Theres also a really, really nice gift shop. This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. Like, really comfortable shoes. Its very easy! Adjacent to Kalambaka is the charming village of Kastraki. Meteora. I didnt get asked to fix my outfit at any point but many, many women were. It is illegal to fly drones over religious sites in Greece without a permit. Was Nepal right to ban solo trekking in the Himalayas? It has a three-aisled basilica and, unique to Greece, a central Pulpit. Each monastery has its own visiting days and hours, and while one monastery might be open on a certain day, others might be closed. However, the efforts are rewarded with an unforgettable experience and some of the region's most breathtaking views. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Nowadays the church is still used as a place of worship although a small entry fee is charged for visitors outside service hours. Wine in this area is very good and it is possible to visit some local wineries. It is located at an impressive 615 meters above sea level, and it towers above the other monasteries atop a giant and highly imposing stone pillar. The famous monasteries date back to the Byzantine era and they lie on the top of massive rock formations. There is plenty of parking at each of the Monasteries and overflow parking at some of the bigger ones. Once youve arrived in the town of Kalambaka you can see the giant rock pillars on top of the town which is where the monasteries are located. Far from being a hair-raising road experience as is sometimes the case in Greece, this is a very easy place to drive even for novices. There are many ways to see the monasteries. Summer is the driest time, storms occurring all year round especially at higher altitudes. The Meteora Monasteries are located in central Greece close to Kalambaka which is about 4 hours north from Athens. Are you ready to explore some of the most amazing and unique geography that Greece has to offer? The ULTIMATE Meteora Guide: How to get up to the monasteries from Kalambaka/Kastraki? Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. If youre aiming to see a lot of them you should have enough cash with you as none of the monasteries took credit cards for the entrance fee when we went. The direct train back to Athens departs at 5:22 pm and gets to the capital at 10:12 pm. We hiked there in December, when everything was covered up in snow ? Even prior to this, in the 11th century, religious communities had established hermitages at the foot of these cliffs. There is quite a lot to see and do in the area and you can do many of them as a day trip from Kalambaka or Kastraki whilst visiting Meteora or stay a night or two to dig a bit deeper. Trekking up to the monasteries from Kalambaka or Kastraki village offers super-beautiful views. While Im not sure on the significance of this many, many, many people have left notes throughout time and almost every crack in the rocks had a note stuffed into it. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Most popular is the chapel of Timios Prodromos (St John the Forerunner), a small circular church with a cupola, decorated with wall-paintings of fine art dating from 1682. How to spend an unforgettable week at Meteora. Interested in an electric car? Similarly to St. Nicholas there isnt a historical record of where the name of the monastery comes from but its most likely from the person who originally occupied the rock. For ladies skirts and shawls are available at the entrance in case they don't have such clothing to cover themselves. It offers exceptional connectivity from Athens, Thessaloniki, and most other parts of Greece. It is quiet and peaceful and there are some truly stunning views from some of the hotels especially at sunset and sunrise. If you would like to join a tour to visit the monasteries this tour will pick you up from either Kalambaka or Kastraki. Here's how to prepare. Unlike a lot of the other monasteries this monastery isnt particularly spread out but instead has multiple stories to it which has to do with how small the rock its built on is. Im Sandy, a tragic Grecophile married to a Greek, hoping to help you have the best possible trip to Greece. These days theres also a funicular which helps with carrying materials to the monastery. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". St. Stephens Monastery also has two cathedrals; the old 16th-century chapel which was severely damaged during WWII and the consequent, Holy Temple of Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the archaeological site of Asklepieion of Trikke, The Old City of Trikala built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The main cathedral in the central courtyard is embellished with beautiful 16th century frescoes. Its the closest we got to the actual rocks and the striations and marks in the rocks were incredibly interesting to look at! This would give you a set itinerary and also provide the transportation to and from the monasteries. Dangling off the side of a Tasmanian cliff in a harness, Krystle Wright shot one of the worlds most daring climbs. And seriously. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The museum in the monastery also has some great art work on display and there are beautiful wood carvings all around the monastery. This bus company for Meteora is known as the KTEL Trikalon. It's cheap and not scary! Depending on your comfort with wearing public clothing you may be better off just dressing appropriately before you enter the monasteries. As you can see there is a lot to see and do when you visit Meteora and its not just limited to the Monasteries. It was founded in the 14th century and while its assumed its named after its founder nobody is really sure. Mesmerized by enormous sandstone cliffs extending to the sky, tourists visiting Kalambaka will be enchanted by the view of Meteora. Do NOT stay in Trikala or anywhere else many of the booking sites will have you believe are in Meteora. If youre interested in more information about the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen this is an excellent link. While I didnt do much research before leaving, the one article I read argued that the Holy Monastery of Holy Trinity would be the hardest hike. Once there you can either drive yourself around the Monasteries or join a local tour such as this tour from Kalambaka. Holy Trinity Monastery 10:00 to 16:00. Dont get me wrong they are nice towns and if you have a few spare days they are really worth some time but not if your objective is to stay near the Monasteries of Meteora. It took years to build them all using ropes, nets, baskets and ladders. Theres lots of walking involved as most of the monasteries involve some kind of climb to get to them. Wildfire smoke affects birds too. This bridge is quite hard to find and we almost gave up after several wrong turns. Hiring a taxi or renting a car is a popular choice among foreigners since it provides a more personalized approach to the trip and to the route that you can take. Athens airport is over four hours away by car. August-September 2019: Europe (Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria), Exploring every corner of the world starting with Toronto. The complex is made up of twenty-four Eastern Orthodox monasteries that were built on giant sandstone rock pillars between the 14th and 16th centuries. Back in the day, there were only two ways to reach the monasteries: by rock climbing the vertical sandstone columns or being hosted up 373m in a basket made of rope. Its definitely the least accessible one which you can tell just based on how few people there were here. As a result, there are two waterfalls that make the bridge quite unique and very special. There are many ways to get from Athens to Meteora: Guided tour There are a number of one-day to multiple-day excursions available from Athens and other major cities in the country that include the monasteries of Meteora. Currently, only 6 have endured, and they are open to visitors. There are a number of tours you can consider, such as the 3 day Rail Tour, the stunning Meteora Sunset Tour or the 3-day coach tour. There are currently 6 active monasteries that people can visit all year round. What is the Meteora meaning and its history? It's cheap and not scary! I dont think Ill ever agree to go into a covenant but I would not say no to waking up to the below view every morning. This cave is just a few kilometers away from Kalambaka and holds evidence of continuous human habitation for over 130 000 years. Varlaam Monastery 09:00 to 16:00. The tour we recommend the most involves staying overnight in the area. Heres how you can help. Be prepared to be amazed at how beautiful and magical this part of Greece is..have a great time! The name was derived from a Greek contraction meaning "suspended in the air." Which was your favorite monastery? The monasteries are not accessible what-so-ever (with the exception of St. Stephens) and most of them require a serious hike in addition to a large number of stairs to reach them. 5 The Meteora Monasteries 5.1 St. Stephen's Convent (Agios Stefanos) 5.2 Great Meteoron Monastery 5.3 Varlaam Monastery 5.4 Roussanou Monastery 5.5 The Holy Trinity Monastery 5.6 St. Nikolaos Anapafsas 6 Where to Sleep in Meteora? I love all of your photos! I warmly recommend staying at least couple of days, and exploring not just the monasteries, but also the cliffs and caves along the walking paths. How this photographer got the photo of her dreams. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Great Meteora Monastery (Megalo Meteoro) Varlaam monastery Roussanou Monastery Holy Trinity Monastery St. Stephen's Monastery (Agios Stefanos) St. Nicholas Monastery Ypapanti monastery Meteora Observation Decks Meteora opening hours Meteora summer opening hours Meteora Entrance fees What to wear and what to take with you? The bridge sits over the Portaikos River and until 1936 this bridge was the only way to get from Thessaly to Epirus. He built portions of the monastery but when he died the rock was abandoned for about 200 years. It will drop you off at the furthest monastery. This means covered knees and shoulders. By Shalgk " Out of this world scenery " Oct 2022 Once upon a time, it was only accessed by ropes! Agios Stefanos Monastery Things to do in Meteora (apart from visiting monasteries) Best sunset in Meteora Hiking trails in Meteora Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with that. There are rarely many tourists and it is quite a remarkable place to see and feel the sheer age and gravity for yourself. This astonishing town is a must-visit place in Thessaly, Greece. Grand Meteoron Monastery. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time. But it's not just the incredible . One of the spectacular parts of Rousanou Monastery is the veranda which has absolutely stunning views! No matter where you are, there will be a metro station nearby and once you are in there, getting to the train station is easy as pie. The routes that we looked at were about 5 hours so it was a bit longer than driving and money wise, renting a car ended up way cheaper for us. The word Meteora means suspended in air which is incredibly apt given how high up the monasteries are (and unlike what my husband joked, theyre not named after the Linkin Park album!). For something even bigger then Vista delle Rocce has 3 bedrooms and can sleep up to 8. This means you can see Meteora at sunset (and sunrise if you are really keen) which really is the best time to see it in all its glory. We werent trying to risk anything but we didnt realize this in time and didnt get a chance to apply for it. Regardless either qualifies as an adventure, don't you think? Meteora is not a place that can be fully explored in one day. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If youre interested in the details of the history and the founders this is a great link. Getting to this high-altitude research station is surprisingly easyjust take a train. How to get there. We brought our own GPS from home but also had our phones and got there without any problems. Here's what you should know. While monks originally lived in the monastery there isnt a record of how many and the monastery was closed for a long time with women not being given access. You can even walk up to the Monasteries from here if you are fit and adventurous. Other buildings in the Monastery include a kitchen and a small hospital as well as a bibliographic workshop and workshop of equisite gold-embroidery. The mountain ranges to the east and north of Meteora experiences a wide climatic variation from baking heat in summer to severe cold in winter with heavy snowfalls. Gabi also works as a consultant and writer for several travel agencies and business organizations. Theres lots to see and plenty of rooms that are open to the public (unlike Holy Trinity). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Should we get lobsters high before eating them? Take you time and walk between the monasteries. The average temperatures range from 6 to 12 degrees during the daytime so it may even make hiking up to some of the monasteries more tolerable than the humid summer weather. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed. It is possible to visit Meteora by bus from many locations including Athens, Volos, Ioannina, Thessaloniki or Patras as well as numerous small towns along the way. There is a distance of 358km between Athens and Meteora (222 miles). We originally stopped at the food truck right outside of the monastery to get some water and ice cream (really convenient!) The word Meteora means "suspended in air" which is incredibly apt given how high up the monasteries are (and unlike what my husband joked, they're not named after the Linkin Park album!). Your first, second and third sight of these impossibly tall, vertical rocks will have you gasping in disbelief. Your expected travel time varies depending on which transport method you use. Meteora Hike Brief overview Meteora hiking map #1 Kalambaka - Agia Triada #2 Agia Triada - St Stephen Monastery #3 St Stephen Monastery - Rousanou Monastery #4 Rousanou Monastery - Varlaam Monastery #5 Varlaam Monastery - Great Meteoron Monastery #6 Great Meteoron Monastery - St Nicholas Anapausas Monastery Roussanou Monastery 09:00 to 16:30. Often described as stunning works of architecture set in a landscape that is as unique as it is breath-taking, the six monasteries of Meteora are visited every year by many tourists yet still seem uncrowded and completely accessible. Wondering how to travel to Meteora? The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. MHTE: 07.27.E.60.00.00159.0.1. Be mindful of the dress requirements for the Monasteries as stated above. Contact Number +30 24320 22220 Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monastery. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This practical Meteora travel blog includes information on the best time to go, how to get to and around Meteora, which monasteries are worth seeing, where to stay, places to eat, and other handy tips and interesting facts. He loves traveling, reading, partying, and making friends. Nowadays Greece has managed to efficiently connect the different places by overcoming the obstacle of the mountainous terrain through constructing a modern highway system implementing numerous tunnels and gorge bridges. All rights reserved. If you want to combine both, take a taxi drop to the farthest monastery and walk it from there. He has some knee problems so we will just visit easy to climb monasteries. If youre not following a tour, and you plan on visiting Meteora by taxi, by car or by train, its important to plan ahead and consider avoiding the times when the monasteries you are interested in are closed. 9:00 to 13:30 and then again 15:30 to 17:30, 9:30 to 13:00 and then again 15:00 to 17:00. If you wish to discover the country at your own leisure,the best option is to hire a car. In these different interactive maps for trains, buses, and cars you can click on the routes and points marked to see distances, find departure times, location of train and bus stations, things to see on the way, websites, and contact information of transportation providers. We chose to start the day with this one partially because I didnt think Id have it in me to do it after we had already done some other hiking and partially because its the one I had no way of predicting the time it would take for. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. They were built between the 14th and 16th century by monks. Head back towards Kalambaka. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. Once youve seen the cliffs youll realize just what a project this must have been for them. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else! Seriously, what a choice! To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. During thefamous battle in 1878 between local Chieftains and the Turks here there were several casualties in the Turkish defeat.