Visit Meteora

The opening hours often change from year to year, so beware when relying on information provided in guidebooks or general web sites. We will try to do our best in keeping the timetable of visiting times and days of monasteries up-to-date. Check the opening hours of Meteora monasteries here.

We offer a very flexible cancelation policy which is Full Refund Available up to 24 Hours Before Your Tour Date for the day trips and 48 hours for the multiday tours. 

Before we answer this question we have to specify that everything should be taken into account. It depends on how fit you are, the transportation and time available, weather conditions ect. Most people are able to visit between 2 to 4 monasteries per day. The few visitors who visit all 6 of them within one day are missing out a magical, more slow-paced adventure. We recommend at least 2 days stay in Meteora.

Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee for men are prohibited and you‘ll be denied access if dressed that way. For ladies skirts and shawls are available to borrow or buy at the entrance of monasteries in case they don’t have such clothing to cover themselves.

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity and Great Meteoro are the less accessible (over 300 steps). Rousanou, Varlaam and Saint Nicolaos have an average number of 140. Some of the monasteries apart the staircases requires uphill walking in paved paths. The Holy Monastery of St Stephen is connected with a walking bridge, thus making it more accessible than any other monastery.

In each monastery there is an entrance fee of 5.00 euro per person. Kids up to 12 years old they don’t pay entrance fees in the monasteries.

During the pick period from May till late October be prepared to face issues with finding parking space or brief traffic jams outside the monasteries of Great Meteoro, Varlaam, and Agios Stefanos; even more during the rush hours between 10:00 am to 14:00. This happens due to the limited width of the roads and the limited parking spots available outside those monasteries.

If possible, try to be outside those monasteries way before 09:00 am to avoid any big crowds. Or you might consider leaving your car in the hotel and join one of the many tours offered by the locals.

Pets, with the exception of service dogs, are not allowed inside the monasteries.

Due to recent legal enforcement, KTEL public buses are no longer permitted to operate outside urban areas, including routes around the Meteora Monasteries.

We offer several alternatives for visiting the Meteora Monasteries, including our daily tours. These tours provide a hassle-free way to explore the monasteries with the added benefits of knowledgeable local guides, small group sizes, and hotel pick-up/drop-off services.

• Local Guides: Our guides are local experts, offering in-depth knowledge about the history and cultural significance of the monasteries.
• Small Groups: Enjoy a personalized experience with small group sizes.
• Hotel Pick-Up and Drop-Off: Convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel.
• Avoid Crowds: Our tours are carefully timed to help you visit at the least crowded times.
• Smart Audio Guide: Free smart audio guide in multiple languages to enhance your experience.

• Limited Parking: There are very few parking spots around the monasteries, and it can be challenging to find one during peak seasons.
• Traffic Congestion: Roads leading to the monasteries can get congested, causing delays.
• Navigational Challenges: The winding roads can be tricky to navigate, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.

Due to the storm damage in September 2023, the train route to Meteora was disrupted. Currently, travelers can take the Athens-Thessaloniki train to Paleofarsalos, then transfer to a Hellenic Trains bus that will take them to Kalampaka.

We offer a direct modern coach service from Athens to Meteora, departing from Larissis Station at 08:00 AM and arriving in Kalampaka at 12:30 PM We offer free WiFi and USB sockets on board.

You can book any of our tours or transfers by visiting our website or contacting us via email at info@visitmeteora.travel. Our team is happy to assist with reservations or inquiries.