Thessaloniki: Full-Day Meteora Monasteries Tour
Description
Discover Meteora with this extraordinary day trip from Thessaloniki. Explore majestic monasteries, view ancient hermit caves, learn the local history and enjoy panoramic views.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
I did this trip from Thessaloniki which meant a four hour bus ride each way (including one change of buses) to the meeting point where the big touring bus picked me up with the other tourists from Athens and elsewhere. The instructions I received via email where very detailed and helpful; the only glitch was the return trip when, due to slowed traffic, I almost missed the connection to the second bus that was just leaving the station at 8pm, with no more buses scheduled that night. But I got the driver to open the door for me. The tour itself is really excellent, and so I am very glad I booked it, even though it meant a very long day. Maria, our guide was the best! She is knowledgeable, attentive, approachable, fun—everything you want in a good guide. There are several monasteries perched in the mountains, and you get to go inside three of them—which three you get to see depends on which day of the week you are visiting. You see the others from vantage points. Such a magical and amazing place! Really worth seeing if you have the time. I’m very glad I did it!
Thank you so much for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that, despite the long journey, the tour was well worth it and that Maria made such a positive impression with her knowledge, attentiveness, and friendly approach. We appreciate your understanding regarding the bus connection, and we’re glad everything worked out in the end. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed exploring the monasteries and the stunning views of Meteora. Your feedback means a lot, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience!
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
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)
I loved the experience in Meteora; the place was excellent, and the guides were very kind and polite.
Thank you so much for the excellent review and thank you for your kind words. We are so happy to know that you enjoyed the tour with us and we hope to see you again.
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.
Dear Marianne. We are really glad that you enjoyed the tour and you found it comfortable and interesting. Regarding it's duration, we totally understand that by having such a good time with us you would want it to be a little longer. We designed this experience in a way that one day travellers will be able to both see Meteora's highlights and also have some time to relax, eat lunch or drink a cup of coffee before their train trip back to Athens or Thessaloniki. We would be so happy to join us again some time in the future in one of our 2 or 3-day Meteora experiences where we will explore every single spot of Meteora! Thank you so much and you have our best wishes.
