Travel Guide To Meteora, Greece: Airport Accessibility Explored

Meteora, Greece, is a rock formation in central Greece that hosts one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its unique and striking landscape. There is no airport in Meteora, but travellers can reach the region by train, bus, or car. The closest airport to Meteora is Nea Anchialos National Airport in Volos, which offers a few low-cost flights from abroad during the summer. This article will explore the different ways to get to Meteora and provide information on the closest airports.

Getting to Meteora from Athens by car

There is no airport in Meteora. The closest airport is Nea Anchialos National Airport in Volos, which is served by a few low-cost flights from abroad and operates during the summer.

The distance from Athens to Meteora is about 222 miles (357 km). Driving to Meteora from Athens is easy with some exceptions. The hardest part of the trip is getting out of Athens, especially during rush hour. Once you are out of the city, you will enter highway E75. Continue on this road until you reach Lamia city, where you should take the exit to Lamia/Karditsa/Trikala. The second hardest part of the trip is getting uphill and downhill at Domokos mountain range, after the city of Lamia. It takes about one hour to navigate, but there are plenty of turns, so drive carefully. After you get off Domokos, follow the road signs to Karditsa, then to Trikala, and lastly to Kalambaka. It is highly recommended that you have a GPS onboard so you don't get lost.

You can also get to Meteora by train or bus. The closest train station is located in Kalambaka. From this point, you can reach Meteora by car or by taxi. Trains from Athens depart from Larissa station.

Getting to Meteora by train

There is no airport in Meteora, Greece. The closest airport is Nea Anchialos National Airport in Volos, which is served by a few low-cost flights from abroad and operates during the summer. However, you can get to Meteora by train from many places on the Greek mainland, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Larisa, Livadia, and Paleofarsalo. The closest train station to Meteora is located in Kalambaka, from which you can reach Meteora by car or taxi. The train ride from Athens to Meteora takes about 4 to 5 hours, and you can book your train tickets online at tickets.trainose.gr. The train ride is incredibly scenic, allowing you to see cities, mountains, and rivers passing by. It is a relaxing and eco-friendly way to travel, with stable fares due to the energy efficiency of trains.

If you are arriving at Thessaloniki by plane, you can take bus line 78 (or 78N at night) to reach the train station. From there, you can board a train to Meteora. It is recommended to check the routes, timetables, and ticket prices on www.trainose.gr before planning your trip.

Getting to Meteora from Thessaloniki

There is no airport in Meteora, Greece. However, there are several ways to get to Meteora from Thessaloniki, which is the second-largest city in Greece and a major tourist hub. Here are some options for getting to Meteora from Thessaloniki:

By Train

You can take a direct train from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, the town at the base of Meteora. The train journey takes approximately three hours, and tickets can be purchased online or at the train station. The train station in Kalambaka is the closest to Meteora, and from there, you can take a taxi or a guided tour to reach the monasteries.

By Bus

You can also take a bus from Thessaloniki to Meteora. First, take a public bus or taxi to the bus station (KTEL). From there, get a bus to Trikala, the big city near Kalambaka and Meteora. At Trikala, you can catch another bus to Kalambaka. Please note that the bus journey is longer than the train journey.

By Car

If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car in Thessaloniki and follow the E90 (Egnatia Road) heading west towards Kozani-Veria. Stay on E90, which is a toll road, and then it's a 2-3 hour drive on the highway. After Grevena, take the exit towards Trikala. The last 45 minutes of the drive have a lot of turns, so be careful and patient as you navigate towards Kalambaka.

Guided Tour

If you want a hassle-free experience, consider joining a guided tour from Thessaloniki to Meteora. These tours typically include round-trip transportation, informative commentary, stops at scenic viewpoints, and lunch breaks. They also preselect the monasteries to visit, as each monastery is only open on specific days.

Nearest airports to Meteora

There is no airport in Meteora, Greece. The closest airport to Meteora is Nea Anchialos National Airport in Volos, which is about a 2-hour drive from Meteora. This airport only operates during the summer and serves a few low-cost flights from abroad. Another option is to fly to Thessaloniki, which has an airport that receives flights from all over the world. From Thessaloniki, visitors can take a bus to Meteora (transfer via Trikala), which takes about 3 hours. It is also possible to fly into Athens Airport (ATH) and then travel to Meteora by train, bus, car, or taxi. The distance from Athens Airport to Meteora is about 272 miles, and the quickest way to travel this route takes just under 3 hours. The cheapest way to get from Athens Airport to Meteora costs around $40.

Cheapest way to get to Meteora from Athens Airport

There is no airport in Meteora, Greece. The closest airport is Nea Anchialos National Airport in Volos.

The cheapest way to get to Meteora from Athens Airport (ATH) is to take a combination of the train and bus, which costs $30-$50 and takes 7 hours and 36 minutes. To do this, you can take the metro from the airport to the train station in Athens, and then take a train to Meteora. The metro ticket from the airport costs 8 Euros, and the train from Athens to Meteora costs $30-$50.

Another option is to take a taxi from the airport to the train station in Athens, and then take the train to Meteora. This option costs $100-$140 and takes 5 hours and 43 minutes.

You can also take a bus from the airport to the bus station in Athens, and then take a bus to Meteora. This option takes 9 hours and 13 minutes and costs $40.

Finally, you can rent a car at the airport and drive to Meteora. This option takes 4 hours and 16 minutes and costs $40-$250, depending on the rental car and gas costs.

Frequently asked questions