International Schools in Munich

The Munich school landscape

The flagship is Munich International School (MIS), founded in 1966 and located on a beautiful campus in Starnberg. Bavarian International School (BIS) in Haimhausen is the other premium IB option. European School Munich is a multilingual EU institution. Smaller campus options include Lycée Jean Renoir for French families and St George's School Munich for British primary.

Bavaria's public schools (Gymnasium track) are excellent and free, but instruction is in German. Many expat families on multi-year postings choose the public route once children's German is strong; shorter postings tend to default to MIS or BIS Bavaria.

Most popular neighbourhoods for families

Starnberg / Tutzing / Possenhofen on Lake Starnberg are the heart of Munich expat family life with MIS nearby. Haimhausen hosts BIS Bavaria 30 minutes north. Schwabing, Bogenhausen and Grünwald are central Munich's most family-friendly neighbourhoods. Garching hosts the European School and ISG (International School Garching). For a leafy southern villa suburb above the Isar, read our guide to living in Grunwald with international schools. For a leafy district by the Isar in the city's south, read our guide to living in Harlaching with international schools. For a villa quarter at the southern edge near the Starnberg school run, read our guide to living in Solln with international schools. For an elegant central district by the English Garden, read our guide to living in Schwabing with international schools. For an elegant green district around the palace park, read our guide to living in Nymphenburg with international schools. For an upscale, green district east of the Isar, read our guide to living in Bogenhausen with international schools. For a quiet villa colony beside the Nymphenburg park, read our guide to living in Gern with international schools.