and Rome) and Genzano di Roma (just south of Rome), where entire streets are blanketed in kaleidoscopic floral designs.
Ferragosto — August 15
On August 15th, Italy celebrates Ferragosto—one of the country’s most beloved summer holidays, with roots stretching back to the Emperor Augustus in 18 BCE. Originally called Feriae Augusti (Holidays of Augustus), the ancient festival marked a period of rest after the long harvest season. Over time, it became intertwined with the Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary, making it both a national and religious celebration. Today, Ferragosto marks the beginning of Italy’s national vacation. In Rome, the streets swell with festive energy, while coastal towns light up the night sky with fireworks over the Mediterranean Sea. After Ferragosto, cities quiet down as Italians head to the coast or mountains for barbecues, more fireworks, long lunches with family, and late-night seaside parties.
With AIFS Abroad study and intern abroad programs in Rome, Milan, and Florence, you can experience Infiorata and Ferragosto firsthand—and gain an authentic window into Italian culture and tradition.
Outside of Italy, the Assumption of Mary is celebrated in numerous Catholic countries across Europe, Africa, and Latin America—making it one of many summer holidays you can experience in multiple destinations around the world.
Independence Day — The United States
July 4
The Fourth of July is a major national holiday in the United States, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 with nationwide displays of fireworks and American spirit. And nowhere does it quite like New York City.
Each summer, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks lights up the sky above the East River in one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks shows in the country. The bridges, promenades, and rooftops of Brooklyn and Manhattan become prime viewing spots as millions of people gather to celebrate. Throughout the day, the city buzzes with parties, barbeques, baseball games at Yankee Stadium, and an upbeat energy that is uniquely New York. For international students (and American students who’ve never been), experiencing the Fourth of July in New York City is an excellent opportunity to take part in a classic American summer holiday.
Discover summer holidays and traditions around the world with AIFS Abroad!
Whether you’re looking to gain professional experience, advance your degree, or explore another part of the world, summer is one of the best times to study or intern abroad. With an AIFS Abroad program, you can experience local summer holidays firsthand, all while enjoying valuable inclusions that help you make the most of your time abroad—such as our award-winning housing, trips and excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and cultural and social activities.
Make this summer your best one yet—experience the world with AIFS Abroad.
