Day Trips

From Athens: Meteora Monasteries Visit and Hermit Caves Tour

Get the full Meteora experience with this all-in-one tour from Athens, complete with round-trip coach transfers, monastery visits, photo stops, and shopping time.

Your local English-speaking guide leads the 4-hour tour, explaining everything from the symbolic meaning of monastery frescoes to how monks once scaled the cliffs in rope baskets.

Step inside three of Meteora’s active monasteries, such as Varlaam, with its restored wooden staircases and sweeping cliffside views, or Roussanou, a convent delicately balanced on a slender rock pillar, its gardens tended by resident nuns.

Explore the Hermit Caves of Badovas, once home to solitary monks, then stop by Kalabaka, filled with artisan workshops and local delicacies, perfect for taking a piece of Meteora home.

Opt for the lunch upgrade and enjoy local specialties like grilled souvlaki, vine-wrapped dolmades, and flaky spanakopita in Kastraki Village, all with a view of Meteora’s soaring rock formations.

Round-trip transfers to and from Athens by air-conditioned coach bus

Meteora tour with panoramic views of all 6 monasteries

Entry to 3 monasteries (depending on their rotating schedules)

Entry to the Hermit Caves of Badovas

Photo stops at all 6 monasteries

Shopping stop at Kalabaka (Dimoula Square)

English-speaking driver

Expert English-speaking local guide

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

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

Free Wi-fi and USB chargers on the bus

Bottled water onboard

Pick-up and drop-off services

A small offering of €3 to €5 per monastery

Guide inside the monasteries (multilingual audio guides available)

Food and drinks

Tips for the guide (optional)

Personal travel insurance

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What to bring

Bring some cash for monastery offerings (€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 the warmer months, between June and 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 waiting directly across from the Larissa train station, on Theodore Diligianni Street, in front of Everest Café. Look for the bus with the 'Visit Meteora' sign on the front.

Expect to visit 2 to 4 monasteries. Each has a weekly closing day (e.g., 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 shortly.

Please print the voucher and display it with a valid photo ID at the railway station.

If you have purchased reduced-price tickets, please carry your valid photo ID proof for verification. Students must show their valid student IDs.

Kindly ensure that you arrive 20 minutes before the start time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Note: Few days before the activity, you will receive an e-mail with the train e-tickets. You should have them with you on the day of the tour.

Ticket Redemption Point

Make your way to the Athens Railway Station (Athens 104 44, Greece) on your own

Arrive at the railway station at least by 7:00 AM

You will board your train to Kalabaka from here

Once at Kalabaka, you will find your expert English-speaking escort waiting for you with a signboard with your name on it

Get Directions to the Redemption Point

Validity

This ticket is valid for the date and time selected during checkout