Meteora Day Trip: Explore Monasteries and Caves

Discover Meteora with this extraordinary day trip from Thessaloniki. Explore majestic monasteries, view ancient hermit caves, learn the local history and enjoy panoramic views.

Duration: 13 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Thessaloniki - Embark on an extraordinary day trip from Thessaloniki to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Meteora. Explore centuries-old monasteries, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views and uncover hidden gems of Meteora that most travelers won’t know about.

Your journey starts as you board the bus departing from Thessaloniki to Trikala at 09:30. Sit back and enjoy a scenic bus ride through the enchanting countryside, offering picturesque glimpses of mainland Greece. At 12:20 the bus will reach the bus station of Trikala where you should switch busses and catch the one departing to Kalambaka (Meteora) at 12:30.

  • Meteora - At 13:30, you’ll arrive at Meteora, where our friendly local tour guide will await you to begin an unforgettable adventure through this natural wonder called Meteora. During this guided tour, you’ll be able to see all the majestic monasteries of Meteora and even step inside three of them to explore their captivating interiors. Also, you’ll discover the hidden treasures of Meteora, including the ancient hermit caves and the magnificent St. George Mandilas cave.

Immerse yourself in the rich history and intriguing myths of Meteora, as you hear detailed explanations and fascinating stories. If English isn’t your primary language, don’t worry! We also offer free audio guides in Spanish, French, and Italian.

Throughout the journey, also take advantage of our multiple panoramic stops to capture stunning moments with your camera, creating lasting memories of this breathtaking tour.

  • Great Meteoron Monastery - The Monastery of Great Meteoron or Transfiguration of Christ, expresses the greatness and history of the Holy Meteora, as it is the oldest and most important monastery.

  • Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) - The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is the third oldest monastery in Meteora and is the most difficult to reach, since the visitor has to cross a downhill path and then ascend 145 steps carved into the rock. It is said that at the time when the monks used a rope ladder and a net, they spent 70 years to carry the materials and build the monastery!

  • Agios Stefanos - The Monastery of Saint Stephen’s is located just above the city of Kalampaka and is the most accessible monastery in Meteora, as there are no steps to reach the entrance and the access is easy through a small stone bridge.

  • Varlaam Monastery - The Varlaam Monastery or Monastery of All the Saints is located on an imposing rock exactly opposite of the Great Meteoron and it is the second largest monastery.

  • Saint Nicholas Monastery - The Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas is literally suspended in air on a small rock and is the first monastery that we meet on our way from Kastraki village to the stone forest of Holy Meteora.

  • Roussanou Monastery - The Roussanou Monastery, also known as Arsani, stands on top of an impressive vertical and steep cliff of Meteora, between the Monasteries of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas and Varlaam.

  • Kalambaka - After the tour, enjoy approximately one hour of free time in the charming town of Kalambaka to explore its numerous restaurants, cafes, and local shops. Relax under the breathtaking Meteora formations or take a short walk to the heart of this small picturesque town.

At 19:15, catch the bus departing from Kalambaka to Trikala. At 19:50 the bus will reach the bus station of Trikala where you should switch busses and catch the one departing to Thessaloniki at 20:00. Arrive at Thessaloniki at 22:30.

What's Included
  • Roundtrip bus tickets from Thessaloniki to Meteora
  • Stops to see all Meteora monasteries and free time to visit three of them
  • Guided Meteora tour with English-speaking guide
  • Free Audio guides in Spanish, French and Italian
  • Panoramic photo stops
  • Air-conditioned bus
  • Free time in the picturesque town of Kalambaka
  • Bottle of water
What's Not Included
  • Transfer to/from Thessaloniki’s bus station
  • Entrance fees of each monastery (3 euros per person)
  • Guided tour inside the monasteries (available upon request)
Location
Macedonia Intercity Bus Station
Giannitson
Board the bus departing from Thessaloniki to Trikala at 09:30. At 12:20 the bus will reach the bus station of Trikala where you should switch busses and catch the one departing to Kalambaka (Meteora) at 12:30. At 13:30, you'll arrive at Meteora, where our friendly local tour guide will await you.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(4 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Jennytheodotou
Apr 5, 2023
Excellent tour from Thessaloniki to Medeora - This is definitely a tour worth doing. Amman Express, the local agents are to be congratulated for their organisation. Eleni the guide was excellent at her job and Dimitri's a very safe driver. The tour is a long one but Medeora is magical and we visited 2 monasteries and saw magnificent landscapes
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Billyb446
Jun 16, 2022
Big High-5 Tour! A must do with this Company. - The welcome at the station was very professional and our tour guide and driver exceptional. The busses are very clean and neat. They stopped at a taverna prior to the tour for refreshments and a quick bite. The tour was very informative, our female guide (sorry, cannot recall her name) was friendly, concerned for every passenger and highly professional. Would recommend her any time. Would I do this tour again from Thessaloniki by train? Big yes! I would recommend this to all my relatives and friends. Thank you from the 2 Samos Greeks (Billy & Freddie) and 2 South Africans (Eugene & Andre)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eva_e
Apr 5, 2022
Wonderful experience for me. - I loved the experience in Meteora; the place was excellent, and the guides were very kind and polite.
Review provided by Viator
Marianne_v
Mar 30, 2022
Comfortable and... - Comfortable and interesting tour but it could be longer. We would have had time for visit to a 4th monastery. We were back at the train station 1h.15 before the train departure. The travel from Athens or Thessaloniki is so long that you want to enjoy more of it.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today