International Schools in Athens: The Complete Guide for Expat Families (2026)
Athens is the only city in Greece with a mature, diverse international school sector. For globally mobile families considering a move to Greece, the capital offers genuine choice: British curriculum schools, full International Baccalaureate programmes, prestigious bilingual institutions, and German-stream options. Elsewhere in Greece — the islands, Thessaloniki, and most of the mainland — that choice largely disappears. Understanding this distinction before you commit to a location is essential.
This hub guide covers every major international school option in Athens, explains how to approach admissions, and connects the school decision with the broader questions of where to live and how a move to Greece can be structured for the whole family.
Why Athens for International Education?
Athens has hosted an internationally mobile population — diplomats, business executives, academics, and EU professionals — for decades. That history has produced a cluster of schools with strong reputations, long track records, and university placement results that satisfy the expectations of globally mobile families.
As of 2026, the main English-medium and international-curriculum schools in Athens are:
- Campion School — British national curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma (Years 1–13), Pallini
- St. Catherine's British School — British national curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma (Nursery–Year 13), Lykovrissi
- International School of Athens (ISA) — Full IB World School (PYP, MYP, IBDP) in English, Kifisia
- Athens College / Psychico College (HAEF) — Greek-English bilingual, IB Diploma available, very competitive, Psychico/Kantza
- Doukas School — Greek-English, IB Diploma in English, Marousi
- Ellinogermaniki Agogi (EA) — Greek-German bilingual with strong English, Pallini
Each is described in detail in the linked guides below.
Athens vs the Rest of Greece: What Families Must Know
This point cannot be overstated. Greece is a country of dramatic contrasts in infrastructure. Athens and its suburbs have hospitals, motorways, metro lines, international airports, and established international schools. Outside Athens, provision thins quickly.
Islands: The most popular islands — Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete — attract thousands of expats and second-home owners, but none has an international school delivering the British or IB curriculum to secondary level. Families who settle on an island and need an English-medium secondary education for their children face either a long daily commute (impractical for most islands) or boarding school arrangements.
Thessaloniki: Greece's second city has some private schools but the international school provision is limited compared with Athens. Families requiring IB or British curriculum at secondary level will find far fewer options.
Mainland Greece outside Athens: Similarly limited. The Peloponnese, Epirus, and central Greece have essentially no established international schools at secondary level.
The practical conclusion: if you have school-age children who need English-medium international education, your Athens-area base is not optional — it is a requirement. This also bears on the Greece Golden Visa — a family investing in Greece for residency purposes should think carefully about where in Greece they purchase if children's schooling is a priority.
The Greek State School System
Greek state schools are free and open to EU citizens. Instruction is entirely in Greek. For children who arrive with no Greek, immersion in the state system can work well at primary age (say, 5 to 10 years old) given sufficient language support and time, but it is a significant undertaking. At secondary level, where academic content is dense and examinations are Greek-medium, most English-speaking expat families opt for international or private schools.
The Greek school year runs from early September to late June. Key breaks include Christmas (approximately two weeks), Easter (Orthodox Easter, typically one to two weeks in April), and extended bank holidays around Ochi Day (28 October) and Greek Independence Day (25 March).
Fee Ranges (as of 2026)
Annual tuition at Athens international schools ranges broadly:
| School | Curriculum | Approx. Annual Fees (secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| Campion School | British / IGCSE / IB Diploma | €13,650–€14,950 |
| St. Catherine's British School | British / IGCSE / IB Diploma | €14,660–€16,500 |
| International School of Athens | Full IB (PYP/MYP/DP) | €13,000–€15,000 |
| Athens College / Psychico College | Greek-English bilingual / IB | Contact school for current schedule |
| Doukas School | Greek-English / IB Diploma | Contact school for current schedule |
Fees are generally quoted per academic year and exclude registration fees, uniform, transport, and examination fees. See international school fees in Athens for a detailed breakdown.
Admissions: The Earlier, the Better
Admissions timelines in Athens are unforgiving at the most sought-after schools. Athens College and Psychico College hold competitive entrance examinations each March for the following September; demand consistently outstrips places. Campion School, St. Catherine's, and ISA operate rolling admissions but popular year groups — particularly Year 7 and the IB Diploma years — carry waiting lists.
Families who are planning a move to Greece 12 to 18 months in advance should contact schools during that planning phase rather than waiting until relocation is confirmed. See applying to international schools in Athens and waiting lists for process detail.
Where to Live in Relation to Schools
The geography of school catchment areas in Athens is a significant driver of neighbourhood choice. Psychico and Filothei sit adjacent to the Athens College/Psychico College campus. Campion School and Ellinogermaniki Agogi are both in Pallini, in the eastern suburbs. ISA is in Kifisia, in the northern suburbs. St. Catherine's is in Lykovrissi, also in the north.
See best areas in Athens near international schools for a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood analysis, and Greece property for an overview of the Athens property market.
The Golden Visa Connection
Greece operates one of Europe's most-discussed residency-by-investment programmes. As of 2026, the investment threshold for Attica (the region containing Athens) is €800,000 for a single residential property of at least 120 sq m. Lower thresholds of €250,000 apply to commercial-to-residential conversions and heritage restorations across Greece, and €400,000 applies to most other Greek regions.
For internationally mobile families, the Golden Visa provides five-year renewable residency for the investor and immediate family members, with access to Greece's EU Schengen travel rights. The residency path and the school decision are closely linked: a family acquiring a Golden Visa property in Athens will also have access to the Athens international school ecosystem. See residency and citizenship for more detail.
Explore the Full Athens Schools Series
- British schools in Athens
- International school fees in Athens
- Applying to international schools in Athens
- International school waiting lists in Athens
- Best areas in Athens near international schools
- Primary schools in Athens for expats
- Secondary schools in Athens for expats
- GCSE and A-Levels in Athens
- IB schools in Athens
- Settling your child into school in Athens
- University admissions from Athens international schools
How Global Investments Can Help
Global Investments has worked with internationally mobile families for over 32 years. Our team can advise on property in Greece across a range of budgets and locations — including Athens neighbourhoods suited to families with school-age children — and can discuss the Golden Visa residency pathway for those who qualify. We also connect clients with trusted local professionals for legal, tax, and relocation matters. Browse current listings or contact our team to discuss your family's plans.
This guide is for information purposes only. School fees, admissions processes, and investment thresholds are subject to change. Always verify current details directly with schools and consult a qualified legal adviser before making investment or residency decisions. Property values can fall as well as rise.
Frequently asked questions
Are there good international schools in Athens?
Yes. Athens has a range of well-regarded international schools including Campion School (British curriculum, IGCSE then IB Diploma), St. Catherine's British School (British curriculum, IGCSE then IB Diploma), the International School of Athens (full IB), Athens College/Psychico College (Greek-English bilingual, highly competitive), and Doukas School (IB Diploma). The city is the only part of Greece with genuine choice at the international level.
What is the difference between Athens and the Greek islands for international schooling?
It is significant. Athens has multiple established international schools. Outside Athens — including most islands, Thessaloniki, and the mainland — international school provision is either non-existent or very limited. Families with school-age children who require English-medium or international-curriculum education almost always need to base themselves in Athens or within commuting distance of it.
Do international schools in Athens follow the Greek national curriculum?
Most do not. The main international schools teach British, American, or IB curricula in English. Greek state schools teach entirely in Greek and are most suitable for children who are fluent in Greek or are very young and can acquire the language quickly. Some bilingual schools such as Athens College and Ellinogermaniki Agogi integrate Greek alongside an international language.
How competitive is admission to Athens international schools?
It varies. Athens College/Psychico College (HAEF) are extremely competitive — entrance exams are held in March and places are limited. Campion School, St. Catherine's, and ISA have more structured rolling admissions processes but also maintain waiting lists at popular year groups, particularly Year 7 entry. Early application — ideally 12 to 18 months ahead — is strongly recommended.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.