Meteora: Day Trips and Tours from Athens

The mountaintop monasteries of Meteora adorn many a postcard, thanks to their sheer beauty and precarious perches. A world away from the bustle of the capital, a day trip to Meteora from Athens is a real adventure, offering plenty sightseeing and hiking opportunities. This is a world where the mysteries of geology and religion have formed an alliance to offer one of the most breathtaking experiences in Greece.

Check out our guide for all the information you need to know about visiting Meteora, one of the most enchanting destinations for day trips from Athens.

Getting to Meteora from Athens

The monasteries of Meteora are found in central Greece, near the city of Kalabaka, about 340 kilometers north of Athens.

• By car: The drive to Meteora from Athens is fairly straightforward and takes around 4 hours without stops.
• By train: There are multiple train services to Kalabaka from Larissis Station, the central train station in Athens. Direct services take about 4 hours, but if you have to change at Palaeofarsalos, the ride can take just under 5 hours.
• By guided tour: Go easy on yourself by joining a guided day trip to Meteora. Travel options range from mini-buses to luxury cars, and hotel pick-ups are often available. Tours typically last a full day and include a knowledgeable guide.

Meteora ticket prices

The entrance fee for each monastery visited is €3 per person, with children under 12 years entering for free. These tickets cannot be booked in advance, so make sure to bring cash along.

Meteora opening hours

The opening times for the six Meteora monasteries varies throughout the year.

Summer (April – October)

• Great Meteoron Monastery: 9 AM to 3 PM (Closed: Tuesday)
• Varlaam Monastery: 9 AM to 4 PM (Closed: Friday)
• Saint Stephen Monastery: 9 AM to 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  (Closed: Monday)
• Holy Trinity Monastery: 10 AM to 4PM (Closed: Thursday)
• Rousanou Monastery: 10 AM to 4 PM (Closed: Wednesday)
• Saint Nicholas Anapausas Monastery: 9 AM to 5 PM

Winter (November - May)

• Great Meteoron Monastery: 9:30 AM to 2 PM (Closed: Tuesday to Thursday)
• Varlaam Monastery: 9 AM to 3 PM (Closed: Thursday & Friday)
• Saint Stephen Monastery: 9:30 AM to 1 PM & 3 PM to 5 PM
  (Closed: Monday)
• Holy Trinity Monastery: 10 AM to 4PM (Closed: Thursday)
• Rousanou Monastery: 10 AM to 2 PM (Closed: Wednesday)
• Saint Nicholas Anapausas Monastery: 9 AM to 4 PM & 9:30 AM to 4 PM on Sunday

Accessibility

The Meteora monasteries can be challenging to navigate for visitors with mobility impairments, as they have many stairs. The most wheelchair-friendly monastery is St. Stephen’s Monastery, which has no stairs, can be accessible from the main road and features a lift.

Typical itinerary for day tours to Meteora from Athens

There are two main types of Meteora day trips – those by road, and those by rail.

The former includes hotel pick-ups and drop-offs for a smooth door-to-door experience. If you are traveling by train, you will enjoy an independent journey before being met at Meteora by your guide.

You will then have free time to explore some of the monasteries and visit the best viewpoints for photos.

After a few hours at Meteora, it’s time to return to Athens in the same way you came.

Types of Meteora tours

Guided rail tour to Meteora from Athens

These popular tours are a fun way to visit the monasteries while keeping costs down. You will travel independently by train, and a guide will meet you at the station in Kalabaka (Meteora) to begin your sightseeing.

Our pick: Meteora Panoramic Day Trip

• Visits: Three monasteries with tour guide
• Includes: Mini-bus transportation from Kalabaka to Meteora, English or Spanish-speaking guide
• Price: €49 (adults) and €45 (children 4-12), train tickets not included
• Duration: 4 hours (plus train ride)

Overnight rail tour to Meteora from Athens

Linger longer at the monasteries on this 2-day tour to Meteora from Athens. Travel is by train, with hotel accommodation, a half-day Meteora excursion, and a sunset tour to sweeten the deal.

Our pick: 2-Day Scenic Train Trip to Meteora

• Visits: Monasteries, hermitages, caves and hiking trails at Meteora
• Includes: Roundtrip train tickets and transportation to Meteora, overnight accommodation with breakfast, Meteora sunset tour and hiking or sightseeing tour
• Price: €189.60 (adults) and €158 (children under 13)
• Duration: 2 days

Private road tour to Meteora from Athens

Avoid the hordes and enjoy a luxury day tour to Meteora with a private car and driver. You will be collected from your hotel and taken straight up to the monasteries for a day of exploring, before being returned in the evening.

Our pick: Full-Day Private Day Trip to Meteora

• Visits: Meteora monasteries, Kastraki village and Thermopylae
• Includes: Roundtrip transportation, hotel pick-up, lunch
• Price: €288 per person
• Duration: 11 hours

2-day road tour to Meteora plus Delphi from Athens

This overnight, 2-day excursion to Meteora also includes a visit to the archaeological site at Delphi. You’ll enjoy round-trip road transport by air-conditioned bus and stay overnight in Kalabaka with stunning views of the Meteora rocks.

Our pick: Meteora and Delphi Trip

• Visits: Meteora, Delphi
• Includes: Hotel pick-up, round-trip transportation, accommodation, breakfast and dinner
• Price: From €198 (adults) and €99 (children 4-12) with standard hotel
• Duration: 2 days

3-day tour to Meteora plus Delphi from Athens

This fun 3-day Meteora jaunt from Athens is aimed at individual travelers looking to visit two of Greece’s most important historical landmarks.

You will use buses and minivans to reach your destinations, with your itinerary and accommodation planned out so you don’t need to worry about logistics.

Our pick: 3-Day Semi Private Tour to Meteora and Delphi

• Visits: Meteora, Delphi and Thermopylae
• Includes: Hotel pick-up, round-trip transportation, accommodation, breakfast
• Price: €370 to €610 for adults and €190 to €285 for children (under 12), depending on type of hotel
• Duration: 3 days

4-day trip to Meteora plus Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia & Delphi from Athens

Check out some of the country’s iconic sites on this multi-day adventure by luxury bus. You will walk in ancient footsteps at Meteora, Mycenae, Delphi, and Epidaurus. A visit to Olympia, where the Olympic Games were first held is also on the cards.

Our pick: 4-Day Classical Greece Tour

• Visits: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Thermopylae
• Includes: Hotel pick-up, round-trip transportation, entry tickets, accommodation, breakfast and dinner
• Price: €567 (adults) and 397 (children aged 4-12)
• Duration: 4 days

Prices of Meteora tours from Athens

Guided day tours to Meteora from Athens start at €50 per person without train tickets and around €90 with train tickets.

Prices for overnight rail tours to Meteora start at €200 with accommodation, breakfast, transfers at Kalabaka, and a sunset tour.

For private day trips to Meteora from Athens, prices start at around €290 for a single-day tour and €550 for a 2-day excursion.

Prices for 2-day guided tours to Meteora and Delphi start at about €200, including road travel, accommodation, some meals, and entrance fees.

For longer trips, you can expect to pay €360 for a 3-day tour to Meteora and Delphi, while a 4-day tour to Meteora, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Delphi will set you back €500 per person.

Top highlights in Meteora

The otherworldly site of Meteora is home to six monasteries, each perched precariously on top of towering rock pillars. “Meteora” means “suspended in air”, and that’s exactly how these monasteries appear!

Great Meteoron Monastery

As the largest and oldest monastery in Meteora, the Great Meteoron Monastery boasts impressive frescoes and a museum displaying ancient manuscripts and religious icons. Perched high above the plains, it offers panoramic views that are especially striking at sunset.

Varlaam Monastery

Varlaam Monastery features an extensive collection of artifacts, including a 16th-century church with exquisite frescoes by renowned iconographers. Its large courtyard provides a serene spot for contemplation, surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of Meteora.

St. Stephen’s Monastery

St. Stephen’s Monastery is ideal for visitors seeking a less strenuous visit. It houses a small museum and active nunnery, offering insight into the contemporary monastic life at Meteora.

Holy Trinity Monastery

Holy Trinity Monastery, perhaps the most dramatically positioned atop a slender pinnacle of rock, gained fame from its appearance in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only." It requires a climb of over 140 steps but rewards visitors with its serene ambiance and awe-inspiring views.

Rousanou Monastery

Accessible by a bridge that makes it one of the easier monasteries to reach, Rousanou is admired for its intimate atmosphere and beautifully decorated chapel. This monastery is particularly noted for its vibrant frescoes and peaceful setting.

St. Nicholas Anapausas Monastery

This compact monastery is famous for its frescoes painted by Theophanes the Cretan, a master of Cretan painting. St. Nicholas Anapausas offers a quiet escape with stunning view of the surrounding Meteora rocks.

Old hermitages and caves

Meteora is not only famous for its monasteries but also for its numerous hermitages and caves, carved into the rocks. These secluded spots were initially inhabited by hermits seeking solitude and spiritual contemplation, long before the establishment of the organized monasteries.

Today, you can explore these caves and hermitages, such as those at Ypapanti and the Bandovas area, to get a sense of the austere and devout lifestyle of the earliest inhabitants of Meteora.

Best time to visit Meteora

The best time to go on a day trip to Meteora from Athens is between March and May or from September to November, when it’s less crowded. If you do visit in summer, come early, and see the largest monasteries first.

Winters are cold and it often snows making the scene even more magical, however it may be more challenging to reach the monasteries.

Tours to Meteora from other cities in Greece

Aside from Athens, you can book trips and tours to Meteora from other cities in Greece:

• Day trips to Meteora from Thessaloniki
• Tours to Meteora from Kalabaka

Good to know

• Meteora is one of the most popular tourist sites in Greece, so book your tickets in advance to avoid missing out.
• The visiting hours and days for each monastery are different, so check these before departing.
• Dress appropriately for entry to the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing, shorts, and mini skirts are prohibited. Shawls are available at the entrance if you need to cover up.
• Accessing most of the monasteries requires walking uphill and climbing steep steps, so a moderate level of fitness is required.
• Pack some food and water, as there are no restaurants or cafés on site, just a few snack canteens.