Relocating to Athens: International Schools, Neighbourhoods and the First 90 Days

Families relocate to Athens for the light, the sea at 20 minutes, and an international-school ecosystem that punches above its weight. Here is the practical map, verified school by school.

The three reference international schools

• ACS Athens (American Community Schools) — in Chalandri, northern Athens. American curriculum with IB Diploma and AP; accredited by the Middle States Association through 2029. The default choice for US-linked families.
• St. Lawrence College — “The British School in Greece”, campus at Koropi/Varkiza, on the Athens Riviera side. English national curriculum (EYFS through Key Stage 5, Cambridge/Edexcel). Fits families targeting UK universities and wanting a southern-suburb lifestyle.
• International School of Athens (ISA) — in Kifissia. The only full IB Continuum World School in Athens (PYP, MYP, Diploma), taught in English. Strong pick for internationally mobile IB families.

Where to live, per school

• ACS (Chalandri): Chalandri itself, Neo Psychiko, Filothei, Psychiko, Kifisia — the classic diplomatic northern arc.
• St. Lawrence (Koropi/Varkiza): Voula, Vari, Varkiza, Glyfada, Koropi — the Riviera commute.
• ISA (Kifissia): Kifisia, Ekali, Nea Erythraia, Politia, Marousi — the green northern suburbs.

Your first 90 days — administrative sequence

• Week 1–2: AFM (tax number) via myAADE — remotely possible, identification by tax office visit or myAADElive video call; open a Greek bank account (the banks will ask for the AFM, proof of address, and often a tax-residency certificate from your home country).
• Week 3–6: secure the residence (rent first — see our relocation guide), register the lease, transfer utilities (ΔΕΗ/ΔΕΔΔΙΕ electricity, EYDAP water) under your name with the AFM.
• Week 4–8: school applications — international schools run waiting lists; ask ACS, St. Lawrence and ISA for mid-year availability before signing a lease. AMKA (social-security number) and family doctor registration; EOPYY affiliation if you are employed or self-employed in Greece.
• Week 8–12: EU citizens register for the residence certificate (or non-EU families proceed via their Golden Visa / D visas); driving licence exchange if applicable; ENFIA and E9 obligations kick in as soon as you buy — see our cost checklist.

Quality-of-life notes from the field

Blue Line 3 connects the airport to Syntagma in about 40 minutes; our office on Agiou Konstantinou sits three metro stops from Syntagma in Metaxourgeio. Summer traffic on the Riviera (Vouliagmenis toward Varkiza) is real — budget it into school-run maths.

School data verified 2026-08-31 from the schools' own sites (acs.gr, slc.gr, isa.edu.gr) and official descriptions; administrative sequence per AADE published procedures (myAADE, TIN, E9/ENFIA). This is general information, not legal advice

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