Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
Day Trips

From Athens: Meteora Monasteries Visit and Hermit Caves Tour

Meteora monastery perched on a rock formation in Greece, surrounded by lush landscape.
Meteora monastery perched on rock formation, surrounded by lush landscape, Greece.
Guests exploring a courtyard in a Meteora monastery, surrounded by potted plants and historic architecture.
Ancient Meteora cliffside caves with wooden structures in Greece.

Duration

14 hr

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Transfers included

Meals included

Indulge in a sumptuous meal as a part of your experience

Mobile ticket

    • 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
  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 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

Similar experiences you'd love

Free cancellation
Guests exploring ancient ruins at Delphi site, Greece, with columns and temple remains.
Guided Tours
Instant confirmation
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 from 1898 ratings.
from
€28.60
Free cancellation
Aerial view of Corinth Canal with boats and paddleboarders, part of Nafplio-Mycenae-Epidaurus Day Tour.
Day Trips
Instant confirmation
4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5.0 from 26 ratings.
from
€25
Parthenon temple on the Acropolis in Athens under a blue sky.
Landmarks
4.4
Rated 4.4 out of 5.0 from 35586 ratings.
from
€36.90
Acropolis Parthenon and Acropolis Museum entrance with visitors in Athens, Greece.
Museums
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 from 8113 ratings.
from
€75.90
Parthenon Temple on Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece, with clear blue sky.
Landmarks
4.0
Rated 4 out of 5.0 from 6357 ratings.
from €45
€39.90
11% off
Download app section background

We've served 40 million+ guests and we are here for you

40 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime