Join us for a unique day trip from Athens to Meteora that blends sacred heritage with the beauty of the Greek coastline. Unlike other tours that stop at highway gas stations, we take you to peaceful seaside villages for brunch and dinner, right by the water. Enjoy your coffee or meal with a sea breeze and stunning views. Your day begins with a comfortable bus ride from Athens through the countryside. Midway, we stop at a coastal village for an optional seaside brunch. In Meteora, a local guide leads you through three monasteries, with photo stops at all six, and shares the stories behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also explore the hermit caves of Badovas and enjoy an optional lunch at a traditional taverna in Kastraki. On the way back, we stop again—this time for an optional sunset dinner at a beachfront restaurant in Kamena Vourla. It’s the perfect end to a day full of nature, history, and authentic Greek charm. Arrival in Athens is around 22:30.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
michael_p, 6/22/2025 4:08:44 PM
The start of the tour at Athens larrissa station was a shambles ‘ it was totally unclear which bus was for viator and when you asked the coach bus drivers which bus none of them knew which one ‘ there was no notice on the bus with viator. And I and many others were upsett and worried. And were rushing to bus to bus and scared we would miss the trip. The guy who was meant to be the contact on the bus’ was not present until the bus was almost meant to leave. He was at fault. All he had to do was earlier go round and loudly cal the clients names out . We would have flocked to him. And known where our bus was. Once we got over this disaster. Things picked up..our guide Demetrius was extremely knowledgable about the history of the region and monasteries. But what I really thought was extremely kind and thoughtful’ was the fact , that Demetrius made the effort to photograph every one in front of the stunning vistas and monasteries . This is an especially appreciated help for solo clients’ who are unaccompanied. Apart from the alarming beginning at the meeting point, the trip was very good and worthwhile. The only other bad thing was splitting the group up into two separate buses.when people were getting to know each other which was wrong. I never had this on the three previous viator trips in Spain I participated in.
Eric_M, 6/22/2025 6:45:37 AM
If in Athens, see the sights there. See Delphi. Then consider Meteora, it is quite a sight! But so are other places that are closer to Athens.
AngelaD_C, 6/21/2025 9:10:39 PM
The bus was good the guide very knowledgeable and kind. The pre ordering of the food to eat by the beach was the only reason I gave it 4 Star. The sights were excellent.
Peta M, 6/21/2025 4:55:52 PM
I took the small group tour with Jim. There were just 5 of us and Jim was so fun and knowledgeable and you could tell how passionate he was about the area. We even had a bad storm on the afternoon but nothing could dampen our spirits on such a wonderful tour!
Debra_C, 6/20/2025 10:50:49 AM
It is a very long bus ride! The Monastery’s are amazing! The guide was great! It has been on our bucket list! The experience was amazing, it would have been better to travel by train. Meteora is truly a fabulous experience. The tour was very well organized. I recommend Viator.
Ben_O, 6/20/2025 3:58:23 AM
The Monasteries were amazing and our guide Versailles was great. He helped us understand the history behind Meteora in a fun and interesting way and was very kind towards my wife and I due to her fear of heights. We had an option for brunch and dinner by the sea which was a really unique experience. It is a bit of a long day (7:45-10) but definitely worth it!
Ivan_T, 6/20/2025 2:32:47 AM
Meteora is impressive and monasteries are beautiful. But spending 10 hours in a poorly AC-ed bus affects the experience. This is not really a guided tour, but mainly a transportation to the sights, so don’t expect much commentary during the trip. So all in all, if you want a day trip from Athens, do something else, closer to the city. If you want to go to Meteora, stay there over night and take a proper guided tour of the region and monasteries. If you do end up booking this trip, make sure you arrive well in advance because it takes time to find the right bus due to absence of signs.
Rowena_G, 6/19/2025 6:46:14 PM
The guide was very knowledgeable to the place we visited. And very helpful, and always ready to answer questions about the place.
Heather_H, 6/18/2025 4:36:26 AM
It was an amazing tour and the driver and tour guide were awesome. The experience they had and being locals was fantastic and made the entire tour SO much more worth it.
Angela W, 6/18/2025 3:01:47 AM
Plenty of great locations for photo's We stopped at a beautiful seaside location along the seaside for dinner on the way home fabulous experience Our tour guide Maria was a local whi actually grew up attending church at the monasteries so was full of historical knowledge Great vibe
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress Code for Monastery Visits: Please note that a modest dress code is enforced to enter the monasteries. For women, skirts below the knee or longer are required. Pants, shorts, or sleeveless shirts are not allowed. For men, sleeveless clothing and shorts above the knee are also prohibited.
- Rain or Shine: This tour will take place regardless of the weather conditions. Please come prepared with appropriate clothing and accessories to ensure a comfortable experience.
- Climbing Steps to Monastery Tops: Please be aware that reaching the top of the monasteries involves climbing steps. There are no elevators available, so please consider this if you have any mobility concerns.
- Pick-up and Drop-off at Kalambaka Train Station: Your tour guide will be waiting for you at Kalambaka Train Station, regardless of any train delays. Please be aware that the activity provider is not responsible for any train delays that may affect the duration of the tour.
- Please make sure you have cash for the monasteries 5 euro each entrance. There is no ATM machine in the area.
- Supplier is not responsible if you miss the bus please be there on time (15 minutes before the departure)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
- Tour is guided in English only. Additional languages (Spanish, French German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese) are available on a free SMART audio guide.
- At midday, you will enjoy a relaxing break in the picturesque village of Kastraki, where you can savor a delicious traditional Greek meal at a local restaurant. You will have the option to choose from 10 authentic Greek dishes, catering to all dietary preferences: Meat & Poultry Options: Chicken baked in the oven with potatoes Meatballs in red sauce (Soutzoukakia) Pastitsio (Greek-style lasagna) Moussaka Vegetarian Choices: Greek salad Spinach and feta cheese pie Cheese pie Vegan Options: Stuffed peppers & tomatoes with risotto (Gemista) Briam (Greek-style roasted vegetables) Giant beans baked in the oven (Gigantes) Bread and water are included with the meal. If you prefer, you can also choose and pay for your meal directly at the restaurant.
Departure point
The bus will depart from Larissis train station in Athens at 08:00am. We request you to be present at the exit of the Larissa metro/subway station on Deligianni str, directly opposite the Athens train station Everest cafe, by 07:45am.Return details
Join us for a unique day trip from Athens to Meteora that blends sacred heritage with the beauty of the Greek coastline. Unlike other tours that stop at highway gas stations, we take you to peaceful seaside villages for brunch and dinner, right by the water. Enjoy your coffee or meal with a sea breeze and stunning views. Your day begins with a comfortable bus ride from Athens through the countryside. Midway, we stop at a coastal village for an optional seaside brunch. In Meteora, a local guide leads you through three monasteries, with photo stops at all six, and shares the stories behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also explore the hermit caves of Badovas and enjoy an optional lunch at a traditional taverna in Kastraki. On the way back, we stop again—this time for an optional sunset dinner at a beachfront restaurant in Kamena Vourla. It’s the perfect end to a day full of nature, history, and authentic Greek charm. Arrival in Athens is around 22:30.Redemption
***IMPORTANT UPDATE from September 2023 until further notice: due to the recent flooding affecting train services, this tour will be operated by a modern air-conditioned bus as replacement departing from Athens Larissis station at 07:45am. The journey takes approximately 5 hours (with a 20 min refreshment stop) You will spend 5 hours in destination visiting Meteora and then return to Athens (arrival at approximately 11:00pm)*** Meeting point: https://goo.gl/maps/16AcMUsyJNSoFF69824 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund