Meteora, the miracle of nature and life.

Meteora, the miracle of nature and life

Center of Eastern Orthodoxy from the 11th century, Meteora is in fact a magnificent work of nature and the Creator. It is a set of steep and impressive rocks in appearance, which stretches in the plain of Thessaly, near Kalambaka, between the mountains Koziakas and Antihasia. Born of violent geological phenomena that shaped the landscape of the area, Meteora impresses with its imposing appearance.

A place of eerie peace, literally, between heaven and earth, Meteora is the largest monastic community in Greece, after Mount Athos. The first ascetics and then monks of Meteora, who arrived in the area in the 9th century, discovered the ideal place of prayer and created an organized monastic community, which in its heyday hosted a total of 24 monasteries.

All the monasteries are great artistic and spiritual centres, patrons of Greek art, language, and faith in the most difficult times of Greek history. Today the monasteries, through the mystagog they offer, the awe and the respect for the divine, invite every visitor to discover them and reach his personal spiritual ascension and fullness. Out of the 24 monasteries of the period of great prosperity, only 6 are in operation today (Metamorphosis, Varlaam, Saint Nikolas, Holy Trinity, Saint Stephan and Roussanou) the last two being the only nunneries out of 6. Each of them invites travelers to visit them and discover their unique history and character.

Local cuisine

Choose the nearby village of Kastraki or the town of Kalambaka to try local specialties of the area in the numerous restaurants. Dishes rich in flavours, and a wide variety of meats, edible salads and fruits will leave you completely satisfied.

Best time to visit Meteora

You can visit Meteora all year round. Try not to visit during the summer months to avoid the crowds and the long waiting time under the sun. Autumn and spring are suggested as the most ideal and relaxing.

Before you choose to visit a monastery, be sure to find out the visiting hours of each monastery. The schedule is divided into winter (from November 1 to March 31) and summer (April 1 to October 30) with each monastery adjusting the visiting hours according to its statute.

How to use transportation in Meteora

Transfer from/to Meteora

Meteora can be reached by road via Kalambaka.

Kalambaka is 229kms from Thessaloniki and 354kms from Athens.

We recommend a Car Rental or an Organized tour from one of the two cities. Kalambaka can also be reached via train.

Public transportation

The access to each monastery is easily achieved by private car or by buses that are parked in the parking spaces of each monastery.

The monasteries are connected to each other by an asphalt road but the distance is not small. From the entrance of the parking lot to the entrance of the monastery, the access is with stairs carved in the rock and with an uphill, steep slope, which is why the use of comfortable shoes is recommended.