Guided Tours

Meteora: Morning Half Day Sightseeing and Monasteries Tour

Meteora monastery with stone architecture and lush greenery on a sunny day.

Ancient Meteora cliffside caves with wooden structures in Greece.

Frescos depicting religious scenes inside Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece.

Tourist photographing Byzantine Church bell tower in Greece.

Duration

4 hr

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

Transfers included

4.7/5

(40)

Imogen

Jul 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Leaving the car behind was the best choice—we learned far more on the bus tour than we ever would have on our own. Vasili shared so much detail with patience, and hotel pickup/drop-off made it effortless.

Ethan

Aug 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Communication was excellent. Pickup was arranged near our hotel with no hassle, and the half-day format was just right. We visited three monasteries inside and saw all six from outside—perfect balance.

Sarah

Jul 2025

Verified booking

5/5

So glad we joined this tour rather than driving. Parking is tricky, but the bus dropped us right at the entrances. Comfortable transport, AC, and an excellent guide made this unbeatable value.

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 3 monasteries

Access to the Hermit Caves

Expert English-speaking guide

Digital audio guides in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean

Round-trip transfers from Kalabaka in an AC coach

Panoramic dawn photo stops

€5 monastery entrance fees per site, payable in cash

Café purchases (coffee & pastry upgrade available)

Hotel pick-up and drop-off

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.7
40 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.
28
10
2
0
0
What our guests say
Alessia
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Kostas was a fantastic guide—knowledgeable, upbeat, and always attentive. He gave us plenty of time at each site, and the careful driving made everything feel safe and relaxed.
Nicole
Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Nikolas exceeded expectations—funny, informative, and very attentive. The monasteries and landscapes were breathtaking, and the company’s app kept us up to date easily.
Ethan
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Communication was excellent. Pickup was arranged near our hotel with no hassle, and the half-day format was just right. We visited three monasteries inside and saw all six from outside—perfect balance.
Jonas
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
This was the easiest way to explore the monasteries. Our guide was packed with knowledge and stories, and the four-hour schedule was spot-on.
Rachel
Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Katerina was fantastic—clear, friendly, and passionate. I didn’t have to worry about driving or parking, just relaxed and enjoyed the monasteries.

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.