Guided Tours

Meteora: Majestic Sunset Tour & Monasteries with Local Guide

Visitors inside a Meteora monastery during a 1-day tour from Athens by train.

Meteora Monastery garden with stone pathways and lush greenery, Greece.

Ancient Meteora cliffside caves with wooden structures in Greece.

Tour bus in front of Meteora Monasteries, Greece, during a guided day trip from Athens.

Duration

4 hr

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

Transfers included

Hotel pickup

4.4/5

(59)

Joshua

Aug 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Clement was outstanding—easily one of the best guides we’ve had. The views and stops along the way were equally incredible.

Camille

Jun 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Even though we got to Kalabaka late from abroad, the agency made sure we caught up with the group. Maria was such a warm and knowledgeable guide, making us feel instantly welcome.

Florence

Jun 2025

Verified booking

5/5

The tour gave us a broad picture of Meteora, from monasteries to caves and churches, all wrapped in spectacular scenery. Maria’s enthusiasm really brought it to life.

Ditch the crowds and enjoy a more personal Meteora experience with a small-group tour (max 19), complete with hotel pickup, round-trip transfers in a VIP Mercedes minibus, and flexible touring options.

Choose between a half-day sightseeing tour with access to up to 3 monasteries and in-depth storytelling, or a sunset tour that includes 1 monastery, the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary, and ends with a golden-hour photo stop.

An English-speaking local guide will share tales of monks who hauled themselves up in rope baskets, the secrets of the 1000-year-old Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary, and how Meteora became a place of refuge during invasions and empires.

Take in the quiet beauty of Agios Stefanos, with its floral courtyard and active nunnery, or explore the vertical wonder of St. Nicholas Anapausas, famed for its 16th-century frescoes and soul-stirring mountain views.

Did you know? The tiny chapel inside St. Nicholas Anapausas Monastery was painted in just one month by a single monk-artist, Theophanes the Cretan. His vivid 16th-century frescoes still cover the walls today.

Entry to 1-2 monasteries

Entry to the 11th-century Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary

Access to the Hermit Caves

Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Kalabaka or Kastraki

Round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned minibus

Expert English-speaking guide

Bottled water and free Wi-Fi on the minibus

Digital audio guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean & Chinese

Guided tour inside the monasteries (audio guides available)

Small offerings at each monastery (between €3 to €5)

Entrance fee of €5 per monastery, to be paid in cash only.

Food & drinks

Tips (optional)

TOTAL DURATION7 hours - 8 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Minibus
Timeline
Map
Start point
2 starting points available
1. Kalabaka
2. Kastraki
58 min by a/c minibus
3.6 km
1. Meteora monasteries
Tickets included
3 hr
6 attractions
Highlights
Great Meteoron Monastery (Megalo Meteoro)
40 min
Varlaam Monastery
40 min
Rousanou Monastery
40 min
St. Nicholas Anapausas Monastery
40 min
Holy Trinity Monastery
40 min
St. Stephen’s Monastery
40 min
36 min by a/c minibus
2.5 km
2. Panoramic Viewpoint
Tickets included (based on selection)
30 min
15 min by a/c minibus
5.8 km
3. Hermit Caves of Badovas
Tickets included (based on selection)
40 min
12 min by a/c minibus
3.7 km
4. Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary
Tickets included (based on selection)
30 min
15 min by a/c minibus
6.4 km
5. Sunset photo point
Tickets included (based on selection)
30 min
12 min by a/c minibus
7.3 km
End point
2 ending points available
Your ending point would be same as your start point

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.4
59 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.
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What our guests say
Priya
Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Traveling with young kids, I appreciated how smooth the transport and pickup were. It made things easy, and the kids loved every part of the outing.
Irene
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
What stood out most was how family-friendly the tour felt. Even with little ones, it was smooth, fun, and filled with sights they enjoyed too.
Inès
Aug 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Clement not only knew the history inside out but also made the group feel relaxed and entertained. The locations themselves were stunning.
Joshua
Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Clement was outstanding—easily one of the best guides we’ve had. The views and stops along the way were equally incredible.
Elizabeth
Jul 2025
Verified booking
5/5
This activity worked so well for our multigenerational group. The kids were entertained, grandma was comfortable, and we all left having learned something new.

What to bring

Bring some cash for entrance 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 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 unless explicitly allowed.

Flying drones is prohibited without special permission due to privacy concerns and wildlife protection.

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 guide will pick you up directly from your accommodation in Kalabaka or Kastraki Village.

Expect to enter between 2 to 4 monasteries during your visit. Each has a fixed weekly closing day (Great Meteoron is closed on Tuesdays, Varlaam on Fridays), so the exact lineup may vary depending on when you go.

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.