Athens to Meteora 2-day Rail Trip: Train, Monasteries & Sunset

Train through mainland Greece, then walk among six monasteries carved into giant rocks

A 2-day tour from Athens to Meteora combines round-trip train travel with two guided tours of the UNESCO-listed monastic rocks, an overnight hotel stay, and time to explore Kalambaka's museums and local restaurants. The train departs Athens at 6:58 AM, stops at Paleofarsalos for a connecting bus, and arrives in Meteora by midday. You'll see all six monasteries, a hermitage, and a Byzantine church across the two days. Train e-tickets arrive by email before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Meteora and sunset tour

• Arrive at Athens Central Railway Station
• Board train to Kalambaka
• Arrive in Meteora at 12:05 pm
• Transfer to hotel and free time
• Sunset tour of six monasteries and hermitage
• Return to hotel
• Explore Kalambaka town and museums

Day 2: Guided Meteora tour and return

• Pickup from accommodation
• Guided tour of Meteora monasteries and history
• Free time in Kalambaka
• Train from Kalambaka to Athens at 17:05

The experience

The journey starts early: you meet at Stathmos Larissis, Athens' central railway station, at 7:30 AM to collect your tickets. The train departs at 6:58 AM and runs through the Greek mainland for roughly three hours until it stops at Paleofarsalos, where you board a connecting bus (operated by the train company) for the final leg to Kalambaka. You arrive in Meteora around midday, get picked up and driven to your hotel, then have about three hours of free time before the sunset tour begins.

The first guided tour takes you to see all six monasteries, a hermitage, and the Byzantine temple of Dormition of the Mother of God: a 10th-century church built on the ruins of an early Christian structure in the old city. Your English-speaking guide explains how the first hermits lived in caves and how medieval monks later built monasteries on these steep, nearly inaccessible rocks. After the tour you're transferred back to your hotel, and the rest of the evening is yours to wander Kalambaka, visit the National History Museum or the Digital Projection Centre, and eat at local restaurants.

On day two, you're picked up from your accommodation for a second tour focused on the history and motivation behind the monastic settlements: why the monks chose this remote location and how they managed to construct buildings on the rocks. After the tour ends, you have time to explore Kalambaka again before heading to the train station at 5:05 PM for the return journey to Athens. The package includes round-trip train tickets, an overnight stay at a 3-star hotel, breakfast, bottled water, air-conditioned minibus transport, and a local English-speaking tour leader.

What’s included

• Round-trip train tickets from Athens to Kalambaka.
• overnight stay at a 3-star hotel with breakfast.
• two guided tours of the six monasteries, hermitage, and Byzantine church.
• luxury minibus transportation with air conditioning.
• bottled water.
• English-speaking tour leader.
• and free time to explore Kalambaka's museums and restaurants.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 1): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Head to Athens railway station by your own and you must be there at 06.40 am in order to complete the boarding procedure on time.The train departs at 06:58 AM.At approximately 09:45 AM, the train will make a stop at…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Meteora Rocks

Is this one for you?Small groups work well for this tour, since the minibus keeps numbers manageable and the two guided tours move at a pace suited to mixed fitness levels. The fixed train schedule (departing early and returning at 5:05 PM on day two) is what fits both the monastery visits and the sunset viewing into a single overnight trip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 1): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What time does the train leave Athens, and when do I arrive in Meteora?

The train departs Stathmos Larissis at 6:58 AM and arrives in Kalambaka (the gateway to Meteora) around 12:05 PM after a stop at Paleofarsalos where you change to a connecting bus.

Will I see all six monasteries, and what else is included in the guided tours?

Both guided tours take you to see all six monasteries, plus a hermitage and the Byzantine temple of Dormition of the Mother of God, a 10th-century church in the old city. Your English-speaking guide explains the history of how monks built these structures on the rocks.

What can I do in Kalambaka during my free time?

Kalambaka has the National History Museum and the Digital Projection Centre of Meteora, both worth visiting. The town also has restaurants serving local cuisine, and you can explore the old city where the Byzantine church stands.

Does the price include the monastery entrance fees?

Monastery entrance fees are 5 euros per person for each monastery and are not included in the base price. You pay them separately at each site.

What's included in the overnight stay, and do I need to pay anything extra at the hotel?

The tour includes one night at a 3-star hotel and breakfast the next morning. A room tax of 3 euros per room is paid directly at the hotel reception and is not part of the tour price.