Metamaterials (MTMs) claim a lot of attention worldwide. Description of the MTMs in terms of effective parameters is a simple and useful tool for characterisation of their electromagnetic properties. So a reliable effective parameters restoration method is on demand. In this paper we report about our activity and advances in the effective properties of metamaterials characterization. We present here the wave propagation retrieval method in two formulations: for MTMs with linear eigenwaves and for chiral MTMs with circular eigenwaves. The advantages and constraints of the method are noted. The case studies of the negative-index, ultra-high refractive index and chiral MTMs validate the method.