How to Get to Meteora by Car – Driving Guide for Visitors
Only a decade ago, traveling around Greece by car it will be an adventure on its own. Nowadays Greece has managed to efficiently connect the different regions by overcoming the obstacle of the mountainous terrain through constructing a modern highway system, making getting to Meteora by car very easy and safe. A system that has implemented numerous tunnels and gorge bridges. Drivers now can also use GPS to navigate easily from point to point.
Why Drive to Meteora?
Scenic mainland routes through mountains and villages
Ultimate flexibility to stop en route (e.g., Thermopylae, Lake Plastira)
Easier access
Best for groups, photographers, and slow travelers
Find out more – Read our Meteora Monasteries Guide
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1 Day Trip from Athens to Meteora with Seaside Stop 1048 reviews
1 Day Trip from Athens to Meteora to admire the amazing monasteries!
Main Driving Routes to Meteora
🔹 Athens to Meteora
Distance: ~355 km
Time: ~4.5 hours
Highway: A1 (Athens–Lamia–Trikala), then exit toward Kalambaka
Optional stop: Thermopylae battlefield
🔹 Thessaloniki to Meteora
Distance: ~230 km
Time: ~3 hours
Highway: Egnatia Odos (A2) → Trikala → Kalambaka
Optional stop: Vergina archaeological site
🔹 Delphi to Meteora
Distance: ~230 km
Time: ~3.5–4 hours
Scenic, mountainous roads — allow extra time
Great combo for 2–3 day itineraries
Read our Guide – Link to: How to Travel from Meteora to Delphi
Athens to Meteora: 1-Day Bus Tour Alternative for Train 2025
The E65 Highway Connects Meteora to Athens
Parking & Navigation Tips
Free parking available at most monasteries
Arrive early during high season (April–October) to get parking near steps
Avoid weekends when local tourism spikes
Use Google Maps or Waze – roads are well maintained and signed
Tip: Some monastery roads are steep and narrow. Drive slowly and be cautious in fog or rain.
Rental Car Tips
Available in Athens, Thessaloniki, or Trikala
Automatic cars are limited – book early
International Driving Permit required for non-EU travelers
Gas is ~€1.80–€2.00/L — plan fuel stops near Trikala or Kalambaka
Planning your overnight at Meteora? Find useful tips here.
Pair Your Drive with a Guided Experience
Even if you’re driving yourself to Meteora, you can enhance your visit with a local guided tour and skip the logistics.
Local guides | Hotel pick-up and drop-off service | Avoid the traffic
Meteora Private Sunset Tour 188 reviews
FAQ – Driving to Meteora (What You Need to Know)
Yes, you can reach each monastery by car, but we strongly advise against it during the high season (April–October).
Parking is extremely limited and often overcrowded, especially from late morning to mid-afternoon. Drivers often end up parking far from the entrance and walking uphill in the heat.
Avoid the hassle: Save time, stress, and fuel by leaving your car at your hotel and joining a guided tour with hotel pickup.
Yes, roads are paved and well-maintained, but many are steep, narrow, and winding, especially near the monasteries.
Drivers unfamiliar with mountain routes or nervous about tight parking spaces may find it stressful — especially when navigating crowded lots or tour bus zones.
Why drive when you can relax?
Take in the views, hear local stories, and stop at the best photo spots — without worrying about the road.
Absolutely. Many travelers create a 2–4 day road trip including Delphi, Thermopylae, and Mount Olympus.
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 euro per person. Kids up to 12 years old they don’t pay entrance fees in the monasteries.
There are many reasons not to want to drive while exploring Meteora — like if you’re not confident driving on the opposite side of the road, your spouse is a terrible copilot and you just want to have fun instead of arguing; or if you want to enjoy the scenic road and not to feel stress about the narrow and curvy roads. Lack of parking space outside the monasteries is especially frequent phenomenon during the pick period in the summer. So by joining one of our tours might save you a lot of headaches and unwanted distractions.
Parking space is quite limited outside the monasteries. Especially during the high season its impossible to find parking near the popular monasteries like Great Meteoro. Our advise is to start early, before 09.00am so you can have better odds to park near the monasteries entry. Even better let your car at the parking lot of your Hotel and consider joining the half day tour or the hiking tour.
Yes, they are open on Sundays. Actually all the monasteries are open on Sundays.
Its almost impossible and not recommended to try to visit all the six active monasteries in one day. If you have to select a couple of monasteries try to visit the less crowded monasteries which is the Saint Nicholaos and Holy Trinity. If you wish to see the most important with a lot of intresting thing to see inside then visit Great Meteoro and Varlaam. If you have to consider the difficulty level with the staircases then choose Saint Stephen.
