From Athens: Meteora 2-Day Trip with 2 Guided Tours & Hotels

About this experience

Book this Meteora 2-day trip from Athens and see the famous monasteries on their sandstone pillars without rushing there and back in one day. Your booking covers the round-trip bus from Larissa Station in central Athens, a guided sunset tour on the first evening, a guided sightseeing tour or hike on the second morning, and, if you choose a hotel option, one night in a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Kalabaka or Kastraki with breakfast. It is one of the most popular overnight trips from Athens, and staying the night means you see Meteora at sunset and again in the quiet morning light. Your 2-day Meteora itinerary Day 1: Athens to Meteora and the sunset tour The trip starts at Larissa Station, the main railway station of Athens, where you board an air-conditioned bus with free Wi-Fi and USB chargers. The bus drives north through mainland Greece to Kalabaka, the town at the foot of the rocks, and you check in to your hotel. In the late afternoon your English-speaking guide picks you up for the sunset tour. You visit one or two monasteries, see the Hermit Caves of Badovas, where monks once lived in wooden shelters built into the cliffs, and enter the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary. The tour ends at a panoramic viewpoint as the sun sets behind the rocks. Day 2: sightseeing tour or guided hike, then back to Athens After breakfast you choose between two half-day tours. The sightseeing tour takes you to more monasteries and the best viewpoints over the rock formations and the Thessaly plain. The hiking tour follows old footpaths used by the monks, with a professional hiking guide, and reaches viewpoints that cars cannot get to. Both tours include pickup from and drop-off at your hotel in Meteora. In the afternoon the bus takes you back to Larissa Station in Athens. What is included in the price Round-trip transport between Athens and Meteora by air-conditioned bus, with Wi-Fi and USB chargers Guided sunset tour on day 1 and a half-day sightseeing tour or guided hike on day 2 A professional English-speaking local guide, plus a hiking guide on the hiking tour Views of all six active monasteries, with entry to up to four of them, depending on which are open that day Entry to the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary and a stop at the Hermit Caves of Badovas A smart audio guide in 11 languages for use inside the monasteries One night in a 3-star or 4-star hotel with breakfast, depending on the option you book (a no-hotel option is also available) Hotel pickup and drop-off in Meteora for both tours Not included: pickup from your hotel in Athens, the monastery entrance fee of 5 euros per person per monastery (cash only), the local hotel tax (about 1.50 euros per room in 3-star hotels and 3 euros in 4-star hotels), meals other than breakfast, drinks, tips and travel insurance. The guide does not go inside the monasteries, so bring a smartphone and earphones for the audio guide. Monastery dress code and visiting rules All monasteries in Meteora have a strict dress code. Men must wear long trousers. Women must wear a skirt below the knee and cover their shoulders. Photos are not allowed inside the chapels or of the monks and nuns, and drones need prior permission. Each monastery closes on a different day of the week, which is why the exact monasteries you enter change from day to day. Toilets are available at the larger monasteries, such as Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Stephen's, and a small tip may be asked for. Accessibility and fitness This trip is not wheelchair accessible. The monasteries are reached by stairs and sloping paths, and the hiking option involves uneven trails. St. Stephen's Monastery has the easiest access, with a paved path and fewer steps than the others. Wear closed shoes with a good grip and bring water and light snacks, especially in warm weather. Meeting point, tickets and cancellation The trip starts and ends at Larissa Station in Athens. Your voucher is sent by email after booking. Show it on your phone together with a valid photo ID at the starting point, and check the voucher for the exact meeting time and instructions. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. Short on time? The Meteora guided day trip from Athens covers the monasteries in one long day. You can also add the day trip to Delphi from Athens or Acropolis and Parthenon entry tickets to your time in Greece.

Highlights

• Two days in Meteora with round-trip bus from Larissa Station in Athens
• Guided sunset tour with the Hermit Caves of Badovas and a panoramic sunset viewpoint
• Choice of a sightseeing tour or a guided hike on day 2
• See all six active monasteries and enter up to four of them
• One night in a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Kalabaka or Kastraki with breakfast
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

What is included

• Round-trip transport from Athens by air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi and USB chargers
• Guided sunset tour on day 1
• Half-day sightseeing tour or guided hike on day 2
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entry to the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary
• Smart audio guide in 11 languages
• One night in a 3-star or 4-star hotel with breakfast (hotel options only)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Meteora for both tours

Not included

• Pickup from your hotel in Athens
• Monastery entrance fees (5 euros per person per monastery, cash only)
• Local hotel tax
• Guide inside the monasteries
• Meals other than breakfast, and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance

Before you go

The trip starts and ends at Larissa Station in Athens. Hotel pickup in Athens is not included. Show your voucher on your phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point. Bring cash for the monastery entrance fee of 5 euros per person per monastery. Bring a smartphone and earphones for the audio guide inside the monasteries. Men must wear long trousers. Women must wear a skirt below the knee and cover their shoulders. Wear closed shoes with a good grip and bring water and light snacks. The local hotel tax is paid at the hotel (about 1.50 euros per room in 3-star hotels and 3 euros in 4-star hotels). Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of the trip.

Cancellation terms

It is possible to cancel this booking free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the experience. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.