How To Organize the Perfect Trip From Athens to Meteora

A trip from Athens to Meteora is among the top priorities of travelers who choose to visit the Greek capital but don’t want to spend their whole vacation there. 

Located in central Greece and only a few hours away from Athens, Meteora is a unique place with amazing natural beauty and stunning views of mountainous landscapes and the famous Meteora monasteries.

Its rich cultural heritage and extraordinary sites are the main reasons why Meteora sees so many visitors in both summer and winter and why a short trip from Athens to Meteora should not be missing from your itinerary.

Is Meteora a Good Destination for a Trip From Athens?

You might wonder why you should choose Meteora for a trip from Athens over any other destination if you only have a few days to spend in Greece.

Granted, many locations near Athens would make for a great trip. But Meteora is probably the only one that combines history, religion, architecture, gastronomy, and natural beauty in a single place.

Visiting Meteora will give you valuable insight into the country’s history and culture without meaning that you will be stuck in a museum or on a common sightseeing tour. Quite the contrary.

Why Should You Visit Meteora?

Still not convinced?

What if we listed all the highlights, sites, and activities that a day trip to Meteora from Athens will cross off your bucket list?

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should visit Meteora:

1. A visit inside the world-famous Meteora monasteries. The vast majority of them still operate today and you can enter and see what the everyday life of nuns in Greece is like.
2. To test your strength and stamina by climbing 300 steps to reach the highest peak of Meteora and the Great Meteoron.
3. A visit to cave Theopetra, the site where some of the oldest human footprints in the world were discovered.
4. To experience authentic Greek gastronomy as you would only in rural Greece, in the shade of the colossal rocks.
5. To go hiking on the rocks over the town of Kalampaka and experience an amazing sunset from an extraordinary vantage point.

How Many Days Do You Need in Meteora?

Even though Meteora features many exciting sights and things to do, we strongly believe that staying longer than a couple of days will not be necessary.

Spending just one or two days in Meteora is enough to experience the town’s charms, explore the famous monasteries and take in the views.

If you plan, you can fit in your schedule all the things you want to do there while still having enough time to spend in the city, or even go on another day trip from Athens, like a cruise to the Saronic islands.

Is it Possible to Visit Meteora from Athens on a Day Trip?

Yes, it’s definitely possible. In fact, you will find quite a few organized tours for a day trip to Meteora from Athens.

However, remember that a one-way journey lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours.

So a day trip would mean heading off early in the morning and returning to Athens quite late at night.

If you have enough time to spend in Athens and want to enjoy your trip to Meteora more leisurely, we recommend staying overnight at Meteora before heading back.

How to Get from Athens to Meteora

There are actually several ways you can get from Athens to Meteora.

You can hire a private taxi service or join one of the guided tours that will get you there and have everything planned out for your visit.

Meteora: 2-Day and 1-Night Tour by Train from Athens

You could also choose to travel by train or bus, but note that the online resources for schedules and itineraries are scarce and sometimes can be found only in Greek.

Luckily for you, we have gathered all the information you need to get from Athens to Meteora easily and conveniently.

How Far is Meteora from Athens?

The distance from Athens to Meteora is approximately 360 kilometers or around 224 miles.

Getting to Meteora from Athens by a rented car (check Rentalcars.com) or a private taxi would take about 4,5 hours.

Athens to Meteora by Train

Getting to Meteora from Athens by train is probably the best way to travel if you want to enjoy the scenic route.

The most important thing you should know when booking your train ride to Meteora is that the train station closest to Meteora is not named Meteora as you would expect but Kalampaka or Kalambaka.

Don’t be alarmed. Kalampaka is the name of the town nestled just under the rocks of Meteora.

Two trains are traveling directly between Athens and Kalampaka every day.

Train 882 goes from Athens to Kalampaka. It departs at 07:57 in the morning from Larissa Station or Larissis Station, the central train station of Athens.

The easiest way to reach Larissa Station is by Metro 2 (red line).

Train 887 goes from Kalampaka to Athens. It departs at 18:22 from Kalampaka train station.

The train ride duration between Athens and Meteora is approximately 4,5 hours.

Train tickets from Athens to Kalampaka can be booked online via the website of trainose or bought at Larissa Station.

The tickets cost approximately 36 euros if you want to travel in the first class and about 30 euros for the second class.

Please remember that all train schedules and prices mentioned above may change even during the tourist season without prior notice. You can always check the timetables and prices on the official website of the Hellenic Railways Organisation here. Note: You can change the language from Greek to English by pressing the button on the upper left corner of your screen

Athens to Meteora by Bus

Getting to Meteora from Athens by bus is slightly more complicated than one would expect.

Do not let that discourage you, however.

The central bus station, where you can hop on a bus to Meteora, is located on Mission Street near the Kato Patissia train station (green line). Visit our Athens maps page to download for free the map of the Athens Metro

You must walk about five to ten minutes from the train stop to the bus terminal.

Next comes the tricky part.

There is no direct bus from Athens to Meteora.

Instead, you have to get on a bus to Trikala, a small town located near Kalampaka and Meteora, and then get on another bus from Trikala to Kalampaka.

Several buses (or ktels as locals call them) go from Athens to Trikala daily.

The journey lasts approximately 5 hours, and we would recommend booking your tickets at the bus station to avoid mistakes. You will almost always find a place on the bus. We recommend you read our detailed guide on how to get around Athens.

Athens to Meteora With a Group Guided Tour

If you value convenience and you want to really travel in comfort without having to worry about booking tickets or catching the train too early in the morning, then we recommend reserving a place in a small guided group heading on a trip to Meteora from Athens.

There are quite a few operators and agencies organizing guided trips to Meteora and the quality of the tours can vary.

Luckily for you, we have screened your options and selected the best guided tours from Athens to Meteora for you.

Things to See and Do in Meteora

Meteora is, beyond doubt, one of the most extraordinary destinations in Greece, if not in the whole continent of Europe.

Due to their religious and cultural significance and rich history, the magnificent monasteries of Meteora have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Apart from the high rocks of Meteora, Kalampaka, the town located right beneath is also worth a visit.

If you are going from Athens to Meteora on a day trip, however, your time will be quite limited, so you will have to choose wisely.

Here are our picks for the most interesting things to see and do in Meteora:

Visit the 6 famous active monasteries

Let’s start with the obvious choice. The best thing you should do in Meteora is visit the six active monasteries.

They are probably the reason why you are there in the first place anyway.

These monasteries were perched atop the rocks to ensure privacy and absolute seclusion but you can still get there via bridges and long staircases.

The monasteries are:

• The Great Meteoron Monastery. Or simply the Great Meteoro or Holy Monastery. Dating back to the 14th century, this one is both the oldest and the largest monastery among the six.
• The Holy Trinity Monastery. Famous as the backdrop to a James Bond movie (For your eyes only), this monastery is the hardest one to reach but offers views that will reward you.
• St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery. This monastery also dates back to the 14th century but is quite different from the rest as it was surprisingly built vertically with multiple levels on each other.
• Varlaam Monastery. This one is the second-largest monastery across the Great Meteoro.
• St. Stephen’s Monastery. This one is the most visited monastery, the most easily accessible, thanks to a small bridge. It’s also one of the two monasteries that nuns inhabit.
• Roussanou Monastery. This monastery dates back to the 16th century and like St. Stephen’s monastery, it’s inhabited by nuns.

Go hiking

Join a hiking tour and explore the rocks of Meteora. There is an extensive complex of paths and trails around the area.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try rock climbing or hiking.

From Kalampaka: 5-Hour Hiking Tour of Meteora! Take a guided morning hike in Meteora

On your journey, you may come across the rock forest of Meteora, a dazzling landscape with otherworldly rock formations and several abandoned monasteries.

Stroll through the village of Kastraki

Just a few kilometers away from Kalampaka, you’ll find a charming small village called Kastraki.

It’s a typical rural traditional village with narrow alleyways, beautiful churches, alluring alfresco cafes, and magnificent views over Meteora.

Visit Theopetra Cave

Literally translating to ‘God’s Stone’, Theopetra cave is located about 5 kilometers away from Meteora and you can reach it either by road or rock climbing.

This cave is located beneath a massive rock that emerges from the side of the road. It’s the famous site where human footprints that date back hundreds of thousands of years were discovered.

Taste local gastronomy

In both Katsraki village and the town of Kalampaka, you will find numerous cafes and traditional tavernas that serve typical Greek cuisine dishes and local delicacies.

Note that vegetarians and vegans might have limited options on the tavernas’ menus, but there will definitely be at least a few dishes with no meat and dairy.

Enjoy the sunset views

The unique landscape of Meteora is ideal for sunset watching.

Whether you’re up the rocks of Meteora, the town of Kalampaka, or Kastraki village when the sun sets, you are bound to be fascinated by the colorful skies and the astonishing sunset views.

Majestic Sunset on Meteora Rocks Tour from Kalampaka! Experience an amazing sunset in Meteora on this VIP minibus tour.

Tips and Recommendations for a Trip From Athens to Meteora

In this section, we will list some of our tips for your day trip from Athens to Meteora and brief answers to some of our readers’ most frequently asked questions.

Whatever your interests are, there is one thing for certain: a trip from Athens to Meteora will give you unforgettable memories from your holiday in Greece.