Athens has emerged as a quiet but credible destination for relocating families since the Greek Golden Visa programme and the broader tech relocation wave. The international school market is small but stable, fees are materially lower than Western European peers, and quality of life for families is high.
The school landscape
Athens has roughly eight credible international schools. American Community Schools of Athens (ACS Athens) and St Catherine's British Embassy School are the two anchors. Campion School, Byron College and the German School round out the established options. Fees range from EUR 9,000 to 18,000 per year for senior years.
Neighbourhoods
Kifisia in the northern suburbs is the long-standing expat heartland, with ACS Athens and St Catherine's within reach. Glyfada and the southern coastal suburbs (Voula, Vouliagmeni) have grown as international school families have spread out.
Costs and timeline
School applications open in autumn for the September following. Decisions go out from February. Housing is cheap compared with most expat destinations: a 3-4 bedroom family home in Kifisia rents at EUR 2,000 to 3,500 per month.
What to know
The Golden Visa school surge has tightened year-group spaces at the best-known schools. Apply early. International school cohorts are smaller than at Western European peers.