From happy customers

Loved by 42 million+
JOSE GERARDO FRANCO CASILLAS
US

Jose

United States
Jul 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
The guide Maria is an excellent person, the stop at the restaurant cafe ". Camino" was great, as well as the pizza for dinner. In Meteora the food in "Eufrosino" super rich and The Monasteries are great, a tour that is a must when traveling to Greece.
Bence Laxner
HU

Bence

Hungary
Jun 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
review-image

+1 more

I liked the service provided by the tour guide, the drivers and the company as a whole. Eva was so kind, considerate , and hospitable. She made sure everyone's needs were met. She answered all our questions with kindness. The tour itself was worth the long bus ride, the views from the bus were breathtaking. Meteora now holds a special place in our hearts. Its beauty and history is something to behold and remembered.
Rumyana Besarabska-Bakova

Rumyana

Jul 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
review-image

+2 more

Excellent orginasation, very knowledgable tiur guides, attentive and polite bus driver, we'll do it again! You made our visit unforgettable. Thank you all!
Jacek Sykulski

Jacek

Aug 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
review-image

+1 more

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
JOSE GERARDO FRANCO CASILLAS
US

Jose

United States
Jul 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
The guide Maria is an excellent person, the stop at the restaurant cafe ". Camino" was great, as well as the pizza for dinner. In Meteora the food in "Eufrosino" super rich and The Monasteries are great, a tour that is a must when traveling to Greece.
Rumyana Besarabska-Bakova

Rumyana

Jul 2025
5/5
review-image
review-image
review-image

+2 more

Excellent orginasation, very knowledgable tiur guides, attentive and polite bus driver, we'll do it again! You made our visit unforgettable. Thank you all!
Ankit Srivastava

Ankit

Jun 2022
5/5
Meteora is an amazing place, and Chris was a really good guide. This is absolutely an experience you should have if you get the chance.
SHANMUKHA RAMA KRISHNA
GB

Shanmukha

United Kingdom
Apr 2025
4/5
The trip was good. Guide Mr Nick have shown and explain about the monastery. It was not easy to find out the bus to Meteora as no one there to identify the bus. It has to be improved and helpful to the customer. Finally got it.

Top things to do in Athens

Monasteries, cliffs, and centuries of history

Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where six monasteries sit atop sandstone towers sculpted over millions of years. For centuries, the only way up was by rope basket, hoisted by hand and replaced, as legend has it, “only when the Lord let them break”. The climb today is far easier, but the same sense of awe still lingers in the silence between the cliffs and the centuries-old walls above.

Why take a Meteora day trip from Athens?

Primary travel hub
Early morning coach transfer via Larissa
Offers the best tour infrastructure
Excellent tour options and inclusions
Ideal for short stays and stopovers
Plenty of departure options, even last-minute
High-quality guides and well-vetted itineraries
1/7

Primary travel hub

Athens is the point of entry for most international travelers, with the country’s busiest airport and main railway connections. Starting from here means you don’t need to coordinate domestic flights, add stopovers, or reroute your entire trip just to see Meteora.

Early morning coach transfer via Larissa

Most day trips from Athens begin with a morning transfer to Larissa Station, where you’ll catch a direct A/C bus to Kalabaka. The round-trip takes less than 5 hours each way, making it easy to explore Meteora and be back in Athens by night, perfect for a packed itinerary.

Offers the best tour infrastructure

Athens offers some of the most convenient, fully structured day trips to Meteora, with hotel pick-up, coach transfers, and local guides, all in one booking. You’ll visit 3 to 4 monasteries and return the same evening—no need to figure out intercity rail schedules, local taxis, or monastery opening hours. This is especially valuable in a country where rotating monastery closures and tight rural timetables can catch independent travelers off guard.

Excellent tour options and inclusions

Tours from Athens often offer multiple experience tiers, standard guided day trips, options with traditional Greek lunch in Kastraki, and even 2-day packages with hotel stays. Whether you just want a glimpse or a deeper dive, you'll find an option that fits.

Ideal for short stays and stopovers

If you have just 3 to 4 days in Greece, staying in Athens lets you see major highlights like the Acropolis and Plaka while still fitting in a day trip to Meteora—no need to change hotels. It’s an efficient way to make the most of a short visit, ideal for cruise passengers, business travelers, or anyone on a quick mainland tour.

Plenty of departure options, even last-minute

Thanks to high demand, tours from Athens to Meteora run daily year-round, even during shoulder and off-peak seasons. Smaller departure cities like Thessaloniki may have less frequent options, so last-minute travelers are more likely to find availability from Athens.

High-quality guides and well-vetted itineraries

The best-trained local guides and tour companies often operate out of Athens, many with long-standing ties to the region that ensure your experience includes more than just monastery visits—expect hidden viewpoints, cultural insights, and well-paced itineraries. You’ll be led by someone who knows when and where to go, factoring in daily closures and crowd patterns.

All your Athens to Meteora day tour options

Meteora monasteries and caves full-day trip

1-day Meteora monasteries tour

Perfect for travelers who want to visit Meteora in a day, without changing hotels.

  • Travel from Athens to Meteora and back in a single day without changing hotels, thanks to a seamless round-trip transfer by A/C coach.
  • Visit 3 to 4 active monasteries with a licensed guide who brings their history to life, with optional audio guide support in 10+ languages.
  • Depending on the package you select, you can also enjoy pick-up services from your hotel or Airbnb in Athens and a traditional lunch stop in Kastraki.

Recommended ticket: Meteora monasteries and caves full-day trip

2-day Meteora tour with hotel stay

2-day Meteora tour with hotel stay

A relaxed overnight trip covering all six monasteries at a more comfortable pace.

  • Explore Meteora at a more relaxed pace, with sunset and sightseeing tours spread across two days and an overnight stay in a local village.
  • See all six monasteries and hidden gems like the Hermit Caves and Byzantine Church, with expert guides and flexible tour options.
  • Sleep comfortably in a hand-picked 3 or 4-star hotel and return to Athens refreshed, without feeling rushed.

Recommended ticket: Meteora 2-day trip with 2 guided tours and hotels

From departure to discovery | How a full day in Meteora unfolds

  • 8am: Board your luxury, air-conditioned coach from Larissa Station in Athens. Sit back and enjoy a scenic ride through central Greece, watching the countryside shift from olive groves and farmland to the dramatic cliffscapes of Meteora.
  • 12:30pm: Arrive in Kalabaka, a charming town at the foot of the Meteora rock formations. Here, you'll meet your local guide and prepare for the monastery visits ahead.
  • 1pm: Enjoy a traditional Greek lunch in the scenic village of Kastraki, depending on your ticket type. Choose from moussaka, souvlaki, Greek salad, and tzatziki.
  • 2pm: Explore 3 to 4 monasteries, depending on daily schedules and availability. Each monastery charges a small entry fee of €3 to €5, payable in cash at the entrance. 
  • 5pm: Discover Meteora’s quieter side with a guided visit to the Hermit Caves of Badovas, once inhabited by the earliest monks who lived in complete solitude, far from the larger monastery communities.
  • 6pm: Wind down your day with some free time back in Kalabaka. Grab a coffee, browse local shops for handmade icons or ceramics, or enjoy the golden-hour glow on the cliffs before your return trip.
  • 9:30pm: After a full day of discovery, return to Athens from Meteora with a convenient transfer back to your hotel or drop-off point to complete your journey.

Meteora day trips

Frequently asked questions about visiting Meteora from Athens

Are transfers included in the tour price?

Most full-day Meteora tours include round-trip coach transfers from Larissa Station (Athens) to Kalabaka, with a few offering hotel pickup for added convenience.

How long is the journey from Athens to Meteora?

The coach journey takes around 4.5 to 5 hours each way, with scenic views of the Greek countryside along the route.

Which monasteries will I visit?

You’ll typically visit 3 to 4 of the six active monasteries, depending on their daily opening schedules. Your guide chooses the best combination for the day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Some tours include a traditional Greek lunch in Kastraki, while others give you time to eat independently at a local taverna.

What should I wear for the monastery visits?

Monasteries enforce a modest dress code: men must wear long pants, and women need long skirts and covered shoulders. Skirts and shawls are often available at the entrance if needed.

Can I return to Athens the same day?

Yes, you’ll return to Athens by around 9:30pm, making it a well-structured, thoughtfully paced day trip with no need to stay overnight.

Is the tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels, but be prepared for stairs, uneven paths, and some uphill walking. Comfortable, closed-toe footwear is strongly recommended.

Meteora Tours
Scan code
Download the Headout app

Get Help 24/7

We Accept
VISA
MASTERCARD
AMEX
PAYPAL
MAESTROCARD
APPLEPAY
GPAY
DISCOVER
DINERS
IDEAL
FPX