Exploring The Clifftop Monasteries of Meteora Greece

The clifftop Eastern Orthodox Monasteries of Meteora, Greece truly are magnificent. Located just north of Athens, they are definitely a must-see. I was completely blown away by the majesty of the architecture and the landscape here. Plus, I visited in April, so the sunny weather and profusion of spring flowers made it idyllic.

The Greek word Meteora means, “suspended in the air”, and these masterpieces truly are. At their peak in the 16th century, there were 24 monasteries here, some perched as high as 1,361’ (415 m), seamlessly built on top of ancient rock pillars. Today there are six functioning monasteries.

Hermit monks started coming here as early as the 9th century. They used ladders to live their lives closer to God, in the seclusion of the caves in the rock pillars. By the 12th century, there was a thriving ascetic community here.

In the 14th century, needing protection from intensive Turkish invasions, they started building the monasteries. The challenges of building at these heights was a true labor of devotion, some taking as many as 5 decades!

To get to the monasteries, they used nets with hooks and rope ladders, then removed for safety and protection. Today, of course, there are steps, so they are easier to access. Some, however, have up 300 steps to get to them, so most require good mobility.

The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

The list below covers the six functioning monasteries in Meteora that are open to the public and part of the Meteora UNESCO World Heritage Site. Note that each monastery is open on different days and has different hours. As these can change, make sure to double check them before booking your trip. They are updated as of October 2023.

All the monasteries require walking up a lengthy series of steps to access them (150-300 or more steps) except the Monastery of St. Stephens. Because of this, people with mobility issue often choose the Monastery of St. Stephens to visit.

The Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoron

The the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoron is the largest and oldest monastery in Meteora. This monastery, built in the 14th century, was founded by Saint Anthanasios the Meteorite. He is also credited for starting organized monastic life in the region.

The Great Meteoron flourished in the 16th century due to imperial and royal donations, becoming the most important and powerful monastery in Meteora.

It’s located at the top of the hill, situated on a rock 1,361’ (415 m) above the valley floor. There are over 300 steps to get up to this monastery. The monastery and the view of surrounding valley is absolutely spectacular, and well worth the 300 steps if you are able. If you only have time for a small number of monasteries, I highly recommend this one. Being the most poplar, however, it will be busy.

This monastery is closed on Tuesdays in the summer. Visiting hours are 9:00-15:00. Check their website for closures, holidays, and winter hours.

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery here, founded in the mid 14th century by a monk named Varlaam. By the early 15th century, it was mostly in ruins. In the early 16th century it was reactivated and a new monastery built, dedicated to “All Saints”.

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is close to The Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoron, about a 10-minute walk away. There is a wooden bridge connecting the monastery to Meteora, as well as 195 steps to climb. Inside you’ll see beautiful frescoes, and artifacts in its museum including one of the old pulley systems once used to access it.

Visiting hours in the summer are 9:00-16:00. Closed on Fridays. Check their website for closures, holidays, and winter hours.

The Monastery of St. Stephen’s

Although it is unclear when the Monastery of St. Stephen’s was first built, possibly the 14th or 15th century, it was rebuilt in the 16th century. It’s beautiful frescos were also restored.

This monastery, originally housing monks, was converted to a nunnery in the 20th century. Today there are about 28 nuns and an Abess living here. An interesting fact on the the Monastery of St. Stephen’s is that the skull of St. Charalambus is kept here. He’s a martyred Christian Priest that lived in the 1st and second centuries AD.

St. Stephen’s Monastery is the easiest monastery to access with no steps, so best for people with mobility issues. Closed on Mondays. Visiting hours in the summer are 9:00-13:30 and 15:30-17:30. Check their website for closures, holidays and winter hours.

The Monastery of Rousanou

The Holy Monastery of Rousanou, dedicated to St. Barbara, a third century martyr, was first established in the 14th century. In the 16th century, it was rebuilt and an additional level was added. The architecture seamlessly blends with the rock below it, covering the entire surface area of the rock. Rousanou was also converted to a convent, or nunnery, in the 20th century. It’s interior features beautiful frescoes and colorful icons.

There are 200+ steps up to the Monastery of Rousanou. Closed Wednesdays. Summer visiting hours are 9:00-16:30 Check their website for closures, holidays and winter hours.

The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas

The Monastery’s of St. Nicholas was also probably built in the 14th century and later rebuilt, or added to. Its vibrant 16th century frescoes were created by Theophanes Strelitzas, a famous painter from Crete.

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There are about 140 steps up to the Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas. Summer visiting hours are 9:00-17:00. Check their website for closures, holidays and winter hours.

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity was built in the 14th-15th century. It may look familiar as it was used in the James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.

There are 145 steps up to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity. Closed on Thursdays. Summer visiting hours are 10:00-16:00. Check their website for closures, holidays and winter hours.

Main Observation Deck For The Monasteries In Meteora Greece

Another great stop in Meteora is the Meteora Main Observation Deck. It’s not actually a deck, but an area to climb and find the perfect spot to watch the sunset. If driving, there are only a very few spots for parking, so try to arrive early. Depending on where you are staying, you may be able to walk up to it in an hour or an hour and a half. Remember to bring a flashlight or torch for the walk down.

How To Get To Meteora

The Monasteries of Meteora can be easily reached by driving, bus, or train from Athens or Thessaloniki, Greece. 

If driving, Greeks drive on the right side of the road. You will need an International Driving Permit, which you need to get from your home country, and your regular license.

Train From Athens To Kalambaka

The train station in Athens is Larissa, which is a short walk from the Larissa Metro stop. You can also take the train from the Athens Airport, but it will likely add a transfer at the Larissa Station.

While most trains from Athens to Kalambaka stop in Palaeofarsalos, there are some direct options. The length of the trip ranges from a little over 3.5 hours to 5 or 6 hours, depending on the option selected and the length of the connection. It will be longer if starting from the Athens airport.

Train From Thessaloniki To Kalambaka

The train from Thessaloniki to Kalamaka leaves from the new train station in Thessaloniki. These trains run from 3 hours to 6 hours, also with a connection in Palaeofarsalos. As there is no metro in Thessaloniki, you will need to take a taxi to get there. Or if you are coming from the Thessaloniki airport, you can take bus 78 to the train station.

Bus From Athens To Kalambaka

The bus from Athens starts at the Larissa Bus Station, which is a short walk from the Larissa Metro stop. At the Larissa Bus Station, take the bus to Trikala, then the bus to Kalambaka. Some buses take a little bit longer, ranging from 5.5-7 hours.

Bus From Thessaloniki To Kalambaka

The bus station in Thessaloniki is called the Macedonia Intercity Bus Station. To reach it from the airport, take bus 78. It’s the last stop. From there, take the bus to Trikala, then the bus to Kalambaka. The bus ride takes about 5 hours.

I used the bus from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, and found it very easy, with several people willing to help me find my connection. There were also bathrooms and a snack shop at the transfer.

Where To Stay While Visiting the Monasteries

There are two towns very close to Meteora that make a great base to stay for a night or two while visiting the Monasteries of Meteora Greece, Kalambaka, where the train and bus stop, and Kastraki, which is a short distance away. They both are charming towns with a variety of rooms and restaurants.

Accommodation In Kalambaka

Budget 

I stayed in Host El Greco while visiting Meteora. It’s very basic, with the choice of a bed in a dorm or a private room. I found the staff to be very helpful with how to get around and liked that I could walk to the bus stop to catch the bus that loops around the monasteries. Note that it does not look like they have air conditioning here. I visited in early spring, so did not have a use for it.

Novos Guesthouse Meteora is an air conditioned apartment with a bedroom (with a full sized bed), living room with sofa bed, fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with mountain view. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is 2.3 miles away, while Rousanou is 3.3 miles away.

Affordable

Meteora Sunrise has beautiful mountain views. There is a queen sized bed and units have kitchen equipment. It’s located 3 miles from Agios Stefanos. The hiking trail for the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Meteora is nearby. It’s a little farther away from the center of town.

Welcome Home Meteora is close to the center of town. It’s a basic air conditioned vacation home that gets exceptional reviews. It’s a 2-bedroom house with living room and kitchen that sleeps up to 6. The price varies by number of guests. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is 2 miles away and Rousanou is 3 miles away.

Moderate

Meteora Boutique Villa E is an air conditioned villa with 1 bedroom, living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a terrace and shared hot tub.   Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is 2.2 miles away, while Rousanou is 3.1 miles away.

Meteora View Penthouse is an air conditioned unit with 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a terrace with river and mountain views, and is still near the center of Kalabaka. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is 2.1 miles away, while Rousanou is 3.1 miles away.

Accommodation in Kastraki

Affordable

Guesthouse Kastelia Some of the rooms at this guest house offer a city view and some offer a mountain view as well as a kitchenette and a balcony. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is an 19-minute walk, while Rousanou is 1.9 miles away.

Meteora Heaven And Earth Kastraki Premium Suites offer studio and deluxe suites with a kitchenette including a fridge and stovetop. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is an 18-minute walk, while Rousanou is 1.8 miles away. They also offer disability access rooms. 

Moderate

Dream Nest Meteora is a restored stone house with two apartments, air conditioning and mountain views. There is also a garden and a terrace with a dining area and BBQ. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas is about a 20-minute walk, while Rousanou is 1.9 miles away.

How To Get To The Monasteries

To get to the Monasteries, you can drive, rent a scooter, take a tour, take the local bus, or hike.

Self-Drive

If you choose to drive, each monastery has a parking area. Parking, however, will be limited during peak season. Especially during peak hours.

Take A Tour

If you want a tour, there are several tour options, including Viator, Trip Advisor, Tours By Locals, and even Airbnb (check the experiences tab). Most offer half day tours with visits to 3 of the monasteries. Some also offer tours from Athens or Thessaloniki.

Local Bus

To get to the monasteries on your own, the local bus runs regularly and stops at each monastery. The bus driver also calls each one out, which is helpful because it’s so beautiful it’s hard to pay attention. It runs between April and October.

From Kalambaka, the bus goes to the Monasteries in the following order: St. Nickolas Anapafsas, Roussanou, Varlaam, the Great Meteoron, the Holy Trinity, and St. Stephen’s. As it only runs about every two hours, it’s difficult to use it as a hop on, hop off type bus. If using the bus option, I recommend getting off the bus at the Great Meteoron, then also going to Varlaam which is a short walk away. If you time it right, you can then try to catch the next bus and hit another one on the way back.

Hike

You can also hike up to the Monasteries. There are 10 miles (16 km) of trails leading up to the monasteries, which they say one can do in about 4 hours of moderate hiking. This does not include time for any visits, so if you go inside one, or several, you need to add time for that.

I walked from my hostel up to the Monastery of St. Stephen’s the evening I arrived. Hiking up, and being able to turn around and look at the area from different perspectives, made my visit feel extra special.

Visiting The Monasteries of Meteora Greece

There are a few details you need to know about visiting the Monasteries of Meteora Greece.

There’s a small entrance fee to enter each monastery. as of October, 2023, they are 3 euro each.

If you only have time for one, I recommend the Monastery of the Great Meteoron. It’s very well-preserved and offers stunning views of the valley (below) from its courtyard.

There is a dress code for the monasteries. You cannot enter with shorts or sleeveless tops. There will be skirts and shawls available at the entrance for women to buy/borrow at entrances.

Unfortunately, none of the monasteries have wheelchair access.

Although I think two nights here would be ideal, you can race through it in 24 hours, like me, if you have to. You may, however, leave feeling like you did not see enough.

The Rock Formations Of The Monasteries Of Meteora Greece

The rock formations in this area are spectacular, so I wanted to add a few details about their history. Although they look like remnants of ancient, volcanic activity, they’re actually natural formations, created over 60 million years ago.

They are mix of sandstone and conglomerate from ancient streams in this area. About 60 million years ago, earth movements pushed the seabed upward, creating a plateau. The giant pillars here are what remains after centuries of erosion from wind and water. Our earth truly is an amazing place.

If you’ve enjoyed my post on the Monasteries of Meteora in Greece or have a question or comment, please add it below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Want To See More Of Greece?

Greece really is an amazing place with so much to explore. From mainland Greece to the Cycladic islands, the Ionian Islands, and more.

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For an overview of all the best places in Greece, as well as how to get around, safety, tips, and more, see my Greece Travel Guide.

Safe Travels!

Julie

Want to learn more about me? See my About Me page to learn why I love traveling so much and my philosophies on travel.