Athens: Meteora Monasteries Tour with Local Guide and Greek Lunch

Recommended by 90% of travelers

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Athens, Greece

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

14 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Make it easy to explore beyond Athens city limits—and immerse yourself in one of Greece's most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage sites—on this full-day trip to the Meteora Monasteries. With round-trip transit by air-conditioned coach, exploring is made easy. Upon arrival, admire all six monasteries, and venture into three of them (entry own expense). You'll also explore the village of Kalabaka, and will enjoy a traditional Greek lunch (if option selected)

Get up close and personal with a UNESCO World Heritage Site
See and do more than you could alone with included transit
Learn insider facts and stories from your guide's commentary
Visit the Meteora Monasteries plus hidden gems like Kalabaka

What's Included

Roundtrip transportation from Athens to Meteora
Air-conditioned bus with onboard WiFi and USB Chargers
Local, knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide
Immersive Guided Meteora tour with Panoramic photo stops
View all the monasteries of Meteora and visit 3 of them
Greek Lunch at a local restaurant (if option selected)
Free Audio Guides in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean

Entrance fee - Entrance Fee of Each Meteora Monastery

€5.00 per person
Guided tour inside the monasteries

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Stathmos Larisis, Athina 104 39, Greece
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.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Athens

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Meteora (Pass By)

Kalambaka

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Roussanou Monastery

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Saint Nicholas Monastery

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Varlaam Monastery

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Holy Trinity Monastery

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Agios Stefanos

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Great Meteoron Monastery

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Athens

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate

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 a long scarf wrapped around the waist to meet the dress code requirements.
The monasteries of Meteora only accept cash for the entrance fees (€5 per person/monastery)
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Jackeline_M

Meteors USA magical place that I recommend to everybody to visit. There are some details that should be improved by the local operator in Athens regarding the logistic to board the bus. The process is a little messy because each person has to found its name in the list that he gas in his phone. The driver in Athens was was very rude with some customers. I happy we did not board his bus. Our guide Maria was great and the overall experience was excellent

Reviews

4.6

based on 106 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Very long bus trip.

Tom_B, Sep 2025

This is a very long bus trip. 4 hours to get there and 4 hours back. Nice tour guide however. The lunch was not very good. Should have passed on it and taken the hour to walk around the town and find something. There were two break stops 2 hours into going and coming. Very crowded cafeteria style stop. Not good food. There were also alot of steps especially to the first monastery we stopped at - 370. We left at 8 am and got back at 10 pm. I felt like we could have spent the day in Athens doing something more interesting. If you really want to see monasteries- it's probably a good choice for you.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're glad to hear you appreciated the tour guide's efforts and insights—that's always a key part of the journey. However, we’re sorry to hear that other aspects of the day didn’t meet your expectations. It’s true that Meteora is quite a distance from Athens, but for many visitors, the unique landscape and spiritual atmosphere of the monasteries make the journey worthwhile—but we understand that it may not be the ideal choice for everyone, especially if time in Athens is limited. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the lunch and rest stops. These are areas where we are continually working to improve the experience, and your comments help us identify where adjustments might be needed. The monasteries do involve quite a bit of walking and stair climbing, which is part of their authenticity but can be challenging for some guests. Thank you again for your honest review—it helps others make informed decisions and gives us valuable insight for improving future tours.

Be prepared for a lot of...

Esther_E, Jul 2025

Be prepared for a lot of steps and a long bus ride from Athens— But it is all worth it for the unforgettable views and great memories. The actual guide joined us at Meteora where we had lunch before exploring the first of three monasteries.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear the journey and steps were worth it for the unforgettable views and memories. It’s great that you enjoyed exploring the monasteries with our guide after arriving in Meteora. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again on another memorable tour!

Definitely worth the long drive.

Rita_O, Jun 2025

Excellent local guide and transportation. Good stops along the way for lunch and for stretching the legs.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the excellent local guide and smooth transportation. It’s great to hear the stops for lunch and stretching made the journey comfortable and enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again for another memorable tour!

Great Tour, but bus needs more AC

Rachel_T, May 2025

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.

Good but long day

david_j, Apr 2025

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.

Horrible organization from local partners

RamonJ_M, Apr 2025

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.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Dear valued customer, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. While we always welcome constructive criticism, we must respectfully clarify that your account of the events is inaccurate and misleading. All essential information regarding the tour—including the correct meeting point, the clearly marked "Meteora Trip" bus, and detailed boarding instructions—was provided both on our tour's page and on your voucher. Despite this, you unfortunately arrived at the meeting point unprepared and boarded a bus operated by a completely different company. It was only after the other driver realized you were not part of their group that steps were taken to direct you to the correct bus. By the time you arrived at our actual tour bus, there were actually still six available seats. However, because you were the last to board, you had fewer seating options. Rather than join the tour, you chose to leave voluntarily. Following this, you submitted a refund request falsely claiming there were no seats available. This was easily disproved by our staff and documentation, which is why your request was denied. It is deeply disappointing that you have since chosen to leave a negative and dishonest review, misrepresenting the situation in an apparent attempt to support an unjustified refund claim. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations, but it is important that future customers receive an accurate representation of what occurred. We stand by the clarity of our instructions and the professionalism of our staff. Sincerely, Dimitris

Great tour!

Randy_K, Nov 2024

Very well put together tour. Well-directed and executed. Meteora is unbelievable, absolute must-see!

Visit to a marvelous place

Jackeline_M, Oct 2024

Steve & Mary Australia

Maria_X, Oct 2024

It was an amazing experience to visit Meteora our host Maria was exceptional explaining the history behind all the monasteries the Greek lunch was amazing it was an experience we will never forget. I highly recommend Viator tours thank you for the unforgettable memories

It was an unbelievable experience

Ana_M, Aug 2024

The incredible place and views. Our guide Maria was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. It was a small group and made things easier.

Long drive and tiring/hot, but worth it!

BlessyAlex_T, Aug 2024

Stunning views, but we went in July 2024. So hot! The bus was A/c but honestly didn’t feel that cold. Tour guide was Maria, she was goofy and friendly, but jokes a tad scandalous lol. She kept it fun though. The monasteries themselves left us speechless. Long drive there and back; 4 hours both ways. Driver kept things very close time and on schedule.

Great Day!

Pamela_A, Jun 2024

The coach was super easy to find at the station, our driver was really great and when we got to the main town we met our guide Maria, she was great and very informative in telling us all about the history of the Meteora, she doesn’t go inside the Monastery's with you which gave us opportunity to explore at our own leisure and meet back on the coach at the allocated time! Very traditional Greek lunch and kept us full for the entire day! Really recommend this tour if you want to have about 1 hour at the Monastery’s and don’t want to worry about having to commute to the area, also the coach did not have USB chargers so bring a power bank for the long trip 👍🏼

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're glad to hear that finding the coach was easy and that you enjoyed the ride with our driver. It's great that Maria provided such informative insights about the history of Meteora and that you appreciated the flexibility to explore the monasteries at your own pace. We're happy you enjoyed the traditional Greek lunch. Thank you for the recommendation and the tip about bringing a power bank. We hope to see you on another tour soon!

Wonderful tour

Jessica_S, May 2024

This was such a great tour. It is a long drive and long day but in my opinion totally worth it. Meteora and the monasteries were really great to see and I'd do it again. Only advice is to plan ahead for food, you get lunch which is very good but not dinner and you get back to athens at about 10pm so I wish I'd thought ahead and brought sandwiches or something but that was my oversight tour was great.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you found the tour to Meteora worthwhile despite the long day. We're glad you enjoyed the sights and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!

Beware of what they promise…

melanie_b, May 2024

This review is based on the dissatisfaction of what was promised to us and what we actually received. Let me start by saying, Meteora is an absolute must to see…it is amazing and so beautiful and fascinating. Our tour guide was also very knowledgeable and the mist of the trip was fabulous! Now let me tell you what we didn’t get as part of our trip. When I signed up for this trip (There were 5 of us) we decided to go with the more expensive one mainly because it was a smaller group (said max 15) compared to 45. We paid $130.00 verses $88-100 that the other ones were. A couple of weeks before we went, I kept seeing these lower prices and not the one for $130 so I called Viator and asked what the difference was. They assured me it was because of the smaller(15) people and that we could get picked up from our hotel. So I agreed to that and paid over $600 for this tour. There were many things we didn’t get…our group was 35…we were suppose to transfer to a luxury smaller bus in the town we stopped in but that didn’t happen…had to stay on big full bus for entire day…was told there was wi-fi, there wasn’t…was told they provided water, they didn’t …was told there was a stop at the hermit caves…there wasn’t …so all these things were not fulfilled. When I got back to the states, I reached out to Viator and basically was told it’s not their problem and they were not will to refund anything back to us. I wasn’t asking for the full refund, just the lower price which I thought was fair. Unfortunately I and non of the others in my group will be using Viator again! Go on this trip but do it through a company that stands behind what the ad says! Melanie Bickar…one unhappy customer

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Melanie, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you found Meteora breathtaking and your tour guide knowledgeable. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the mystical atmosphere during your visit, and we appreciate your recommendation that Meteora is a must-see. Regarding your feedback about the tour logistics, we appreciate your comments as they help us improve our services. However it's important to clarify a few points to ensure clarity and prevent any misunderstandings: - Group Size and Pricing: We would like to make clear that we only provide one option without varying prices based on group size. While our prices can fluctuate due to factors such as seasonality, demand and local competition they never fluctuate depending on group sizes. We do not charge less or more depending on group size, we never did. - Hotel Pick-Up Service: We do not (and never did) offer hotel pick-up service as part of the Athens to Meteora Day Trip, and we apologize for any confusion caused by external sources mentioning otherwise. It was always clearly stated to our tour's page that hotel pick-up service is not included in this tour. - Wi-Fi Availability: Rest assured that all of our buses are equipped with Wi-Fi. If it was not clearly communicated, we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We will ensure clearer communication of this in the future, possibly with visible stickers inside the bus. - Provision of Water: We want to assure you as well that water is indeed provided at the restaurant as part of our standard service. After investigating following your comments, we have confirmed with both the restaurant and our guide that water was indeed provided to all customers the day of your trip, including yourself. - The Hermit Caves: Regarding the hermit caves, we would like to clarify that we made multiple stops along the route where they were visible and you could admire them. Our guide also explains them during one of the first stops. However, please note that access to the interior of these caves is limited to climbers, as they are situated atop the towering rock pillars. We apologize if this information was not clearly communicated and a wrong impression was made. We regret any discrepancies between your expectations and the tour experience you received. Your feedback is invaluable, and we continuously strive to enhance our offerings. Thank you once again for your comments, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future. Best Regards. Dimitris

Meteora is out of this world!

daniel_c, Apr 2024

The best part of the trip: the unbelievably nice Meteora tour guide. She is a young, red-head Greek woman with so much energy and personality! The sites were awesome, but my wife and I loved our guide. The bus driver in the other hand was unprofessional: he followed too closely behind semi trucks and other vehicles which was very dangerous and unnecessary. He was overheard dissing on American travelers. I think he needs customer service training as well as drivers training before allowing him to drive passengers again. I dont remember his name, but he is a taller older man that’s balding on top and seems to be from the area based on his accent and mannerisms.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Daniel, Thank you so much for your feedback on your Meteora tour experience. We are so happy you enjoyed the breathtaking views and the enthusiasm of our lovely guide, Maria. We appreciate your detailed comments and want to provide some context regarding the transportation aspect of the tour. Initially, our transportation option for this tour was by train. However, due to severe flooding that damaged the railway network, we faced unforeseen disruptions. To ensure our guests could still enjoy their planned tours to Meteora, we had to quickly adapt and collaborate with third-party Athens transportation agencies. Regarding your concerns about the bus driver, we sincerely apologize for any unprofessional behavior or comments experienced during your visit. It's important to note that during your visit, the driver was from our third-party partner and his behavior does not reflect the standards or values we uphold. We have taken immediate steps to address this issue internally and ensure that such incidents do not occur again. We are pleased to inform you that as of early June, we have implemented significant improvements. We now exclusively use our own private buses and professional drivers for all transportation aspects of our tours. This change allows us to maintain full control over the quality and professionalism of our services, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Once again, we apologize for not meeting your expectations on this occasion. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to continually improve our services. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a much-improved experience in the future. Warm regards, Dimitris

A tough journey but worth it!

Joy_C, Mar 2024

Once at the monasteries the visit was incredible, Nicholas was a great guide, and the lunch at a local taverna was delicious, and with it even though it was after the visits to the monasteries. Pick a tour company that goes to a local taverna as a lunch option. Tho issue I had was with the mode of transportation to Meteora. The ride is 5 hours each way, the buses were dated, dirty and the WI-FI was spotty at best. No information was given about rest stops, and on the return trip the passengers were told to switch buses, except not everyone was advised of that, which caused confusion and a delay in leaving.

Utterly magical bucket list destination!

Maarten_V, Nov 2023

Magnificent location! Change from train to bus (because of floods) was extremely well handled, as was the overall booking. The guide - Maria - was knowledgeable and bubbly: the perfect person for this sort of thing! Lunch was typical tourist fare. Long, long day but managed to visit three monasteries and see the others, with plenty of time for all.

Choose a different operator

Jory_B, Oct 2023

The train isn't operating so we took a very small runner van. EVERY seat was filled including the 4 side by side backseat, which 4 adults should not have to suffer through for 4.5 hours each way. Luckily they transferred us to a newer (yet same sized) van once we got to Meteora, and then we finally met our tour guide who was very nice, and that part of the trip was okay.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Jory, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent trip to Meteora. We understand that the initial transportation aspect of the tour did not meet your expectations, and we sincerely apologize for any discomfort you experienced. It's important to note that we are committed to being among the few operators that offer smaller group sizes, aiming to provide enhanced convenience and a more personalized experience for our passengers. However, we understand that the seating arrangement may not have been optimal for your group, and we are committed to implementing improvements to enhance this aspect in future instances. We want to assure you that our goal is to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all our guests, and we take your comments seriously. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we will use it to review and improve our services. On a positive note, we are delighted to hear that the situation was addressed upon reaching Meteora, and that you found our tour guide to be very nice. We take pride in our team of knowledgeable and friendly guides who strive to make each tour a memorable experience. Your recognition of their efforts is truly appreciated. If there is anything else you would like to share or discuss, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team. We appreciate your understanding and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. Sincerely, Dimitris G. General Manager

Marvelous excursion !

GuylaineGardner, Oct 2023

Everything was amazing and our guide excellent ! We enjoyed it very much ! The Météores are a placé to go

Long ride, rushed visits, good bus guide, average food, beautiful Meteora, good communication & service

Pascale_F, Sep 2023

*Maria was a good guide. I just wished she stayed with us in the tour and not just shared stories on the bus from Kalambaka. *We had to take the bus and not the train due to the wildfires and heavy rains that ruined the train tracks. That was comfier in a way but longer. 8 hours on the bus in total from Athens was exhausting. *The monastery visits were cut short multiple times because the each of the 3 has a different schedule so we were really rushing through the visits. *I recommend you stay in Meteora for a day or two and maybe hike a bit because the landscape is magnificent and the tour itself is too short, removing the 8 hour ride. *I took the "with lunch" selection. The restaurant food was not bad, not great though. Maybe go without the lunch option as you will be eating at the same restaurant anyway. *They were very communicative with me before the tour, explaining why we are taking the bus and not the train etc...

Great tour and tour company

Rodney_L, Sep 2023

Initially booked as a train ride. The train was unavailable due to floods in the area. When I contacted the tour operator they patiently answered all my questions. They provided a bus as an alternative means of travel. The trip was a couple of hours longer. It was a comfortable bus with a good driver with a stop along the way. At the starting point a bit of confusion till the bus driver looked up our names as to which one we rode on. In Kalabaka we were met by our tour guides and sorted into which tours we belonged. Due to a misunderstanding on our part our meal was not covered by the tour. We talked to Marie our tour guide and we were refunded our portion by the end of the tour. Great service provided. Our tour guide Marie was very knowledge and very informative about the monasteries. It was such a blessing to visit them. Be Prepared for moderate to strenuous exercise. I wouldn"t hesitate to take this tour or any other from this tour company. The monasteries are amazing and I would recommend anyone to take this tour.

Exceptional Experience in Meteora

jacqueline_r, Jan 2023

Excellent weather, driver and guide. The guide was very experienced and gracious and knowledgeable. The trip was exceptional well done and memorable.

Unique

Laurine_D, Sep 2025

I took an excursion from Athens to the Meteors and it was an amazing experience! The drive is a bit long (about 4 hours from Athens), but it is definitely worth it. The scenery is spectacular: these huge cliffs with the monasteries perched give a unique impression in the world. Visiting the monasteries is fascinating, both for the history and for the spirituality of the place. I also very much appreciated the explanations in the guide that made the site even more lively. An excursion that I absolutely recommend to those visiting Greece!

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Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for this wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that your excursion from Athens to Meteora was such an incredible experience. While the journey is indeed a few hours, it's fantastic to know you felt it was well worth it—and we couldn't agree more. The dramatic cliffs and monasteries truly create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. We're especially happy that you enjoyed the guided explanations, which added depth and meaning to your visit, helping bring the history and spiritual significance of the site to life. Thank you for your strong recommendation—it's always a pleasure to share this extraordinary place with visitors like you!

年寄り最後のメテオラ

Anonymous, Nov 2024

英会話がうまくできないが、なんとか同行できた。現地ガイドの女性の方のノリが良かった。３つ寺院を回ったがもう一つくらいは行きたかった。景色は抜群で、ガイドの写真スポットでバスを停めての撮影時間は有意義でした。

À couper le souffle

Nadia_B, Aug 2024

D’une beauté incroyable et une expérience pleine d’histoire. À voir une fois dans sa vie. Le trajet entre Athenes et Meteora se fait très bien.

Maravio

EMMA_O, May 2024

Muy recomendada esta visita los guías muy amables y pacientes el lugar es maravilloso aunque el regreso el ambiente se puso un poco fuerte pues cuando vas cañado quiere dormir un poco deberían de poner letrero en el bus para que la gente hable despacio respetando ala gente que quiere descansar…

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thank you for your recommendation! We're glad to hear that you found the guides very friendly and patient, and that you enjoyed the wonderful place. We appreciate your feedback about the atmosphere on the return journey, and we will consider your suggestion to have a sign on the bus encouraging quiet conversation to respect those who want to rest. We hope to welcome you back for more great experiences in the future!