From Thessaloniki
★ 4.8 · 4,515 reviews
~11 hours instead of 14, and only 3.5 hours of driving each way. Easier on the body, similar monastery experience.
From €41.18
See Thessaloniki tour
Day trip from Athens · GetYourGuide bestseller
Meteora day trip from Athens with three monasteries, hermit caves & lunch option
A full-day coach trip from central Athens to the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, leaving at 09:00, with a local guide in Meteora and an audio guide in your language.
★ 4.7 · 6,460 reviews · free cancellation 24 h before
Check availabilityThe short answer
Yes, Meteora works as a day trip from Athens, but it is a long one: about 14 hours, leaving Larissa station at 09:00 and back before 23:00, with around eight hours on the bus. From April to October you go inside three monasteries, usually Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Stephen; from November to March two, followed by the sunset at the main viewpoint. The local guide speaks English or Spanish, a free audio guide covers twelve languages, and lunch is included only in the option with lunch.
What this day looks like
This is the most-booked Meteora tour on GetYourGuide, and the route explains why. You see all six monasteries from the viewpoints and go inside three of them, usually Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Stephen, depending on which are open that day. From November to March the monasteries close earlier, so the tour goes inside two and ends with the sunset at the main viewpoint. The hermit caves are on the route too; you see them from outside, because they cannot be entered.
You leave Athens at 09:00, later than most Meteora tours, in an air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi and USB chargers. In Kalambaka a local guide takes over for the Meteora tour of about four hours, in English or Spanish depending on the option, and a free audio guide covers twelve languages, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish and Portuguese among them. Lunch at a Greek restaurant in Kalambaka is included only if you book the option with lunch.
Itinerary at a glance
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09:00
Departure from Athens
Meeting point at Larissa station in central Athens; the exact spot is on your voucher. There is no hotel pickup.
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Morning
Bus to Kalambaka
About four hours on the road, with a break at Agios Konstantinos on the coast, facing the island of Evia.
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Midday
Break in Kalambaka
A stop at a Greek restaurant before the tour. With the lunch option you choose one of about ten main dishes, vegetarian and vegan ones included.
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About 4 hours
Meteora with a local guide
All six monasteries from the viewpoints, the hermit caves from outside and photo stops above the valley.
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Afternoon
Three monasteries inside
Usually Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Stephen, depending on the day’s opening hours. From November to March two monasteries, then the sunset at the main viewpoint.
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Before 23:00
Return to Athens
Another break at Agios Konstantinos, where you can buy dinner, then drop-off at Larissa station.
What's included and what's not
Included
- Round-trip coach from Athens with Wi-Fi and USB chargers
- Live local guide in Meteora (English or Spanish)
- Free audio guide in 12 languages
- Three monasteries inside, all six from the viewpoints
- Hermit caves (seen from outside) and photo stops
Not included
- Monastery entrance fees (€5 per monastery, cash only)
- Lunch, unless you book the option with lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Athens
- Tips
What no one tells you
- It’s a long day. About 14 hours from the 09:00 departure, with around 8 hours on the bus. If that sounds rough, start from Thessaloniki or stay a night in Kalambaka.
- Bring cash. Monastery entrance is €5 per person, cash only, in euros: €15 for three monasteries, €10 in winter.
- Dress code is real. Women: skirt past the knee, shoulders covered. Trousers are turned away. Men: long trousers (no shorts), shoulders covered. Wrap-skirts are loaned at the entrance to women at four of the six monasteries; there are no loaner trousers for men.
- The guide does not come inside the monasteries. Inside, the free audio guide on your phone takes over, so bring headphones and a charged phone.
- Every monastery means stairs. The entrances are up stone staircases, and the tour is not suitable for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users.
What travellers say
★ 4.7 Overall rating on GetYourGuide · 6,460 reviews
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“The Meteora monasteries were amazing and breathtaking! Our tour guide Clement was amazing and answered all our questions. The views were breathtaking. One of our favourite activities we did while in Greece — everyone should do it at least once.”
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“Meteora was magnificent. Highly recommend this trip. The views are like nothing else I have ever seen. It is a long bus ride for one day and absolutely worth the travel.”
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“Clement, the local guide, was great — knowledgeable, animated, entertaining and kind. We covered a two-day itinerary into one day and got to tour three monasteries. It was the highlight of our trip.”
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“Meteora is spectacular. It was a long journey but well worth it. The determination of the monks who built the monasteries is inspiring. Clement was a great guide — I liked that he did not accompany us inside, the spaces are meant to be enjoyed in quiet contemplation.”
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“Really great day. Maria the guide was full of energy, kind, spoke to every guest and full of great history facts. Three monasteries, three viewpoints, and we did not feel rushed at all. Really recommend.”
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“The drive is long, but once outside Athens it goes quickly. The tour itself is a bit rushed due to the long drive and the limited monastery hours. There are plenty of stops to stretch your legs. I do think the description should mention the number of steps to climb — the booking only said "a few" which was misleading.”
Not from Athens? Compare your options
If a 14-hour day from Athens feels too long, here are the alternatives.
Already in Kalambaka?
★ 4.8 · 339 reviews
A short, focused sunset tour that skips the long driving entirely. Best value if you’re overnighting nearby.
From €35
See sunset tourFrequently asked questions
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How long is the day in total?
Around 14 hours: departure from Larissa station at 09:00, return to the same place before 23:00. About 8 hours of that are on the bus.
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Where exactly do we meet?
At Larissa station (Stathmos Larisis) in central Athens. The exact meeting spot is on your voucher; there is no hotel pickup.
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Is there a guide in my language?
The live local guide in Meteora speaks English or Spanish, depending on the option you book. The free audio guide covers twelve languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
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Can I cancel if my plans change?
Yes, this tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact policy is shown at the checkout step.
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How many monasteries do we go inside?
Three from April to October, usually Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Stephen, depending on the day’s opening hours. From November to March it is two, because the monasteries close earlier, and the tour adds the sunset at the main viewpoint.
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Is lunch included?
Only if you book the option with lunch: one main dish from about ten choices, a Greek salad and a bottle of water at a restaurant in Kalambaka. Dinner on the way back is at your own cost.
Ready for your Meteora day?
Reserve your spot now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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