Getting to Meteora by Train

The trains in Greece

Traveling by train to Meteora can be incredibly scenic. You can see cities, mountains, and rivers passing in front of your eyes. Traveling by train is just an all-around better, more relaxing experience than its air and car counterparts. While those are mainly about getting from point A to point B, trains are about the ride. Hopping by air from one city to another is hard to get under the skin of a destination.

Book a 2-Day Train tour from Athens, Explore the best of Meteora

Crossing a country – or a continent – by train, is a journey through its landscapes and, as Hemingway said, it is the journey that matters. Trains are more energy-efficient per passenger mile than planes or cars, making them one of the most eco-friendly transportation options around (short of walking or riding your bike!). Carbon emissions from trains are less damaging to the environment than those of airplanes because train emissions are not released directly into the upper atmosphere. As a bonus, the relative energy-efficiency of trains means that the industry is less vulnerable to increases in fuel prices — making train fares more stable in an unstable economy.

Find train information by clicking on the interactive map below.

From Athens International Airport

Athens airport is well connected by almost all means of public transportation. You’ll find more detailed information about public transportation connecting Athens International Airport with the central Athens by following this link!

Express trains from Athens to Meteora

Thanks to the Metro system and suburban train getting a train to Meteora is probably the easiest way to go. No matter where you are in Athens, there will be a metro station nearby and once you are there, getting to the train station is easy as pie.

So, for example, if you arrive at Athens International Airport by plane and want to get to the central train station of Athens you can follow these easy steps:

1. Get into the Metro (Athens Airport Station – Blue line).
2. Change line at Syntagma station and get to the Redline heading to Anthoupoli.
3. Get off at Larissa Station, which is the central train station of Athens. Be aware that the metro station has the same name with Athens central train station!
4. The express trains from Athens to Meteora are the 884 departing from Athens at 07:20 arriving Kalambaka at 11:31, and the 885 train to return to Athens departing kalambaka train station at 17:15 arriving Athens 21:25.

Athens Metro Map

At the Train station, you can choose one of the trains below to reach Kalampaka, which is the main town under Meteora cliffs. Kalampaka is a terminal station, meaning that if you get on a direct train you won’t have to worry about getting off at the wrong station. It will be the last station on the line!

Please take into consideration that some trains to Meteora are not direct ones but with a connection at Paleofarsalos station. You should be aware of your train if its a direct one or not.

Search here the best tours from Athens to Meteora by train!

Book your train tickets online at tickets.trainose.gr and make sure to read our blog post for the things you should know before taking the train to Meteora.

Train schedules from Athens (Larissa Station) to Kalambaka

Train schedules from Kalambaka to Athens (Larissa Station)

From Thessaloniki to Meteora by train

In order to get a train to Meteora, you have to get to the New Railway Station, or “Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos” at Thessaloniki. Now, Thessaloniki does not yet have a Metro, so your options are getting a taxi or getting a public bus to the station. If you arrive at Thessaloniki by plane, then you can get into bus line 78 (or 78N at night) and hop off at the railway station. This is probably the easiest way to get to the train station from Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” International Airport.

Other bus lines that stop at the railway station are: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 19, 37, 38, 40, 51, 52, 54, 56, 64. Take care in getting the bus that goes to the station and not the other way around. You can see at each bus stop the lines it serves and you can find the nearest one that gets you to the station. Once at the train station, you can choose one of the trains to reach Kalambaka, which is the city below Meteora. Please take into consideration that some train routes change to Paleofarsalos station. You should be aware of not missing the right station.

Search here all tours starting in Thessaloniki!

Book your train tickets online at tickets.trainose.gr.

Train schedules from Kalambaka to Thessaloniki

Train schedules from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka

Why booking through Visit Meteora?

Sometimes you want to go somewhere that’s a little tricky to get to on your own. Maybe there isn’t good public transport, or maybe renting a car doesn’t appeal to you. Sometimes having to drive can really take away from the sights you want to see. It’s worth booking a tour when having someone else handle the transportation arrangements so you can sit back and truly enjoy the experience.

Here are some good reasons as to why you should consider booking a train tour with us:

By booking a train tour through Visit Meteora you are free to travel at your own pace with no tour leaders or set schedules.

You are a traveler, not a tourist. We want you to be able to explore the world exactly as you have always dreamed it.

Daily tour departures any day you want, 365 days a year whether you are traveling on your own or in a group.

Tailor-made itineraries according to your specific preferences and wishes

Enjoy the freedom of making changes to your schedule before and during your trip

Local expertise and 24/7 help and assistance during your trip

Save time and effort

Organizing your own holiday can be a stressful task. Let us do the work for you! By choosing Visit Meteora, you can save time and hassle by booking all of your itinerary services directly with a specialized local agency.

Legitimacy: Visit Meteora is an insured and fully licensed travel agency approved by the local authorities. As members of various travel industry associations, we are held up to a high level of standards and practices. If you want a firsthand account of how we operate, just take a look at our customer reviews!