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Full-Day Meteora Tour from Athens by Train
1 day
Full Day
By train
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Learn which monastery was the first to be established and the true motivations behind the monks’ decision to try to climb the steep rocks of Meteora and build the monasteries there.You will visit inside two out of the six active monasteries, we will take you to the most beautiful spots to enjoy amazing views and take photos of all the Meteora monasteries. With this comprehensive half-day morning Tour of Meteora, you’ll discover this astonishing site through the eyes and the narrative of the locals!
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Varlaam Monastery, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest monastery. It is located opposite of the Great Meteoro Monastery and it was founded in the mid 14th century by the exercitant Hosios Varlaam.
The elegant monastery Catholicon was built in the honour of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42, by two brothers from Ioannina, the priest-monks Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. The main church was decorated in 1548. Based on stylistic criteria, this magnificent wall-painting is attributed to the famous hagiographer from Thebes, Frago Catelano.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agios Stefanos, Kalambaka Greece
This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. It is ideal for visitors who cannot use the steps and yet they wish to have a real experience of a Meteora monastery.
The beginning of monastic life on the rock of Agios Stephanos dates back to early in the 12th century. Hosios Antonios, in the first half of the 15th century, and Hosios Philotheos, who renovated or rather rebuilt from its foundations the old small and elegant Catholicon, the present church of Agios Stephanos, in 1545 are mentioned as its founders.
St. Stephen’s Monastery includes two cathedrals; the old 16th century chapel which was severely damaged during WWII and the consequent Greek Civil War, and the 18th century main cathedral that is dedicated to Saint Charalambos and includes his holy relics.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Great Meteoron Monastery, Kalambaka 42200 Greece
The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built.The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Agios Nikolaos Anapaphsas, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas is the first Monastery that we encounter on our way to the Holy Meteora and was founded at the end of the 14th century.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada), Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) is the most difficult to reach, but once you get to the very top the panoramic view of the surroundings is simply captivating!
This Monastery is very close to the Saint Stephen’s Nunnery and it is perched on a steep and magnificent rock. It had already been organized Monastery since the year 1362 as indicated in a document by Symeon Uressis Palaeologos. Visitors have to follow a pathway that directs them initially to the foot of the rock, before they start walking up about 140 steps.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Roussanou Monastery, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Roussanou has received the name of the first probable hermit who settled on the rock. The main cathedral was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated thirty years later.
Compared to other rocks where monasteries were built, the one of Roussanou has a lower elevation, which makes it more accessible. The monastery was initially founded by monks and it suffered severe damage during World War II. It became a convent in 1988.
Duration: 10 minutes
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This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Learn which monastery was the first to be established and the true motivations behind the monks’ decision to try to climb the steep rocks of Meteora and build the monasteries there.You will visit inside two out of the six active monasteries, we will take you to the most beautiful spots to enjoy amazing views and take photos of all the Meteora monasteries. With this comprehensive half-day morning Tour of Meteora, you’ll discover this astonishing site through the eyes and the narrative of the locals!
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Varlaam Monastery, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest monastery. It is located opposite of the Great Meteoro Monastery and it was founded in the mid 14th century by the exercitant Hosios Varlaam.
The elegant monastery Catholicon was built in the honour of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42, by two brothers from Ioannina, the priest-monks Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. The main church was decorated in 1548. Based on stylistic criteria, this magnificent wall-painting is attributed to the famous hagiographer from Thebes, Frago Catelano.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agios Stefanos, Kalambaka Greece
This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. It is ideal for visitors who cannot use the steps and yet they wish to have a real experience of a Meteora monastery.
The beginning of monastic life on the rock of Agios Stephanos dates back to early in the 12th century. Hosios Antonios, in the first half of the 15th century, and Hosios Philotheos, who renovated or rather rebuilt from its foundations the old small and elegant Catholicon, the present church of Agios Stephanos, in 1545 are mentioned as its founders.
St. Stephen’s Monastery includes two cathedrals; the old 16th century chapel which was severely damaged during WWII and the consequent Greek Civil War, and the 18th century main cathedral that is dedicated to Saint Charalambos and includes his holy relics.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Great Meteoron Monastery, Kalambaka 42200 Greece
The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built.The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Agios Nikolaos Anapaphsas, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas is the first Monastery that we encounter on our way to the Holy Meteora and was founded at the end of the 14th century.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada), Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) is the most difficult to reach, but once you get to the very top the panoramic view of the surroundings is simply captivating!
This Monastery is very close to the Saint Stephen’s Nunnery and it is perched on a steep and magnificent rock. It had already been organized Monastery since the year 1362 as indicated in a document by Symeon Uressis Palaeologos. Visitors have to follow a pathway that directs them initially to the foot of the rock, before they start walking up about 140 steps.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Roussanou Monastery, Kalambaka Greece
The Holy Monastery of Roussanou has received the name of the first probable hermit who settled on the rock. The main cathedral was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated thirty years later.
Compared to other rocks where monasteries were built, the one of Roussanou has a lower elevation, which makes it more accessible. The monastery was initially founded by monks and it suffered severe damage during World War II. It became a convent in 1988.
Duration: 10 minutes
Included
- Tour escort/host
- Bottled water
- Map
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle with wifi
- Round trip train tickets
Not included
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees (3 euros per person at each monastery)
- State Licensed guide
- Lunch
- Entry/Admission - Meteora
- Entry/Admission - Varlaam Monastery
- Entry/Admission - Agios Stefanos
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- A small amount of walking is involved, but in the monasteries there are stairs to climb
- To enter the monasteries, appropriate clothing is required; Ladies should not wear short skirts and must have long sleeves; Men are not allowed to wear shorts
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
75%
Reviews
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My fiancé and I went and enjoyed every minute of it. I searched through several companies before I found this tour. Highly recommend!
Viator takes the difficult journey and makes it easy. You start out with a pleasant train ride then you are picked up with a comfortable, air conditioned transport. Then you are taken to all the monasteries for pictures and allowed to climb and enter 3 predetermined ones. You are then taken back to town where you have about 1-2 hours to shop and/or eat before boarding the train back to Athens. All I can say is "WOW!"
This is well worth the money and time even tho it doesn't seem like it! Check to make sure it is not rainy or foggy tho. The views are absolutely amazing and I felt like a day was more than enough time to view and tour a couple monasteries. The train ride might be long but it is well worth the wait and three hours tour is enough to get some great views and pictures in while learning about the history. The tour guide was a local and was knowledgable, funny and very accommodating! They really knew the best places to stop and get pictures since the tour guide grew up there. NOTE: Tips on train ride from Athens: Don't feel abandoned. Get to the station early the tour will start in the area where Meteora is so no one from the tour will meet you at the Athens station. Take food and drinks since it is a long train ride there and back. When you get to the Athens station don't spend time trying to figure out the platform just ask someone which platform to take because there are no displays that will inform you unlike most train stations in Europe. The paper on the display is confusing and not in English. And don't worry if the train gets to destination 30 mins late from the time it is supposed to arrive there is enough time for the tour. Once you get to the destination the tour bus and tour guide will be waiting for you probably holding a sign or with a list.
They were very helpful in getting my train ticket to me and meeting me at the train station in Kalambaka. The small group was nice and the guide was knowledgeable. I only wish that maybe he had gone in the Monasteries with us to tell us more details but he did tell us a fair amount before entering
Meteorea is fascinating but it's a long way from Athens. The train got some delays. However the tour and the guide were very good.
Meteora is well worth visiting. The tour was very disappointing. First of all the train journey from Athens arrived at its destination forty five minutes late and I was told by the locals that this happened more or less every day. I expected to be picked up by an English speaking travel guide, I was picked up by a taxi driver who then whisked me off to see the sights calling for a take away lunch on the way. I must say the taxi driver was a very nice person but he was not a guide. Meteora is breathtakingly beautiful and I would recommend a visit but this tour needs to be modified. I have booked numerous tours through viator and this tour is the only one where I feel that I have been disappointed and let down. J Marsh.