Meteora — Attraction in Meteora Municipality

Meteora is a rock formation in the regional unit of Trikala in Greece. The edge of a mountain range is formed of semi detached rockey pillars. It is a plains at the bottom of these rock pillars. Six of those rock pillars are hosting one of the largest eastern orthodox monastric complexes built in 13-14 centuries. Monastries built on immense rock pillars dominate the local area. There had been 24 monastries originally but only 6 is remaining today.

Kalambaka is the nearest town which is located at the foot of the hills. There is road access from Kalambaka to the monastries. When looking up from Kalambaka, 4 monastries are located to your left and 2 to the right. These two clusters are about 3 km apart. Monastries in each cluster are close by. Road up to the hills run through the valley between the two clusters. Road rises up to monastries and reaches them from behind. This raod offers fantastic view of the monastries and kalambaka town below. There are car parks close to monastries. Left side cluster of 4 is comprised of the Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Roussanou and St Nikolaos monastries. Right side cluster of 2 are Holy Trinity and St Sephan monastries. Out of all, Great Meteoron is the oldest, highest and the largest. Varlaam is also located very close to it and equally beautiful. Holy trinity is the least visited due to strenous climbing. It is the most detached pillar so that should climb down from the road and then climb up. St Stephan is the easiest to reach directly through a bridge from the road. On the way there are several view points worth paying a visit. An illustration of the monastries is attached here for easy understanding.

Dress code

This is a relugious centre. So men should not wear shorts and skinnies. Women should cover their shoulders and must wear SKIRTS. Pants are not sufficient. For those who wear pants a cloth will be given at the ticket counter at a fee. But they may run out in the high season.

Opening times.

Monastries are closed on some days based on a schedule. Opening times change for summer and winter. Some Monastries close earlier than you think. Please check their official website and plan your visit accordingly.

Getting from Kalambaka to Meteora.

Buses are availabe from Kalambaka and they stop at every monastry. But buses run very few times such as 9.00 am and 12.15 from kalambaka and 11.00 and 2.15 from meteora. Easiest way is to get a taxi from Kalambaka taxi station. There are plenty of taxies. Taxi station is located close to bus station. you can take the contact number of the driver and ask to come to pick you for return. Charge to meteora was 12 euros. They will stop for photos on the way if requested. It will cost few additional euros. for return journey you can call and ask them to come and pick you up from meteora. It will take about 12-15 minutes to come up from Kalambaka. So call them early. Shops and restaurants around the station etc. can help you with contact numbers of taxi operators.

Getting to Kalambaka from Athens.

Trains to and from Athens operate from Larissa station. Larissa train station is located just outside once you come up (out) from the metro station. Tickets to kalambaka can be purchased from the station or via Hellanic Train app. A picture of the app icon is attached. Train journey is nearly 5 hours and it is a comfortable ride. Sometimes, part of the journey towards Kalambaka end may be operated by a replacement bus. Trains and replacement buses run on time.

There are lot of hotels and restaurants in Kalambaka. They serve superb local food which are worth trying. Food is tastier than...

Meteora is a mystic, quite beautiful and special place. There were 24 Eastern Orthodox monasteries from the 14th century which were built on rock cliffs, 6 of them are still in service.

It took us 6 hours to visit all 6 monasteries by car. Only Holly Trinity monastery opens at 10 am, all others open at 9 am. According to the Meteora’s tourist map, in summer from Apr 1st to Oct 1st only St Nikolagos Anapafsas opens every day, five others close one day per week. You could get a map at hotel or tourist info. before visiting. By the way, when we visited Meteora on a Friday, all Monasteries were opened so it may be better to check visually to see if the monastery in question is opened or not.

It took us 6 hours to visit all 6 monasteries.

The Monastery of Great Motoron (Megalo Metoro) is the biggest and most important monastery. Closed on Tuesday.

The Monastery of Valaam is the second largest monastery, Closed on Friday.

The Monastery of St Anthony ( Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas) is the tiniest monastery but I think it is the cutest one as it keeps the old aspect of the 14th century the most. Closed on Monday.

The Monastery of St Stephen (Agios Stefanos) is converted to nunnery. It's the easiest monastery to visit, no long way and stiff stairway to go. Closed on Monday.

The Monastery of Holly Trinity (Agias Trias) monastery is mainly under renovation there isn’t much to visit but the garden and large terrace offer a wonderful panorama view of other monasteries and area. There are a long walk and stiff stairway (about 250 steps) to reach the entry of the monastery. Closed on Thursday.

The Monastery Roussanou. We could visit only the high part of the monastery. Closed on Wednesday.

Taking pictures in churches, chapels of monasteries is prohibited.

Entry fee of each monastery is 5 euros.

All monasteries have a strict dress code that every one must follow. Especially women must be in long dresses or long skirts as the old days, no trousers. If you don't fit the dress code, they will give you something to cover up. In the best case, it will be a large colorful scarf if not a large...

Review of Meteora Viewpoint

Meteora Viewpoint is nothing short of breathtaking. Nestled amidst towering rock formations and ancient monasteries, this spot offers a panoramic view that feels like stepping into a painting. The combination of natural beauty and human ingenuity—the monasteries perched atop the cliffs—creates a sense of awe that is hard to match.

The journey to the viewpoint itself is an adventure. The winding roads and well-marked trails make the experience accessible while maintaining an air of mystery as the vistas gradually unfold. Once you arrive, the sheer scale and grandeur of Meteora take over. Whether you're visiting at sunrise, sunset, or even during midday, the changing light creates a mesmerizing play of colors on the rocks and the valley below.

For photography enthusiasts, this is a dream location. The contrast of the rugged rock formations against the soft green valleys and the scattered monasteries offers countless angles for stunning shots. Even if you’re not a photographer, the serenity and majesty of the place will make you pause and appreciate the moment.

The facilities around the viewpoint are minimal, which adds to its unspoiled charm. There are a few benches for resting and plenty of spots to sit quietly and soak in the view. However, visitors should come prepared with water and comfortable shoes if planning to explore.

Overall, Meteora Viewpoint is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling through Greece. It’s a place that combines natural splendor with cultural and historical significance, leaving an indelible mark on all who visit. Whether you're there for the view, the history, or the sheer sense of peace, Meteora Viewpoint delivers an...