Guided Tours

From Athens: Meteora Monasteries & Caves Full-Day Trip

Visitors inside a Meteora monastery during a 1-day tour from Athens by train.

Meteora monastery perched on a rock formation in Greece, surrounded by lush green landscape.

Interior of the Monastery of Varlaam with frescoes and stone columns, Greece.

Tour group at Meteora rock formations during 1-day train trip from Athens.

Duration

10 hr - 14 hr

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

Transfers included

Meals included

Indulge in a sumptuous meal as a part of your experience

4.6/5

(548)

Gianni

Jan 2026

Verified booking

5/5

Very well organized excursion. Unfortunately to this day the Greek farmers' protest is still going on and this lengthens the trip by at least 1 hour. This led to not being able to visit the caves. Anyway, the visit to the monasteries was very interesting and the guide explained the history and geology of the places well. In hindsight it would be worthwhile to take a night out and not make the day trip from Athens; that way we would see the monasteries a little more leisurely. Keep in mind that as of today there is an entrance fee of 5 euros per person.

Isaac

Dec 2025

Verified booking

4/5

While the farmers' strike lasts, I recommend to travel by train, spend the day in the city and then visit meteora, it was 6 hours one way and 6 hours back to athens, a whole day of travel due to road cuts. The first driver was slow, and the heating was at 30 degrees. And the second driver was going very fast, over 100 kilometers per hour off road, reckless when overtaking and making dangerous maneuvers. Apart from all that, when we arrived in Meteora, it was still very nice and the guide was very kind.

Viktoria

Nov 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Beautiful experience with our guide Apostolis. His knowledges made our tour very interesting and memorable. We enjoyed the amazing views and the history of this incredible place. The organization is perfect!!!the bus is comfortable. The drives are very professionals. Simple but very tasty lunch in the Greek restorant and coffee break were very nice. We were able to see the nature and enjoyed the Meteor. Hope to come back to see again this beauty.

Skip the hassle and experience all of Meteora in one seamless day. Travel from Athens in a luxury, air-conditioned coach and enjoy a curated journey through all six cliff-top monasteries.

Your guide will share how monks scaled 300-meter cliffs with rope pulleys and tell tales of hermits who lived in silence for decades.

Climb the stone stairways to 3 to 4 active monasteries in Meteora, like the Great Meteoron, the oldest and largest, or Varlaam, home to a towering 12,000-litre rain barrel still in use today.

Walk a short trail to the Hermit Caves of Badovas, where monks once lived in cliffside grottoes, climbing with ropes and ladders that still hang above the cave mouths.

Choose the lunch upgrade and enjoy comforting dishes like baked feta drizzled with honey, cinnamon-laced moussaka, and crispy spanakopita at Kastraki Village.

Round-trip, luxury coach transfers to and from Athens (with free Wi-Fi, USB chargers, and air-conditioned facilities)

Meteora tour with panoramic views of all 6 monasteries

Entry to 3 to 4 monasteries (subject to the day’s schedule, as some monasteries are closed on specific weekdays)

Entry to the Hermit Caves of Badovas

English-speaking driver

Expert English or Spanish-speaking tour guide (based on option selected)

Smart audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese

Traditional Greek lunch at Kastraki Village (based on option selected)

Bottled mineral water

Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Athens

A small offering of €3 to €5 per monastery

Guide inside the monasteries (multilingual audio guides available)

Tips for the guide (optional)

TOTAL DURATION13 hours 30 minutes - 14 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Bus
Timeline
Map
Start point
Larissa Station
Get direction
5 hr by a/c bus
335.6 km
1. Kalabaka
Free Admission
15 min
31 min by a/c bus
2.1 km
2. Kastraki Village
Tickets included (based on selection)
60 min
11 min by a/c bus
4.7 km
3. Meteora
Tickets included
3 hr 20 min
6 attractions
Highlights
Great Meteoron Monastery
30 min
Varlaam Monastery
Tickets included
30 min
Rousanou Monastery
30 min
St. Nicholas Anapausas Monastery
30 min
Holy Trinity Monastery
30 min
St. Stephen's Monastery
30 min
46 min
6.2 km
4. The Hermit Caves of Badovas
Tickets included
60 min
6 min by a/c bus
2.5 km
5. Kalabaka
Free Admission
30 min
3 hr 40 min by a/c bus
340 km
End point
Larissa Station
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 3 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.6
548 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Spain, Italy and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Gianni
Jan 2026
Verified booking
5/5
Very well organized excursion. Unfortunately to this day the Greek farmers' protest is still going on and this lengthens the trip by at least 1 hour. This led to not being able to visit the caves. Anyway, the visit to the monasteries was very interesting and the guide explained the history and geology of the places well. In hindsight it would be worthwhile to take a night out and not make the day trip from Athens; that way we would see the monasteries a little more leisurely. Keep in mind that as of today there is an entrance fee of 5 euros per person.
Sara
Jan 2026
Verified booking
5/5
Beautiful places, tour organized really well despite the strikes going on in Greece, guide super nice and knowledgeable about places, available for any questions. Only flaw, if by chance you don't want to eat in an "obligatory" place bring food from home both for lunch and dinner
Maria
Jan 2026
Verified booking
5/5
Other than the fact that the whole trip was more than comfortable and both of the drivers were extremely good, the guide Mrs Riki was born for this job! Super explanatory and caring, as well as kind and approachable
Isaac
Dec 2025
Verified booking
4/5
While the farmers' strike lasts, I recommend to travel by train, spend the day in the city and then visit meteora, it was 6 hours one way and 6 hours back to athens, a whole day of travel due to road cuts. The first driver was slow, and the heating was at 30 degrees. And the second driver was going very fast, over 100 kilometers per hour off road, reckless when overtaking and making dangerous maneuvers. Apart from all that, when we arrived in Meteora, it was still very nice and the guide was very kind.
Leslie
Dec 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Meteora was both humbling and awespiring and worth going. Riki our guide was very helpful and information. Appreciate her clear instructions and little useful tips along the way. Beware though that the bus journey is around 4 hours and we came back to Athens around 11pm, so bring your portable chargers.

What to bring

Bring some cash for entrance donations (€3 to €5 per monastery) and any purchases, as credit card facilities may not be available.

Opt for sturdy shoes with good grip, as paths can be uneven and include many steps.

Carry water and light snacks, especially during warmer months (June to August).

Don’t forget to bring your own earphones and a fully charged phone to listen to the audio guides comfortably.

What's not allowed

While outdoor photography is generally permitted, refrain from taking photos inside churches and of monks or nuns.

Flying drones is prohibited without special permission.

Accessibility

Meteora is not wheelchair accessible. All monasteries involve steps or inclined paths.

If you have mobility constraints, consider visiting monasteries like St. Stephen’s, which has a paved path and minimal stairs.

Additional information

Your tour bus will be across from Larissa train station on Theodore Diligianni Street, in front of Everest Café. Look for the 'Visit Meteora' sign.

Expect to visit 2 to 4 monasteries. Each has a weekly closing day (Great Meteoron on Tuesdays, Varlaam on Fridays), so the lineup may vary.

All monasteries require a €3 to €5 offering per person, payable in cash at the gate.

Tour guides are not allowed inside the monasteries. To continue exploring while inside, take advantage of the multilingual audio guides.

Tours use minibuses or local shuttles to transport visitors between sites.

Basic toilets are available at larger monasteries (Great Meteoron, Varlaam, St. Stephen) and may require a small tip.

The Meteora monasteries follow a strict dress code. Men must wear long pants; women need long skirts and shoulder coverage. Sleeveless tops and shorts are not allowed.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.