meteora trip reviews

The 7 Best Meteora Tours From Athens [2024 Reviews]

Sometimes you stumble across memorable images of beautiful buildings in unbelievable locations and wonder if they’re even real. Meteora is such a place.

Due to a series of unique geological processes, the area of Meteora features tall columns of sandstone and conglomerate that loom over lush green valleys.

And during the medieval period, monks built amazing monasteries upon those remote and difficult to reach peaks. Now you have the opportunity to visit these places that once would have taken several days of hiking and a dangerous climb to reach.

I’ve reviewed 7 of the top-rated Meteora tours from Athens. Some are combined with other activities. Some involve some challenging but fun hikes. Some are focused on visiting the most beautiful viewpoints. One of them will be perfect for you.

Be sure to see our reviews of Acropolis Tours , Delphi Day Trips and Athens Boat trips .

Best Tours of Meteora from Athens

Quick answer: the 7 best rated meteora tours from athens.

• Meteora Full-Day Trip From Athens By Train
• Athens: Meteora Independent Train Trip & Monastery Tour
• From Athens: Full-Day Meteora Trip By Train
• Two Days Rail Tour To Meteora From Athens
• Meteora: 4-Hour Highlights Tour
• Meteora: Full-Day Private Trip From Athens Or Piraeus
• From Athens: Delphi & Meteora 2-Day Tour With Hotel

Meteora Tours From Athens Reviews

1. meteora full-day trip from athens by train.

• Departure Point : Athens Railway Station
• Departure Time: 7:20 AM
• Duration : 14 hours
• Includes : English speaking guide, train tickets from Athens to Kalambaka Railway Station, air-conditioned transport to Meteora, visit 2 monasteries and the Badovas caves

Archaeological excavation of caves in the Meteora area revealed human occupation dating back 50,000 years and the oldest known wall in the world, dated to c. 21,000 BCE.

Your train from Athens takes a stunning scenic route through the Greek countryside and through breathtaking mountain passes. Once you’ve reached Kalambaka, you’ll transfer to an air-conditioned bus to explore the Meteora area and the Badovas caves.

Through the geological process of erosion, tall pillars of sandstone and conglomerate were carved out of the sedimentary rock. These natural formations made perfect locations for early Christian monks to establish remote hermitages in caves and atop precarious clifftops.

On your tour around the area, you’ll be amazed at the beauty of these once remote monasteries standing high above the lush green valley.

Your tour will take you inside 2 of the monasteries. In bygone days, visitors could only visit the monasteries by climbing up rickety ladders or ropes.

Thankfully, now stone steps have been built up the cliffs to enable an easier and safer approach. Inside the monasteries, you’ll discover how the monks live today and learn about the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2. athens: meteora independent train trip & monastery tour.

• Departure Point : Kalambaka Train Station
• Departure Time: 7:00 AM
• Includes : English speaking guide, train tickets from Athens to Kalambaka, transfer to Meteora, bottled water, Wi-Fi, and visits to 3 monasteries

Your train journey from Athens to Kalambaka will provide you with scenic views of the Greek countryside. After collection from Kalambaka Railway Station, you’ll enjoy a bus drive into the Meteora area.

As you pass through the lush green valleys, you’ll be amazed at the high cliffs and pillars of sandstone and conglomerate that tower above you. Atop several of these cliffs and pillars stand ancient monuments built 700 years ago by Orthodox monks.

You’ll have numerous opportunities to take fantastic photographs of yourself and your loved ones atop high cliffs and overlooking stunning monasteries.

The scenery around the area is breathtaking, and your visits to 3 monasteries will introduce you to a unique way of life that has changed little over the past millennium.

3. From Athens: Full-Day Meteora Trip By Train

• Duration : 1 day
• Includes : English speaking guide, train tickets from Athens to Kalambaka, tour of Meteora, Wi-Fi, tourist map, and tour inside 2 monasteries

After your scenic train journey from Athens, your local guide will collect you from Kalambaka Railway Station and take you on a tour of the famous monastic sites around the Meteora area.

Mother Nature created stunning rock formations, including sheer cliffs, tall rock pillars, and natural caves. In ancient times, Christian hermits moved into those caves and eventually founded monasteries atop the pinnacles of the rock pillars.

These holy shrines and their beautiful natural setting are together now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During your tour, you’ll be taken inside at least 2 of these amazing monasteries that were founded 700 years ago. At its most active, this region hosted 24 monasteries. Today, only 6 survive.

But your local expert guide will be able to show you around inside 2 or more of these imposing religious structures and tell you all about their fascinating history.

4. Two Days Rail Tour To Meteora From Athens

• Departure Point : Kalampaka Train Station
• Departure Time: 7:15 AM
• Duration : 2 days
• Includes : English speaking guide, train tickets from Athens to Meteora, hotel stay, Wi-Fi, and map

The train from Athens to Kalambaka passes through some of the most stunning mountain scenery you’ll ever see. Upon arrival in Kalambaka, you’ll transfer to your hotel. That evening, you’ll experience a wonderful Meteora Sunset Tour.

This excursion shows you the most beautiful landmarks of the Meteora region and enables you to experience a sunset over this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the second day, you can choose between a morning tour or a hiking tour, if you have the stamina. On a hiking tour, you can better imagine what life was like for the hermits who chose to live in the Meteora area back before there were modern roads and steps built up the slopes.

But on the morning tour, you’ll see more of the area as you’re driven around from site to site. Whichever option you choose, your English-speaking guide will tell you all about the history of the area.

You’ll learn all about the early humans who lived in the Meteora caves 50,000 years ago, the hermits who came to live on the pillars of rock, and the building of the 24 monasteries that once stood in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. Meteora: 5-Hour Highlights Tour

• Departure Point : Kalabaka Train Station
• Departure Time: 11:30 AM
• Duration : 4 hours
• Includes : English speaking guide, tour around Meteora, visit the monasteries, Wi-Fi, and tourist map

You’ll be collected from Kalabaka Railway Station by mini-bus and transported into the beautiful Meteora area. As you drive around the lush valleys, you’ll be amazed by the natural pillars of sandstone and conglomerate that loom overhead.

During the medieval period, Christian monks built remote monasteries atop many of these pillars and on surrounding plateaus.

Originally, visitors to these holy shrines would have faced great danger climbing up the near-vertical sides of the pillars. Many of the monasteries could only be reached by rickety ladders or ropes and nets.

Fortunately, when you visit today, you’ll be able to use steps built in modern times to make access to the ancient monasteries safer and more convenient. Your tour will take you around the picturesque landscape of the region and enable you to see all 6 surviving monasteries.

Your guide will also take you inside 2 or 3 of these monasteries so you can experience the spirituality and admire the architecture of these unique structures around this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. Meteora: Full-Day Private Trip From Athens Or Piraeus

• Departure Point : Hotel pick-up
• Duration : 12 hours
• Includes : English speaking guide and air-conditioned transportation to Meteora

At some point in geological history, the sedimentary rocks in this region were crisscrossed with fault lines. Erosion over the millennia carved away the rocks around the fault lines leaving behind tall pillars of sandstone and conglomerate that now loom over the surrounding valleys.

As you tour the area in an air-conditioned bus, you’ll be amazed by the beauty of these natural towers and lush valleys.

These stunning geographical features have attracted much interest over the years. During the medieval period, Christian hermits came here to escape the temptation and problems of secular life.

They found caves and crevasses to hide away from the world. When the Turks invaded the area, more hermits came for refuge.

Over the years, these gatherings of holy people turned into monasteries. At one point, 24 monasteries were built atop the pillars and plateaus of this region. Today, only 6 remain active, and you have a unique opportunity to visit 2 of these monasteries during your visit to this area.

You’ll surely agree these surviving monasteries are stunning monuments to live outside of the mainstream.

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7. from athens: delphi & meteora 2-day tour with hotel.

• Departure Point : Leoforos Vasilis Amalias and Souri Street
• Departure Time: 8:15 AM
• Includes : English speaking guide, air-conditioned transport to Meteora and Delphi, entry fees, hotel accommodation in a picturesque village, and meals

Much like many events in Ancient Greek history and mythology, your tour begins with a visit to Delphi. In ancient times, the Oracle of Delphi was the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi and the most important religious figure in Ancient Greece.

Important political figures would visit the Oracle of Delphi to seek advice. It was believed that the god Apollo granted her wisdom and prophecies.

During your visit, you’ll tour the ruins of the sanctuary of Pythia, including the famous Temple of Apollo. Due to the importance of the site during antiquity, the ruins there are especially impressive. Your tour guide will take you around the site and explain its key role in Ancient Greek politics and mythology.

This role still has an impact on society today through classical literature, such as the famous play Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles.

After your overnight stay in the picturesque village of Kalabaka, you’ll travel to Meteora where the unique rock formations leave many visitors breathless. Geological processes have created tall pillars of rock that stand out across the landscape.

Christian hermits sought refuge atop these rock formations during the medieval period, especially during Turkish incursions into the region. Over time, these hermitages grew into isolated monasteries.

You’ll visit some of the surviving 6 monasteries to learn about the life of the nuns and monks who choose to live in this inaccessible location far away from the stresses and temptations of modern life. There is much to admire in the architecture and art found in these religious structures.

During your return to Athens, you’ll stop off at the site of the famous Battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans fought to hold off a much larger Persian invasion force. A famous memorial statue to King Leonidas I stands watch over the site.

Athens Travel Guide

Athens is the origin of much that we take for granted in everyday life. It’s the birthplace of democracy, classical architecture, philosophy, and the Olympic Games.More through good luck than planning, many stunning structures survive from Greece’s Golden Age, so visiting Athens becomes a journey to the very roots of Western Civilization.

There’s much more to see and do in Athens than I can squeeze into this brief travel guide, but I hope it will provide a good starting point as you plan your visit.

Airports & Entry

Athens International Airport is the busiest airport in Greece and the 27 th busiest in Europe. It handles around 24 million passengers a year. Since the airport was only opened in 2001 and expanded in 2018, you’ll find the 2 terminals and all the facilities modern. An underground moving sidewalk connects the original main terminal to the new satellite terminal.

What’s unusual about Athens Airport is the presence of an art gallery and 3 museums. If you get bored waiting for your flight, they provide lots for you to see. The Art & Culture Exhibition Area is found on the Arrivals level. They host regular photography and painting exhibitions, book signings, and cultural events.

In the main terminal, the Acropolis Museum features classical Greek exhibits from the Acropolis. On the Departures level, the Eleftherios Venizelos Exhibition displays relics from Greek aviation history in the. In the same area, you’ll find the Exhibition of Archaeological Findings.

Getting back to the modern world, you’ll find mobile charging points around the airport, and free Wi-Fi on the “ATH Free Wi-Fi” network. The free Wi-Fi only lasts 45 minutes, but you can log-in again as often as you like.

If you’re traveling with kids aged 18 months to 7-years-old, you’ll find a children’s play area in the main terminal landside on the 2 nd floor. It’s open from 9 am to 9 pm. There are baby rooms and diaper changing facilities throughout the airport on both landside and airside.

With 20 food outlets, you won’t have any problem finding something to eat. Many are open 24 hours. The airport also has a mini market on the Arrivals level, landside and duty-free shopping on the Departures level. Many of the stores in the airport operate 24 hours.

ATMs are located all around the airport on both Arrivals and Departures levels. There are also multiple currency exchange kiosks operated by ONExchange. You’ll find full banking services at the Alpha Bank on the Arrivals level landside, open from 8 am to 6 pm weekdays and 9 am to 4 pm on weekends and bank holidays.

If you have a medical problem, there’s a pharmacy on the Arrivals level, landside, open from 6 am to midnight. Urgent emergency care is available at the airport first aid station provided by qualified members of the National Center for Emergency Care.

The easiest way to get into Athens from the airport is on the Metro . The airport train station is connected to the city via Metro Line 3. The journey takes 40 minutes and there’s a service every ½ hour. There are also services to other cities and archaeological sites provided by the Athens Suburban Railway .

The city bus company, Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA ), provides even more frequent services into the city. 4 bus services (X93, X95, X96, and X97) operate from the Arrivals level between Exits 4 and 5. The buses run 24/7 and the X95 to Syntagma (Athens City Center) takes around 40 minutes and departs every 15 to 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the major vehicle rental companies (Hertz, National, Europcar, Budget, Avis, Sixt, and Alamo) have desks on the Arrivals level.

And there’s always the taxi stand, found on the Arrivals level, Exit 3. During the day, the fare into the city center is around €48 but increases to €54 after midnight until 5 am.

Planning Tips

Athens is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay. Just to ensure you do, here are 5 tips to help you plan your visit.

Tip #1: Watch your purse and your pockets

Pickpockets and purse-snatchers love Athens. The crowds of oblivious tourists admiring stunning architecture provide great prospects for any unscrupulous thief to get rich quick. Watch out for thieves everywhere, especially in the Metro system, around all the tourist attractions, and Omonia Square.

Tip #2: Book tickets in advance, especially during summer

Athens is a popular destination, so tours frequently sell out. Consider booking in advance so that you are assured of the excursions you want to take. Most reputable tour operators offer full refunds for trips canceled with reasonable notice. Just check the refund policy when you book any tours.

Tip #3: Go during spring or fall

Many of the most important attractions in Athens are outdoor, so you’re exposed to the sun. Because Athens is the second hottest capital city in Europe, the summer heat can become unbearable. If you’re traveling with young kids or elderly relatives, you certainly shouldn’t take them during summer.

Personally, I would prefer not to visit Athens in the summer. Not only is it too hot to appreciate the beauty of the city in the middle of the day, but it’s also when the city and its many attractions are most crowded. If you want warm rather than hot weather, go in spring or fall.

Tip #4: Buy unique souvenirs

Pop over to the Plaka neighborhood for some unique souvenirs. Spoons and ladles carved from olivewood, unique Greek products, as well as the usual range of T-shirts and less cultural souvenirs are found in the many gift shops in its labyrinth of old-world alleyways.

There are also many specialist jewelry shops in the Plaka neighborhood, where you can purchase custom-designed and unique items. Many of these stores are owned by artists, like the popular jewelers, Byzantino .

Tip #5: Cash is king

Greece is not a cashless society. You may be used to sticking all your restaurant and transport bills on a credit card, but this probably won’t work so well in Athens. A surprising number of busy restaurants and large stores don’t accept electronic payment methods, so you must be prepared to carry cash.

Because of the pickpockets mentioned above, consider methods to protect your cash. A fanny pack may look unattractive, but it beats getting your restaurant bill and discovering your wallet isn’t where it should be.

Restaurants & Eating Out

Because Athens is a Mediterranean port city, the local food is typically Mediterranean, with frequent use of fish and olives. In fact, a founding myth about the city claims that when competing to become the patron god of the city, the god Poseidon gave them a saltwater spring and the goddess Athena gave them their first olive tree.

Breakfasts typically consist of pastries from one of the many bakeries and a cup of coffee. Common breakfast pastries include the savory feta or spinach pastry, a flaky phyllo pastry, or the sweet Bougatsa custard pastry. Although it is not a traditional Athenian breakfast food, some cafés also sell Greek yoghurt due to tourist demand.

Athens’ streets are riddled with tavernas and cafés. Lunches are long and leisurely. Like in Spain, dinner is typically eaten late. Restaurants usually get busy at around 10 pm. Food is ordered for the table (the group of people sitting together) rather than the individual. This means that portions are often large because they are designed to be shared rather than eaten by one.

The tavernas offer a variety of hors d’oeuvre called a mezedes, which is a small dish of hot or cold food with dips. Mezedes are often eaten while drinking ouzo, a strong anise liquor. My favorite mezedes is saganaki, which is great for any cheese lover. It’s a hard cheese fried to create a crunchy crust and sprinkled with lemon juice. Tomatokeftedes (tomato balls) are another popular appetizer, sweet, soft, and full of herbs and tomato. Mezedes are typically served with a yoghurt dip.

Alongside mezedes, Athenians eat salad. Horiatiki salata (Greek salad) is tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, spicy shallots, and olives, all splashed with virgin olive oil and topped with feta cheese. Because the salad portion is designed to be shared, one person can make a filling meal out of a single serving of salad and some crusty bread.

Perhaps the most famous main dish in Athens is moussaka. This is an oven-baked dish consisting of mincemeat layered with either potatoes or eggplant and topped with bechamel. It’s not an exclusively Greek dish, but the currently popular version originated in Greece. Moussaka tastes best when seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon.

A common variant of moussaka is pastitsio. This is another oven-baked dish with mincemeat and topped with bechamel, but this time layered with pasta and tomato sauce.

Being next to the sea, fish soup is popular in Athens. Different kinds of fish appear in the soup depending upon the season. It’s usually a rich broth with lots of fish, vegetables, and flavored with lemon.

But my favorite main dish is pastitsiopanakopita. This spinach and cheese pie is baked in a filo pastry and heavily seasoned. Unfortunately for me, it’s a messy dish. The filo pastry is crumbly and goes everywhere!

When it comes to desserts, Athenians get messy. Their sweet dessert pastries are drenched in honey or syrup. But these sticky treats are delicious when freshly baked. The most popular variety is baklava, which is layers of filo dough stuffed with chopped nuts, usually almonds or pistachios. Another common variety is kataifi, which looks like Shredded Wheat but is fine strands of pastry wrapped around a chopped nut center, usually almonds or walnuts.

Nightlife & Entertainment

While Athens may not have the reputation for wild nightlife found in other parts of the Mediterranean, like the Balearic Islands, you can still find vibrant nightclubs and lively bars. The different areas of the city tend to attract different crowds, so let’s run through them.

If you’re into clubbing, Kerranmeikos is the place to go. This is where you’ll find the new super-club opened by Lindsay Lohan, simply called LOHAN . With Hollywood financing and Greek knowhow, this club features internationally renowned DJs using the highest quality sound and light equipment. It’s a club dedicated to dance parties. In the same area, you’ll find a selection of popular bars, such as The Blue Parrot and Bios .

The neighboring Gazi area is the place to go for live Rebetiko venues, which is a kind of Greek urban blues music. So, if you want to try something uniquely Greek, then you could skip the super-club and head straight for a Rebetiko bar and spend the night listening to Greek blues and drinking ouzo.

If you’re looking for lively bars, Exarchia is the area favored by young Athenians. There are many popular bars along Emmanouil Benaki Street. But Exarchia is also an area known for graffiti and anarchy. In 2008/9, riots brought conflict between youths and police on these narrow streets. However, that’s only a footnote in modern history. Sandwiched between the University of Athens and the polytechnic, the area is filled with trendy cafés and bars aimed at Bohemian youths.

But if you prefer more sophisticated cocktail bars and hipster hangouts, the two areas to go are Psyrri and Koukaki. Psyrri is a high-class area with lots of bars and a small but lively nightclub called Cantina Social. The most interesting bar to check out is Six d.o.g.s, which is a unique bar with DJs, live music, club nights, and art exhibitions! And if you’re into wine, Materia Prima Wine Bar in Psyrri has a fantastic reputation.

Getting Around

In central Athens, many of the attractions are close together, so walking is a viable option. However, to really see the city, public transport is the best option. You can use the Metro, buses, or trams. To use public transport , you’ll need an ATH.ENA Card .

The Metro is the easiest and quickest way to travel around Athens. The signs and maps can be confusing since some are only in Greek, but the network is simple. There are only 3 lines, and once you get a feel for the system, it becomes easy.

The main Metro station in the center of Athens is Syntagma. This is in the same area as the Greek parliament building and the main city square. Much like the airport, this station also holds a museum. In this case, the museum displays the archaeological treasures unearthed when the station was built.

The buses in Athens are not as comfortable or as quick as the Metro. Also, the bus times tend to be unpredictable and the routes confusing. Bus stops are often difficult to find, and you might need to ask a local for directions. Some of the buses are “trolleys”, which are the same as regular buses except that they run on electricity.

The trams are modern and environmentally friendly. There are only 3 tram services, and they all connect Syntagma Station with coastal resorts and beaches.

Taxis are always an option, but you’ll find them expensive compared to public transport and not as quick as the Metro.

Accommodations

Athens is an extremely popular destination for anybody interested in classical history, Greek language and culture, or simply sunny beaches. Because so many visitors crowd the city every year, you’ll find a broad range of hotels suitable for every budget and taste.

If you’re interested in history, the best areas to stay are around the city center near the Acropolis, like Makrianni, Monastiraki, Plaka, Syntagma, and Thission. The Plaka area is arguably the most desirable location because it’s nestled between the Acropolis and Syntagma Square (main square and central Metro station). Plaka is the quietest and most peaceful area of Athens.

Because of the problem of pick-pockets in Athens, you’ll want to make sure your hotel room has a safe. Whenever you go out, leave anything you won’t need in your safe. Any important documents, credit cards you won’t need that day, and spare cash should be left safely behind.

There are a few very seedy hotels in Athens that you’ll want to avoid. My advice is to check reviews on more than one hotel-reviewing site before booking. You’ll find some cheap hostels and basic hotels around Omonia Square, but the area is renowned for purse snatchers and seediness, as well as legal brothels.

A friend booked a night at the Athens House Hotel on booking.com because the reviews there looked positive, and she wanted to stay somewhere cheap and basic. When she arrived, the hotel’s hygiene standards were abysmal. When she later looked on TripAdvisor, she found the same hotel had a rating of 2 out of 5 stars and featured some extremely alarming reviews!

But, to be fair, the Athens House Hotel is great for economy backpackers. With last minute rooms at $10 or $20 a night, you can put up with bad service and a bit of grime!

If you’re made of money and want to sample the high life, check out the Hotel Grande Bretagne (GB) . A basic suite in the GB will cost around $300 a night, but you get what you pay for. This luxury hotel overlooks Syntagma Square, and you can even watch the changing of the guards in front of the Greek parliament building from your balcony.

The GB has one pool in the basement and another on the roof. There’s also a fully-equipped spa in the basement. The exclusive Alexander’s Bar inside the GB was voted Best Hotel Bar in the World by Forbes magazine, and the GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar provides the best views of the Acropolis you’ll find in the city.

If you’re traveling on a tighter budget, check out the Hotel Attalos . It’s not quite so central as the GB, but it also has a roof garden café with fantastic views of the Acropolis for around $125 a night.

The Hotel Attalos is a 15-minute walk to the Acropolis and the same to central Syntagma Square. It’s only a short walk to the Monastiraki Metro Station, so it’s convenient for rapid public transport to all the main attractions. It gets fantastic reviews and ratings on both TripAdvisor and Booking.com.

But when I take my family to Athens, I avoid the crowds and pollution in the city center altogether. Not far from the city, there are dozens of clean and modern hotels along the coastline of the Athenian Riviera. With the great tram connections to Syntagma Square Station, they’re only a short ride away from all the main attractions.

Most coastal hotels are walking distance to the beach, and sometimes their buildings even segue into the sand. They typically offer more spacious and better-equipped rooms for a fraction of the price of city center hotels.

For example, consider Maison 66 in Alimos. This modern hotel is 6 miles from Syntagma Square, which means 25 minutes in a car or 45 minutes on a tram. That might sound like a lot of traveling, but Maison 66 offers a beautifully decorated room with a sea view, furnished balcony, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, en-suite bathrooms with shower cabins, and free Wi-FI for only $80 per night.

Maison 66 is rated 9.1/10 on Booking.com and 5/5 on TripAdvisor! If your family wants to split their time between the beach and the cultural attractions, this hotel or others like it in coastal beach resorts offer you spacious, clean and modern accommodation for a fraction of equivalent hotels in the center of Athens.

Athens is the second hottest capital city in Europe. It experiences mild winters and long, dry, and hot summers. July and August are extremely dry, and most rainfall occurs between October and April.

Because the weather is relatively fine all year long, you can visit Athens at any time. However, I’d recommend you visit Athens in spring (late March through early June) or fall (late September through early November) if possible.

Spring and fall are when the weather isn’t too hot but still warm enough to enjoy the sun. Winter can be chilly and wet, and summer is just too hot for me. Most tourists visit during summer, which means the streets, attractions, and public transport are all crowded.

In summer, it grows too hot in the middle of the day for comfortable sightseeing. If you plan to visit the Acropolis, the best time of day is the early morning before the midday heat bakes the ground. Alternatively, visit in the last two hours of the site’s opening times. In August, average temperatures range from 73 0 F to 89 0 F.

It’s still pleasant and sunny in the fall, so this is a great time to wander around the Panathenaic Stadium. However, there’s more rain than during summer, especially in November. In November, average temperatures range from 54 0 F to 66 0 F.

Athenian winters are mild, but December sees the most rain. Despite warm average temperatures, snow isn’t uncommon, and it can get chilly on occasions. January’s average temperatures range from 45 0 F to 57 0 F.

Rainfall rapidly decreases between April and June, and the days become warmer. The average temperatures in April range from 53 0 F to 67 0 F.

Attractions

99.9% of visitors to Athens have the Acropolis at the top of their “must-see” list, but there’s more to Athens than its citadel. It’s the capital of a modern nation and the center of Greek culture. But, I’m not going to swim against the crowd right now. The Acropolis is top of my list, too!

The Acropolis looms over Athens and is the most famous attraction in Greece. Archaeological evidence shows the hill has been settled since as early as 4,000 BCE, and the Acropolis as we know it began to take shape in the 13 th -century BCE when it was fortified with a wall that still forms part of today’s complex monument.

Most of the structures we see on the old citadel date from the 5 th -century BCE. That’s because a helpful group of Persian invaders leveled many of the pre-existing buildings in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars.

There are many ancient temples atop the hill, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Brauronion. But none is more famous or iconic than the Parthenon . Built in 438 BCE and dedicated to Athena Parthenos, this is the most awesome example of Ancient Greek architecture in existence.

Also inside the Acropolis is the Acropolis Museum . This incongruous, modern structure stands 3-stores-high, right beside the Parthenon. However, it does effectively display the artifacts recovered by archaeologists from excavations atop the hill. The highlight is the Parthenon Marbles exhibition on the top floor. To fully appreciate the Acropolis, take a guided tour .

Don’t miss the Theatre of Dionysus. Situated at the foot of the Acropolis and carved into the southern cliff, this is believed to be the oldest surviving theater in the world. The site has been a theater since the 6 th -century BCE, but the present structure is 4 th- century BCE. If you ever had to read Greek tragedies in school written by Euripides or Sophocles, this is where those famous plays premiered!

The last ancient monument in the city I’ll specifically recommend is the Panathenaic Stadium . Not only is this the only athletic stadium in the world constructed in marble, but it’s also the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games .

The stadium began life in antiquity as a racecourse and was transformed into a stadium in 330 BCE. The current marble structure dates to 144 CE and was designed to seat 50,000 spectators. The first modern Olympic Games were held here in 1896.

But Athens isn’t all about ancient antiquity. The heart of the modern city isn’t atop the Acropolis. It’s Syntagma Square. Not only is this where you’ll find the main Metro station, but it’s the central square and location of the Greek Parliament building.

The Parliament building is guarded by Evzones, who are parliamentary guards. Evzones wear special handmade shoes and uniforms and perform an hourly changing of the guards. There is an especially elaborate changing ceremony at 11 am every Sunday.

Pop over to the Plaka neighborhood to see charming houses decked with flower baskets and colorful cafés with outdoor seating. You’ll definitely need your camera as you explore this picturesque area.

The Plaka neighborhood is a great place to sample traditional Greek food and buy unique souvenirs. And if you’ve always wanted to try a traditional Turkish Bath, you can enjoy a steam bath and a relaxing massage at Al Hammam .

And if you want to see where the Athenians shop, check out the Varvakeios Central Food Market . This is where you can get a feeling for the heartbeat of Athens. This market is a great place to sample authentic Greek fresh foods and drinks. Why not try some strong Greek coffee made just how Athenians like it? But note that this market, like many grocery businesses in Greece, is closed on Sundays.

Getting out of the center, consider ascending Lycabettus Hill . This is the highest point in Athens. Sunset is a great time to visit for spectacular views across the city lit by the dying sun. At the top, you’ll find St. George’s Church and Orizontes Restaurant . The restaurant’s rooftop terrace provides stunning views.

You can spend a month in Athens and not see everything, but some people like to explore the wider context and travel to other parts of Greece. Also, in summer, getting out of the capital city helps you escape the relentless heat.

If you want to visit more of Greece, Athens makes a great base. Various Mediterranean islands, such as Aegina, Moni, Agistri, and Santorini, are popular destinations for longer day trips. Or you can enjoy a simple cruise along the Athenian Riviera and enjoy fantastic views of the Greek coast.

Tour Guides

The Full-Day Trip From Athens By Train is our Editors Choice for the best Meteora tour

Robert Baker

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Two Days Tour to Meteora with Local Small Size Tours from Athens

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Meteora Day Trip From Athens – 2024 Travel Guide

A Meteora day trip from Athens will take you to one of the most remarkable places in Greece. Here's how to visit the mountains and monasteries of Meteora from Athens.

Visiting Meteora from Athens

One of the most visited places in mainland Greece is Meteora. This area is a breathtaking combination of majestic monasteries and an otherworldly landscape.

Mix in its UNESCO World Heritage status due to its religious and historical importance, and Meteora deserves to be on your top five places to see in Greece.

Whilst some people choose to visit Meteora on a road trip around Greece, others opt for a Meteora day trip from Athens.

This guide helps to explain a little more about Meteora, why you should go there, and the different types of Athens to Meteora day trips available.

What exactly is Meteora and why is it so popular?

The area of Meteora is really quite special. It comprises of several huge rock formations and caves, which might have been inhabited since about 50,000 years ago.

Monks moved into the area in the 9th century, and lived in caves at first. In the 14th century, the first monasteries were built on top of the rocks.

Many of them were abandoned over the years, but six of them are still inhabited and fully functioning.

Meteora Full Day Tour

If you're planning to visit the UNESCO listed Meteora monasteries in one day from Athens, the only realistic way to do it, is to take an organized day tour.

You should know, that this is going to be a long trip – it can be 13 or 14 hours in total, of which you'll probably be on a train for 8 hours.

Even so, the trip is worth it and it going to Meteora will be a real highlight of your time in Greece. The monasteries and the surrounding landscape of Meteora really is one of the most spectacular places on the planet!

Some of the best tours you can choose from are:

• Meteora Thrones Day Trip from Athens to Meteora
• Key Tours Day Trip from Athens to Meteora
• Visit Meteora Day Trip from Athens to Meteora
• Meteora Rocks Day Trip from Athens to Meteora

Think the day might be too long? Take a look here for other day trips from Athens that might be more suitable.

The Meteora Monasteries

These monasteries were important cultural centers at various eras, especially during the Ottoman occupation. Many of them are home to important religious texts, manuscripts and several objects related to the Orthodox religion.

Today, the monasteries and the surroundings area are classed as one of the 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece .

You can visit the following monasteries in Meteora:

• The Monastery of Great Meteoron , the biggest and most imposing of them all, hosting an extensive library and vast collections of religious objects. If you only visit one monastery, make it this one.
• The Monastery of Roussanou , home to thirteen nuns and a really impressive fresco
• The Monastery of Varlaam , with wonderful frescoes and a great collection of manuscripts
• The Monastery of St. Stephen, famous for its unique iconostasis
• The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas, built on a very narrow rock
• The Monastery of the Holy Trinity , reachable only through 140 steps

More information on each of the monasteries as well as opening days and times, can be found here – Meteora Travel Guide .

Where is Meteora in Greece?

Meteora is located quite far from most other major sights in Greece, close to a small town called Kalambaka. This is understandable, as when the monasteries were first built, the monks wanted to be as far as possible from other people.

As a result, the logistics of visiting Meteora can be challenging for many visitors, especially if renting a car is not an option. This is why day trips from Athens to Meteora are a good option.

Meteora Day Trips from Athens

For people with limited time, the best way to visit the Meteora monasteries from Athens is an organized tour.

Even though a Meteora day trip from Athens will be a very long day, it is still doable, and you can rest and get a nap on your way to or back from Meteora.

If you have an extra day, it’s best to allow an overnight stay in the area , or perhaps combine your trip with a visit to the archaeological site of Delphi .

In this article, I am listing possible Meteora day trips from Athens, as well as two day trips, for people who can allow for a second day.

Day trip from Athens to Meteora

This option is popular with people who have very limited time, but still want to experience majestic Meteora in Greece.

There are two types of day trips – those where you get to Kalambaka by train on your own, and then take a tour to the monasteries on a minibus, and those where you have a private van from Athens to Meteora and back.

Athens to Meteora by train

If you choose this option, you will need to travel on your own from Athens to Kalambaka and back, and you will be provided with train tickets.

You will need to board the 7.20 am train which goes directly to Kalambaka, arriving at 11.31, and you will be returning on the 17.25 train from Kalambaka, getting into Athens at 21.25.

This gives you just under six hours in Meteora, which is not enough to visit all the monasteries, but is enough time to get an idea of the area and appreciate its beauty, and see all of the monasteries from the outside.

The tour of Meteora

After you have arrived in Kalambaka, you will be picked up by a minivan and driven around the amazing rock formations and monasteries.

As every monastery is closed on one or two days a week, on a rotating basis, you will visit two or maybe three monasteries.

If there is a specific monastery you want to visit, check the opening times and days in advance of your visit to avoid disappointment. There are also some hermit caves in the area that can be visited.

The minibus tour offers plenty of opportunities to take snapshots of one of the most photographed UNESCO World Heritage monuments in Greece, and the tour guides will explain the history of the monasteries and what life is like as a monk.

Day trip to Meteora from Athens by train

These are the best tours available through Get Your Guide for the Athens to Meteora day tours:

Athens to Meteora day trip by private coach

If you are a small group or just prefer the luxury of a private tour, several companies offer the option of a day trip from Athens to Meteora on a private minibus.

These tours pick you up from your hotel or other meeting point in Athens, and drop you back late in the evening. You will have a few hours to explore the monasteries, whereas there is also time for a laid-back, traditional lunch, in one of the smaller villages around the area.

Some companies provide just the driving, while others include an expert local guide, who will explain the history and background of the area, so read the descriptions carefully.

• Meteora Thrones Private Day Trip from Athens to Meteora (up to 7 people)
• Enjoy Greece tours Private Day Trip from Athens to Meteora (up to 7 people)
• Sights of Athens Private Day Trip from Athens to Meteora (up to 4 people)

Two day trip from Athens to Meteora

For people who can allow an extra day, a two day trip is a better option, as you will get to see the monasteries at different times of the day. You will also have the chance to go inside many of the monasteries, and you can choose between a hike in the area or a minibus tour.

There are two types of 2-day trips from Athens to Meteora: a trip by train where you will get to visit the area of Meteora twice, and a trip by coach / van, where you will also get to visit Delphi.

Two day trip from Athens to Meteora by train

On the first day, you will board the 7.20 am train to Kalambaka on your own, and you will be transferred to your hotel in Kalambaka.

There will be some free time for lunch, and to explore the small town. In the evening, you will visit the monasteries during a sunset tour, and have the chance to enjoy the amazing views at one of the most romantic times of the day.

On the second day, you can choose between a minibus tour and a hiking tour . I have tried both and find them both very rewarding, as the landscapes are fantastic.

Whichever you choose, you can’t really go wrong! The hike is an easy hike, suitable for everyone who can walk for a couple of hours. I personally took this hiking tour with Meteora Thrones, but there are more companies offering similar activities.

• Meteora Thrones Two-Day Trip from Athens to Meteora
• Visit Meteora Two-Day Trip from Athens to Meteora
• Meteora Rocks Two-Day Trip from Athens to Meteora

Two day trip from Athens to Delphi and Meteora by minivan or coach

One of the most popular two day trips from Athens is the one that includes two UNESCO Heritage Sites, Delphi and Meteora. Several companies offer this trip, and there are group as well as private options on a minivan or other suitable coach.

In my opinion, this is one of the best tours to take in Greece, as all the logistics have been dealt with, and it can work out cheaper than renting your own car, especially if you are travelling solo.

On the first day, these trips typically visit the traditional village of Arachova, and then stop at the Archaeological Site of Delphi, where you can explore the ancient ruins. You will reach Meteora in the evening, and have free time to stroll around Kalambaka town.

On the second day, you will have time to visit the monasteries and take in the stunning landscapes. On the way back, there will be a brief stop at Thermopylae, where the famous “300” of King Leonidas died in battle.

• Key Tours Two Day Trip from Athens to Delphi to Meteora (group tour)
• G.O. Tours Two Day Trip from Athens to Delphi to Meteora (group tour)
• Enjoy Greece tours Two Day Trip from Athens to Delphi to Meteora (private tour of up to 8 people)

What should I know before I visit Meteora?

Although Meteora is a popular destination, the monasteries are still fully functioning religious places, where monks and nuns have chosen to live. As a result, you should be respectful, and wear appropriate clothing.

Your shoulders and knees should be covered at all times, so sleeveless tops and short skirts or shorts are not allowed. It is best to come prepared, but it is also possible to borrow some clothes at the entrance of the monasteries.

Entrance fee to each of the monasteries is 3 euro, which is not included in most of the above tours – check before you book. If possible, try to have small change readily available. Cards are not accepted.

Each of the above tours has different inclusions – as an example, some tours include a guided tour of the monasteries, but some others don’t. Read tour descriptions carefully to avoid disappointment.

Meteora Tour From Athens FAQ

Readers planning to make a train trip from Athens to Meteora Unesco World Heritage Site often ask questions similar to:

Can you do a day trip to Meteora from Athens?

You can take a train from Athens to Meteora if you want to make a day trip. Prepare for a long day – the train journey to Meteora takes 4 hours, you would then have about 4 or 5 hours at Meteora before taking the four hour train back to Athens.

How do you get from Athens to Meteora?

You can travel to Meteora from Athens by train, bus, or car. Taking the direct train is the best option for most travelers who don't want to rent a car.

What is there to see between Athens and Meteora?

If you are making a road trip from Athens to Meteora, the archaeological museum at Thebes is worth visiting, as is the amazing archaeological site at Delphi.

How many days do you need in Meteora?

There are six active monasteries at Meteora, and a number of hiking paths. Ideally, 2 days in Meteora would be the best amount of time, and allow you to see sunsets and sunrises with the beautiful scenery as a backdrop.

Related: 200 + Sunrise Instagram Captions To Help You Rise And Shine!

Have you taken a day trip from Athens to Meteora? What did you think – would you have liked to have more time? Let us know in the comments!

Greece Travel Guides

I've been living in Greece for quite a few years now, and put travel guides live on this blog almost every day. Here's a few that might help you plan the Athens part of your Greek vacation:

Athens in a day – The Best 1 Day Athens Itinerary

2 days in athens itinerary, athens 3 day itinerary – what to do in athens in 3 days, what to see in athens – buildings and landmarks in athens, the best neighborhoods in athens for urban explorers, how to get from athens airport arrivals to city center, how to get from athens airport to piraeus – taxi, bus and train information, hop on hop off athens bus city sightseeing.

Dave is a travel writer who's been living in Greece since 2015. In addition to this guide on how to make a day trip to Meteora from Athens, he's written hundreds of other guides and blog posts here at Dave's Travel Pages. 

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6 thoughts on “Meteora Day Trip From Athens – 2024 Travel Guide”

Hello Dave, We will be in Igoumenitsa on Friday Aug 25 (2023) and have 2 days before we need to arrive into Athens on the Sunday Aug 27. Do you have any recommendations for us to visit/see for 2 days/2 nights before we arrive into Athens? We are a family of 4 and we do not have a car , so we would be relying on bus/train for transportation. One option could be travelling to Meteora and spend 1-2 nights there? Or do you have any other suggestions for us? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated! Neil P. Toronto, Canada

Hi Neil, The Meteora idea is the one I would go with! It would be a nice amount of time to spend there, and you could then deside id you want to walk to the monasteries or take a tour. You can even hire electric assist bicycles. The landscape in Meteora is fantastic – it will be a real highlight of your trip! Another option would be Ioannina – his is a very nice town to spend time, but it’s not on the same level as Meteora. Only consider this if you really hate crowds, as Meteora is likely to be busy in August!

Is it possible to visit Meteora area and monastaries on your own or must it be via a tour? Do you have a hotel recommendation? I would ideally like to take the early morning train from Athens to the village and explore the monastaries and surrounds for the rest of the day. Then, spend the night in a village hotel (self-booked) and then explore again the following day. Then in the evening, take the train back to Athens.

Hi Irene, You can definitely do it yourself. It’s much easier with a car or vehicle it must be said, but you can also do it on foot – put some comfortable walking shoes on! No specific recommendations for hotels (I’ve stayed there 2 or 3 times now and normally go for any decent looking sub-50 Euro a night place – but do suggest you stay in Kalambaka as you’ll have more choice of places to eat at night as well as it being closer to the train station.

Would it be worth it to go to Zagori after Meteora? DO you have any recommendations for value for money hotels in either Meteora/Zagori?

Hi Lila – Either Metsovo or Ioannina would be your best places to stay if you want to look at the Zagori region after Meteora. I’ve no specific recommendations for either place, but I always use Booking and organize the filters to find accommodation that suits our budget.

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Thorough Practical Experiential Travel

A 2 Day Trip to Meteora from Athens

When you think about traveling to Greece, what comes to mind? Certainly Athens and all of its ancient wonders like the Parthenon.  And absolutely the Greek Islands – names like Santorini and Mykonos often take the very top spot on many Greek traveler’s bucket lists.  But what about Meteora?  I dare say that many travelers contemplating a trip to Greece – especially Americans – haven’t even heard of it.  Well, I’m here to tell you that Meteora in the central part of Greece is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever visited, and deserves a top spot on any Greece travel itinerary.  Let me show you everything that’s great about Meteora, and why you should take no less than a 2 day trip to Meteora from Athens.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission.  This does not cost you anything extra and helps support this blog .

So What is Meteora?

Meteora is the largest archeologic site (by area) in Greece, and a Unesco World Heritage site.  It encompasses a series of giant rock formations rising majestically from the ground. And scattered across these impressive natural structures, sit 6 equally impressive man-made structures – the Meteora monasteries.

The Greek Orthodox monastic presence started at Meteora in the 8th century.  Monks began living in caves found throughout the area.  Starting in the 14th century, in an effort to find more isolation and live even closer to God, they started building monasteries on top of the rock pillars. 

They originally used ropes and baskets to transport themselves, the construction materials, and the necessities of daily living to the top. 

With time, narrow staircases were carved into the rocky pillars, allowing for easier access.

At its heyday, Meteora had 24 different monasteries.  Today only 6 remain, though you can see the ruins of others on many of Meteora’s “empty” peaks.  The 6 remaining monasteries still function as active religious centers, but are open to visitors. 

A Reluctant Tripper

I love a good day trip while traveling.  I’ve written about many of our day trips on this blog, including day trips from Kyoto Japan and day trips from Seville Spain . 

But I will admit that I initially dragged my feet on taking a day trip to Meteora from Athens.  I knew Meteora was going to be pretty cool, I just wasn’t sure if it was going to be worth the hassle.  It’s not that easy to get to Meteora.  It’s a minimum 4 hour train journey in one direction – much farther than the typical day trip destination.  

If you go online and search day trip to Meteora from Athens, you will find several tour companies that will help you visit Meteora in a single day.  They will help you book your train ticket from Athens, pick you up at the train station after your 4-hour morning journey, hurriedly show you as much as they can through the afternoon, fit a meal in there somewhere, and get you back to the train station for an evening return to Athens.  

And some will even provide transportation in a private van to Meteora and back.

I didn’t like the sound of either – too much travel time, not enough reward.   And I generally prefer do-it-yourself travel anyway.  But still….4 hours up, and 4 hours back? Fortunately for us, Mrs. TT had seen the pictures of Meteora, and was insistent that we go.  So we went. Over two days instead of one. And I’m so glad we did!

Getting to Meteora

I did look for quicker travel alternatives for our two day trip to Meteora from Athens.  There are buses, but those take longer.  I looked into renting a car for a couple days. But again, that wouldn’t have saved any time, and would’ve increased the hassle factor dramatically.  

So it was the train for us.

The train situation in Greece isn’t great.  Traveling by train for our day trips in Spain was super easy with lots of options including high-speed trains.   And nothing compares to the train infrastructure in Japan , which certainly has to be the world’s best in my opinion.  (The ferry system in Greece though is awesome – in fact, I have an entire blog post all about it ).

In Greece, the train routes are limited and the stations seemed pretty meager.  But the trains themselves are nice, and ours turned out to be a comfortable ride.  There is a single direct route each morning between Athens’ main station and Kalabaka – the largest town adjacent to Meteora.  It then returns each evening. 

I bought our tickets several days ahead of time through the Hellenic Train iPhone app .  It was easy to use and I was able to choose our seats.  I immediately received a pdf copy of the ticket which was scanned once on board. 

The train itself has comfortably cushioned seats, plenty of luggage storage, relatively clean bathrooms, and a food car offering drinks, snacks, and pre-made sandwiches. 

(Note that there is no food for purchase at the train stations. So either bring food with you or plan to buy food on the train – my sandwich from the food car was actually pretty good)

And, certainly a bonus of this train trip was the chance to see what Greece’s mainland looks like (after having spent all of our time in Athens and on Greek islands).

Getting Around Meteora

I decided to rent a car in Meteora.  You can get around by bus or taxi. But the bus schedule to the monasteries is limited (as you can see by clicking here ). And it can be difficult to get a taxi back to town unless prearranged – there is no Uber to easily summon in this part of Greece.

I would have loved to have rented a scooter.  This would have been a great way to get around Meteora. Frequent readers know that riding a scooter in Europe is an ongoing quest .  And some day it will happen.

Instead, I rented a car from Hobbyshop Meteora in Kalabaka.  They were fantastic, as their 4.9 star overall Google review attests.   I arranged everything via email with the owner Sophia.  She picked us up at the train staton, taking us from there to her office in central Kalabaka. She spoke great English, showed me our ideal two-day itinerary on a map, and met us at the train station the following day for an easy return.  

And it only cost 50 Euro for the 1.5 day rental.

(If you would rather have a tour company transport you around Meteora, then there are several options like this one )

Our Lodging in Meteora

Two different towns sit at the base of the Meteora’s massive rock formations.  The larger of the two is Kalabaka – home of the train station and Hobbyshop.  Just a few kilometers up the road is the smaller Kastraki.  It’s closer to the monasteries and this is where we spent our one night in Meteora. 

Many of the hotels and lodging options in the area offer striking views of Meteora rocks.  In fact, it’s hard not to see the rocks from every vantage point in the area.  We stayed at Hotel Kastraki (click for the Booking.com link). Our balcony featured this view…. 

Also, Hotel Kastraki had perhaps the greatest breakfast buffet that I’ve ever woken up to.  It featured serving table after serving table of fresh options – both traditional Greek and not.  And it’s included in the very reasonable room price.  It was the perfect way to fuel up before a day of climbing stairs. Lots and lots of stairs….

The Six Monasteries

While on our two day trip to Meteora from Athens, we visited 5 of the 6 monasteries.  2 on our first afternoon, 2 the following morning, and 1 on our second afternoon. We could have easily visited all 6 during our two days there, but we chose to see some other local sites instead (see below). 

Here’s a quick look at each monastery…

The Monastery of Great Meteoron

Great Meteoron is the oldest of the six, the largest of the six, and as you would then expect, offers the most to see inside.

The Monastery of Varlaam

Varlaam was our favorite. Not only is it stunning to look at from every angle, but the interior courtyards and spaces were the most beautiful. And it had the best museum. Plus notice its terraced gardens on the right of the picture. Sadly, we didn’t have access to these. I’m sure the monks love them though.

The Monastery of Roussanou

Roussanou is now a nunnery. This it the only one we didn’t visit. (The parking area was quite crowded and we thought we’d try to return, but never had the chance).

The Monastery of Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity is the Meteora monastery featured in a James Bond film…..For Your Eyes Only. Of course, Meteora screams Bond location.

The Monastery of St. Stephen

St. Stephen is also now a nunnery. It’s also the easiest to reach since there is very little climbing required – the parking area is adjacent to the entrance.

The Monastery of St. Nikolaos

St Nikolaos is the smallest of the six monasteries, and was the least crowded with visitors. It was also one of my favorites. My perception was that it retained a lot of its original character, while some of the others had undergone more renovations over the years.

Tips For Visiting The Monasteries

Each monastery has its own visitors hours, and not every monastery is open to visitors every day.  You can click here to see a list of the visitors hours for all 6 monasteries. Each monastery charges a 3 Euro admission fee.

A dress code must be observed before entering each monastery.  For men, pants are preferred.  But on the second day (a hot one), I switched to shorts at the knee, after observing that modest shorts seemed to be allowed.   Women must cover bare shoulders and wear a long skirt.  Skirts are provided at the entrances to wear over pants. 

Be prepared to do a lot of climbing.  Two monasteries require a 300 stair ascent (Great Meteoron and Holy Trinity), and three others average about 140 stairs. 

We visited in early October on a Saturday and Sunday. For us, it worked out better to take our two day trip to Meteora from Athens on a weekend, even though I knew we’d be dealing with bigger crowds.

On Sunday, Meteora was extra packed with people.  Tour buses everywhere.  Parking difficult (but not impossible – we just parked further up the road and walked).  Crowded narrow stairways in places.  When I mentioned it to our hotel manager, she said that Sundays are usually very busy. Lots of Greek tourists choose come visit the monasteries on the holiest day of the week.  Saturday was much calmer.  I am guessing though, that on most days during peak summer tourist season, the monasteries could be similarly crowded.  

Full access to each monastery is not allowed.  I presume the monks and nuns live their private lives in the blocked-off areas.  Generally a visit to each monastery includes access to its highly decorated chapel (photos not allowed), some of the outdoor spaces, and miscellaneous rooms unique to each monastery. A few have small museums.  

As you would imagine, all the monasteries offer spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and down to the towns below. 

Sunset In Meteora

You cannot visit Meteora without experiencing the sun set at Meteora.  In my opinion, this is the most important reason why only taking only a one day trip to Meteora from Athens would be a shame.  

Watching the sun set from Sunset Rock at Meteora Greece is the single greatest place that I’ve ever watched the sun set…. 

There are two places to watch the sunset.  They are not hard to find along the main road that connects the monasteries.  Both are packed with people and with cars.  One is called Sunset Rock.  The other is called Sunrise Rock. 

We opted for Sunset Rock which is the first viewpoint when driving up from Kastraki. And despite all the people, I was able to position myself on the edge in a great spot, getting some great shots, and just soaking in all the beauty.  You can see three of the monasteries from here too, which adds to the overall splendor. 

The Hermit Caves of Badovas

When Sophia at Hobbyshop showed me our prospective itinerary, she suggested that at some point, we take a break from visiting monasteries and visit these caves.  Before the monasteries were built, the monks and religious hermits in this part of Greece lived in the area’s caves.  Even after the monasteries were built, many monks preferred the solitude of the caves.

Badovas is an isolated area situated between several of Meteora’s large rock formations, adjacent to the town of Kastraki.  Sophia had drawn directions on the map she gave us.  There aren’t any signs marking the spot.  However, the ruins of several cave dwellings sit adjacent to the road, and I correctly guessed it was the right place.

We first explored the road-side cave dwellings, and could clearly see many more caves in the distant rock face.

We hiked along a dirt road that took us into Badovas, surrounded by the towering rock walls on either side.  After dealing with busloads of tourists at the main monasteries that Sunday morning, we were the only two people around. The solitude was almost spooky.  

As we approached the rock face we’d previously seen in the distance, we could make out 20…30…maybe even 50 caves dotting it’s surface.  These could only be reached by ladder or ropes, and the remains of ancient ladders dangled from many.

We stumbled across what I later learned was the 19th-century Panagia Church.  

And we admired the now-abandoned Hermitage of Agios Antonios – constructed centuries ago in one of Badovas’ larger caves.

Souvlaki Paradise

A quick word about food. Regular readers, know that I’ll always make a dining recommendation if I get the chance.  When we first arrived in Kastraki, once we had checked into our hotel, we were ready to eat! The hotel manager recommended a taverna down the street, but it didn’t have the greatest Google reviews.  I generally will listen to the locals, but this time I decided to try another nearby spot with a much higher rating on Google called Boufidis Greek Tavern .  

As we walked up the road, the smell of barbecued meat intensified with each step. Turns out the speciality at Boufidis is souvlaki, and it was one of the best meals of our entire Greece trip.  So good in fact, we returned the next day for the exact some thing.  And we probably would have gone back the next day too, had we stayed longer. 

Guided Tours

If do-it-yourself travel is not your thing. And you really do only have time for a one day trip to Meteora from Athens. And you don’t mind putting up with 8-9 hours of travel for 6 hours in Meteora. Then check out these organized single day tours to Meteora on Viator.

Or if you want help. But you have enough time to take a two day trip to Meteora, here a few tour options

And even though I prefer do-it-yourself travel, I do like to take guided tours sometimes . If we’d had a third day on our trip to Meteora, I would have taken this guided hiking tour through the area.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Meteora Greece deserves to be high on anyone’s Greece travel bucket list, along with Athens and the Greek Islands. But, a one day trip to Meteora from Athens with only an afternoon spent seeing the sights is not nearly enough. Spending a night, just to witness the sunset, is enough reason alone to carve out time for at least a two day trip to Meteora. Plus there really are lots of other things to do besides visiting the monasteries. Don’t miss out!! In fact, Meteora was my favorite travel site of 2022 .

If you would like to read more about our experiences in Greece, then check out the other posts in my Greece series:

Traveling in Greece – 10 Things I Learned in a Dream Destination

Things To Do In Syros Greece – A Cycladic Charmer

Lefkes Greece – Hiking an Ancient Byzantine Road on Paros Island

11 Photos That Will Convince You To Visit Athens Greece

Kevin Leitch - Cocktails and Carry-Ons

Hi, Steven! This looks like it’s worth the hassle. I’ve been reluctant often on day trips as well, but this does appear worth it. I’m glad you shared all of this because, to your point, I’d want to spend the night, enjoy the sunset, and take it a bit slower. Lovely post, mate!

thethoroughtripper

Thanks Kevin! Your camera would get a great workout in Meteora too…

Peggy Zipperer

Absolutely, ridiculously, incredibly spectacular! I am oozing jealousy that you got to do this day trip but so happy for you. I will do it next time, for sure. That sunset pic is stunning!

You just need more time in Greece next visit!

Becky Exploring

Meteora is definitely on my bucket list! It’s hard to believe the monks trusted those pulleys to get them to the top. Not sure I would have! Great tip about Sunday being the most crowded day to visit the monasteries.

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The Best Meteora Tours to Take From Athens

 Dimitrious Tilis/Getty Images

Taking a tour from Athens to Meteora is an astonishing journey through time. People have been occupying the peaks of this group of massive sandstone needles for at least 50,000 years. A 23,000-year-old stone wall across the mouth of a cave, built by humans during an ice age, is the oldest known man-made construction in the world.

From about the 11th century, Eastern Orthodox hermits occupied caves high up on the face of some of the cliffs. But it was in the 14th century when whole groups of monks and nuns, hoping to protect themselves and their Byzantine treasures from raiding Ottoman Turks, built elaborate and virtually inaccessible monasteries on Meteora's pinnacles. At one time, there were 24 monasteries, only accessible by elaborate arrangements of winches and nets. Today, there are six operating monasteries left, and you can reach them by climbing between 150 and 300 steps that were carved into the vertical rock faces in the 19th century. Meteora is an UNESCO listed World Heritage site

A number of tours make visiting these remarkable places a bit easier. Some include train or coach travel from Athens, but some of the best are organized by locals and require you to book your own transportation from Athens to Kalambaka, the nearest village to Meteora. Don't be surprised if a certain amount of typical Greek disorganization and confusion prevails at key points along the way; getting to Meteora can be something of an adventure in itself, but they always get you there in the end.

And by the way, don't be surprised to find the town spelled Kalabaka, Kalapaka or Kalampaka—or all versions, even in the same paragraph. It's just one of those peculiarities of transliterating the Greek alphabet into the Roman alphabet. To turn "p" into "b", Greeks will sometimes add an "m" in front of it. It causes havoc for English speakers trying to read train schedules or look up things on the internet. 

Whichever you tour you choose, wear good shoes, bring water, and dress modestly for the experience of a lifetime. Here are some of the best tours to Meteora we've found.

Visit Meteora Tours

George Papapostolou/Getty Images

Visit Meteora Tours is a relatively new, award-winning destination management organization of travel specialists in the region. They offer a wide variety of reasonably priced tour experiences, including visits to the monasteries, rock climbing, and hiking expeditions in and around Meteora. You need to organize your own train travel for many of their tours, but they'll advise you on schedules, prices, and how to book your trains (not always easy from outside Greece).

The prices for many of these tours are very reasonable:

• F ull day, private tour for up to four adults, including a customizable itinerary, costs only €180 - per car, not per person.
• Train to Train tours  - A local guide, driving a luxury mini van, collects you at Kalambaka station, takes you on a three-hour tour of all six monasteries - including visits inside two of them - and delivers you back to the station in time for the Athens or Thessaloniki train, all for €35 per person, with no minimum number of travelers. 
• Meteora Hiking Tour  - A four and a half-hour guided hike on hidden local paths through the forests at the base of the rock formations. The tour includes a visit to a restored and hidden monastery now open only to hikers as well as visits to one or two of the areas greatest monasteries on paths once used by the monks in the middle ages. Although this tour is open to children and families, the organizers suggest it requires a reasonable level of both physical fitness and, gulp, mental health. The cost is €35 for between two and 12 hikers.

This tour company also organizes multi-day visits, taking in several of the different local tours on offer—food and wine tours, truffle hunting, cave hiking, mountain biking tours.

If you have deep pockets, and are short on time, they'll even organize a private helicopter tour from Athens.

Chauffer-Driven Tours of Meteora

 Paul Birit/Getty Images

Prestige Greece provide private, luxury limos to celebrities, sports figures, and corporate executives. They can also organize private two-day limo or luxury mini-van jaunts to Delphi and Meteora. The itineraries are much like the itineraries described above—travel to Delphi, then stay overnight in either Delphi or Kalambaka, make a visit to the monasteries, and head back to Athens.

But the similarities end there. Where you stop for lunch, drinks, evening entertainment, and a spot of shopping is up to you. So are your accommodations and the particular vehicle that conveys you there. In addition to your English-speaking chauffeur, a professional guide can be organized to meet you at each location. And, if that is a bit restrictive, the company can put together a completely personalized, private tour to meet all your requirements.

Naturally, this kind of personal attention comes at a price. Everything Prestige-Greece does is bespoke - including the pricing. You can email them with your requirements or phone them on +30 210 3254 151 to talk about it. They'll come back to you with a quote and some well-informed suggestions of their own.

Two or Three-Day Excursions to Delphi and Meteora

Jean-Pierre Lescourret/Getty Images 

If you'd prefer to avoid the hassle and stress of organizing train travel, you can leave the driving to CHAT Tours, one of Greece's leading coach tour operators. They operate two- and three-day tours to Athens and Delphi with stops at other points of interest along the way.

Tours on luxury, air-conditioned coaches depart from the company's base in a central Athens hotel, The two-day tours run from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the second day. The three-day tours leave Athens at 8:45 a.m. on the first day and return at 7 p.m. on the third day.

The two-day tour (Trip 8A), which includes either "tourist class" or "first class" accommodation in Kalambaka, begins with a drive to Delphi and a visit to the archaeological site but not Delphi's wonderful museum. Then it's on to Kalambaka to explore the village and have dinner. The second day includes visits to the rock monasteries of Meteora and the drive back to Athens with a photo stop at Thermopylae, scene of the famous battle between the Spartans and Persians featured in the film 300.  In 2018, this tour, on a half-board basis, starts at €185 per person.

The three-day version of this trip (Trip 8), includes more time in Delphi, including a chance to visit the museum, an overnight stay in the town and a free morning there. Though Delphi is a magnet for tourists, it still has some good souvenir shopping, notably for Greek-made gold jewelry, pottery and reproductions of classic pieces. On the afternoon of day two, the coach travels to Kalambaka for a visit to the town and and overnight stay, and day three, as above, includes Meteora and a possible photo stop at Thermopylae on the way back to Athens. In 2018, this tour is offered on a half-board basis starting at €342 per person.

Both tours are accompanied by entertaining, well-informed, English-speaking, professional guides. These tours can be booked online on the CHAT Tours website or organized the old-fashioned way, through your own travel agent.

Trips by Rail

 Jeremy Villasis/Getty Images

The online tour and experience booker Viator organizes day trips coordinating train travel from Athens with local, Meteora drivers and suppliers. 

This tour, costing £80.44 per person in 2018, includes round-trip rail travel from Larissa Station, Athens's main station. It's a full-day tour, but keep in mind you will be spending about five hours on the train each way, to Kalambaka station and back. It's a very dramatic journey across central Greece, but you probably will want to bring something to read.

The tour includes a scenic drive to see (but not visit) all six monastic retreats, with photo stops and a chance to learn more about their histories from a local guide. You can also choose to climb up to one or two of the monasteries. In all, you spend about 3.5 hours in Meteora.

Local transportation is in a luxury, air-conditioned minivan with free Wi-Fi. Entrance fees to the monasteries (€3 each), meals, drinks and tips are not included.

How to Book:

• Booking is online through the Viator website .
• When you book, they send a confirmation email that includes a pdf document of your tickets that you should print out. 
• There are contact numbers for the actual travel supplier with the confirmation email.
• It's a good idea to check with the travel supplier to make sure you have an actual seat reservation for the train journey, which is different from simply having a ticket to board. Some travelers have complained about having to stand for long parts of the train trip.
• You are essentially on your own until you reach Kalambaka, so make sure to contact the trip organizer to make sure you know how to get from your hotel or the airport to Larissa Station and how you will be met at Kalambaka.

Viator also offer a two-day package that includes many of the same features but gives more time to explore the town of Kalambaka and includes a stay in a 3- or 4-star hotel, breakfast and dinner and a longer, 4-hour tour of the monasteries. The two-day package also includes Kalambaka hotel pick-up and drop-off for the morning monasteries tour. If you have the time, it's worth the overnight stay to have a stress-free tour the next morning. In 2018, the price is about £140.

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A Super Efficient Guide to Visiting Meteora, Greece in 2024

The mountaintop monasteries at Meteora, Greece are a marvel of human creativity. Can you believe people saw these enormous sandstone pillars and thought, “I’m going to live up there!”? That’s exactly what happened centuries ago, and today you can visit the monasteries that are still inhabitied by 60 monks and nuns. Originally there were 24 monasteries, where today only six remain.

Read on for my guide to visiting Meteora, including when is the best time to visit, which monasteries are worth seeing, where to stay, places to eat, and many more tips to make your trip super efficient!

Before you go

Here are a few tips that will make your trip to Meteora in 2024 easier:

• Entry to each monastery is 3€ – This means that in total, you will spend 18€ per person to visit all six monasteries.
• Know the (dress) code – Women are required to wear a long skirt and cover their shoulders, whereas men are not allowed to wear shorts. In practice, I saw a few men in shorts but all women were enforced to wear a skirt (which, if you don’t have one, is provided at the entrance to every monastery free of charge).
• It’s not really possible to “beat” the tour busses – Most monasteries open at 9am, and by 9:30am there are already busses at their doorsteps. The easiest way to avoid the crowds is to travel in the off season or to spend your time at monasteries which are more difficult to access (learn about this below).
• This region of Greece is subject to a lot of rain! – In an instant, you can go from sunshine to pouring rain. Be prepared by checking the weather report, bringing an umbrella, and being prepared to keep your things (e.g. camera, bag) dry.
• Stay in Kastraki instead of Kalambaka for easier parking and driving – Driving in Greece can be a little fun and a lot of chaos. If you want an easier time, try booking a hotel or guesthouse in Kastraki. It’s just as close and convenient as Kalambaka with a fraction of the population.
• You can easily reach Meteora from Athens or Thessaloniki via guided tours . You can go for anything from a full-day trip to a four-day excursion. This particular train tour from Athens is a bestseller with over 150 positive reviews.

Sunrise in Meteora, as seen from our balcony at Hotel Meteora Kastraki .

Looking for a full-blown guide for Northern Greece? Check out my Northern Greece Travel Guide and Itinerary for things to do near Meteora. I’ve also written about how to spend three days in Athens if you’ll be arriving in Meteora from the south.

Interesting facts about Meteora

• It was used as a filming location for the James Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only .
• Meteora also inspired the backdrop for Game of Thrones when Tyrion is being held in the Eyrie.
• The Linkin Park album Meteora got it’s name from…well, Meteora.
• During World War II, the Germans occupied Meteora and burned down some of the precious artifacts. In Grand Meteora you can see images of people throwing a Nazi off a cliff from a monastery.

The more you know 🌈 Onto the itinerary!

Meteora Monasteries

Duration 2.5 days Dates visited June 18-20 Recommended accomodation Hotel Meteora Kastraki – Has an unbeatable view, good air conditioning, nice selection for breakfast, and a swimming pool you didn’t realize you needed. And affordable! Recommended dining We enjoyed Taverna To Paramithi in Kalambaka the most during our stay. They even had live, traditional music played by a pair of old Greek dudes with live instruments! Recommended guidebook This Greece travel guidebook was super helpful planning our entire trip through Northern Greece.

Opening hours

Every monastery is closed on a different day of the week, except Fridays where two monasteries are closed. This means that if you want to visit all of them, you need to visit over a two day period of time.

Suggested itinerary for visiting the monasteries

Legend   ♦♦♦ Must visit   ♦♦ Recommended   ♦ If time permits

Great Meteoron (mid-1300s) ♦♦♦

Great Meteoron is by far the largest and oldest monastery, the first to be founded. Like every monastery on this list, it has a katholicon (the part of the monastery where monks pray) with paintings of martyrs being tortured and of the final judgement. You should know that orthodox christians were widely persecuted during the Ottoman Empire, so many of the art references this fact. Some special features of Great Meteoron:

• Three distinct museums, including a library containing a copy of the Suda , a 10th-centry Byzantine encyclopedia that references many ancient sources that have since been lost.
• Gallery of art made by a contemporary artist who mimics the style of the period in which the monasteries are founded.
• Only squat toilets 👎 Head to Varlaam for modern ones!

Holy Trinity (1475) ♦♦♦

• This is the monastery that was featured in the 1981 James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only .
• The stairs to reach this monastery number over 130! You will definitely feel the burn after climbing all these stairs 🔥
• Has a great lookout point where you can climb and take some photos of monasteries in the distance.

Varlaam (1641) ♦♦♦

Varlaam is the second biggest monastery in Meteora, and considered one of the nicest. What I liked about this place is that you thought you were finished exploring it, and then you discover a new corner where something is still waiting for you! Here’s what you should know about Varlaam:

• Has a great, compact museum about the history of Meteora. It’s a great way to frame your trip by starting there and learning a bit about the history of the area and how the first monks came to dwell in the cliffs.
• First class toilets 👌 As I mentioned, we were surprised to find that Great Meteoron Monastery only had squat toilets and subsequently regretted not taking advantage of the fancy onces at Varlaam.

Roussanou (mid-1500s) ♦♦

Monastery of Rosanau is dedicated to St. Barbara, a women who dedicated her life to Christianity and was subsequently beheaded by her father. Today she’s the patron saint of coalminers, and this nunnery in her name has 13 nuns in residence. According to this blog post about the meteora monasteries , Roussanou is both the most beautiful and least visited of all the monasteries.

TIP : You can access this nunnery from both above and below. Above you get a great view over the valley, and it’s probably shorter to walk, however there is less parking available.

St. Stephen’s nunnery ♦♦

• This nunnery is one of the busiest we went to! Perhaps owing to how easy it is to access, St. Stephen’s was packed with people and perhaps one of the least comfortable to visit.
• Very impressive chanedlier and frescos. Lots of similar motifs appear between the different monasteries, including the final judgement and brutal torture of saints from the time of Christ to the Turkish occupation.

St. Nikolaos Anapfsas ♦

Of all the monasteries, I have to say that St. Nikolaos of Anapafsas is the most underwhelming. It’s quite small and for some reason, the stairs to get there were some of the most exhausting! That said, it’s not very crowded, as I’m guessing most tour busses tend to skip it.

Read my article about my travel photography camera kit , which I use to take all the photos you see on the blog!

Best lookout points in Meteora

Almost anywhere you look, there’s an awesome view to be had over the valley. That said, a few places stand out as the best spots to take photos – two main lookout points:

• Psaropetra lookout
• Lookout near Varlaam

Both of these lookpoints are marked in the map at the beginning of the article. We also found a great lookout point on our way to the lookout point, which isn’t a lookout point but you can pull over and block the road briefly while you take a photo 😉 That point isn’t on any map but is featured in the image above!

The photo below was taken at the Psaropetra lookout point.

When to go to Meteora, Greece

As I shared above, during the high season it’s practically impossible to beat the busses – they are out in force first thing in the morning. However, even with the tour busses, most monasteries didn’t feel cramped and I only really needed to wait in line for one.

For that reason, I do think that June was a good choice for when to visit Meteora. It’s hot but not sweltering, and the busses are there but they actually had a rather small impact on us.

There are also a lot of gorgeous photos of Meteora in Autumn , so I would certainly love to come back and see the valley in fall foliage.

Where to stay near Meteora

We booked Hotel Meteora Kastraki , which is located on its own road a bit outside of Kastraki. This made parking really straightforward, while driving into Meteora took something like ten minutes topcs. The room are rather basic, but the balcony is huge and you can book a room with a view of Meteora (which makes it really easy to get sunrise photos!). The price was also quite affordable at around 80€ per night when we booked.

Guided tours of Meteora, Greece

Even though we drove ourselves in Meteora, I could definitely see how it would be engaging to have a tour guide explain the history to you as you weave around these majestic rock formations. Sometimes you don’t realize how cool something is until you know the history. Adding a trip to Meteora is a feasible option is you’re planning to visit Athens or will be traveling in Northern Greece .

If you prefer to do a guided tour, perhaps because you won’t have a car in Greece or you just want that personal touch, here are three of the top-rated tours in Meteora.

From Athens: Full-Day Meteora Trip by Train – This is the top-rated and most-reviewed one-day trip from Athens. You get to take the train to and from Athens (included in the price), and then do a full-day tour of Meteora by mini-bus.

From Thessaloniki: Full-Day Bus Trip to Meteora – If you’re traveling within Europe, you can get veeeeery cheap flights to Thessaloniki, making it a great place to start trips around Northern Greece.

Majestic Sunset on Meteora Rocks Tour from Kalampaka – Sunset in Meteora is something you MUST not miss out on. This certified tour goes to 1-2 monasteries interiors and then stops at the best lookout point in Meteroa for sunset.

If you’re considering Meteora as an Athens day trips , I would encourage you to see if it’s possible to stay overnight at least one night. Or, at least, ensure that you’ll be in Meteora for sunset .

Have you ever been to Greece? Where would you like to visit most?

I’ve got an upcoming guide to some off-beat parts of Greece and a northern Greece itinerary, so stay tuned!

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About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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How to Go from Athens to Meteora on a Perfect Day Trip

One of the highlights of my first trip to Athens was visiting the monasteries in Meteora. Getting from Athens to Meteora is a bit of a headache, but you can do it as a day trip if you want! While you might prefer to spend the night in Kalabaka to have extra time, for those who truly only have one day here’s how to do it. I’ve listed three different ways to go on a Meteora tour from Athens, plus Athens travel tips to help you plan your trip. 

Read:  17 Spectacular Day Trips from Athens, Greece

3 Ways to Visit Meteora from Athens

In order from easiest to most difficult…

Taking a Guided Meteora Tour from Athens

Awkward monastery selfie!

This is what I chose to do. I went on the Meteora Full-Day Trip from Athens by Train .  It’s not a full guided tour because you still have to take the train on your own from Athens. Here’s how this tour works.

First, you book the tour, and the tour company gives you the information about which train you need to take. You’re responsible for following their instructions and getting on the train. I found the actual journey to be boring but pleasant. It’s about five hours there and six hours back, so this is a long day!

Make sure you bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Even at 8 am, this was one of the dirtiest bathrooms I’ve ever seen on a train. Plus someone had been smoking inside it and the sink was already clogged. You’ve been warned.

So why go on a guided tour if I had to deal with my own public transportation? Well see how high these monasteries are off the ground:

This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen with my own two eyeballs

I never could have walked up there and back from the train station before the next train. There were only about four-five hours from when I arrived to when I had to leave. The guided tour helped me make sure I saw everything I wanted to.

There aren’t really taxis at the bottom either, so you can’t just hire a driver on the spot. If you wanted to do this, you’d need to pre-arrange it.

Basically, the medieval monks who built Meteora wanted it to be difficult to get to. Mission accomplished.

Once I arrived in Kalabaka, the tour company picked me and the rest of the people on our tour up. From here they drove us to the monasteries. We went inside and toured two of them, learned about the other four from the road, and had two stops for photo shoots. 

Learning about the monasteries on the tour bus

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about where we were. Tour guides in Greece have to be especially good because there are all these rules about who is allowed to be a guide. It’s also why the tours in Greece are a bit pricier than elsewhere: the guides have to know their stuff.

Not included in the tour price : train tickets, lunch, entrance to the monasteries (one was three Euros and the other had no cost). 

If I was in Athens and wanted to go back to Meteora, I would still want a guided tour or to stay overnight. It’s just not an easy place to see on your own if you’re short on time. 

>> Book a Meteora Tour from Athens or Check Tour Reviews <<

Taking Public Transportation from Athens to Meteora

Catching the train back to Athens

Athens to Meteora by Train

Essentially you’ll do what I did, except once you get to Kalabaka you’ll need to figure out how to get to the monasteries.  Make sure you book the direct train that leaves from Athens Larissa station and arrives in Kalabaka (sometimes written Kalambaka). If you want to do this round trip, you’ll leave on the direct train that leaves around 8:30 am and go back on the train that leaves around 5:30 pm. Double check the exact times when you buy your ticket.

You can buy your tickets online and check schedules at  Train OSE . 

Athens to Meteor by Bus

Another option is to travel from Athens to Meteora on the KTEL bus. I love Greece’s buses (I’ve used them all over, especially in Crete). One thing to keep in mind is that KTEL is not a nation-wide company. The buses are split up at the prefecture level.

Plus, if you go by bus then you won’t have any real time to explore because the trip will take longer. The journey will go from Athens to Trikala, and then you’ll change buses to Kalabaka. 

You can check schedules and book your tickets at KTEL . 

Self-Driving from Athens to Meteora

This is the face of a girl who didn’t have to worry about driving on the crazy steep Meteora roads.

I love doing day trips DIY and renting a car. We wrote about how we love driving in Serbia because we got to see things that are not on the traditional tourist circuit. However, I don’t personally think I would ever want to drive to Meteora from Athens and back in one day. The drive is four hours each way before you account for traffic leaving and returning to Athens.

I am usually all up for a Balkan road trip , but I would personally only drive there from Athens as part of a larger road trip or at least an overnight. The cost of the rental car will most likely cancel out any saving you have on the tour after factoring in the rental cost, gasoline, and tolls. 

But if you insist on driving, like if you have a few people to drive and you’re borrowing a friends car or something, then go for it. Just make sure you have data and that you download the section of Google Maps so that you have access to the driving instructions if you lose connectivity in the mountains. 

Also, if you have a crippling fear of driving in the mountains, (like I do), then don’t be the driver. Have someone else on your trip cover that part. 

How to Follow the Meteora Dress Code

The Meteora dress code is no joke man.

You may be wondering what to wear to Meteora. There is a dress code, and it is strictly enforced: “No entry for men wearing shorts and for women wearing trousers shorts or short sleeves.”

Yes, women, that means you need to wear a dress. Otherwise, they’ll give you a wrap to wear in the monasteries that are, let’s say, not Instagrammable.

You should also wear sturdy shoes that can handle slick staircases and long hours walking on stone steps.

Another thing to consider is that you’ll either be on a train for eleven hours or in a car for nine hours. You want to wear clothes that are appropriate for the monasteries, something you want to be photographed in, and also something that you can wear on the train or in the car.

I chose leggings and a dress, but you know what works best for you. 

The Best Times to Visit Meteora

You can visit Meteora year-round. The crowds will be much higher in the summer, but even in October during my visit, it was quite crowded. I loved visiting Meteora in autumn because the weather was amazing.

Allison visited Meteora in winter and got some amazing photos of the monasteries covered in snow. Bottom line, there isn’t really a bad time to be in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Recommended Meteora Tour from Athens

There’s only one tour that we’re recommending for this day trip:

• Meteora Full-Day Trip from Athens by Train .

If you’re iinterestedin other guided day trips from Athens, check our Athens Day Trip guide.

Where to Stay in Athens

If this is your first trip to Athens, figuring out where to stay in the city can be a bit intimidating. Because of the location of the Acropolis, it really matters which neighborhood you choose to stay in, especially if you’re looking for Acropolis views, easy access to the metro, and a good value for your money.

For our hotel recommendations, Generally, budget means hostel beds for around $30 a night and singles/doubles for around $50, mid-range is from about $50-100 per night, and luxury will cost over $100 per night. However, note that availability, time of year, and how much in advance you book will play a role in how much accommodations cost in Athens.

Budget:  If you want a hostel dorm bed in the heart of Psyri, check out the Acropolis Hostel. This basic-yet-clean hostel boasts what very few in the world can: Acropolis views from its communal terrace. You’ll enjoy having access to an elevator (no lugging you bag all the way up to your room), and you can enjoy the lively neighborhood atmosphere and come home when you want since the hostel has no curfew. 

Check out reviews, pictures, prices, and availability here .

Mid-Range:  For my most recent trip to Athens, we stayed in a couple of different places, but my favorite was the  Ares Athens Hotel   off of Omonia Square. I loved it’s location, close to Omonia station, across the street from a Coffee Island (my personal version of Heaven), and with views of Mount Lycabettus. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and each room has a private terrace. 

Luxury:  If you are a traveler who loves having stunning hotel views, book a stay at  A for Athens,  a boutique hotel in Psyri that has what is considered by many to be the best rooftop bar in the city. You can also enjoy Acropolis views from the panoramic terrace during breakfast, You can even get amazing Acropolis and Parthenon views from some of the rooms. This hotel is basically Instagram crack. 

Check out prices, reviews, photos, and availability here.

Don’t see a hotel that’s the right pick for you? Check out our complete  Athens Neighborhood and Hotel Guide.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

I’m sure you’re aware that  travel insurance  is essential for traveling in Greece, the Balkans, or anywhere in the world! Allison and I have both been paying customers of  World Nomads  for the last three years. We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption. 

While Athens is perfectly safe to travel around, there’s always a risk inherent in everyday travel like theft or injury, so it’s better to play it safe. The saying goes “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel” is true!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Greece Travel Resources

Headed to Greece? We have some great travel resources to help you with your trip. First read our guide to  planning a trip to Greece , which covers visas, budgets, vaccines, and much more. We also have a  Balkan currency guide  which explains how money works in Greece and local tipping customs.

If you are still trying to figure out your itinerary, check out our guides on  where to go in Greece  and when is the  best time to visit. 

If you’ll be spending time in Athens, check out our  Athens Instagram Guide  and our complete  Athens hotel guide.  If you’re looking for more suggestions for day trips, here is our guide to the best Athens day trips.

We publish new content about the Balkans almost every day! For more information about traveling to Greece and the Balkans, bookmark our  Greece  and  Balkan  travel pages so you can find out what’s new before your trip.

Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online , appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times , and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.

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Meteora Thrones – Travel Center

POPULAR LOCAL - HALF DAY TOURS

Best local agency.

Panoramic Morning Meteora Tour

EVERY DAY  : 09:00 – 13:00

Majestic Sunset on Meteora Rocks

EVERY DAY  : 16:30 – 21:00

DISCOVER METEORA WITH THE BEST LOCAL AGENCY

Meteora Thrones is the leading Local travel service company in Meteora and the surrounding area, which has earned the trust and loyalty of visitors who want to organize in the best and most effective way their visit to Meteora and the Holy Monasteries.

We organize everyday tours with the goal to offer you the absolute and authentic Meteora experience with the best prices in the area. Enjoy with us the best panoramic and majestic views of your life. Our experienced staff and the “State of the Art” VIP Limo Mini bus we own guarantee an unforgettable, high quality, way to discover our unique place.

We also provide private tours with VIP services and personalized programs to enjoy the magic of Meteora in the maximum. Come along to make the tour of your dreams!

POPULAR TOURS

1 day Meteora Tour from Athens - Local Agency & Guide ENGLISH OR SPANISH

Travel from Athens to Meteora with comfort and safety with our lux bus. Enjoy an amazing 4 hours Meteora tour upon arrival with the best local guide and see all monasteries .

2 days Meteora tour from Athens

From 210€     Special offer

Private Meteora Tours

English / Spanish  / French / Italian / German

Why with Meteora Thrones?

Best local agency.

Best Price Guarantee No hidden fees or surcharges

We offer all our tours and activities of Meteora in the best Prices. Book Top rated Meteora Tours and activities with us.

Top Rated Tours & Activities

Join the top rated tours and activities getting the most of your visit to Meteora

Last Minute Booking

Tours designed from local experts and hassle free last minute bookings

Every day 24/7 Support

Speak to a local person, share your questions and find the best things to do

TOURS from Athens & Thessaloniki ENGLISH or SPANISH

Here at Meteora Thrones, we organize the best local half day or Private Meteora tours as well as day trips from Athens and Thessaloniki so you get the most out of your visit to Meteora. All of our tours cover the most stunning locations of Meteora , and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

ATHENS TO METEORA

1 day Meteora Tour from Athens Local Agency & Guide

From 123€ Special offer

2 days Meteora tour from Athens Local Guide & Hotel

From 210€ Special offer

THESSALONIKI TO METEORA

1 day Meteora tour from Thessaloniki Local Agency & Guide

From 110€ Special offer

2 days Meteora tour from Thessaloniki Local Guide & Hotel

From 189€ Special offer

TRAIN TO TRAIN With your own tickets ENGLISH or SPANISH

Have your own tickets?

Special Panoramic Train to Train Tour

See all monasteries and the hermit caves.

Are you travelling from Athens or Thessaloniki by train to Kalabaka with your own tickets ? This is the best tour for you ! Pick up / Drop off from Kalabaka Train Station every day at 12:49 pm . Small Groups. English or Spanish

Are you travelling from Athens or Thessaloniki by train to Kalabaka with your own tickets ?

Pick up / Drop off from Kalabaka Train Station every day at 12:05 pm

HALF-DAY LOCAL TOURS FROM KALABAKA & KASTRAKI - SMALL GROUPS

Morning panoramic highlights 09:00 am - 01:00 pm meteora and monasteries tour.

Best Local Tour Guide.  See all 6 Monasteries , Visit 3 inside. 

Hiking Authentic Meteora Tour

Meteora Climbing

Be closer to the to top of the world with an unforgetable Meteora climbing

Take a Private Guided Tour

Private Day Trip from Athens with Private Meteora Tour

Enjoy a comfortable transportation with a lux bus from Athens & a Private Meteora tour with a Local Guide English or Spanish

Private 1 day from Athens by Mini Bus  

Have your Family and Friends to Visit Meteora all together. up to 18 people, only for you . English or Spanish

Private Full day Local Meteora Tour

From Kalambaka or Kastraki daily with local Tour Guide English or Spanish

Private Upon arrival from a Cruise 1 day Tour from Volos by Mini Bus

English or Spanish Guide

Enjoy a Private tour from Volos by Mini Bus, With the best local Tour Guide, English or Spanish in all 6 Monasteries and have the chance to visit inside 3 of them

How can we help? Email us.

Our vip private tours, let's design together a unique meteora experience.

Take the most of your visit in a private – full exclusive basis. Fully customized on your needs tours and activities with the best private guides and luxurius VIP Limo Mini Buses. Maximum Quality , Service and Professionalism from the experts of the area.

METEORA MONASTERIES THE HOLY LAND TODAY

MONASTERIES OF METEORA

Great Meteoron

Holy Trinity

Saint Nikolas

Saint Stephen

What people say about our tours.

WE RECOMMEND

Where to Stay

See our recommended hotels

Where to eat

See our recommended Restaurants

3 reasons why everyone should visit Meteora at least once

Are you looking for your next trip destination or you need some help to choose one? Here are the three main reasons why you should definitely visit Greece and especially to explore the place of Meteora at least once in your lifetime: 1. One of the most unique UNESCO […]

9 reasons why you should have a hike in Meteora

We all heard about the numerous benefits that the hiking has, and some of us we fancy with this idea. But why to choose to hike in Meteora instead of having the regular bus trip? Here are my 9 suggestions: 1. Exercise Hiking is great for […]

A new generation of the Egyptian Vulture at Meteora

We are happy to announce you that the first hatchling of the Egyptian_vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Meteora is a fact! After 42 days of patient incubation, the only pair of the Egyptian Vulture of Meteora saw their previous days of hard work being rewarded. The first […]

METEORA THRONES

We are a passionate team with the vision of delivering the best & most exciting Meteora experience

• Visit Meteora – Home
• Top Rated Meteora Tours
• Meteora Outdoor Activities
• Meteora Half-day Tours
• Train Tours to Meteora
• Meteora Private Tours
• Transfer Services
• The Monastery of Great Meteoron
• The Monastery of Varlaam
• The Monastery of Roussanou
• The Monastery of Agios Stefanos
• The Monastery of Holy Trinity
• The Monastery of Agios Nikolaos
• Kalabaka Town
• Kastraki Village
• Old Habitation of Kastraki Village
• The Hidden Monastery of Ypapanti
• The old Chapel of Doupiani
• St. George Madilas
• The Hermit Caves of Badovas
• The Rock of Holy Spirit
• The Rock of Great Saint
• Gavros Village
• The Prehistoric Cave of Theopetra
• The Byzantine Church of Kalabaka
• Meteora Natural History Museum and Mushroom Museum
• Hellenic Culture Museum
• Meteora History and Culture Digital Projection Centre
• Library of Kalampaka
• Aspropotamos Region
• Elati and Pertouli
• Lake Plastira
• Athens to Meteora
• Thessaloniki to Meteora
• Getting to Meteora by Train
• Getting to Meteora by Bus
• Getting to Meteora by Car

Day Trip from Athens to Meteora by Train

Join this Day Trip from Athens to Meteora by train, and it will become the highlight of your trip to Greece!

Discover the breathtaking wonders of Meteora on a day trip from Athens by train. Perfect for those with limited time in Athens, this excursion offers the best highlights of Meteora’s awe-inspiring rock formations and monasteries. Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the day trip provides an incredible experience, we also recommend extending your stay in Meteora for a deeper exploration of this magical place. Find more options here .

Book your Meteora day trip now and embark on an unforgettable journey!

Price p.p from

Adult: 99€ Children: 80€ Infant: 0€

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Important information.

Recent flooding in Greece has temporarily disrupted train services. Replacement buses are in place to ensure uninterrupted travel until train services are restored. The itineraries and destinations of this tour remain unaffected.

Key Details

• Transport:  In light of the situation, we have arranged for a modern, air-conditioned bus to transport you from Athens to Meteora.
• Journey Details:  The trip will take 5 hours each way, inclusive of a 20-minute stop for refreshments and restroom use.
• The Meteora tour itself will last 5 hours.
• Bus Identification: Please look out for buses with the logo Visit Meteora at the front door.
• Departure:  The bus will depart from Larissis train station in Athens at 08:00 am. We request you to be present at the exit of the Larissa metro/subway station on Deligianni str, directly opposite the Athens train station, by 07:45 am. Here is the exact location for your reference: https://goo.gl/maps/16AcMUsyJNSoFF698
• Return:  The bus will be back in Athens at 11:00 pm.

Tour Highlights

• Discover the astonishing Meteora
• Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Excellent views between Athens and Meteora
• Excellent value for money
• Perfect for people who have limited time
• Visit the hermit caves of Badovas
• See all 8 monasteries
• Enter inside 3 monasteries
• Starting Time: 8:00am
• Duration: 1 day
• Max People: 19
• Availability: Daily Departures
• Dresscode applied - Click to learn more

Why to book the Meteora Day Trip from Athens by Train​ with us

• Small size groups
• Quality & value for your money
• Local expertise and 24/7 help and assistance during your trip
• Daily tour departures any day you want, 365 days a year whether you are traveling on your own or in a group.
• You will learn about the culture and history of the place on a deeper level from a local’s perspective.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• Round-trip transportation from Athens
• 5-hour guided tour of Meteora
• Map of Meteora
• Lunch at a local restaurant (if add on selected)
• Entry to 3 most popular monasteries
• Panoramic photo stops
• Visit to the hidden hermit caves
• Stops on the way to buy lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks
• Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard
• Bottled water

Not inclusions

• Entrance fees to the monasteries (3 EUR per person for each monastery)
• Guide inside the monasteries
• Tips (optional)

Optional Extras

• Transfer to/from the Athens railway station (Book it on request)
• Book this tour private (press here)

Book with confidence

• 100% refund if you cancel your reservation up to 24 hours prior to the start time of the tour
• Rearrange your dates once with no change fee
• COVID-19 safety measures apply
• More than 10 years of experience
• Our small-size tours guarantee a personalized approach.
• Book with the locals! We are actually located here, in Meteora!

ATTRACTIONS

Just a few of the beautiful sights you’ll see during your tour

Meteora Monasteries

Kastraki Old habitation

Badova Hermitages

Depart promptly at 8:00 am from Athens' Larissis train station.

You'll be transported through the picturesque Greek countryside.

Arriving at your destination, Kalambaka, at approximately 12:45 pm. Lunch break 45min.

Accompanied by our knowledgeable local guide, you'll be whisked away in a VIP minibus to witness the best viewpoints that showcase the majestic rock formations of Meteora. 

You'll be transported back to Kalambaka train station in time to catch the 6.00 pm bus back to Athens.

The bus will be back in Athens at 11:00 pm.

*For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Let our delighted customers do the talking – we prefer to let their reviews speak for themselves.

GET INSPIRED

Cancellation policy.

• 100% refund if you cancel your reservation up to 24 hours prior to the start time of the tour​
• Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.

Alternative options are available

Book the same tour, but privately.

Private Meteora Day Trip from Athens by Train

Book the tour privately, excluding transfers.

Private Meteora Train to Train Mid Day Tour

Book the tour excluding transfer services.

Meteora Mid Day Tour from Train 5 of 5 bubbles 90 reviews

Frequently asked questions about this tour, will i meet anyone at the train station in athens or thessaloniki.

No. On our train tours, you will board the train from Athens or Thessaloniki on your own, using the tickets we will send you via email. Our guide will meet you at Kalabaka train station after your train arrives at Meteora. He will be holding a signboard with your name written on it, in the parking lot of Kalabaka train station.

When and how will I receive my train tickets?

We will send you the train tickets via email approximately one month before your trip date.

Why should I print the train tickets?

There is an off-chance that a train inspector might give you a hard time if you present them with an electronic version of your tickets. This is why we recommend you to print them.

What time should I be at the station?

Please be at the station at least 30 minutes before the departure in order to have plenty of time to find your coach and seats. The stewards there will assist you.

Is there food provided on the train?

Yes, there is a cafeteria-coach inside every train, where you can buy snacks and refreshments.

Is it worth it booking a first class seat?

Yes, first class seats are more comfortable and quieter. They are almost always arranged in a 6-seat-rooms, offering a higher amount of privacy and the first class coach is located next to the cafeteria, offering fast access there.

3500+ Excellent reviews on TripAdvisor See the reviews

Similar Tours

3 Days Tour from Athens to Meteora by Train 5 of 5 bubbles 37 reviews

Two Days Tour to Meteora from Athens by Train 5 of 5 bubbles 98 reviews

Further reading.

Meteora Code of Ethics

10 reasons why a day-trip to Meteora is not enough!

5 Amazing Tours to book from Athens in 2022

Privacy Overview

Comfort plus hotels.

Hotel Doupiani House

Hotel Archontiko Mesochori

Hotel Kastraki

Hotel Dellas Boutique

Hotel Meteoritis

Hotel Kaikis

Alsos House

• USE DISCOUNT CODE "EarlyBird24" FOR A 10% DISCOUNT ON SELECTED TOURS!

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