Practical guideTrikala
How to get to Meteora from Athens and Thessaloniki (and why not by train)
The train has not reached Kalambaka since 2023. How to get to Meteora today from Athens and Thessaloniki by bus, car or tour, and how to get around the monasteries.
At a glance
- Train to Kalambaka
- Suspended since September 2023 (Storm Daniel); repair works under way
- Bus
- KTEL Trikala, with direct services from Athens and Thessaloniki to Kalambaka
- By car from Athens
- About 350 km from central Athens
- By car from Thessaloniki
- About 230 km
- From Kalambaka to the monasteries
- Local KTEL bus, taxi, or on foot along the old paths
Search for "Athens to Meteora by train" and you will still find guides describing the morning train to Kalambaka. That train has not run since September 2023, when storms Daniel and Elias destroyed the Palaiofarsalos–Kalambaka line. Repair works are continuing and, according to local media, the first trains are expected at the end of 2026. Until the train is back, the way to Meteora is by bus or by car.
From Athens
By bus. KTEL Trikala runs a direct service from Athens to Kalambaka. There are also frequent buses to Trikala, from where the local KTEL service connects Trikala with Kalambaka. Timetables change with the season: check ktel-trikala.gr before you travel.
By car. About 350 kilometres, along the Athens–Lamia motorway and then via Lamia, Domokos and Trikala. Allow four hours with stops.
On an organised tour. Many agencies in Athens run day trips to Meteora with transport and a guide. It is a long day (leaving before dawn, back in the evening), but it solves the problem of getting between the monasteries.
From Thessaloniki
About 230 kilometres, via the Egnatia motorway towards Grevena and Kalambaka, or via Larissa and Trikala. KTEL Trikala also runs buses from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka.
From Kalambaka to the monasteries
Kalambaka sits at the foot of the rocks, but the monasteries are high above. Without a car you have three options:
- The local KTEL bus, which leaves from Kalambaka and stops at every monastery.
- A taxi, from the rank in Kalambaka.
- On foot, along the old paths that climb from Kalambaka and Kastraki. It is the most beautiful way up, if you have time and proper shoes.
One day or two?
A day trip from Athens is possible, but it means eight hours on the road for two or three monasteries. If you can, sleep one night in Kalambaka or Kastraki: Meteora in the first light of the day, before the coaches arrive, is the reason the journey is worth it.
For opening hours, tickets and the dress code, see our guide to the Meteora monasteries.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Athens to Meteora?
Not at the moment. The Palaiofarsalos–Kalambaka line has been closed since the Storm Daniel floods of September 2023, and repair works are still going on. According to local media, the first trains are expected at the end of 2026. Until then, go by bus, by car or on an organised tour.
How do I get to Meteora from Athens without a car?
Take the KTEL Trikala bus, which runs a direct service from Athens to Kalambaka. Alternatively, take a bus to Trikala and the local KTEL service from Trikala to Kalambaka. Timetables and tickets are on ktel-trikala.gr.
Is a day trip from Athens to Meteora worth it?
It is possible but tiring: about four hours on the road each way, leaving time for two or three monasteries. If you can, spend a night in Kalambaka or Kastraki; Meteora at first and last light is a different landscape.
How do I get around the monasteries without a car?
KTEL Trikala runs a local bus from Kalambaka that stops at every monastery. There are also taxis in Kalambaka, and old footpaths that climb from Kalambaka and Kastraki up to the monasteries.
Should I stay in Kalambaka or Kastraki?
Kalambaka is a town, with more places to stay and eat and the bus station. Kastraki is a village right under the rocks, quieter and closer to the footpaths. They are about two kilometres apart.
Can I take the train from Thessaloniki to Meteora?
Not directly: the line to Kalambaka is closed for repairs. From Thessaloniki, take the KTEL bus to Kalambaka, or drive about 230 km via the Egnatia motorway and Grevena, or via Larissa and Trikala.