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? If this is booked out then we recommend Hotel Kastraki which is just around the corner or Tsikeli Hotel for an adults-only experience. Just before the last monastery (one which isn't visited too often) there is a track leading down into the valley and back to Kalambaka. Heres what it takes to ice climb Kilimanjaro. 7 Organized Tours to Meteora or Self-Guided Trips? This Is The Closest You Can Get To The Monasteries In Meteora - TheTravel Once youve seen the cliffs youll realize just what a project this must have been for them. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Meteora Monasteries are located close to the city of Kalambaka in Greece, near the Pineois river and the Pindus Mountains, about 360km north of Athens. With no shame I can admit I had to take several breaks on the way up to this monastery. The citys architecture, culture, and fascinating history make it worth a few days or even longer here. Theres lots of interesting information related to the history of the monasteries on display at each individual monastery and its worth a read! How To Visit the Meteora Monasteries in 2023 - Offbeat Greece Part of the floor mosaic is intact whilst the walls are covered in restored paintings and frescoes from the 12th to 17th centuries. Dont forgget , that breakfest is realy importen. The Great Meteoron climb is gradual so not as bad as some of the other ones but its a lot larger so you can spend more time there exploring! I hope you guys have a great time! For something even bigger then Vista delle Rocce has 3 bedrooms and can sleep up to 8. Outside of needing the actual car, all youll need is any GPS that will be able to direct you to Meteora. The monk who currently lives there has made his bedroom/office accessible to everyone and youre allowed to go in and take pictures. The monks in the area originally lived in caves but came together to build the monasteries. This holy shrine is the only one seen from Kalampaka and has been a distinctive stop on the pilgrimage since the 14th century. The museum and the other exhibition rooms were incredibly crowded less crowded were the courtyards and beautiful archways! Trikala is the capital of Thessaly and is a pretty town less than an hour south of Meteora by car and centrally located on the Thessaly plains. Apart from the Monasteries of Meteora the Byzantine Temple of Dormition of the Mother of God is the most important monument in Kalabaka. Im not opposed to tours Im just not always good at them. You can check out routes and timetables here. When Varlaam died decades later, the monastery was abandoned by the remaining monks, and in subsequent years the structure almost turned into ruins. Meteora means 'suspended in space'. Which was your favorite monastery? 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Meteora Natural History Museum and Mushroom Museum, Meteora History and Culture Digital Projection Centre, Meteora to Athens Airport Private Transfer, Meteora to Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer. Archeologists believe this is where Modern Humans first evolved from Neanderthals and later transition to farmers after the Ice Age. 1. It is the second biggest Monastery and is located across from Great Meteoron. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Stop off at the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It will take around 4 hours and 30 minutes (375 km away). Hi Walking path from the old footpath is at the back of Meteora, it is really a delight to walk up there. These bug repellents actually workif you use them correctly, People with ADHD struggle to stay afloat amid drug shortage, A supersonic jet chased a solar eclipse across Africafor science. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. then then check out Zosimas House which has 2 bedrooms, can sleep 6 people and has amazing views. We decided that wed shop on the way back so we wouldnt have to carry too much. If youre interested in reading more about the history this is a great link. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Six of them are still in use today and can be visited by the public, whilst others are popular for sightseeing externally by hikers and photographers. 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. Located on the northern side of Greece, in Thessaly, this spectacular place is included in the World Heritage List. Hidden among the mountains of Thessaly, Meteora is both naturally and historically fascinating, thanks to its unique rock formations and monasteries. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bring water and a snack. Where Is Meteora? One of the spectacular parts of Rousanou Monastery is the veranda which has absolutely stunning views! By Shalgk " Out of this world scenery " Oct 2022 For more information check out the KTel website. Whether youve been before or its your first time it can be hard to process all the information out there. Heres what science recommends. 5 out of 6 monasteries ( Great Meteoron, Varlaam, St. Nikolas, Roussanou, and Agia Triada) have staircases to climb with the only exception being the monastery of Agios Stefanos. St. Stephens Monastery also has two cathedrals; the old 16th-century chapel which was severely damaged during WWII and the consequent Greek Civil War, and the 18th-century main cathedral that is dedicated to Saint Charalambos and includes his holy relics. The most popular is probably a tour followed by driving yourself. Best Lookout Points in Meteora Meteora Monasteries Dress Code How to Get to Meteora How Long do you Need in Meteora Monasteries? On Feet if that's your mode of travel. Mostly looked at opening hours and how we should be dressed. The Stone Bridge of Pyli is located two kilometers west of the village Pyli and about 20 minutes away from Trikala. The monastery used to be the center of the community with 7-8 monks living there. All rights reserved. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery 09:00 to 17:00. The ring road delivers you quickly and easily from one to the next and is very well kept and maintained. It was very popular for pictures and the views from it were stunning! One of the oldest monasteries, the St Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery is famous for being the only monastery thats run by a single monk. 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. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. If you wish to discover the country at your own leisure,the best option is to hire a car. TRAVEL GUIDE TO METEORA. It took years to build them all using ropes, nets, baskets and ladders. Tips and ideas for your visit to Meteora in 2022, 5 things to know before you visit Meteora. Wildfire smoke affects birds too. 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. Learn how you can enjoy a full week at Meteora with this comprehensive Are you searching to find the most convenient way to get to Meteora from Athens? Also, youll find some prized artwork inside, including the frescoes of the well-known painter, Theophanes Strelitzas. How to spend an unforgettable week at Meteora. Trekking up to the monasteries from Kalambaka or Kastraki village offers super-beautiful views. Its definitely the least accessible one which you can tell just based on how few people there were here. This would give you a set itinerary and also provide the transportation to and from the monasteries. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In the 9thcentury, hermit monks with impressive climbing skills settled into the rock caves and hollows taking on a life of great isolation and solitude. Opening Hours: 09:00 to 15:00. Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee for men are prohibited and you'll be denied access if dressed that way. The Cave can be found just outside the village of Theopetra which is 5 kilometres south of Kalambaka/Meteora. 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. This also applies to sleeveless outfits. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Right before you get into the monastery is a rock alcove where you can leave notes. As glaciers melt, this adventure is becoming a rare experience. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The Monasteries are still magnificent to see even when closed and the background is simply stunning. There are no shops or facilities here however there are a few good tavernas in the nearby village of Ropotos. It will drop you off at the furthest monastery. Some historical records say that the Holy Monastery of Rousanou was started in 1388 but while that hasnt been confirmed what is for certain is that in 1527 two monk brothers were given permission to build the monastery upon the rock. There are 2 express trains from Kalambaka to Athens and back. Below we have prepared a shortlist of We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. There are some great photo opps along the way. Founded around 1350 by a monk named Varlaam, the Varlaam Monastery has a fascinating history, having been abandoned at one time for more than a century. The Story Behind The Mountain-Top Monasteries of Meteora, Greece There is also a train to and from Thessaloniki. Once you proceed through the monastery theres a bit of a hill. The Essential Guide To Visiting Meteora Greece | CarpeDiemEire Luckily we didnt shop because the gift shop inside Varlaam had everything we wanted to bring back for our parents! If youre interested in reading more about the Holy Monastery of Holy Trinity this is a great link with a ton of information on the history of the monastery. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Varlaam is probably one of the monasteries we spent the most time actually exploring. Meteora Monasteries: 22 Reasons Why You'll Want to Visit Once there you can either drive yourself around the Monasteries or join a local tour such as this tour from Kalambaka. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Whenever you see (KTEL) this means that you are dealing with one of many such bus companies around Greece. If you plan on taking the train from Athens, the nearest stop to Meteora is Kalampaka ( see below). Have a nice day! YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. Discovering time-honored traditions in Texas, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Getting to this bucket list destination meant a swim in one of the worlds saltiest bodies of water. 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. At that point the only way to access the monastery was with rope ladders and nets which absolutely blows my mind. 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. I didnt get asked to fix my outfit at any point but many, many women were. Their interior is just as impressive; their ceilings and walls are decorated with medieval frescoes. 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? Just like the train, you can also take the bus to reach Kalampaka and then Meteora. At the top of both mine and my husbands must see list was Meteora. Wondering how to travel to Meteora? Kalambaka: Where to eat and where to stay. We placed on them all relevant travel information you will need to better organize your travel to Meteora or to other parts of Greece. The keeper of the monastery (unsure of what else to call him but he was like the person greeting everyone) handed out homemade loukoumi which was one of my favorite sweets in Greece! The easiest way to get to Meteora from Athens is via train, and the journey takes around 4 hours and 15 minutes. It is also quite easy to visit Meteora yourself by driving or using public transport. Similarly to Holy Trinity, the real prize at St. Nicholas has to be the stunning viewing platform on top. We opted to rent a car and do the monasteries as a day trip. It is the closest monastery to the village of Kastraki and can easily be visited from there on foot. It has a high stone semicirculararch that is 29 meters wide and 13 meters high and is constructed of limestone and sandstone. The first seaside route is via Katerini-Larissa-Trikala (E75 road). At the entrance of the Monastery lies the Church of St. Anthony and the crypt where the codes and the monasterys heirlooms were previously stored. Besides St Stephen, which monastery would you recommend? How to get there. Seriously, what a choice! There is a distance of 358km between Athens and Meteora (222 miles). Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting the Meteora Monasteries Known for its unique beauty, it embraces multiple important and historical monasteries situated on the top of the mountains. It is a requirement of all religious sites in Greece to dress modestly. Metora | History, Location & Facts | Britannica Wear comfortable shoes. No problem! Presently only 4 monks live here. Like, really comfortable shoes. As a result, there are two waterfalls that make the bridge quite unique and very special. The monastery is the most accessible and is the best Meteora monastery for people with mobility issues. In 2023 the opening hours for Meteora Monasteries are: Great Meteoron 09:00-15:00 closed Tuesdays and Nov 1 to March 31 09:00 14:00 closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and ThursdaysHoly Trinity 10:00-16:00 closed ThursdaysVarlaam 09:00-16:00 closed Fridays and Nov 1 to March 31 09:00 14:00 closed Thursdays and FridaysRoussanou 10:00-16:00 from April 1 to October 31, Novermber 1 to March 31st is 10:00-14:00 closed WednesdaysSt. Holy Trinity Monastery 10:00 to 16:00. 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 Its a good alternative to the above suggestions because youre more in control of your itinerary but you dont have to be tired from driving yourself or from hiking from the bus/train stations to the monasteries. Take you time and walk between the monasteries. It was founded around the middle of the 14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite and has now been around for more than 600 years. If youre interested in reading more about Varlaam Monastery you can do so here. In 1517/1518 two monk brothers reached the rock and they started building the monastery from scratch. The site is small and construction would have been very challenging. There are several trains that depart from Athens (Larissa Railway Station) to Kalambaka every day. We brought our own GPS from home but also had our phones and got there without any problems. We traveled by bus as a tour group. There is a small solid bridge leading straight to the entry from the carpark and only a couple of wide steps to enter the main complex. They sit as high as 400 meters above the ground. Every meal we had in Kastraki and Kalambaka was excellent but these 3 places are exceptional; Each of the six Meteora monasteries have their own stories to reveal and are steeped in history and intrigue. The dam behind it was not built until 1975 which better helps to irrigate the surrounding valley. Beyond the monasteries and mountains, Meteora houses the worlds oldest known man-made structure a wall believed to be 23 000 years old, which lies at the entrance of the Theopetra Cave. Are electric bikes the future of green transportation? There are 2 main routes to reach Meteora from Thessaloniki. 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. Monasteries of Meteora - Greece Travel 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. messaging_plugin_https://visitmeteora.travel/_426053524124896. Holy Trinity Monastery was built in the 14th century, specifically between 1458 and 1476. The Grand Meteoron Monastery has the most with over 300 steps, so it does require a reasonable level of mobility and fitness. There was a ton to explore and there were lots of tour groups walking around. To take the train to Meteora youll be taking trains to the closest town which is Kalampaka. An Easy Guide To Visiting Meteora Monasteries In Greece - The Road Reel It is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you want to read more about Rousanou then this is a great link. Barbara, Varlaam, St. Stephens, St. Nicholas Anapausas and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity. There are steps carved out but some parts of the walks are slippery because of the stones so comfortable shoes that can grip are ideal. The cookie is set by Booking.com. Tqvm for your post. Wow this place looks incredible! Kastraki is a small and quite charming Greek village that has a number of excellent tavernas and some really picturesque scenery. The elegant monastery Catholicon was built in the honour of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42, by two brothers from Ioannina, the priest-monks Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. It is also where the oldest human footprints in Europe have been found, thought to be from four children. Check the interactive map to have a first look at the main routes. For ladies skirts and shawls are available at the entrance in case they don't have such clothing to cover themselves. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed. Getting to this high-altitude research station is surprisingly easyjust take a train. Theres also a really, really nice gift shop. The second is through Egnatia road (E90) through Veria-Kozani-Grevena. Varlaam Monastery 09:00 to 16:00. Stephen 09:00-13:30 and 15:30-17:30 closed MondaysSt. In the section below we have prepared 3 different interactive maps to explore. Great Meteoron Monastery is definitely the biggest. The price of a one-way ticket costs between 15and 20. How this photographer got the photo of her dreams. If youre interested in the details of the history and the founders this is a great link. This monastery is now also inhabited by nuns rather than Monks. Want to keep your memory sharp? In the heart of mainland Greece, close to the town of Kalabaka, you'll find Meteora. Let me know in the comments! Renovated in 1512, it now houses a famous ecclesiastic museum and a barrel that could at one time hold up to 12 tons of rainwater. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They are not. Visit Meteora And The Magnificent Monasteries In The Mountains Meteora is not a place that can be fully explored in one day. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Interested in an electric car? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your first, second and third sight of these impossibly tall, vertical rocks will have you gasping in disbelief. Dress conservatively. Hotels in Kalambaka that we recommend are Hotel Kaikis and Epavlis Hotel. But it's not just the incredible . We originally stopped at the food truck right outside of the monastery to get some water and ice cream (really convenient!) The six monasteries that are still in use today are the Monastery of Great Meteoron, as well as Roussanou/St. "The beauty of Meteora is intense". When you visit Meteora you will experience one of the most prized cultural and historical landmarks in the country, and in fact in all of Europe. It was founded in the 14th century and while its assumed its named after its founder nobody is really sure. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It became incredibly well known and successful and received a lot of donations in the 16th century which made it flourish to officially become the biggest of the monasteries.