Getting from Tilos to Meteora

If you are heading to Meteora from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to one of the most extraordinary places in Greece, a complex of Byzantine monasteries built on top of rock pillars in the plain of Thessaly in central Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry to Meteora. It is an inland destination with no sea connection. Getting there means taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes and runs 4 to 7 days per week, and then flying from Rhodes to Athens and driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Kalambaka, the town at the base of the Meteora rocks, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours from Athens. Note that as of 2026 the direct train service between Athens and Kalambaka remains suspended due to track damage and the KTEL bus is currently the main public transport option, taking around 4 to 4.5 hours from Athens Liosion terminal.

Getting there by air

Meteora has no airport. The nearest town is Kalambaka, around 3.5 to 4 hours by road from Athens. Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then taking the KTEL bus to Kalambaka gives a total journey time of around 8 to 9 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then take the KTEL bus from Athens Liosion terminal or drive northwest to Kalambaka. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. Plan at least two nights in Kalambaka as the monasteries and viewpoints deserve more than a rushed visit.