Meteora Monasteries Tour: Greek Lunch & Athens Transfer

Step inside Meteora’s monasteries, share a Greek meal, hear old legends

You’ll step into Meteora’s ancient monasteries with a local guide who brings old stories to life, share a proper Greek lunch in Kalambaka (with veggie options), and catch all those shifting mountain views along the way. Pickup from Athens or Kalambaka makes it simple. Just bring some cash for monastery entries and an open mind for what you might feel standing there.

Options for this experience

3 options

From € 38 to € 91 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Meteora departure tour, lunch included 12:30 Guide in English Choose this option for a remarkable Meteora tour with a Greek lunch, departing from Kalambaka Train Station. Duration: 5 hours. Starting point: Sidirodromikos Stathmos Kalampakas, Kalabaka 422 00, Greece

Athens departure tour, lunch not included 07:45 Guide in English Choose this option for a remarkable Meteora tour (lunch not included), with round-trip bus transportation from Athens. Duration: 14 hours. Starting point: Stathmos Larisis, Athina 104 39, Greece

Athens departure tour, lunch included 07:45 Guide in English Choose this option for a remarkable Meteora tour that includes a Greek lunch and round-trip bus transportation from Athens. Duration: 14 hours. Starting point: Stathmos Larisis, Athina 104 39, Greece

None of these options right for you? See 10 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Meteora monasteries tour with lunch

• Meet guide at Kalambaka station
• Board private air-conditioned bus
• Enjoy traditional Greek lunch in Kalambaka
• Visit Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas
• Explore Monastery of Great Meteoron
• Tour Roussanou Monastery
• See Varlaam Monastery from outside
• Pass by Monastery of the Holy Trinity
• Pass by Monastery of Saint Stephen’s
• Discover ancient hermit caves and chapels
• Return to Kalambaka, tour ends around 18:00

Stops and time spent at each 7 stops

1. Kalambaka 30m
2. Meteora passing by
3. Varlaam Monastery passing by
4. Great Meteoron Monastery 1h
5. Roussanou Monastery 1h
6. Holy Trinity Monastery passing by
7. Agios Stefanos passing by

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Kalambaka train station (or roundtrip Athens transfers if selected), transportation by air-conditioned bus with WiFi and USB chargers onboard, guidance from an English-speaking local expert (plus free audio guides in seven languages), entry inside three different Meteora monasteries (bring cash for entrance fees), panoramic stops for photos across Meteora’s cliffs and caves like St George Mandilas, plus a traditional Greek lunch in Kalambaka if you choose that option, vegetarian/vegan dishes always available, and bottled water along the way before returning to your starting point.

Times

Looking for another day or time? ›

• Every day 07:45 12:30

Information

Feel the awe of Meteora’s monasteries, taste homemade Greek lunch in Kalambaka, and travel easily from Athens with pickup. Includes local guide and audio guides.

Group Up to 35 1 similar private tour ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Audio guide Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 7 similar tours with pickup › See the exact address

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Public transport nearby

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.73 ★★★★★ Excellent 95 verified traveler reviews 81% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 77

4 ★ 11

3 ★ 6

2 ★ 1

1 ★ 0

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

We rolled into Kalambaka just after noon, still shaking off the train ride (or bus, if you’re coming from Athens like some in our group). Our guide waved us over by the station: easy to spot, holding a sign with my name. The air smelled faintly of pine and something grilled from nearby. We piled into a bus that was more comfortable than I expected (WiFi worked, which was a small miracle for my phone-addicted self), and almost immediately headed for lunch. I’m not sure why I thought it’d be a quick sandwich, but instead we sat down at this family-run place: big bowls of salad, warm bread that left flour on my fingers, and a main dish I still can’t pronounce properly. The owner laughed when I tried to order in Greek. Veggie options too, which was good for me.

After lunch we started winding up into Meteora itself, those stone pillars shooting up out of nowhere. It’s strange how quiet it gets as you climb higher. Even the chatter on the bus faded out when the first monastery came into view. Our guide (Maria) told stories about monks hauling stones up in nets and rope ladders for decades. You could see the grooves where their hands must’ve worn down the rock: that stuck with me more than any photo could. We visited three monasteries inside (you need cash for entrance), each one different: tiny painted chapels, cool stone corridors, incense hanging in the air. There were skirts to borrow at the door for anyone who needed them: dress code is strict here.

At one point we stopped by St. George Mandilas cave. Maria explained how people still hang scarves there every year for luck or thanks. Someone in our group tried to tie theirs up and nearly lost it to the wind. Everyone laughed except maybe him. The views kept changing with the light. Sometimes everything looked gold, then suddenly shadowed and blueish as clouds moved over us. It’s hard to describe without sounding dramatic but honestly… you feel small here in a good way.

The day wrapped up near six back at Kalambaka station. Some folks caught their bus back to Athens (pickup is included if you book it), others lingered for photos or just stared up at those rocks like they might never see them again. I keep thinking about that silence inside the monasteries, not empty, just peaceful somehow.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

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 24 h before the start.

How do I get from Athens to Meteora if trains aren’t running?

If you select the Athens transfer option during booking, roundtrip bus transportation between Athens and Meteora is provided.

Is lunch included on this Meteora tour?

Yes, if you choose that option during booking, lunch at a local restaurant in Kalambaka is included with vegetarian and vegan choices available.

How many monasteries do we visit inside during this tour?

You’ll go inside three monasteries but see all of them from outside during the tour.

Are there dress codes for visiting Meteora’s monasteries?

Yes, men must wear long trousers. Women need long skirts below the knee and covered shoulders. Skirts are available at entrances if needed.

Do I need cash for anything on this tour?

Yes, the monastery entrance fees (€5 per person per monastery) are cash only and not included in your ticket price.

Are audio guides available in other languages?

Free audio guides are offered in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Bring your smartphone and earphones to use them.

What time does this Meteora day trip start and end?

The tour departs from Kalambaka train station at 12:30 PM and finishes around 6:00 PM.

Operated by Meteora Trip. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday