Meteora and the all day train trip from Athens

Quite a long trip from Athens to Meteora and back! I've done it some times by road but never by train. Sounds like you need to follow a tight schedule so to spend just one day there, I'm not sure it's your best option. If you're going to do this make sure to take into account that you'll be sitting on a train for 4 hours each way. That's 8 hours total on trains. The tour itself will be 5+ hours for sure. From what I read, several sites like this one ( https://athensbylocals.com/trip-from-athens-to-meteora/ ) suggest the following: If you have enough time to spend in Athens and want to enjoy your trip to Meteora at a relaxed pace, *spend a night there before returning***. I'm sure they know something more so I will agree 100% with them. If you're going to do this trip do it the right way and add one day more.

I haven't done it but it sounds like a very long and tiring day. Spending more than 8 hours just on a train is basically most of your day.

I would recommend spending a night there so you can relax and enjoy your time.

However, it does seem do-able but I would consider spending the night.

Meteora was a highlight of our trip, We spent two nights there so we could see all the monasteries. I can’t imagine getting through all in one day - we split them over two. They all have fun (steep, winding, creative) access pathways and trails and then you want enough time to wander around each monastery. It’s absolutely worth spending the night there.

We are making going to Meteora a priority and appreciate your three comments. We are not going to any of the islands and all my American neighbors think that decision is a mistake. All of you seem to think it would be a mistake not to plan to spend the night when visiting the Meteora monasteries. I will rework things and attempt to spend more time in Meteora. .

Thank you Valerie, Dimitris and tommyk5 for your responses. Dimitris, I am right this moment exploring the link, Athens by locals, you provided. Most helpful. Valerie, your comment about Meteora being the highlight of your trip excited me! Most people think we are crazy not to visit Greek islands beyond Hydra. Your comment about Meteora being the highlight gives me confidence I am make the right decision.

When people think of Greece they think "Islands" which is understandable. Many of them are beautiful and who wouldn't want to spend time or even live on a Greek Island.

However, there's nothing crazy about not going to the islands.

The mainland has far more to offer and much easier to get around, especially with a rental car. You can drive from far northern Greece to the South of Greece.

The mainland holds the most archeological/historic sites and the history goes back thousands of years. The variety of each area is amazing.

The Peloponnese is just as beautiful as any island with beaches, mountains, villages, spectacular scenery and lots more.

I am scheduled for a late Sept/early October trip to the Peloponnese for 13 days split between three locations. And that's just a drop in the bucket for the amount of time you can spend there and other parts of the mainland.

While I've been to numerous islands and enjoyed them all, there's more to Greece than just Greek Islands.

What tommyk5 said right above. Totally agree. Greece is not only Santorini and Mykonos.

sallymoxley You're welcome!