Guided Tours

From Athens: Meteora Monasteries & Caves Full-Day Trip

A tour guide giving information to tourist during Meteora Monasteries Full-Day Guided Tour

the Holy Monastery of Varlaam at foreground, Greece

Monastery of Varlaam interior with frescoes and ornate chandeliers, Greece.

Duration

10 hr - 14 hr

Free cancellation

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

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

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

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)

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

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Guests from United States, France, Spain and over 32 countries have loved this experience
Bence
Jun, 2025Verified booking
5/5
I liked the service provided by the tour guide, the drivers and the company as a whole. Eva was so kind, considerate , and hospitable. She made sure everyone's needs were met. She answered all our questions with kindness. The tour itself was worth the long bus ride, the views from the bus were breathtaking. Meteora now holds a special place in our hearts. Its beauty and history is something to behold and remembered.
Harmat
Apr, 2025Verified booking
5/5
We have seen beautiful lanscapes and monasteries of Greece. We had a charming tourguide.
Lazar
Jun, 2025Verified booking
5/5
The tour was awesome! The drivers are very good given that Athens traffic is not for the faint of heart. Meteora guide was very nice and knowledgable. 10/10
Sonia
Jun, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Wonderful tour with informative explanations on Meteora and the monasteries. Our guide, Maria from Meteora Thrones was amazing!! So professional and kind. 100% recommend!
Danilo
Jun, 2025Verified booking
4/5
The excursion to Meteora was really worth it: the scenery is breathtaking and the perched monasteries are just incredible 😍 On the other hand, I'd like to comment on the organization... The bus journey is already very long, but on top of that, our bus broke down on the way 😬 We waited almost an hour for another one to come and pick us up, without any apology or explanation. Luckily, the place was worth it, because it was really magical once we got there ✨

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.