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Guided Tours

Athens: Meteora Monasteries Day Trip with Caves and Lunch

Tourist by the transfer van at the Meteora Monastery
Tour group at Meteora rock formations during 1-day train trip from Athens.
Person photographing Meteora monasteries on rock formations, Greece, during a day tour from Athens.
Hermit Caves dwelling carved into rock face with wooden balconies.

Duration

13 hr 30 min

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

(185)

Karen Alejandra Lupercio Murillo

Karen

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our day was rainy and foggy, so we missed some views on the cliffs, but it was still totally worth the experience, it is highly recommended, I found it impressive and Rula who was our guide behaved the best. The trip is long but you enjoy every moment. It is 100% for explorer souls.
AKNIN Ethel

Aknin

Jul 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our guide Eva was really good, she answered every question we had and was particularly benevolent. Leonidas the driver of the bus was really nice too ! The landscapes were breath-taking, and the monasteries were very interesting. The only thing that bothered us during our trip was from the app, because we saw pictures of a minivan and thought we were going to be in a group of 5/6 people. We were in fact on a bus, but as it was half-full, we could sit whenever we wanted and could switch sides to see the view.
Juliette Garcia

Juliette

Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
It was a long day but absolutely worth it if you only have one day to spend in Meteora. We visited two monastaries, some caves and various view points to get awesome photos. The tour guide was very informative and knew all of the places to get the best photos. Even the included lunch was pretty good. The monasaries of Meteora is one of the most stunning places I've ever been to - super glad to have gone on this tour. It felt well-paced and smooth.
    • 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.
    • Skip-the-line entry to the Meteora Monasteries
    • Access to the Hermit Caves
    • Round-trip transfer from Athens in an air-conditioned coach
    • Authentic Greek lunch at a local restaurant (as per option selected)
    • Expert English or Spanish-speaking guide (as per option selected)
    • Digital audio guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese
    • Sweeping views of the Meteora Sunset (between November & 15 February)
    • Local map of Meteora
    • Free Wi-Fi and USB chargers on the coach
    • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
    • Entry fees to the monasteries (€5 per person at each monastery, cash only)
    • Guide inside the monasteries (multilingual smart audio guide available for free)
    • Tips (optional)
  • TOTAL DURATION13 hours 30 minutes - 14 hours
    MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Bus
    Timeline
    Map
    Larissa Station
    Start point

    Larissa Station

    Get direction
    5 hr by A/C Bus
    335.6 km
    Kalabaka

    1. Kalabaka

    Free Admission
    15 min
    31 min by A/C Bus
    2.1 km
    Kastraki Village

    2. Kastraki Village

    Tickets included (based on selection)
    60 min
    11 min by A/C Bus
    4.7 km
    Meteora

    3. Meteora

    Tickets included
    3 hr 20 min
    6 attractions

    Highlights

    46 min
    6.2 km
    The Hermit Caves of Badovas

    4. The Hermit Caves of Badovas

    Tickets included
    60 min
    6 min by A/C Bus
    2.5 km
    Kalabaka

    5. Kalabaka

    Free Admission
    30 min
    3 hr 40 min by A/C Bus
    340 km
    Larissa Station
    End point

    Larissa Station

    Get direction

    Your ending point would be same as your start point

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 4.6
    185 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.

    138
    29
    9
    4
    5
    Guests from Spain, France, United States and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Karen Alejandra Lupercio Murillo

    Karen

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Our day was rainy and foggy, so we missed some views on the cliffs, but it was still totally worth the experience, it is highly recommended, I found it impressive and Rula who was our guide behaved the best. The trip is long but you enjoy every moment. It is 100% for explorer souls.
    Arturas Zaikinas

    Arturas

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Magnificient, beautiful objects, well organizes trip, so professional and at the same time warm guidance. Thank you.
    berika cansu

    Berika

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Thank you for everything, awesome trip 🙏🌸
    Jacek Sykulski

    Jacek

    Aug 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Eva was a great guide! She showed us the best places, explained everything with great knowledge. The day of many wonders. Thank you for this exceptional professional trip! 🤩🗺️✨ #Guide #Places #Knowledge #Wonders #Trip
    Juliette Garcia

    Juliette

    Aug 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    It was a long day but absolutely worth it if you only have one day to spend in Meteora. We visited two monastaries, some caves and various view points to get awesome photos. The tour guide was very informative and knew all of the places to get the best photos. Even the included lunch was pretty good. The monasaries of Meteora is one of the most stunning places I've ever been to - super glad to have gone on this tour. It felt well-paced and smooth.
  • 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.
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