Bilingual Schools in Athens: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: what are the best bilingual school options in Athens? Greek-English schools such as Costeas-Geitonas and IM Panagiotopoulos in Pallini teach both languages as instruction languages, while St. Lawrence College, the International School of Athens and ACS Athens teach mainly in English with Greek alongside. Tuition runs roughly from EUR 6,000 to 20,000 a year.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

For families moving to Greece, choosing among bilingual schools in Athens usually comes down to one question: how much Greek do you want your child to learn? Athens has a strong tradition of private Greek schools with demanding English programmes, alongside American and British international schools where English dominates. Between the two sits a group of schools that genuinely teach in both languages.

This guide explains the main bilingual models in Athens, the practical geography of the city's schools, indicative fees and five schools with verified profiles on International School Advisor.

Where Athens families look for schools

Most international and bilingual schools are in the northern and eastern suburbs. Halandri, Kifisia, Maroussi and Agia Paraskevi in the north host several of the best-known schools, including ACS Athens and the International School of Athens. Pallini and Gerakas, further east towards the airport, are home to Costeas-Geitonas and IM Panagiotopoulos. St. Lawrence College is in the southern suburbs, closer to Vari and Voula, which suits families living along the coast.

Distances between north and south Athens are significant at peak hours, so many families choose the area first and the school second, or the other way round, but rarely both independently. School buses are widely used and are priced by zone.

Demand for English-medium and bilingual places in Athens has grown in recent years, driven by returning Greek families from abroad, remote workers and international companies opening regional offices. That demand is uneven: early years and the first primary grades fill fastest, while places in the middle of secondary are often easier to find. If you have children of different ages, it is worth asking each school about every grade you need before you commit to one, because keeping siblings together can be harder than finding a single place.

Bilingual and multilingual models in Athens

Greek private schools with bilingual teaching: follow the Greek national curriculum with English as a second instruction language, often adding the IB Diploma.
British and international schools with Greek: teach mainly in English, with Greek language and culture taught for part of the week.
American schools with a multilingual offer: teach in English, with a wide range of foreign languages and support for English learners.
National schools of other countries: French, German and other community schools serve families who want to keep their own system.

Five schools to compare

Costeas-Geitonas School

Costeas-Geitonas, in Pallini, teaches in Greek and English and offers the IB. The majority of its students are Greek nationals, with an emerging international and bi-cultural group, and it declares 187 teaching staff across all levels. For a family that wants real Greek fluency alongside English and an IB option at the end, it is one of the most complete bilingual schools in Attica.

IM Panagiotopoulos School

IM Panagiotopoulos, also in Pallini, teaches in Greek and English and says all its graduates go on to university in Greece or abroad. Many of its teachers have been at the school for years, which gives continuity that matters for children arriving with no Greek. It suits families planning to stay in Greece for the long term.

International School of Athens

The International School of Athens, in Kifisia, teaches mainly in English with part of the programme in Greek, and describes itself as the only school in Greece authorised as an IB Continuum World School, offering all IB programmes from early years to the Diploma. A low student-to-teacher ratio and a strong sense of community are central to its approach.

St. Lawrence College

St. Lawrence College offers a British education to children aged 3 to 18 on a purpose-built campus of more than 20 acres in the southern suburbs. Teaching is in English with part of the programme in Greek. Families in Glyfada, Voula or Vari often shortlist it because it avoids a long daily trip to the northern suburbs.

ACS Athens

ACS Athens is a non-profit K-12 international day school in Halandri, about 5 km from central Athens. In October 2025 it enrolled about 1,200 students from 56 nationalities, roughly a quarter American and just over a third Greek, with 138 teachers and a student-to-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. English is the language of instruction, with Greek and several other languages offered. Graduates receive an American high school diploma and can also take the IB.

What bilingual schooling costs in Athens

Indicative annual tuition for 2026-27:

Kindergarten: roughly EUR 5,000 to 12,000.
Primary: roughly EUR 6,000 to 15,000.
Secondary and IB Diploma: roughly EUR 8,000 to 20,000.

Extras typically include registration, school buses, lunch, books, uniforms, trips and IB or other exam fees. A useful hard fact for younger children: Greece has made two years of pre-primary education compulsory, so compulsory schooling now starts at age four. If you arrive with a four or five year old, you need a kindergarten place from the start, and many bilingual schools fill their early years classes first.

Practical advice for families

Ask for the timetable, not the brochure. Schools describe themselves as bilingual in very different ways. Ask how many hours a week each subject is taught in Greek and in English, and from which grade.

Plan the Greek support. A child arriving at eight or nine with no Greek can thrive in a bilingual school, but only with extra support in the first year. Ask whether the school provides Greek as a second language classes and whether they are included in the fee.

Think about the exit. If you may move again, an English-dominant school with the IB keeps more doors open. If you plan to stay, a Greek-English school gives your child a much stronger place in local life and access to Greek universities.

Visit more than once. Athens schools are often very different on an ordinary weekday from how they appear at an open day. A second visit, ideally during lessons, will tell you how much Greek and English you actually hear in corridors and playgrounds.

Compare schools in Attica

Our ranking of the best schools in Attica lets you compare reviews, languages and curricula across Athens and contact several schools at once.

More guides to schools in Athens

Frequently asked questions

Are there bilingual Greek-English schools in Athens?

Yes. Several private schools in Athens teach in both Greek and English, including Costeas-Geitonas School and IM Panagiotopoulos School in Pallini. Schools such as St. Lawrence College and the International School of Athens teach mainly in English with part of the programme in Greek. The balance between the two languages differs a lot, so ask for the weekly timetable.

How much do bilingual and international schools in Athens cost?

Indicative tuition runs roughly from EUR 6,000 to EUR 20,000 a year. Greek private schools with strong English programmes usually sit at the lower and middle part of the range, while American and British international schools such as ACS Athens are at the top. Transport, meals and exam fees are usually extra.

At what age does compulsory school start in Greece?

Greece has made two years of pre-primary education compulsory, so children start compulsory schooling at age four. This matters for expat families with young children, because a child of four or five who moves to Athens needs a kindergarten place, either in a public nipiagogeio or in the early years section of a private or international school.