The Greece Guides

E65 Motorway Opens July 2026: Meteora Now 3 Hours from Athens

· 2 min read Travel News
The rock monasteries of Meteora rising above the Thessaly plain in central Greece

Contents

  1. What the E65 Changes
  2. Implications for Visiting Meteora
  3. Getting the Most from the Route

Greece’s E65 motorway, connecting Athens to Trikala via the central Greek corridor, was declared fully open on July 23, 2026, completing the final section between Lamia and Trikala. The road substantially reduces travel times between Athens and several destinations in Thessaly and northwestern Greece, most notably Meteora.

What the E65 Changes

Before the E65’s completion, the fastest route from Athens to Meteora ran via the A1/E75 national road through Thessaloniki or the older national road through Lamia - both involving significant detours or traffic through multiple towns. Journey times were typically four to five hours by car in normal traffic, and longer during summer peak season.

With the fully open E65, the Athens–Trikala section is now a continuous motorway, and Meteora (22 km north of Trikala) is reachable in approximately three hours from central Athens under typical conditions. The road is a standard Greek toll motorway - tolls apply at multiple stations, and the total toll for the Athens–Trikala leg is expected to run €18–€24 depending on vehicle class.

The E65 also improves access to Ioannina (via connection to the Ionia Odos at Antirrio), the Pelion peninsula via Larissa, and other parts of central and northwestern Greece.

Implications for Visiting Meteora

Meteora has been one of Greece’s most popular destinations for years, but its distance from Athens limited it primarily to multi-day trips or coach tours. At four-plus hours, a day trip by private car was uncomfortable. At three hours, it becomes practical - if tiring - for drivers willing to leave Athens early.

The monasteries open from around 09:00. Leaving Athens at 06:00 allows arrival before the busiest period (10:00–14:00) when most coach tours arrive. Note that entry fees apply at each monastery (€3 per person), dress codes are enforced (shoulders and knees covered), and some monasteries close on certain days of the week.

The nearest train station to Meteora is Kalambaka, served by rail from Athens (Larissa Station) with a journey time of around four hours on the faster services. The E65 currently makes driving the faster option, but rail avoids tolls and parking challenges.

Getting the Most from the Route

Our Meteora travel guide covers the monasteries in detail - which ones to prioritise, the best viewpoints that do not require admission, and accommodation in Kalambaka and Kastraki.

For those planning a wider central Greece road trip using the new motorway, our Greece car rental guide covers the main rental companies, what to know about driving on Greek roads, and whether insurance add-ons are worth buying for your trip.