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

4.7/5

(483)

Alice

Aug 2025

Verified booking

5/5

I had an amazing trip to Meteora today! Our guide, Kate, was absolutely wonderful – friendly, knowledgeable, and always smiling, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The driver was also excellent, making the journey smooth and comfortable. The monasteries of Meteora were breathtaking – perched high on the rocks with stunning views all around. It truly felt like stepping into another world, full of history, spirituality, and natural beauty. Walking through the ancient paths and seeing how the monasteries were built on such incredible rock formations was unforgettable. I highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Greece – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines history, culture, and some of the most magnificent landscapes you’ll ever see!

Tania

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The place is stunning, definitely worth visiting. The guide Vaso and both our drivers wery very nice and helpful. I must say we didn't actually visit the Hermit cave, only the caves were mentioned from afar. Also boarding the buses in the morning was a bit chaotic, there where 4 buses on both sides of the street and it took a long time to figure out which one each person was supposed to be in (I arrived 40min early and still was the last to board the bus), as everyone is sent to the same bus and the poor driver was overwhelmed with the queue of people asking where to go. I feel like there must be an easier, more organised way to do this.

Urinboy

Aug 2025

Verified booking

5/5

I joined a Meteora tour with Riki, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. The guide’s knowledge of the monasteries, local history, and the rock formations made the entire journey fascinating. The pacing was comfortable, with enough time to enjoy the views and take photos without feeling rushed. What really stood out was the passion for the area—it made every stop feel meaningful rather than just a photo opportunity. Overall, it was a well-organized, engaging, and memorable experience that I’d recommend to anyone visiting Meteora.

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.

4.7
483 ratings
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 Spain, United States, France and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Giselle
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
100% recommendable. A beautiful place, with magnificent views. In addition, our guide Rula, attentive and friendly, was always close to the group, making sure everything was correct.
Hidde
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
It was a beautiful day with lovely vieuws. It was more beautiful then i expected. Definitly worth it! The food, people, monks, busdrive, monestry. I enjoyed it all!
Urinboy
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
I joined a Meteora tour with Riki, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. The guide’s knowledge of the monasteries, local history, and the rock formations made the entire journey fascinating. The pacing was comfortable, with enough time to enjoy the views and take photos without feeling rushed. What really stood out was the passion for the area—it made every stop feel meaningful rather than just a photo opportunity. Overall, it was a well-organized, engaging, and memorable experience that I’d recommend to anyone visiting Meteora.
Florescu
Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The organisation of the visit to the Meteora monasteries was impeccable, from the pickup in front of the Larisa metro station to the end. The guide (I apologise for not remembering his name) was particularly well-informed; he answered all the participants' questions competently. The three monasteries visited were well chosen, impressive in their positions, perched on the rocks of Meteora and in terms of the treasures of Orthodox art. The lunch, although frugal, was sufficient.
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

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.