Meteora Day Trip: Ancient Monasteries & Views

Discover one of the world’s most popular UNESCO sites on this Athens to Meteora day trip. Explore ancient monasteries, enjoy panoramic views and learn all about the region’s history and myths.

Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Athens - Embark on an exceptional day trip from Athens to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora. Discover ancient monasteries, enjoy stunning panoramic views, and uncover hidden gems of Meteora that many travelers miss. From November to January, you can also experience the renowned Meteora sunset from a breathtaking panoramic viewpoint.
    Your…
What's Included
  • Air-conditioned bus with onboard WiFi and USB Chargers
  • Local, knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide
  • Panoramic photo stops
  • Stops to see all the monasteries of Meteora
  • Free Audio Guides in Spanish, French and Italian
  • Refreshment breaks at local shops on both bus routes
  • Greek Lunch at a local restaurant (if option selected)
  • Free time to…
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Entrance fees of each monastery (€5 per person)
  • Guided tour inside the monasteries (available upon request)
Additional Information
  • To use our free audio guides, please be sure to bring your smartphone and earphones with you.
  • The monasteries of Meteora impose a dress code for visitors. Men are required to wear long trousers and shirts with sleeves. Women must wear skirts that fall below the knee (trousers are not permitted) and cover their shoulders. Alternatively, women can use…
Location
Stathmos Larisis
Begin your adventure by boarding our private, air-conditioned bus at 07:45 AM. The bus will be conveniently located on the street across the Central Railway Station of Athens (Stathmos Larisis). You'll easily identify it by the "Meteora Trip" sign displayed in the front window.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(73 Ratings)
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Pncha_
May 10, 2025
Extraordinary Experience: Meteora Monasteries - Our guide is Maria, who is very cheerful and energetic. The lunch option they offer is at a lovely local restaurant. After that we headed up mountain to the first monastery of our trip, Holy monastery of Saint Nicholas. It’s quite a walk uphill with many stairs but the view up there is magnificent. Then we drive through mountain to the second biggest monastery, Monastery of Varlaam, the chapel inside this place is very beautiful, painted with fresco technique. You could actually see the pulley lift they actually used in the old time here. Then our last visit is at holy monastery of Saint Stephen, you will have a nice view of Kalabaka town from up here. Chapel of this place is also lovely. Though you don’t get to visit every monasteries, you will have a chance at several photo stops along the way to look, soothe the atmosphere in and have a great photos of all of them. I think this tour is great option for travellers who base their stay in Athens but if you wish to see every single one of monasteries, you might need to stay a night at Kalabaka. Even though it’s quite a long ride to get here from Athens, I encourage everyone to visit Meteora. It’s definitely once in a lifetime experience :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bertt646
Apr 14, 2025
Excellent experience - Maria was a great tour guide. Very caring and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend the tour. Well worth the long drive to and from Athens
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G6399iajayz
Mar 15, 2025
Well worth the trip from Athens. - One of the most unique, picturesque, and stunning places I've ever been to. These monks sure picked a beautiful place to live.
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Rachel_t
May 12, 2025
Great Tour, but bus needs more AC - Great tour and amazing scenery, we loved the tour itself. We paid cash euros for two monasteries to be able to go inside. They had skirts and pants for you to wear if you were not dressed appropriately. You had to pay to use the toilet so make sure you bring euros. Would be helpful if they just include one euro per person in the admission price. Tour guide was very nice and full of information. The bus ride was long and we made 2 stops each way. The AC didn't work very well and we had to keep asking to have it turned higher AC power. The people in Greece don't like to use AC, but being on a bus with 40 people it is necessary, even in May.
Review provided by Viator
David_j
Apr 7, 2025
Good but long day - This is a good trip, but it is a LONG day. You will be gone for approximately 14 hours; 8 of those hours are on the bus travels to & from Meteora. The bus we experienced was a modern motor coach with reclining seats. There was WiFi available but there were no USB charging ports as advertised, at least none by any of the seats we had. The bus will stop about halfway to Meteora for a rest stop with an opportunity to purchase snacks or a quick meal. This happens on the way back to Athens as well, although that stop is quick because everyone is ready to get back. Before going to the monasteries, we stopped for lunch in Kastraiki, a nearby village. You have the option on including the cost for lunch with your ticket purchase but we didn’t do this. The food was good and there is also the opportunity to purchase water and some snacks. Take advantage of the opportunity to use the restroom before leaving to visit the monasteries. Most of the monasteries do not have restroom facilities available for visitors. Then on to the monasteries! You will visit 3 of the monasteries. We didn’t not which 3 we were visiting until we arrived in Meteora. Be aware that most of the walks from the bus to the monasteries are challenging for anyone with disabilities. Almost all will include inclines and multiple flights of steps. You will also need cash (Euros) for the entrance fee to each monastery. $3-5 for each. The monasteries are very interesting and have great histories. You will enjoy the visits if you do some research ahead of time. There are several websites and YouTube videos. It was a good trip and I would like to visit the monasteries again in the future. The art work is very interesting and many tell stories of events. This trip is good for those with energy to walk and climb steps. Bring water and snacks. Those that have trouble walking long distances uphill or multiple flights of steps will likely find this experience challenging.
Review provided by Viator
Gallinacolombia
Apr 20, 2025
Unique monasteries but lousy food and organization. - The monasteries are fantastic but the organization and operation of the tour were a disaster. At first, the booking page does not clearly identify which agency is in charge. You get there where there are more than 10 buses on the track which have no indication of which corresponds to one. It’s time to run and ask each driver to see if they’re on the list or not until they find the one to get on. The food of the whereabouts en route to lunch is the most unpleasant thing we have tasted anywhere for being of terrible quality, preparation and service. Upon arrival there are several guides who give instructions in general and not to each specific group generating confusion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
980h_l_nab
Mar 12, 2025
Good experience - The monasteries of Meteora are stunning. Pick-up and transfer from Athens was ok, the guide in Meteora was nice. « Traditionnal Greek lunch » actually means canteen meal in a travel stop on the side of the road, which is very misleading. The guide gives you useful information on the bus, but you’re on your own inside the monasteries. Overall good tour but don’t expect good food and drink the entire day, unless you bring your own.
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Oseco
Feb 17, 2025
BUS transportation from Athens PESIMO! Guide in Meteora EXCELLENT! - The process of taking the bus at the train station was unpleasant, the drivers impersonal and unfriendly. When arriving in Meteora the Maria guide was the best! Very professional and friendly. Un 10!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ramonj_m
Apr 6, 2025
Horrible organization from local partners - Worst experience ever. We were early in the meeting point to secure a good seat in the bus. People were confused waiting for the guide to direct us to the appropiater bus, finally 10 minutes before departing time, the operator representative showed up and direct me to one bus l. About 3 minutes before departure he just enter in the bus that I was sitting to tell me that I was in the wrong bus. We follow him and surprise there were only two seat available which were separated.I told him that we were early because we want to be together for such a long trip and because him we end up inn the wrong bus.He was very irrespectful and did nothing to solve the situation . We d3cided that with such an irrespectful person was not worth it to continue on this trip. I immediate contacted Viator to explain the situation and at first they recognize "they have been receiving a lot of complaint from this area" We just wanted to reschedule the trip with a different person or get a refund.Surpriselly Viatot did nothing for us and diectme to contact the tour operator which the name was on Greek and by the way they don't answer the phone We are very disappointed with Viator ,we did the booking with them and they didn't help a bit to solve the situation.
Review provided by Viator
Aamechs2
Mar 27, 2025
Do not use Meteora trips - Do not use this company! The bus was old and uncomfortable, the driver played music very loudly on the way to and from Mereora so no sleep was possible. Both drivers took phone calls while driving. Lunch was inedible due to being so overcooked, definitely not worth E10. Then on the way back the travel center they stop at charged us E15 for 2 sausage and fries. We saw the buses the other companies use and they were much nicer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $73
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).