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Journey
Athens to Meteora by bus
Most people reach Meteora in two stages, because the well-known coach from Athens runs to Trikala, 20 km short of the monasteries, and a local bus covers the rest. But there is also one direct coach that does not appear on most timetables, because it is not really an Athens to Meteora service at all: the KTEL Grevenon (KTEL Grevena) Athens to Grevena bus calls at Kalampaka on its way north. It is below first, with its live timetable, then the two-stage route for the days it does not run, then the alternatives.
Seeing the monasteries and getting back to Athens the same day
A same-day trip to Meteora is possible, but it is a long and rushed day. You would need to catch the first coach from Liosion at 06:30, with the journey to Kalampaka taking around five to six hours in total, meaning you would not arrive until around midday. From Kalampaka, the monasteries are reached by a seasonal local shuttle, which runs only a handful of times a day, or on foot to some of the nearer monasteries. It is best to confirm the shuttle times at the bus station when you arrive.
The main challenge is the limited time at the monasteries. Most close between 15:00 and 16:30, with St Stephen's staying open latest, until around 17:30. You would then need to make your way back to Trikala in time for the last coach to Athens at 19:00.
If you want to experience Meteora as a day trip, an organised tour is the better option, as it takes care of the transport between the sites and makes better use of your limited time. Staying overnight is the ideal solution. Arriving the previous day gives you time to settle in and enjoy the scenery without rushing, while having the following morning in Meteora means you can visit the monasteries at a more relaxed pace before heading back to Athens later in the day.
Stations and where to board
The stop each leg leaves from and arrives at, with the address where we hold one, and the pin on the map.
The direct coach — Athens (Kifissos) to Kalampaka, no change
- Board at
- Athens (Kifissos, Terminal A)Kifisou Ave 100 & Drakontos St, Athens (Kolonos/Peristeri boundary)Phone: 210 5134669, 210 5124910 / 210 5124911 / 210 5132601
- Arrive at
- GrevenaO.T. 0422, Meras area, 51100 Grevena — no numbered street addressPhone: 24620 22242, 24620 28637
If the direct coach does not run that day: Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) to Trikala
- Board at
- Athens (Liosion, Terminal B)Liosion 260, Kato Patisia, AthensPhone: 210 8317096, 210 8317047, 22610 28336, 210 8317196
- Arrive at
- Trikala (Thessaly)Peripheriaki Odos Karditsis-Larisis (Rizario), 42100 TrikalaPhone: 24310 73130
Then Trikala to Kalampaka (Meteora)
- Board at
- Trikala (Thessaly)Peripheriaki Odos Karditsis-Larisis (Rizario), 42100 TrikalaPhone: 24310 73130
- Arrive at
- Kalampaka (Meteora)K. Oikonomou & Averof, 42200 Kalampaka (Kalambaka), Trikala — street-corner address, no numbered street address publishedPhone: 24320 22432
Fares
| The direct coach — Athens (Kifissos) to Kalampaka, no change | €43.70 |
| If the direct coach does not run that day: Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) to Trikala | €34.50 |
| Then Trikala to Kalampaka (Meteora) | €3.30 |
Total one way: about €81.50
Fares are the operator's own where marked in euros; 'Prices from' figures come from a fallback register. Reduced fares for students and children exist on most operators — ask at the counter.
Timetables, leg by leg
The direct coach — Athens (Kifissos) to Kalampaka, no change
KTEL Grevenon (KTEL Grevena) runs this as its Athens to Grevena service and Kalampaka is a stop along the way, seventeen stops in, so nothing about the route's name tells you it goes to Meteora. Two things to watch. It leaves from Kifissos, Terminal A, not from Liosion where the Trikala coach goes, and the two terminals are 2.5 km apart. And it does not run every day: check the table below for the date you want before relying on it. If your day is not there, take the two-stage route in the next section.
Athens (Kifissos, Terminal A) → Grevena · KTEL Grevenon (KTEL Grevena)
Athens (Kifissos, Terminal A) to Grevena bus times, by day
Every departure on this page in one view — ✓ runs on that weekday every week to the date confirmed below, ◕ on some of those weeks (tap or hover for the dates), — not on that weekday, blank means the operator has not published that far ahead. Tap a row for that departure’s stop-by-stop times.
Departures are confirmed day by day to Sun 4 Oct.
| Departs | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 14:00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
Full timetable, stops and fare:
- Athens (Kifissos, Terminal A) → Grevena · 2 departures
If the direct coach does not run that day: Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) to Trikala
KTEL Trikalon (KTEL Trikala) leaves from Liosion Street (Terminal B), not from Kifissos. Allow about 4 h 30 to Trikala. Tickets are sold on the operator's website and at the terminal.
Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) → Trikala (Thessaly) · KTEL Trikalon (KTEL Trikala)
Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) to Trikala (Thessaly) bus times, by day
Every departure on this page in one view — ✓ runs on that weekday every week to the date confirmed below, ◕ on some of those weeks (tap or hover for the dates), — not on that weekday, blank means the operator has not published that far ahead. Tap a row for that departure’s stop-by-stop times.
Departures are confirmed day by day to Sun 4 Oct.
| Departs | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 10:00 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 13:30 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 15:30 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 18:30 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 21:00 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Combined from 3 timetables the operator publishes for this pair — open each for its stops and fare:
- Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) → Trikala (Thessaly) · 5 departures
- Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) → Trikala (Thessaly) (route 2) · 2 departures
- Athens (Liosion, Terminal B) → Trikala (Thessaly) (route 3) · 1 departure
Then Trikala to Kalampaka (Meteora)
A local bus, about 25 minutes. Kalampaka's bus station is in the town; the monasteries are reached by the local Meteora bus or on foot, about 40 minutes to the first of them.
Trikala (Thessaly) → Kalampaka (Meteora) · KTEL Trikalon (KTEL Trikala)
Trikala (Thessaly) to Kalampaka (Meteora) bus times, by day
Every departure on this page in one view — ✓ runs on that weekday every week to the date confirmed below, ◕ on some of those weeks (tap or hover for the dates), — not on that weekday, blank means the operator has not published that far ahead. Tap a row for that departure’s stop-by-stop times.
Departures are confirmed day by day to Sun 4 Oct.
| Departs | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 05:45 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 06:30 printed | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
| 07:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 07:30 printed | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 08:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 09:00 printed | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 10:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 11:15 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 12:30 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 13:45 printed | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 13:50 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| 14:15 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 15:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 16:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 17:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 18:15 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 20:15 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 21:15 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| 23:00 printed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Departures marked “printed” are not sold online; their times come from the operator's printed timetable and have not been confirmed by the ticketing engine.
Full timetable, stops and fare:
- Trikala (Thessaly) → Kalampaka (Meteora) · 20 departures
Worth knowing
- Liosion Terminal B is the departure point, reached by trolleybus or taxi from the centre; Kifissos Terminal A serves the Peloponnese and the north-west instead.
- Buy the Athens–Trikala ticket ahead in high season; the local leg is bought at Trikala.
- The last monasteries close mid-afternoon in winter; a morning departure from Athens is the only one that leaves time for a visit the same day.
Things to do in Meteora
The most-reviewed highly-rated tours and activities for Meteora — picked by travellers’ own ratings (all 4.5+ stars), not by us.
Sunset Meteora Tour on E-Bike
Meteora Trails Electric Mountain Bike Tour
Morning Off Road Buggy Adventure in Meteora
Sunset Off Road Buggy Tour in Meteora with Hermit Caves Visit
3-Hour Hiking and Scramble Guided Tour of Great Saint in Meteora
Tours listed via Viator. If you book through these links, this site may earn a commission — prices are the same either way.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus from Athens to Meteora?
Yes, but only one and not every day. the KTEL Grevenon (KTEL Grevena) Athens to Grevena coach calls at Kalampaka, the town below the monasteries, and leaves from Kifissos Terminal A. On the days it does not run, the usual route is the KTEL Trikalon (KTEL Trikala) coach to Trikala from Liosion Terminal B, then a local bus for the last 20 km.
How long does Athens to Meteora take by bus?
About five and a half hours including the change at Trikala, depending on the connection.
Which Athens terminal does the Meteora bus leave from?
It depends which bus you take. The direct KTEL Grevenon (KTEL Grevena) coach leaves from Kifissos, Terminal A. The KTEL Trikalon (KTEL Trikala) coach to Trikala leaves from Liosion, Terminal B. The two terminals are 2.5 km apart, so check which one your ticket is for.
Other ways
Train
Hellenic Train runs Athens to Paleofarsalos with a connection to Kalampaka; the rail line ends at Kalampaka itself, which the bus does not. Check the railway's own timetable.
From Thessaloniki
KTEL Trikalon also runs Thessaloniki to Trikala; the same Trikala to Kalampaka leg applies.