Meteora, Greece: Complete Travel Guide | One of the BEST Things to Do in Greece

In Meteora Greece, you'll find huge sandstone pillars soaring toward the sky, topped by ancient monasteries that seem to defy gravity. Meteora means suspended in the air, which is a fitting name for this surreal landscape. It's a spiritual sanctuary that has drawn monks, nuns, and pilgrims for centuries. Now these monasteries also welcome tourism, and it's one of the most incredible places I've ever visited. Hello, I'm Lindsay from Have Close Will Travel, and in this Meteora travel guide, I'll be sharing everything you need to know about visiting, from the best time to visit, to how to get here, to what to wear, and more. I also hope this video convinces you to visit this magical place for yourself. The first monastery in Meteora was built in the 14th century, and over time 23 additional monasteries were built, so 24 total. There were no roads as there are today, so the monks used a series of ropes, pulleys, and baskets and ladders to transport themselves and their supplies to the monasteries. Today there are six active monasteries that people can visit. Now what's the best time to visit Meteora? You can visit Meteora at any time during the year. However, the mild temperatures and fewer crowds of late spring, which is March through May, and also autumn, September through November, offer much more pleasant conditions. During these times, the monasteries and trails are going to be much less crowded, but you may also experience some rain, so be sure to bring a rain poncho and some grippy shoes. Now summer provides warmer and drier weather, of course, but it is absolutely bananas in terms of tourism, as is the case throughout Greece during the summer months. I personally visited Meteora during September, and it was much quieter than I was expecting. Now I didn't have the entire place to myself by any means, but it was still a great time to visit, and the weather was very pleasant. Visiting Meteora during winter is now on my bucket list, too. This area looks even more magical with the dusting of snow, and tourism is at an all-time low from December to February. Of course, winter comes with its own set of issues, from dangerous driving conditions to chilly temperatures and fewer public opening hours. Where is Meteora and how do you get there? Meteora is located in northwestern Greece. It's 220 miles from Athens or 354 kilometers. Meteora is hard to do as a day trip from Athens. It's best to plan to spend at least one night in Kastraki or Kalambaka. Two nights is ideal. These are the towns that are closest to the monasteries, and there are a few different ways that you can get here. Number one is taking the train. This is perhaps the most popular way to get from Athens to Meteora, as you won't have to deal with traffic and the road is very scenic. This journey will take a little over four hours. The train will take you to the town of Kalambaka, where you will then need to take a cab to your hotel. I'll link to this ticket site in the description. Next, you can also take a bus from Athens to Meteora. Again, I'll link to the bus website in the description. Number three, book a tour. This is the easiest way to go about it, in my opinion. There are many tours leaving from Athens for you to choose from. For the most freedom, you can rent a car and drive yourself from Meteora. It's mostly highway driving, and you only have some exciting driving in Athens and once you get to Meteora. The roads are pretty narrow, and parking can be a real pain at the monasteries. Another option is to book a private driver. This is personally what I did, and I loved it. It is, however, the most expensive way to go about this, but it sure was nice to have the freedom of a car without the hassle of trying to park on the side of a cliff. Sakis was the name of my driver through private Greece tours, and he was amazing. Side note, many tours also combine visiting Delphi with Meteora from Athens, as it's not too far out of the way. Delphi was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. Developed in the 8th century BC, the sanctuary was home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who was famous throughout the ancient world for seeing the future and was consulted before all major undertakings. If you have the time, I do think combining Delphi and Meteora is worth it, but if you only have time to visit one, then I recommend choosing Meteora. What you need to know for visiting the monasteries in Meteora. If you're visiting the monasteries on your own and are not planning on doing a tour, it's important to check the hours that they are open. I'll link to the opening hours in the description. Hours vary depending on the time of year, and each monastery closes on a different day of the week. Unless you plan to dedicate two days to exploring the monasteries here, you will only be able to visit five of the six monasteries as one will be closed. There are buses and taxis that will take you from Kastraki and Kalabaka up to the monasteries. Another option is to hike up to the monasteries. Meteora is not wheelchair friendly, unfortunately. There are a lot of stairs at most of the monasteries and it is very difficult if you have mobility issues. There is a dress code for men and women. You're asked to dress modestly before entering the monasteries. Knees and shoulders need to be covered. Women should also avoid leggings and pants and you should wear a maxi skirt or dress or bring a large scarf with to cover your bottom half. Most monasteries do provide wraps or shawls for visitors who might not be dressed appropriately. Some monasteries let you borrow the wraps or shawls and some do charge for this. However, I recommend coming prepared and dressing accordingly. Speaking of what to wear to Meteora, make sure you're wearing comfortable walking shoes. There is a ton of walking and a ton of stairs. It currently costs three euros to get into each monastery, so be sure to bring cash to pay for this. Photos are not allowed inside the churches and museums in Meteora. And please don't take pictures of the monks or nuns without their permission. Now let's take a quick look at each of the monasteries in Meteora. The largest and oldest of Meteora's monasteries is the Great Meteoran Monastery. It was founded in the 14th century. The museum here showcases a fascinating collection of religious art and historical manuscripts. And of course, the views are incredible. If you only have time to visit one monastery in Meteora, this is the one to visit. Next is Valar Monastery. The second largest monastery in Meteora is Valar. This monastery offers a compact museum that provides valuable insights into the region's history. It offers stunning views of the Meteora landscape and some beautiful gardens. I was very impressed with all of the flowers growing here. I could have admired the views and flowers here for hours. This was my personal favorite of all the monasteries. Next is Rosenau Monastery. This charming nunnery is dedicated to Saint Barbara and is home to 13 nuns. It is at a lower elevation and close to the road, so it's relatively accessible compared to some of the monasteries listed in here. There are two entrances to the nunnery. The one above will require hardly any walking, however parking can be limited. The hike from the bottom is actually really beautiful and peaceful. I personally liked visiting from the bottom. Next is the Holy Trinity Monastery. This monastery is perched on a cliff and it is a bit of an adventure to get to. Its secluded location away from the main tourist trail makes it nice and quiet to visit and again you're rewarded with breathtaking views. Next is the Saint Nicholas Monastery. Though smaller in size, Saint Nicholas is worth a visit for its unique multi-story architecture and beautiful frescoes. However, if you're limited on time, I would say this may be the one to skip. Last but not least is the Saint Stephen's Monastery. The Monastery of Saint Stephen is by far the most accessible monastery. You simply have to cross a small bridge to get to the entrance. No climbing of stairs is required. This monastery has two chapels, beautiful views, and a really lovely garden area. Again, I love the gardens here. Lastly, you can end your day at Sunset Rock. Watching the sunset from this lookout is a must-do for your Meteora trip. You'll be treated to unobstructed views of the Meteora Valley and the monasteries. However, the lookout is quite popular for good reason. Be sure to arrive a little bit before sunset to find a spot to park and get situated before the sun goes down. And if you're afraid of heights, Sunset Rock may be a little terrifying for you. Personally, I'm not a fan of heights and I'm not very coordinated so I did not venture too far out onto Sunset Rock but I did still get some incredible photos and views. Visiting Meteora Greece is like stepping into another world. Exploring its monasteries and marveling at its sunsets is one of my favorite travel memories to date. I can't recommend visiting Meteora Greece enough. Thank you so much for watching. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel for more travel guides like this.