Meteora Monasteries Day Trip from Athens with Lunch

The Rocks of Meteora

Meteora, meaning suspended in the air, is a forest of sandstone and conglomerate pillars rising up to about 400 metres above the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki. They were formed millions of years ago from river deposits and shaped by wind and water into their extraordinary shapes.

From the 11th century hermits lived in caves in the rock faces, and from the 14th century monks built monasteries on the summits, reached only by ladders and nets. Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, protected for both its nature and its religious art. A Meteora day trip from Athens is the easiest way to see it without an overnight stay.

The Monasteries of Meteora

Of the 24 monasteries once built here, six are still active: the Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Rousanou, St Nicholas Anapafsas, Holy Trinity and St Stephen. The Great Meteoron, founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasios, is the largest and holds a museum and old kitchens; Holy Trinity became world-famous in a 1981 James Bond film.

On this tour you go inside three of the most popular monasteries (which ones depends on the day, as each closes on different weekdays) to see frescoes, chapels and views. Entry to each monastery is paid in cash at the door. The Meteora monasteries guided tour is led by a local expert who explains monastic life past and present.

Panoramic Viewpoints and the Hermit Caves of Badovas

Between monastery visits, the coach stops at the best panoramic viewpoints, where you can photograph all six monasteries against the Pindus mountains. The sunset rock and the view over Kalambaka are favourite spots.

You also see the hermit caves of Badovas, holes high in the cliffs where the first ascetics lived before the monasteries existed. Wooden ladders and ropes once connected them to the ground, and our guide explains how early monks survived there. The best time to visit Meteora is spring and autumn, when the light is soft and the hills are green.

The Journey from Athens and Greek Lunch

Meteora is about 350 kilometres from Athens, so the coach journey takes around four and a half hours each way, with rest stops by the sea on the way. The modern coach has Wi-Fi and USB chargers to make the trip comfortable.

In the default option, a Greek lunch at a local restaurant is included, with a choice of about ten main dishes including vegetarian and vegan options, and a bottle of water. It is a welcome break before the drive back to Athens in the evening. The late return also means you see Meteora without giving up a night in your Athens hotel.