Quick answer: are there bilingual schools in Zagreb? Yes. Zagreb has English-medium international schools that teach Croatian as an additional language, Croatian state schools running bilingual English or German programmes, and one French international school. Expect roughly 6,000 to 15,000 EUR a year privately, and far less in the bilingual state sector.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Families researching bilingual schools in Zagreb quickly discover that the Croatian capital has two parallel systems, and they rarely appear in the same search results. On one side sit the private international schools, English-medium, familiar in structure, and priced accordingly. On the other sits a well-developed Croatian bilingual state and semi-private sector that most arriving expats never hear about. Knowing that both exist is the single most useful thing before you start booking tours.
Why Zagreb is an unusual bilingual market
Croatia is a small country with an education system that has invested seriously in foreign languages. English starts early in the state curriculum, German has deep historical roots in the region, and several Zagreb gymnasiums run recognised bilingual programmes. That means a family staying five years or more has a realistic alternative to paying international school fees, provided the child is young enough to absorb Croatian or the programme is genuinely delivered in English.
The counterweight is portability. A Croatian bilingual gymnasium produces an excellent education and a Croatian school-leaving qualification. If your next move is to Vienna, Dubai or Boston, that is a harder handover than an IB or IGCSE transcript. Short postings almost always end up in the private international sector for this reason alone, and that is a rational choice rather than a snobbish one.
Location is a gentler constraint here than in most capitals. Zagreb is compact, the tram network works, and the international campuses sit mainly in the western and northern districts, which is also where a lot of expat housing is. A thirty-minute commute is a bad day rather than a normal one.
The bilingual models available
- English-medium international with Croatian as an additional language. The standard private option. Croatian is timetabled, often two to four periods a week, with separate streams for beginners and for children of Croatian families.
- Croatian-English bilingual state programmes. Run at selected primary schools and gymnasiums, with a share of subjects delivered in English. Entry is competitive and usually requires Croatian.
- German bilingual programmes. A long tradition in Croatia, with recognised German-language sections that lead to qualifications accepted in Germany and Austria.
- French international schooling. A single French-programme school serving francophone families and Croatians wanting the French system, small and best approached early.
- Bilingual early years. The most abundant category. English-Croatian kindergartens are widespread and comparatively affordable, and they remain the easiest route to real childhood bilingualism.
Five schools in Zagreb worth shortlisting
American International School of Zagreb
The largest established international campus in the city and the usual first stop for diplomatic and corporate families. American curriculum with an international student body, and Croatian offered as an additional language throughout. See the verified profile for American International School of Zagreb.
British International School of Zagreb
English national curriculum delivered in Zagreb, which makes transfers to and from the UK and other British-system schools straightforward. Smaller cohorts than the American school, which suits families who want a more personal setting. Details on British International School of Zagreb.
Bright Horizons International British School of Zagreb
A British-programme school with a strong early years and primary focus, often chosen by families with younger children who want an English-medium start without committing to the largest campuses. See Bright Horizons International British School of Zagreb.
L'Ecole Francaise Internationale de Zagreb
The francophone option in the city, following the French programme and serving families who need continuity with the French system. Capacity is limited, so contact admissions well before you arrive. Profile: L'Ecole Francaise Internationale de Zagreb.
American Academy in Zagreb
An American-programme school aimed at families wanting a US-style pathway at a lower price point than the largest international campus, with English as the language of instruction and Croatian available alongside. See American Academy in Zagreb.
What bilingual schooling costs in Zagreb
Since Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, and joined the Schengen Area the same day, school fees are quoted in euros and comparisons with the rest of the region are straightforward. As a working guide for 2026, expect roughly 4,000 to 7,000 EUR a year for bilingual kindergarten, roughly 8,000 to 12,000 EUR through primary at the international schools, and roughly 12,000 to 16,000 EUR in the senior years. Croatian bilingual state programmes charge little or nothing in tuition.
The costs that sit outside tuition:
- Application and enrolment fees, typically 200 to 1,000 EUR and usually non-refundable.
- Annual materials, technology and insurance charges.
- Lunch, which is normally billed separately and can add 700 to 1,200 EUR a year.
- Bus transport where offered, though many Zagreb families use trams instead.
- External examination entry fees in the final two years.
- Croatian or English language support for children arriving below class level.
Practical advice before you commit
Do not dismiss the state bilingual route without looking at it. If you are staying long term and your child is under ten, a Croatian bilingual primary followed by a bilingual gymnasium is a serious option that costs a fraction of the private route and produces genuinely bilingual children. Ask the city education office which schools currently run programmes, because the list changes.
Confirm how Croatian is taught, and to whom. Some international schools split Croatian into native and beginner streams and staff both properly; others run a single mixed group that serves neither well. Ask how many children are in each stream and who teaches them.
Plan the exit qualification from day one. Decide early whether your child will finish on an international qualification or a Croatian one, because switching in the last two years is expensive in both money and stress. Ask each school where its last two graduating cohorts actually went.
Budget for the second year, not the first. Zagreb schools tend to raise fees annually in line with a rising cost base, and several have added new facilities in recent years that are financed through the fee schedule. Ask each school what its fees were three years ago and what they are now. A school that has moved twenty per cent in three years is not necessarily badly run, but you should know the trajectory before you enrol a five-year-old you expect to keep there until eighteen. The same applies to lunch and bus charges, which are adjusted more quietly than tuition and can drift upwards without much notice to families. It is also worth asking whether siblings attract a discount, because in a two-child family that single line can be worth more than every other saving you negotiate.
Compare the full ranking for Croatia
To see how the Zagreb schools compare with each other and with the coastal cities on curriculum, languages and fees, use the independent ranking: best international schools in Croatia.
More guides to schools in Zagreb
- How to choose an international school in Zagreb
- International school fees in Zagreb
- International school admissions in Zagreb
- Ranking of the best schools in Croatia
Frequently asked questions
Do international schools in Zagreb teach Croatian?
Yes, generally as an additional language with separate provision for beginners and for children from Croatian families. Children who will remain in Croatia long term usually need more than the standard allocation, so it is worth asking whether extra Croatian can be arranged and at what cost.
Are Croatian bilingual state schools open to foreign children?
In principle yes, and they are free or very low cost. In practice entry is competitive and normally assumes enough Croatian to follow the non-English part of the curriculum, so they suit children who arrive young or families with a Croatian-speaking parent.
How early should we apply for a school place in Zagreb?
Four to six months before your intended start is comfortable for most international schools, though the French school and the smaller British campuses fill earlier. State bilingual programmes follow the Croatian enrolment calendar, which runs in the spring for a September start.