Photo: Dido3 · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Meteora
Monasteries on giant rock pillars, linked by old monks' footpaths.
Giant grey rock pillars rising out of the Thessaly plain, with Orthodox monasteries built on their summits. Six are still lived in and open to visitors, linked by old monks' footpaths from the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki below. Cover shoulders and knees to go in.
Places to see
Great Meteoron MonasteryChurch · The biggest and highest of the monasteries, reached by a few hundred steps cut into the…≈ A$5- Varlaam MonasteryChurch · A monastery spread across a flat rock top, with a richly frescoed church, a huge old…≈ A$5
Holy Trinity MonasteryChurch · The most dramatic perch of all: a monastery alone on a tall pillar, reached by a path…≈ A$5
Footpaths between the monasteriesWalk · Old monks' paths climbing through oak woods between the rock pillars, from Kalambaka up…
When to go
- Jan9° / 0°Often wetQuiet
- Feb11° / 1°Often wetQuiet
- Mar15° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Apr19° / 7°Some rainBusy
- May25° / 12°Some rainBusy
- Jun30° / 16°Mostly dryVery busy
- Jul33° / 18°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug33° / 18°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Kalambaka. The town by the station, with hostels, bakeries and supermarkets; paths climb from its upper streets to Holy Trinity.
Kastraki. A quiet village right under the rocks, closer to the Great Meteoron and Varlaam, with rooms and tavernas.
Flying in
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH): Train to Athens, then the train to Kalambaka, about 5 h 30 min, ≈ A$61. Trains from Athens usually change at Palaiofarsala; about 5 h in all, book ahead in summer (check).
Thessaloniki (SKG): Bus into Thessaloniki, then a KTEL bus to Kalambaka via Trikala, about 4 h 30 min, ≈ A$53. About 4–5 h with the changes; check the day's buses (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Kalambaka; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$4. Kalambaka and Kastraki are on foot. A local bus climbs to the monasteries a few times a day in season; otherwise take a taxi up and walk down the paths (check).
Tourist tax
Greece's climate resilience fee is charged per room a night: about €2 at simple places from April to October, less in winter; paid at check-in (check).
