Tour reviews · MONASTERY TOURS

Greek Monasteries: 15 Visits Worth the Climb

39 tours  ·  from $28

Meteora on its pillars, Panormitis above a Symi bay, the mountain houses of Crete. These 15 compare the trips on how many houses they enter, the dress code and which days each is shut.

Athens: Meteora Monasteries Day Trip with Caves and Lunch - Meeting the bus at Larissa Station
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Athens: Meteora Monasteries Day Trip with Caves and Lunch

1.Meteora Monasteries Day Trip with Caves and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,964 reviews · from $66Our pick

Travel from Athens to Meteora by comfortable coach, then explore the rock-top monasteries by minibus with a local guide. You will see all eight monasteries, enter three, visit the Hermit Caves, stop at photo viewpoints, and use a free multilingual audio guide. Guides such as Maria and Clement have been especially praised, but lunch and monastery fees need checking.

“Maria led my group and she is the greatest guide I’ve ever met.”

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Athens: Meteora Monasteries Day Tour with Lunch - Leaving Athens from Stathmos Larissis
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Athens: Meteora Monasteries Day Tour with Lunch

2.Meteora Monasteries Day Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,196 reviews · from $65

Travel from Athens to Meteora by air-conditioned coach, then explore three monasteries, Badovas hermit caves, Kastraki, and wide mountain views by VIP minibus. An English-speaking guide, free audio guide, Wi-Fi, photo stops, and optional Greek lunch are included. Guides may include Katerina, Maria, or Tolis.

“The guide was very good. He was excellent at making eye contact with all the guests and was very knowledgeable about all areas of the tour. He took excellent care of everyone”

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Rhodes: Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat - Meeting at Mandraki Port in Rhodes
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Rhodes: Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat

3.Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,784 reviews · 9 hours · from $53

Join Manos Ggoing for a nine-hour boat trip from Rhodes to Symi Island aboard Nikolaos X. Visit Panormitis Monastery, cruise the west coast, and enjoy 3.5 to 4 hours in Symi Town for shops, tavernas, swimming, and views. Saturday summer departures may include a 20-minute swim stop at Nymporio Bay.

“We enjoyed our trip to Symi island and Paranormitis Monastery. Message for those, who like to be late: don't be, because sometimes ship can leave earlier and nobody will miss you🙂”

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Athens: Meteora Monasteries, Caves & Coastal Stopovers with Lunch - Lunch in Kastraki, with ten Greek dishes
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Athens: Meteora Monasteries, Caves & Coastal Stopovers with Lunch

4.Meteora Monasteries, Caves & Coastal Stopovers with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,432 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $88

This 14-hour English-language trip takes you from Larissis Railway Station to Meteora by air-conditioned coach, with Wi-Fi, USB chargers, coastal breaks, a Greek lunch option, and visits to three monasteries. A local guide joins at Meteora, where you explore Varlaam, Great Meteoron, Agios Stefanos, and the Badovas hermit caves.

“Visit Meteora is best choice ! Amazing place. Tour guide was very good . Breakfast -ok, lunch -not good . Doesn’t look fresh , no taste . Dinner-amazing food . Trip is long but wort definetely”

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Meteora Monasteries & Caves DayTrip from Athens with Greek Lunch - Lunch in Kalambaka
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Meteora Monasteries & Caves DayTrip from Athens with Greek Lunch

5.Meteora Monasteries & Caves DayTrip from Athens with Greek Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 879 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $87

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Athens to Meteora, then explore all six monasteries, enter three, and see the Hermit Caves with a local guide such as Maria or Clement. The 14-hour day includes photo stops, multilingual audio guides, optional Greek lunch, and a midway break at Kamena Vourla.

“We were debating between driving from Athens and this , and we were glad to pick this . It was really comfortable and covered lots of places despite the long drive. And Maria was great. She shared lots of good and interesting information with us , which made our trip really enjoyable and fun.”

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Athens: Meteora Monasteries, Hermit Caves Tour with Pickup - The early departure and the ride north
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Athens: Meteora Monasteries, Hermit Caves Tour with Pickup

6.Meteora Monasteries, Hermit Caves Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 724 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $87

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Athens to Meteora, then explore three monasteries and the Badovas hermit caves with an English-speaking escort, transport, and multilingual audio guide. You will also have free time in Kalambaka and coastal meal stops. The day runs roughly 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“The climb to the monasteries involves a lot of stairs so a walking stick might help some people. Also women need yo wear a dress or skirt.”

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Meteora Sunset with Monastery & Hermit Caves Tour in Small Group - St. Stephen’s Monastery without a major stair climb
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Meteora Sunset with Monastery & Hermit Caves Tour in Small Group

7.Meteora Sunset with Monastery & Hermit Caves Tour in Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 706 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $36Top rated

Ride in a small group from Kalambaka or Kastraki to St. Stephen’s Monastery, the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary, hermit caves, and a quiet sunset viewpoint. An English-speaking guide such as Lina, Jim, or Dimitri leads the tour, with free audio guides in several other languages.

“What wonderful tour! Our guide Apostolou was very informative, he really loves history! And our driver was very kind! Would recommend this tour & company”

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From Athens: Meteora Monasteries and Hermit Caves Tour - What the Athens coach ride is really like
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From Athens: Meteora Monasteries and Hermit Caves Tour

8.Meteora Monasteries and Hermit Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 498 reviews · from $65

Travel from Athens to Meteora by air-conditioned coach, then explore all six monasteries from the outside and enter three. A local English-speaking guide leads the 4-hour visit, with audio commentary in 11 languages, a Greek lunch option, Panorama Rock, and the hermit caves of Badovas.

“My friend and I loved this experience! We're both studying abroad in Athens, and didn't have means of transportation to get us all the way to Meteora/Kalambaka, so this was the perfect setup. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the experience really fun. It was great to hear about the place from her perspective since she's grown up around the monasteries. The only thing I would critique would be the tight schedule. There were a few times we felt a bit rushed - like when we first got off the train and had to rush through breakfast, as well as from monastery to monastery. However, it is a necessary evil…”

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Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit - The morning pickup from Kalambaka or Kastraki
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Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit

9.Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 484 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $36

This four-hour morning tour combines a guided hike through Meteora’s rock forest with visits to Great Meteoro and the tucked-away Ypapanti Monastery. Pickup from Kalambaka or Kastraki, transport, water, and an English-speaking mountain guide are included. Guides such as Chris, Christos, Evan, and Dimitris bring history, geology, plants, and local stories to the trail.

“Great hike with amazing views. Our guide Evan was very good. He took the time to explain the sights we were passing by, pointed out good spots for pictures & introduced us to local flora & fauna”

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Meteora: Morning Half Day Sightseeing and Monasteries Tour - St. Nicholas Anapavsa and Rousanou: the first mountain views
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Meteora: Morning Half Day Sightseeing and Monasteries Tour

10.Morning Half Day Sightseeing and Monasteries Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 478 reviews · 4 hours · from $35

Spend four focused hours touring Meteora by air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking local guide such as Nikolas, Katerina, or Vassilis. See all six monasteries, enter Great Meteor, Varlaam, and St. Stephen, and stop at places such as Doupiani Chapel and St. George Mandilas Cave. Pickup is provided in Kalabaka or Kastraki.

“Very well organised, clear communication, small group, very good transportation, unforgettable.”

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Meteora: Guided Sunset Tour with Monasteries & Caves Visit - Pickup in Kalabaka or Kastraki
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Meteora: Guided Sunset Tour with Monasteries & Caves Visit

11.Guided Sunset Tour with Monasteries & Caves Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 409 reviews · 4 hours · from $35

Travel by air-conditioned minibus from Kalabaka or Kastraki with an English-speaking guide such as Nikolas, Katerina, or Vasilis. You’ll visit one monastery and the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary, see all six monasteries from the road, explore Bandovas hermit caves, and finish with sunset views. Audio guides are available in eight languages.

“This was a great tour for us! We had a limited amount of time so this quickly got us oriented to the area. We had ample time to visit one of the monasteries and then lots of opportunities to see the others and get great photos. It was a small group - just 18 people and a small bus. It was a nice touch that they gave us each a bottle of cold water when we returned from our journey up and down the stairs at the monastery. Niko was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He took us to a couple of places we wouldn’t have found on our own. Since…”

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Meteora Monasteries Private Full Day Trip From Athens - Thermopylae puts Greek history on the road
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Meteora Monasteries Private Full Day Trip From Athens

12.Meteora Monasteries Private Full Day Trip From Athens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 360 reviews · 11 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $350

Travel from Athens to Meteora in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a driver such as Harry, George, Dimitri, or Melina. Visit up to three accessible monasteries, stop in Kastraki for Greek food, and see Thermopylae. Expect a long 11 to 14-hour day, monastery entrance fees, stairs, and modest dress rules.

“Excellent tour and guide, very friendly and knowledgeable about the area and country. Vasilis was able to answer all our questions along the way. Meteora was incredible to see, we were able to tour the monasteries and stop for the views. Well worth the time and drive.”

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Meteora: Majestic Sunset Tour & Monasteries with Local Guide - Starting in Kalambaka or Kastraki
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Meteora: Majestic Sunset Tour & Monasteries with Local Guide

13.Majestic Sunset Tour & Monasteries with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 359 reviews · from $28

Ride from Kalambaka or Kastraki in a small air-conditioned minibus, see all six Meteora monasteries, visit St Stephen’s or another open monastery, explore the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary and Bandovas Hermit Caves, then watch sunset from a panoramic viewpoint. Local guides such as Maria, Chris, and Antonio are praised for lively storytelling.

“This is a great tour. We did it the first day we arrived to learn more about the area and the monasteries then spent the next 2 days hiking. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The monasteries and views are amazing and the sunset was breathtaking. The only downfall was that there was a Spanish speaking family who had an interpreter with them. I’m not sure if this was supplied by the tour company or if he was a personal friend, but he had to repeat everything the guide said and as it was a small bus, and he was rather loud, this was quite distracting.”

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Heraklion: Matala Beach, Hippie Caves & Odigitria Monastery - Four hours beside the Libyan Sea
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Heraklion: Matala Beach, Hippie Caves & Odigitria Monastery

14.Matala Beach, Hippie Caves & Odigitria Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 332 reviews · 8.5 - 10.5 hours · from $50

Travel south from Heraklion by air-conditioned coach to Matala for four hours of beach time, lunch, shops, and optional hippie cave entry. Then visit Odigitria Monastery and its folklore museum. Multilingual guides, including Elizabeth and Elisabetta, lead the day in English, French, German, or Italian.

“Thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Matala. Our very knowledgable guide, Elizabeth, did a great job! Beautiful beach to visit and loved learning about more of the island as we were driving.”

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Rhodes: Speedboat trip to Symi Town and Panormitis Monastery - Leaving Rhodes from Kolona Harbor
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Rhodes: Speedboat trip to Symi Town and Panormitis Monastery

15.Speedboat trip to Symi Town and Panormitis Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 304 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $49

Spend 8.5 hours traveling from Rhodes to Symi by fast boat, minibus, and ferry. See Panormitis Monastery, stop for a panoramic photo, then explore Symi Town on your own. You get air-conditioned seating, a sundeck, and round-trip transport, but no guide or guaranteed meal.

“I went with my partner and friends. It was exceptionally well organised with the hotel pick up and drop off and punctual coach trip up to the monastery. It was all to be commended, except the snack. It needed some olives and cheese to go with the biscuits. Otherwise, thank you for a lovely day. Jenn Stewart-Jones”

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