paris-landscape.jpg
Paris, France

Culinary Arts & French Culture

Arts & Culture

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$7,750

Highlights

Cooking experience with pros

Daily cultural activities

Hostel/hotel

Weekend excursions

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$7,750

Highlights

Cooking experience with pros

Daily cultural activities

Hostel/hotel

Weekend excursions

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
Sauté, braise, and flambé your own dishes in the food capital of the world.

Discover the secrets of French cuisine in Paris alongside food experts and chefs. Each week, step into the kitchen for hands-on classes and explore restaurants and open-air markets to inspire your creations. Through coursework developed with Paris’ world-renowned culinary school Le Cordon Bleu, you'll prepare appetizers, entrées, pastries, and dessert! 

Delve into French culinary history and in-season produce. Meet local food vendors and restaurateurs for tips on ingredient selection and plating. In the end, you’ll team up with other Global Navigators to create a menu and present a meal. 

As the sun sets over the Seine River, stroll Paris’ cobblestone streets, past iconic bistros and brasseries on Rue Montorgueil and the famous Eiffel Tower and Louvre. On excursions to Versailles and Provins, learn about dishes served at the time of Louis XIV and indulge in a medieval lunch. In Paris, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the art of French cooking, creating delicious meals and memories along the way.

lecordonbleu

Practice your skills in Paris' premier cooking school!

Why Choose This Program?

Explore

Have fun discovering Paris' iconic streets, landmarks, and cafés.

Network

Meet new friends and chefs. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Cook using traditional and modern French culinary techniques. Build confidence as a future chef.

Destination
  • baking-in-paris.jpg
  • crepe-in-paris.jpg
  • Paris Arc de Triophe at sunset

The Destination

Welcome to Paris, where gastronomy takes center stage. 

Paris is truly a feast! With its fresh and seasonal ingredients to its multi-course meals and food presentation—dating back to medieval times—the French capital has been pioneering culinary culture for centuries. Today, the city boasts 132 Michelin-starred restaurants; excellent street food, based on both classic French favorites and international cuisines; and delectable boulangeries (bakeries), whose freshly-baked croissants you’ll remember for years to come. 

With a population of over 2 million, multicultural Paris is abuzz with music, bustling markets, and art. There are beautiful, serene areas, too, like the Luxembourg Gardens and Seine riverbanks, a dream setting for a picnic with friends. Of course, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to its iconic landmarks and neighborhoods, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe and the Latin Quarter. As you savor the various flavors of Paris, you’ll discover why the city shines as a culture and culinary capital. 

Cultural Awareness 

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Paris.

 
Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Objective

You will learn about the local food culture from visits to fresh food markets and discussions with restaurant owners. Settle in to your kitchen setup at the famous culinary school Le Cordon Bleu where you will participate in workshops two times per week. During week one, you will work on entrées: a chicken dish with vegetables and fish with an accompaniement.

Highlights*

  • Boat tour on the Seine River
  • Eiffel Tower climb
  • Louvre Museum visit

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will explore the challenges present in the food industry, such as food waste, eating locally/in-season, carbon footprint, and regional cuisines facing an influx of international cuisine. Then, you will head into the kitchen to focus on pastry making. You will learn some of the best techniques, from the experts, on how to make éclairs, macarons or tarts.

Highlights*

  • Visit to a local cheese monger to learn about the cheese-making process and taste different varieties
  • Musée d'Orsay visit
  • Montmartre treasure hunt

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will use everything you've learned to finish your capstone menu project and prepare to present it to the class. At Le Cordon Bleu, you will channel your inner Top Chef contestant and work in teams on two challenges: a main dish and a dessert using only the ingredients they propose. You will come up with a plan of action with your team, divide up the tasks, complete your dish, and then, present it to a panel of judges.

Highlights*

  • Catacombes visit (see Paris underground!)
  • Game of pétanque at a local park
  • Street art workshop

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Monday–Friday

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.

  • Breakfast at the hostel/hotel
  • Hands-on learning with expert instructors, chefs, and food industry professionals (classes take place at Paris' Le Cordon Bleu campus twice a week)
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators
  • Out and about for a cultural activity and restaurant visits
  • Dinner at the hostel/hotel or in the community

Weekends 

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites 
  • Quality time with friends

Housing

Hostel/hotel, same residence as other Global Navigators 

Activities

Sample Activities

Paris

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

  • Indulge in a cheese tasting workshop and taste exquisite French cheeses while learning about cheese production methods. 
  • Climb all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower to take in panoramic views of Paris. Try to spot the city’s iconic landmarks. 
  • Travel back in time as you explore the Palace of Versailles, the opulent residence commissioned by King Louis XIV. Hear all about the incredible meals served in the royal court. 
  • Cruise along the Seine on a boat tour, passing beneath historic city bridges and admiring Parisian architecture. 
  • Experience spectacular jousts and equestrian stunts during a medieval show (accompanied by a medieval meal) in Provins, a medieval town in the French countryside. 

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience. 

Testimonials
From CIEE

Oui Chef! Chouquettes Coming Up!

By Joseph McFadden at CIEE

Upon watching Top Chef, Anthony Bourdain, the Bear or even Jacques Pépin who hasn’t dreamed of being a chef with French training? Of course it’s classic and lesser known pastries... keep reading

From CIEE

When Can My Teen Book Their Flight for High School Summer Abroad?

By High School Summer Abroad at CIEE

Your teen might be the first in the family to study abroad, to travel outside the U.S., and/or to take a solo flight. This is both exciting and nerve-wracking—so the... keep reading

From CIEE

How to Apply for Your First Passport

By High School Summer Abroad at CIEE

Prepare early for your study abroad adventure and apply for your first passport. Here’s how!

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above. 
  • Program open to current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Students must have completed Freshman year of high school before traveling on program. 
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page

Important note on dietary restrictions: Participants should be aware that cooking facilities and cooking courses do not accommodate special dietary needs.

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee 

$25 

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.    

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us!

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,750
Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,750

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Program Balance = $7,750

Total Fees = $7,750

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Program Balance = $7,750

Total Fees = $7,750

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

3 Meals/Day

Staff

Our Staff

Delphine Mauny

Center Director

A born-and-bred Parisian, Delphine has extensive experience in international education, having worked with American high school students, college students, and adults traveling to France.

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

Request Info