We will be staying in the Athens Plaka area. Where would be the best place to rent a car? I assume public transportation to a suburban location?
Is the 4 hr drive there difficult?
Do you need an international drivers license?
Once in Kalambaka, can you drive to the monasteries and if so, do you expect parking would be a problem for a early November visit?
Suggestion on a hotel in Kalambaka.
Thanks
In downtown Athens, all the car rental companies are located on the same avenue, "Leof Andrea Siggrou" (not far from the Acropolis Museum). It's here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jes8ZYM3T6HLsQwX9
Search for "Car rental" and select according to your criteria.
The road to Meteora is not particularly difficult; it's mostly highway.
The IDL is no longer required to rent and drive a car in Greece (since 2022).
Instead of staying in Kalambaka, look for Kastraki instead, a better location.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ksae8fakMeVDEBgu7
I don't think parking will be a problem in early November.
Thanks so much JoLui
Any hotel recommendations.
What is the general open hours for the monesteries?
Are they open Sundays? For services for non Catholics?
We are just staying overnight and maybe diverting to Delphi on way back if time (but Delphi closes at 330pm) so might have to skip.
In Kastraki, try the "Dream Nest Meteora" with a beautiful view of the Meteora rocks, but they're small apartments with kitchens, not really a hotel (we never stay in hotels).
https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/dream-nest-meteora.html?
Anyway, there's a very wide range of accommodation options, as the site is very touristy.
There are plenty of websites that provide information on monasteries' opening hours. I know some very comprehensive ones in French with detailed visiting hours for all the monasteries, but I think this one, the official one, will be more appropriate for you.
https://www.infotouristmeteora.gr/main-menu/meteora/meteora-monasteries/
Without being an expert on monastic life, I don't think you'll be able to attend a mass. Unless of course you decide to leave your current life to become an Orthodox monk. :)
Granted, it was some years ago, but we had a lovely stay at Douipiani House in Kastraki. We had a car so drove to monasteries and explored on our own. Parking was not an issue anywhere. Driving from Athens, via Delphi, to Meteora was easy. Enjoy!
Asking again if I need an international drivers license to rent a car from budget rent a car in Athens.
AI says officially no but that some rental companies still require it and that it could be useful in case of an accident. ( I have coverage from annual Allianz foreign travel plan)
Hate it when AI says no BUT
hey hey Wayne F
if it was me i would get one to be on the safe side. (aaa.com/IDP) it's $20-25, two passport size photos for each driver. go to aaa and get it that same day. so many changes with traveling nowdays
some car rentals don't ask but if stopped for any reason by a cop they probably will. be prepared, no stressing or any gray hairs.
enjoy your trip and have fun
aloha
The international driver license for driving in Greece is the equivalent of a placebo in medical treatment. It's completely useless, but it's reassuring for the person who gets it (and incidentally, it's good business for AAA).
Budget isn't necessarily a bad choice, and undoubtedly reassuring as a major car rental company, but if I were you, I would also check out some Greek rental agencies. They're often more attractive, cheaper, and just as reliable.
We rented from the airport from Athens Car Rental (ACR). We have rented from them twice.
You do not need an international drivers license and have not since I think 2022.
We were there in June and even then parking was not a problem.
But I would stay in Kastraki not Kalambaka.
We rented from Swift / Avanti. They are a smaller independent company, but great to deal with. They picked us up at our hotel in Plaka, drove us to their office on Syngrou to do the paperwork, pointed us in the right direction, and off we went.
The drive was cool. We stopped at the Thermopylae battlefield and at a cafe up in the mountains (the highway now bypasses the mountains, for good or ill).
In Kastraki, we LOVED Doupiani House (https://www.doupianihouse.gr/). Closest hotel to the rocks.
Just one observation. You asked, "Are they open Sundays? For services for non Catholics?" The monasteries are not Catholic; they are Greek Orthodox. I've never seen a "service" there, just daily monastic life.
Hi Wayne,
I'm taking a March Best of Greece tour and flying in a week before the group meets.
I rented a car at the airport to drive to the monasteries and have since received a letter from the rental agency stating an International Driver's Permit is required. I did an online application and received the permit within a week.
Have fun on the tour!!
Hi Wayne,
My wife and I traveled from Athens to Meteora in late-April this year. As others have mentioned the drive is predominantly highway and once outside Athens quite easy. We rented from Athens Car Rental. For a supplement they will deliver the car to your hotel.
At lunchtime we stopped in Skala, about 1/2 way, and just of the highway. There are several resto options.
In Kastraki we stayed at Dellas Boutique Hotel. Very friendly and helpful staff. Parking on site. Great hotel and perfect location.
