Choosing an international school in Athens has become a pressing question for a growing wave of expat families, as Greece's golden visa holders, digital nomads and returning diaspora join the traditional diplomatic and corporate community. Athens offers a compact but high-quality international sector concentrated in the northern and coastal suburbs. This 2026 guide covers the curricula on offer, the city's leading schools, realistic fees in euros, and the local factors that should shape your shortlist.
Curricula Available in Athens
- International Baccalaureate (IB): The IB Diploma is well established in Athens, offered by both international and Greek private schools.
- American curriculum: US-style programmes with AP courses, anchored by the city's long-standing American community school.
- British curriculum: EYFS through IGCSE and A Levels at several schools with strong UK university pipelines.
- Greek private schools with international streams: Bilingual options that suit families settling permanently.
Leading International Schools in Athens
ACS Athens
ACS Athens (American Community Schools) in Halandri has served the international community since 1945, offering an American curriculum alongside the IB Diploma. Its alumni network and university counselling are among the strongest in Greece.
Campion School
Campion School in Pallini is the city's flagship British-curriculum school, running from early years to A Levels with a consistent record of placements at top UK universities. It draws families from across the eastern and northern suburbs.
Byron College
Byron College in Gerakas offers the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Levels in a smaller, family-feel setting, with class sizes that suit children who thrive on individual attention.
St Catherine's British School
St Catherine's British School in Kifissia combines the British curriculum with the IB Diploma in the sixth form. Its position in the leafy northern suburbs makes it the natural choice for families housed in the classic expat belt.
St Lawrence College
On the southern coast in Koropi, St Lawrence College serves the growing seaside expat community (Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni) with a British education from kindergarten to A Levels.
International School Fees in Athens
Athens remains affordable by Western European standards:
- Early years: roughly 5,000 to 9,000 euros per year
- Primary: roughly 7,000 to 13,000 euros per year
- Secondary, IGCSE and IB or A Level years: roughly 10,000 to 18,000 euros per year
Registration fees, buses, lunches and exam charges add roughly 1,500 to 3,500 euros annually. Sibling discounts are common.
Location Is the Decision in Athens
Athens traffic divides the city into school catchments more firmly than any admissions policy. The northern suburbs (Kifissia, Halandri, Marousi) and the southern coast (Glyfada, Voula) host distinct school clusters, and a cross-town commute is rarely sustainable. Decide your school first, then choose housing on the same axis — or accept long bus rides. Most schools run extensive bus networks; ask for route maps and journey times during your visit.
On admissions: the main intake is September, applications open a year ahead, and assessments are readiness-based in primary with English and maths testing higher up. Mid-year entry is usually manageable outside exam years.
Compare Athens Schools
Browse profiles, parent reviews and fee details for schools across Athens on International School Advisor and build a shortlist that matches your suburb and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do international schools in Athens cost?
Most families pay between 7,000 and 18,000 euros per year depending on age and school — notably less than comparable schools in Western European capitals.
Which area of Athens should expat families live in?
Choose your school first. The northern suburbs and the southern coast each have their own school cluster, and commuting between the two through Athens traffic is impractical daily.
Do Athens international schools teach Greek?
Yes. Greek is typically taught as a language subject, and some schools offer fuller bilingual pathways for families settling in Greece long term.