Meteora Monasteries & Caves DayTrip from Athens with Greek Lunch

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Athens, Greece

Trending

Booked 5+ times in 12 hours.

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

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· Darrell_A ·

Jun 2026

Enjoyed getting to view and go inside several of the Monasteries. Felt hurried a bit but they are so far from Athens the single day is a long one. Knowledgeable guide and good bus drivers. The lunch included was good and adequate stops for breaks. Is was a highlight of our vacation

· Ifeoma_U ·

Jun 2026

Meteora is a must see. A wonderful experience; no where else like it. The view is breathtaking, and the structures are amazing. Clement from Canada, the guide, and Yunis (I think) the driver were excellent. Clement answered questions and provided useful information. The driver was great anddrove carefully on the road. I had a beautiful trip on June 6 from Athens. Everything was well organized and on time.

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Overview

Skip the self-drive hassle and effortlessley explore the rock-built monasteries of Meteora on this full-day tour from Athens. Journey through inland Greece to Kalambaka, and take a panoramic drive to see all six UNESCO-listed retreats. Uncover their history, stop for photos, and visit three of the monasteries atop their rock pinnacles.

Get up close and personal with a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Visit three of the monasteries on their rock-tower perches and the Hermit Caves
Leave all the logistics and planning to someone else on this seamless trip
Upgrade to add a local lunch to your itinerary

What's Included

Roundtrip Transfer from Athens by air-conditioned coach-bus with Free WiFi & USB chargers
Lunch in a local restaurant (if option selected)
Comprehensive 5-hour tour of Meteora
Panoramic views of all six monasteries for great photos
Visit inside the 3 most popular monasteries - ONLY BY US
Local , expert in the area , Tour Leader
See the Hermit Caves & many secret places that only locals know
Free Panoramic Meteora Map
Smart Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese
Smart Audio guide in Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese

Pickup and drop-off at Athens' Larissa train station
Guide inside the Holy Monasteries (free multilingual smart guide available)
Tips (optional)
Lunch ( if you do not select this option)
Entrance fee - Each Meteora Monastery

€5.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Larissa Station
Athens 104 44, Greece
--- Athens Railway Station (Larissis Station) at : 08:00 am --- There will be a sign “METEORA THRONES – TRAVEL CENTER” on the window and the side of the bus, waiting outside the train station on the road across the street from the train station , Diligianni Str (be there at least 15 min before )

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Meteora

4 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kamena Vourla

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kastraki (Pass By)

Great Meteoron Monastery

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Varlaam Monastery

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas at Meteora

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Agios Stefanos

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Holy Trinity Monastery

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Holy Monastery of Rousanos - Saint Barbara

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Agios Nikolaos Anapaphsas

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kalambaka (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Departure place: Athens Train Station (Larissis Station) be there at least 15 min before the departure of the bus at 08:00 am exactly
There will be a sign “METEORA THRONES – TRAVEL CENTER” on the window and the side of the bus , waiting outside the train station on the road across the street from the train station.

Supplier is not responsible if you miss the bus please be there on time
Your guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival at Kalabaka Bus stop
Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. For ladies skirts by the knee or longer are required. No pants for ladies, no shorts, no sleeveless shirt. For men sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee are prohibited.
Please make sure you have cash for the monasteries 5 euro each entrance. There is no ATM machine in the area.
Lunch: The lunch includes a main dish, an atomic salad, bread & water. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
Tour is guided in English or Spanish with Live Local Guide.
Smart audio guide available in the following languages: English | French | Italian | Dutch | Spanish | Portuguese | Polish | Russian | Japanese | Korean | Chinese
Climbing Steps to Monastery Tops: Please be aware that reaching the top of the monasteries involves climbing steps. There are no elevators available, so please consider this if you have any mobility concerns.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers

Supplied by

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

Eleftherios_E

Amazing day trip to the stunning Monasteries of Meteora. A trip to not miss .. very peaceful and beautiful place.. our guide Clement is very experienced and educated guide who has alot of information to share with us..he is kind and friendly and he was making sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcomed..one of the best guides i have met .. thank you so much for showing us that heavenly Meteora.. highly recommended Tour

Reviews

4.6

based on 1,019 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Amazing Views

SonyaTurner, Jul 2026

Very organised trip, friendly driver and knowledgeable guide. Lunch provided was ok. Views of the monasteries were amazing and we had just the right time at each one. Only down side was the stop at 8pm for food. Food stone cold and at 68 euro for 3 people just main course and orange juice which was just canteen food slopped on a plate it was very expensive. I would have rather motored back to Athens and eaten there. Long day arrive back about 10pm

Amazing experience!...

Leia_F, Jun 2026

Amazing experience! Meteora is an absolute must-see and one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever visited. The scenery and monasteries are incredible, and the whole trip was very well organised. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Athens who has a free day. It’s a long day, but it’s 100% worth it for such a unique and unforgettable experience.

Enjoyed getting to view...

Darrell_A, Jun 2026

This trip was an amazing...

Shantanu_S, Jun 2026

This trip was an amazing experience and should be in the bucket list of every traveller to Greece. The guide was the best part of this trip which made the experience very enjoyable.

Meteora live

Margie_C, Jun 2026

Our guide Maria was excellent- as was our driver. Both did everything in their power to ensure our comfort and safety-Maria’s knowledge and experience is a real bonus - Wear comfortable non slip shoes - if you are not comfortable with stairs make sure at least, that St Stephen’s is open

Lots of stairs, but worth...

Nancy_S, Jun 2026

Lots of stairs, but worth every step. Women should wear skirts and cover their shoulders. No shorts for men.

Beautiful Meteora

Maria_G, Jun 2026

The bus ride of 4 hours each way is a little daunting, but Meteora itself is awe inspiring. There was no commentary at all during the 8 hrs there and back. When we arrived in Kalambaka, we picked up our guide Clement who was lovely and informative. We walked up at least 700 steps, definitely got the cardio today! I don’t remember it being quite as difficult 30+ years ago. Food was cafeteria style, got us in and out. Bathroom stops were clean and ok.

A memorable outing getting a unique taste of Greecd

Gopal_V, Jun 2026

Well organized. Tour guide and driver was great. Place was worth spending the whole day. Food at stops was just about ok but for us that was not the focus of the trip.

Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime.

Rebecca_C, Jun 2026

Meteora monasteries: caves, monks, cats, wine. Solo female traveler in June and felt safe and well taken care of. Rarely is there an opportunity to see such unique monasteries build high on cave induced mountaintops. Our beautiful young local tour guide Maria made the whole trip with her energy humor knowledge and enthusiasm, She was the tour guide everyone else wished they had. There are hundreds of stone steps to climb. The churches inside are small and packed with ordained chandeliers, frescoes, candles, little hidden window in the walls to peer out overlooking thousand on feet down the cliffs! Heart pounding landscape. Be careful with the lunch. The tour title says it comes with lunch, but you have to scroll down and select the lunch option. I did not do this but Maria went above and beyond to make sure I got lunch and salad. It’s a cafeteria style highway bus stop but food was good and true traditional Greek tasting. There is comfortable, shady outdoor seating with friendly kitties looking for pets and snacks. Plenty of free bathroom breaks on this tour. Lots of cement stairs to climb. If you’re afraid of heights-be prepared. I actually saw the head Monk at one of the monasteries. He had long black robes and a cell phone. Definitely buy the white wine from the nuns- you won’t get another opportunity and drove 8 hours to get there plus hundreds of years in the making. It’s only 12 euros and very good perfect balances of dry citrus with rich oak barrel finish. Unfortunately I know of people who didn’t see Meteora because it’s too long of a drive from Athens. If you get to Athens don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime to sit back relax on the bus and let Viator safely take you to heights you deserve to experience.

Absolutely worth every...

shannon_r, Jun 2026

Absolutely worth every mile to get there and every climb up stairs to the monasteries. Clement was such a wonderful tour guide, 100% recommend!

This was such an amazing...

Gracen_T, Jun 2026

This was such an amazing experience!!! Although it’s a long day (8 am- 10 pm), we thought this was so worth it! I’ve never seen anything like the monasteries before and our tour guide, Maria, was so great at showing us them. I highly recommend this tour!!

Was a great way to get...

Robert_A, Jun 2026

Was a great way to get information on the monasteries and avoid driving from Athens. The information and history given befor each monastery was great!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your kind words. We’re glad the tour helped you enjoy the monasteries without the long drive from Athens. The guide’s explanations before each visit are meant to make the experience clearer and more meaningful. Thank you for sharing your Meteora experience

It is a very long day...

Barry_R, Jun 2026

It is a very long day trip; however, the bus made stops for bathroom breaks/snacks and the lunch stop. The monasteries built on the top of the rock cliffs are amazing. Small children (and some teenagers) will not appreciate them.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your review. We’re glad you enjoyed the monasteries — they truly are amazing. The day is long, but the bus makes planned stops for breaks and snacks. Small children often don’t appreciate the visit as much, as you noted. Thank you for sharing your Meteora experience.

Amazing scenery and great tour group!

Stephanie_R, Jun 2026

Amazing experience, Clemins our tour guide was great, really got people engaged with the scenery and history (also a GREAT photographer and more than happy to take them 💕) this was so worth the long travel time/day. The scenery is like nothing else I’ve seen and I wish I had done the two day tour. Some notes: read the dress code (especially women-no pants 😩) but don’t worry the monasteries will have things for you to wear if you forget. Also the lunch was not great but it’s the only place to get food so you’re kinda stuck with it. Also remember your on a 4 hour journey each way with other people so wear deodorant and brush your teeth please :’)

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. We’re glad you enjoyed the experience and Clément’s energy , he’ll love the compliment. The long travel day is worth it for many, and the dress code can indeed surprise visitors, though monasteries provide coverings. The lunch stop is simply the only practical option on the route. Thank you for sharing your Meteora experience.

Good experience, dinner travel stop was bad

Dona_I, Jun 2026

Overall, a good experience. It rained for more than half of the tour, so we weren’t able to enjoy it fully, but our tour guide Clement did his best to keep things interesting despite the weather. Definitely check the forecast and bring a raincoat or umbrella if rain is expected. The main downside was the dinner stop at Μακεδονία. The staff repeatedly pushed “take the salad,” which came across as misleading and aimed at tired tourists who don’t speak Greek (paid ridiculous €54 for 2 for the meal!) There were also no clearly posted prices. I wish it was a shorter snack break rather than a 40-minute dinner stop.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your review. We’re glad Clement kept the visit engaging despite the rain. The dinner stop is optional, and we’ll keep sharing that prices are set by the restaurant, not the tour. Thank you for sharing your Meteora experience.

It was beautiful. Good...

Nenad_D, Jun 2026

It was beautiful. Good organized, Professional guide. No extreme climbing. Everyone can do it. You have to try.

The Metora view is very...

Liora_R, Jun 2026

The Metora view is very beautiful and impressive. Usually we enjoy the viator tours. This time there were some significant deficiencies. 1. When we arrived to the Metora, we were asked to change the bus. We got a very small bus without ac and it was very hot day. There was not enough place to the legs. 2. The guide was kind, but she didn't guide us inside the attractions like other groups. 3. We reserved meal. We don't eat meat, and the alternatives were not available.

It was a great tour. A...

Brett_H, Jun 2026

It was a great tour. A little rushed at times but it was a long day trip from Athens. I would have liked to see Holy Trinity Monestery, which we did not enter, but it was still a great time.

We enjoyed the tour with...

Allison_A, Jun 2026

We enjoyed the tour with Clement to the monasteries. He did an awesome job made it fun and enjoyed the whole day..

Suspended in the air

Abazari_A, Jun 2026

We had an excellent experience on our Meteora tour from Athens. Everything was very well organized and ran perfectly on time, which made the day smooth and stress-free. We were given enough time to comfortably visit three monasteries without feeling rushed, and there were also several stops at beautiful viewpoints for photos—absolutely worth it for the stunning scenery. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared interesting insights throughout the tour, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, a fantastic and well-balanced tour that I would highly recommend.

A Levitating Experience

Ifeoma_U, Jun 2026

Awesome. Amazing tour...

Suhair_M, Jun 2026

Awesome. Amazing tour guide Clement and driver Tassos. Incredible scenery. Once in a lifetime experience. Long drive but all worth it.

Amazing landscape not to be missed!

Mary_L, Jun 2026

Trip to Meteora was amazing. The rock formations along with monasteries built atop is so unique and stunning. Very much worth the 14 hour investment of time and a good value. Maria along with our driver were fantastic. Maria is a local with amazing knowledge, personality and language skills. Her informative history and knowledge could not have been better. Our driver navigated the twists and turns with ease. The moussaka, Greek salad and spinach pie was top notch. The first and last rest stop had excellent food as well. Tour exceeded expectations.

Long ride but worth it. ...

Paul_S, Jun 2026

Long ride but worth it. The views were tremendous and the monasteries were impressive. You don't want to miss this if you are in Athens.

Start

Merl_M, Jun 2026

This is a good tour. Once the Canadian tour guide got in to the bus from the 2nd location, everything ran well. He was really good. Just at Athens location finding the correct bus from several which were heading towards the same destination was a challenge. Had to cross the road twice.

Very poorly organized and bad food

Julia_A, Jun 2026

First of all, it’s a very, very, very long tour. It wouldn’t be that long if this company organized it better. Organization was very poor. The driver on the way to Meteora was picking his nose and kept talking on the phone for some reason using the microphone so we all could hear him. Not very friendly person. No hi no bye . He kept arguing with our tour guide. I gave the tour two stars not one only because of the tour guide. He was the best part of the tour. He was enthusiastic and energetic. I don’t remember his name. But he was from Canada. Another thing that I wanted to mention that the food was horrible! It was cheap, greasy and not tasty. There was no alternative option to order something better quality. So I would recommend to bring your food with you. It’s not very difficult to go up to the monasteries. You don’t need hiking shoes. You could easily do it in flip-flops. Basically, if I knew it was going to be like this, I would not do it again

Victor is very good my...

Edris_B, May 2026

Victor is very good my recommendation, good guide good bus very friendly we went greece for a day trip.

Clement was knowledgeable...

Michele_M, May 2026

Clement was knowledgeable about the area we were visiting. Light hearted and fun to experience the afternoon with him.

This is a very long drive...

Eve_R, May 2026

This is a very long drive 4 hours each way but gets a break after 2 hrs. It's worth it! The view is incredible. Clemente's was such a very good tour guide! Thanks too to our bus drivers.

crapshoot

Monika_F, May 2026

I am currently on the tour bus as I write this review. The bus is so packed that there are no seats for me and I am sitting on the floor near the stairs of the exit of the bus. Which is absolutely unacceptable for the price that I paid I expected to be able to have a comfortable seat for the ride. I had been calling and emailing the tour operator as well prior to my arrival and not a single person contacted me back. The monasteries I’m sure will be beautiful but I would reccomend going with another tour operator as this company is completely disorganized and booked the bus past capacity.