Meteora Monasteries Full Day Trip from Athens with Optional Lunch
4.5
Meteora Monasteries Full Day Trip from Athens with Optional Lunch
By Keytours - Greece
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About
Experience the beauty of the countryside by going on this exciting day trip from Athens to Meteora. Travel by bus, so you can admire the scenic views along the way, and benefit from the convenience of having a driver to meet you at Kalambaka. Enjoy a transfer directly to Meteora Monasteries, where you have ample time to explore the impressive historic sights at your own pace.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 45 per group
Duration: 14h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Get to Meteora with ease—round-trip bus tickets and transfers included
- See monasteries dating back to the 14th-century in UNESCO-listed Meteora
- Enjoy free time to explore Kalambaka before returning home
- Find your driver with ease—he/she holds a signboard with your name on it
- Round-trip transportation in Kalambaka and Meteora
- Expert English speaking escort
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi
- Visit two Monasteries and the hermit caves of Badovas
- Free Map and bottle of water
- Local taxes
What's not included- Hotel pick-up and drop-off service in Athens
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees of the Monasteries (each monastery admission costs €3 per person per monastery)
- Start:
- St. Larissis, Athens 104 37, GreeceYou need to be in the opposite side of the Athens Railway Station at 07:30 am. You can reach the Athens Railway Station by metro, getting off at the Larissis Metro Station.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2876P31- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Infants (ages 3 and under) are free
- To enter the monasteries, appropriate clothing is required. Women should not wear short skirts and must have long sleeves. Men are not allowed to wear shorts.
- Amendments are serviced based on the availability
- The tour requires customers to climb stairs upon their approach to the monasteries. If someone finds climbing stairs challenging, it is possible to wait at the parking area where some benches are.
- Customers do not need to buy the monasteries tickets ahead of time. They pay in cash on the spot.
- The bus that will drive the customers to Kalambaka is only for the travel group.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2876P31
From
$87.92
per adult
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Itinerary
- Athens 104 37, GreeceYou need to be in the opposite side of the Athens Railway Station at 07:30 am. You can reach the Athens Railway Station by metro, getting off at the Larissis Metro Station.
- Pass byKalabaka
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 433seans0 contributionsAdd some colour to the AcropolisWe opted for the Acropolis & museum tour with pre paid tickets and couldn't be happier with the 5 hours we spent in the guides company. His knowledge was a good backdrop to the beauty of the location and his relaxed attitude allowed you to still take your time to take the places in fully. Both me and my wife really enjoyed our experience and would recommend this tour to anyone who wants more colour added to an already colourful place.Written December 1, 2024
- Cahuilla0 contributionsWonderful setting. Great sunset. Generally average tour service.The Poseidon temple is a remarkable structure in a stunning setting, and watching a sunset there is a scenic wonder. It is worth the time and expense. But you are seeing it with hundreds of other people. This tour was in a big bus. It was comfortable enough, but still a bus filled with people. The tour guide had good information, but all in all, while the location is wonderful, there was nothing special about the actual tour experience. Pretty much like I expected any big bus tourist experience to be, fairly soulless. I had actually arranged a more private experience, but that guide canceled at the last minute and I had to pivot to this. But, to be clear, seeing this temple at sunset is worth the journey!Written November 29, 2024
- Pilar O0 contributionsWell-organized pleasant tour for large family groupWell-organized tour with knowledgeable and pleasant guide and very competent driver. We had a pick up and drop off points that were convenient. The occasional commentary by the guide on the 3 hour drive provided some good insight into the Greek economy and history or landscape. But we were also able to have our own conversations or sleep if needed. The drive there and back included a toilet and snack stop 2 hours into the drive. The tour at Delphi site and museum was good and it was nice to have time to explore on our own. The food at the restaurant which was included was middling to poor.Written November 28, 2024
- Isabel M0 contributionsGood valueGood value as you get to see the most important sites in Athens at a time of your choice within your 5 day slot (except the Parthenon which although it is included in the combo ticket, it’s a timed slot). Could have been better had we been able to have some sort of paper guide/map or a QR code for online help especially for the more obscure attractions as navigating your way in a poorly signposted city is a feat in itself!Written November 20, 2024
- fmgtan0 contributionsCHRISTINA STAMOU - the BEST GUIDE!!!Christina Stamou was our guide for our 2-Day Trip to Delphi and Meteora, and we can confidently say she is the best tour guide we’ve ever had. Having experienced numerous guided tours in the past, Christina truly sets a new standard of excellence. Her efficiency, organization, extensive knowledge, and professionalism are unmatched. What stood out the most was her ability to navigate the crowds, ensuring we could fully enjoy the breathtaking sights of Delphi and Meteora without the usual hustle and bustle. She was attentive and helpful throughout the journey, making the experience seamless and memorable. We highly recommend KeyTours for anyone visiting Greece, and Christina in particular for an exceptional tour experience. If you’re in Athens, make sure to add Delphi and Meteora to your itinerary—they are absolute must-sees!Written November 20, 2024
- Brandon M0 contributionsAvoid purchasingThis tour is terrible but the museum itself is great. The app barely works, drains your battery, constantly freezes, and steals your location data. Do any other tour of this museumWritten November 20, 2024
- Camper002370438850 contributionsAmazingA lot of history preserved, and the upkeep of the artifacts is amazing. Great trip. We did not do the self-guided tour, but it was still worth seeing.Written November 18, 2024
- 299ke0 contributionsAwesome insight into the pastViews are fantastic and the info from the self guided tour gives a real insite into the past. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to explore the Ancient Agora & Temple of Hephaestus. I did it in the morning before the Acropolis and Paarthenon but in hindsight didn’t allow enough time as the site is fairly large.Written November 17, 2024
- jannaawachana0 contributionsDefinitely go to DelfiThank you to Emilia, our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about Greek history. I personally liked that she explained Greek lifestyle and history as we got out of Athens. As someone who likes to learn more of Greece, it was very entertaining to listen. As we climbed to Delfi, you will have a view of the Parnassus which is just amazing. Delfi is so beautiful. I wish we would have stayed longer but it’s only a day tour so very understandableWritten November 15, 2024
- U1901LWmassimop0 contributionsSome good and some badThe Acropolis and Ancient Agora were wonderful to experience in person. The views were stunning and the audio commentary helpful and informative. The geotracking audio ensured we always had the correct information for every location. The other sites paled in comparison and the audio guides could either not be loaded and/or were not terribly instructive.Written November 14, 2024
- josephrogerh0 contributionsFull day Greek island tourExcellent trip. Very entertaining because of friendly staff. Relaxing, scenic. Excellent lunch. Enjoyed the three island locations. Excellent Greek experience!Written November 12, 2024
- naeelas20240 contributionsHanoi Sapa Halong BayOverall we were extremely satisfied with our trip organized by Miss Kami Nguyen from Dream Travel. Highly recommended!!. Every destinations was visited as per the itinerary, without any omissions. The Hotel rooms were very comfortable and all the restaurants chosen were excellent. The majority of our group is from Malaysia so finding Halal Food can be challenging. However with this company, Halal meals were arranged for us in both Hanoi and Sapa. Thank you Miss Kami from Dream Travel for all your efforts.🥰🇲🇾Written November 11, 2024
- Franny670 contributionsAmazing sites - terrible guideWhile the sites on this tour are simply stunning (the Acropolis in particular), the whole experience suffered because of the bad tour guide. Her english wasn't that good (although I will cut her slack on that) so she was difficult to understand, talked non stop and never asked if we had any questions. The tour also went 30 minutes longer than scheduled mostly because an extra long vaping break (for herself) at the top of the Acropolis. More than half the people left the group before the end of the tour which speaks for itself.Written November 10, 2024
- sugarwh0res0 contributionsGreat tour. Long dayThis experience was great, the tour guide was very knowledgeable! The lunch we stopped for was at Symposium. A salad, a range of dinners (chicken, beef & vegetarian). We did see a few stray dogs at delphi - one being very sick and almost dying so we contacted a vet and a rescue was supposed to get the poor baby. The other 2 were quite thirsty so I gave some water and the tour guide said to stop touching the stray dogs but I did not listen. The people at the museum did not seem to care about the sick dog that could not move.Written November 9, 2024
- S4416ZMmichaelh0 contributionsMeteora is breathtaking but...The monasteries and views were amazing. Overall, the trip is worth it, particularly, the monasteries. However, not enough time is allotted in Delphi or in Meteora, especially in Delphi. While the museum at Delphia was included, there is no way to be able to explore the ruins of Delphi and get to and through the museum. For that matter, there is not enough time to see the ruins. My wife and I are very mobile and can cover a lot of ground, but we could not make it to the temple of Apollo, and had only about 5-10 minutes of rushed time in the museum. Spending less time for the stops along the way and more time at Delphi would be much better experience. We selected the class A hotel, which was very nice given the price. However, they ran out of several food items at dinner saying they only made one tray of those items. Breakfast had a very large selection. As for the monasteries, we briefly (too much so) stopped on the way to the first monastery to take pictures of the scenic views but there were several other and better viewpoints that other's had stopped at that we did not stop at. There were too many pit-stops on the way back to Athens and it would have been better to stay longer at the monasteries or get back to Athens earlier. Most importantly and a warning to everyone, were not dropped off at our pick-up location and were told that was not an option. The closest drop-off point was twice as far away from our hotel than our pick-up point. This is spite of it saying on the website, "This activity ends back at the meeting point." Obviously that was and is not the case. This was a serious breach of contract which left a very bad impression. Our driver was excellent given the size of the bus and the narrow and winding roads. Our tour guide, Nikos, was entertaining, but he was hard to understand, which is not ideal when trying to learn about these culturally important sites, since English is not his native language. I am glad we went, but the trip could have been much better given the noted items.Written October 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
142 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
30
Average
3
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Debra J
Tampa, FL6 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We were in a tour bus with 50 other people during a pandemic, not a minibus as advertised. We immediately went to lunch at a restaurant arranged by our guide with pre-fixed meals. We did not see the hermit caves as advertised. We were on our own to tour the monasteries but noticed other guides giving actual tours inside. The area is beautiful but it’s a long 4 hour train trip both ways.
Written September 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
We feel very sorry about your disappointment with our Meteora Day Trip by Train from Athens. We always try and succeed in offering high-quality services to our guests and safety is always our priority.
Could you please send us an email at marketing@keytours.gr with some extra details (your full name and the booking reference) to let us find out what went wrong in your case and write back to you?
Always at your disposal,
Marianna Papakosta
Written September 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
4stevec2022
Waterloo, Canada3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
We took the one day trip from Athens.
It was somewhat “organized chaos” getting off the train, being met by a lot of people standing with long lists of names and trying to find yours - wasn’t expecting so many.
The tour was very organized and informative. They made plenty of stops for photo opportunities. Tour guide was excellent.
There were a lot of stairs but we expected that. Thought we were going to be in smaller groups but we were on a full size coach. It still worked out as most people respected the time we were given to visit each monastery and kept us on schedule.
We had time for a lovely sit down dinner in Kalabaka before returning on the train.
It was a long day trip but we knew that going into it and it was absolutely worth it. Such a unique and beautiful experience.
It was somewhat “organized chaos” getting off the train, being met by a lot of people standing with long lists of names and trying to find yours - wasn’t expecting so many.
The tour was very organized and informative. They made plenty of stops for photo opportunities. Tour guide was excellent.
There were a lot of stairs but we expected that. Thought we were going to be in smaller groups but we were on a full size coach. It still worked out as most people respected the time we were given to visit each monastery and kept us on schedule.
We had time for a lovely sit down dinner in Kalabaka before returning on the train.
It was a long day trip but we knew that going into it and it was absolutely worth it. Such a unique and beautiful experience.
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manders04
Vancouver, Canada15 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Our guide Maria provided a knowledgeable and entertaining tour of the Meteora sites. For all that our train was delayed itself, she made sure our group made the most of the trip and got to see as many things as we could, including a breathtaking sunset at the end of the day. Her knowledge of both the towering monasteries as well as the history of the region surrounding Kalabaka was detailed and concise, and she was able to answer our questions as they came up. A comfortable tour but be prepared for a long day, with the train taking up a sizeable amount of hours - packing a bag with snacks is recommended.
Written December 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
We really appreciate your time for leaving us your review.
We are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your Day Trip to Meteora and you had such a great day.
As for Maria, she is indeed a very knowledgeable, kind and helpful guide. We will transfer your kind comments to her as soon as possible.
We hope to see you soon in one of our future experiences!
Best Regards,
Written December 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
adrianmreviews
18 contributions
Jul 2021
The train ride was very long (4 hours each way), and I would definitely recommend getting the first class / class A tickets. You spend about 4 hours exploring 3 different monastaries. Ladies beware that you must cover your shoulders and knees so dress accordingly. Even men need to be wearing longer pants, shorts above the knee don't work for the last monastary. The sights are very amazing and unique however making the trip worth it overall. Lots of stops for photos.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your review of the Meteora Day Trip by Train from Athens. We feel happy we met your expectations and you had a nice time during your tour with us.
Hope to see you soon in one of our future experiences.
Best Regards,
Marianna Papakosta
Written July 20, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KC N
44 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
The train system was quite unorganized and we were confused during the transport to Meteora. When we arrived we had lunch which was delicious. You would definitely need to have some cash on hand to enter the monasteries and make sure you were dressed modestly. There is a lot of walking up and down steps so use a lot of caution. Other than that, it was a great and informative trip and the photo opportunities were endless.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greglL5276OZ
Honolulu, HI22 contributions
Nov 2022
The place was just spectacular. A must see when visiting Athens. We never heard of Meteora as the main attraction in Athens is the Parthenon and Acropolis. We were intrigued of stories of monks living on monasteries on top of rocky mountains. Seeing it and imagining how the monasteries were built on top of high columns of solid rock with no road or bridges were just unbelievable. Recommend spending an entire day in Meteora to really appreciate the place. There is only one train that goes to Meteora. It leaves Athens in the morning, ends and stays in Meteora station then comes back to Athens early in the evening.
Written December 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your fantastic 5* rating about our "Meteora Day Trip by Train" tour.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us and had such a wonderful day.
We hope to see you soon in one of our future experiences.
Best Regards
Margarita Karavasileiadi
Written December 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jaime L
Ashburn, VA21 contributions
The communication was fast, detailed, and helpful! We had everything we needed before the trip and found the guide immediately upon arrival to Kalabaka. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It felt like being in a class about Meteora and Kalabaka. The driver was helpful and a very skilled driver that made us feel safe. They were both top notch and made the trip a wonderful one. Only thing I would differently next time is get a car service. The train was a bit tedious both directions.
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sergio G
Adelaide, Australia2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
IT is a must see. The bus ride is long, but it is worth it. If you have more than one day to see the monasteries you might want to stay the night but if not, this is the perfect way.
The option of lunch is a good idea as you can meet the other people on the tour, have a meal without any hassle.
Remember to have at least 10 euros cash per head on you to go into the monasteries, you can´t pay the entrance fee with debit/credit card. They have that option in the souvenir shops though.
The option of lunch is a good idea as you can meet the other people on the tour, have a meal without any hassle.
Remember to have at least 10 euros cash per head on you to go into the monasteries, you can´t pay the entrance fee with debit/credit card. They have that option in the souvenir shops though.
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review.
We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us and that you had a memorable experience.
Hope to see you soon in one of our future trios.
Best Regards,
Margarita Karavasileiadi
Written June 28, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael M
Lakewood, OH70 contributions
Oct 2022
My wife and I booked this 14-hour+ adventure a few days beforehand, The company was well-organized and sent us an email with everything we needed in a timely manner. Although the scenery during the morning, 4-hour train ride was not as "beautiful" as expected, meeting our wonderful guide, Maria, right after disembarking was the beginning of an unforgettable tour.
Maria was genuinely energetic and engaging. She was the perfect blend of professional and personable. We not only learned a lot about the history of this amazing site from Maria, she made it fun too. We visited three monasteries and had many photo stops.
We have visited many sites throughout the world and the geography, architecture and, above all, the history Meteora really stands out. Our only suggestion would be fewer photo stops and more time in the monasteries.
Maria was genuinely energetic and engaging. She was the perfect blend of professional and personable. We not only learned a lot about the history of this amazing site from Maria, she made it fun too. We visited three monasteries and had many photo stops.
We have visited many sites throughout the world and the geography, architecture and, above all, the history Meteora really stands out. Our only suggestion would be fewer photo stops and more time in the monasteries.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GREGORY F
Adelaide, Australia355 contributions
Meteora is absolutely amazing! Even as you arrive on the train, the cliff faces you see are stunning. Once you get off the train you are met by the minibus and taken on a short trip up the mountains. The monasteries are truly unique with breathtaking scenery. We entered four. They all require a fair bit of climbing and walking up stairs, but nothing too difficult so that any able bodied person couldn't manage. A truly amazing experience that is not to be missed. However if you want to climb the famous main monastery that you often see in the brochure pics, it requires a longer walk from the bottom where the town is and a truly amazing winding climb up around the rock pillar, probably an overnight stay in the town. Otherwise you can just take pics when the bus stops at the top. The only downside is the train trip. 4 hours each way of the most boring scenery you will ever see. Take a pillow and a good book.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your review and share your experience.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Meteora and that you had such a great day there.
We hope to see you soon in one of our future activities!
Best Regards,
Margarita Karavasileiadi
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This site currently wont let me edit the "number of children" and it pre-populates to one child. We are trying to book for 2 adults and 0 children- Does this trip require you to bring a child along?
Written May 17, 2022
Can you pay for the monasteries using a credit or debit card? If necessary, what is the best way to get euros before leaving for this trip?
Written April 12, 2022
Can females wear pants or carries for tge tour?
Written September 30, 2021
Yes, women can wear pants. Only one monastery have restriction for women clothes, where they provide kerchief, surcharge (I don't remember the price but around 2 €, in think).
Written October 1, 2021
Hi, we are renting a car, can we drive to Meteora? If yes, is there a fee to tour the monastary?
Written July 15, 2021
Yes, you can drive to Meteora! There are some symbolic entrance fees for every monastery.
Written July 16, 2021
We are very healthy, but in our early 70s. Is the climbing steps going to be too much for us?
Written June 30, 2021
What’s the difference between economy and A class?
Written February 17, 2020
Just to confirm, the Athens railway station is the same as Larissi Station? If so, is the station we take to get to the Meteora? Does the e-ticket say which stop to get off train? How do we know where to meet guides at the Meteora?
Written February 16, 2020
The address of the Athens rail station is:
Karolou 1, Athina 104 37, Greece, TrainOse S.A.
The e-ticket will show Kalampaka as the name of the destination for Meteora. It is the end of the line for that little rural train from Athens. Almost everyone on the train will be doing the tour around Meteora. Just watch for guides carrying a TripAdvisor sign. You will have an opportunity to get some lunch before you board the bus.
Written February 17, 2020
Hi, are ladies allowed to wear jeans and visit the monastries? I've seen a picture detailing ladies wearing slacks / pantaloons will not be allowed entry?
Written January 11, 2020
When we were there in August, the concerns were women’s shoulders be covered and any skirts must be below knee. The monasteries provided wraps to either use as shawls or as long wrap skirts. I do not recall seeing any prohibitions about slacks or jeans.
Written January 11, 2020
Tengo entendido que el tren sale todos los días y tb hay buses con una escala
Solo debes comprar el primero que parte en la mañana k creo es a las 8 am para que alcances a conoces por el día.
Written September 23, 2019
Can I book first class train tomorrow ticket on 30/9 ?
Written September 14, 2019
First class sells quickly and there is only one car. I would try to make your reservations with the first class option. If it is sold out, the company will refund the difference to second class.
Written September 14, 2019
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