What to See in Meteora Greece – Must-Visit Monasteries, Viewpoints & Activities
The Meteora Monasteries
Serene, spiritual, magical, mystical, extraordinary, breathtaking, immense, inspiring, impressive. These are only some of the words people very often use in an effort to describe the phenomenon. Visit Meteora, Greece, even if your interests are not deeply religious. It is the only way to enrich your feelings of spirituality that this area already exudes, no matter how long or brief your sojourn in our beautiful land.
Old Hermitages and Hidden gems
Today, at Meteora, Greece, several hermitages and small abandoned monasteries have also been restored in addition to the well-known six monasteries. Our goal is to try to acquaint visitors with some of these less popular—but not at all less interesting—historical and religious monuments.
Archaeological Sites and Museums
The Meteora region in Greece boasts a rich history that spans thousands of years. Explore this significant cultural heritage, which dates back 130,000 years, from the dawn of humanity before the last Ice Age to modern times.
Pindos Mountain Range
Pindos is our biggest mountain range, stretching from the Greek-Albanian borders (NW) to the northern Peloponnese (SE), and it passes right next to Meteora, Greece. It is roughly 160 km long (100 miles) and is considered the backbone of mainland Greece. Pindos mountain
Gavros Village
The rock forest of Meteora is located on the northwest tip of the plain of Thessaly and is surrounded by two mountain ranges. To the west Pindos mountains rise like a huge natural wall, separating Greece from East to West, while to the northeast of Meteora lays the mountain rage of Chassia.
Where to Stay
Discover the best hotels in Meteora, Greece — from scenic guesthouses in Kastraki to modern stays in Kalambaka. Whether you’re here for hiking, photography, or cultural discovery, we’ve handpicked accommodations to suit every traveler.
Location of Meteora in Greece
Meteora is a stunning location in the heart of the Greek peninsula. It is renowned for its impressive geological formations and breathtaking landscapes. How can one truly capture the essence of this remarkable area? The inspiration and spirituality that can be felt here and the awe of human achievement are evident in the monasteries built on the peaks of these sandstone cliffs.
These are just a few of the emotions travelers experience when visiting this extraordinary destination. Please take a moment to explore our website to discover everything that Meteora, Greece, has to offer! Let us show you why you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit this unique and spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Below you can find:
Planning to Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
For more information about things to do in Meteora, Greece, check out some of our best experiences. Discover day trips from Athens by train, multi-day and half-day tours, and Meteora’s best outdoor adventure activities!
2-Day Meteora Tour from Athens 198 reviews
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1 Day Trip from Athens to Meteora to admire the amazing monasteries!
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Meteora Sunset tour will guide you to the hidden side of Meteora.A Majestic Geological Marvel
These immense, solid cliffs, split by earthquakes, weathered by water and wind over millions of years, are nature’s authentic masterpiece. Around 50 million years ago, the whole area of modern-day Meteora, Greece, was on the seabed of a great ancient ocean called Tethys. 30 million years ago. Meteora was the shores of that ancient ocean, with long sandy beaches stretching for tens of kilometers! In this long shoreline, a river delta formed, accumulating vast quantities of sediment.
The river delta had formed on the steep edges of a vast underwater basin with an estimated depth of over 1 km. This deep basin began collecting the river deposits, and eventually, layers upon layers of deposits at great heights filled the seabed basin with gravel, mud, sand, and small rocks. Dissolved limestone from the surrounding mountains was also deposited among the remaining river deposits. The limestone acted as the “glue” that cemented the rest of the deposits, forming the conglomerate cliffs of Meteora.
How did Meteora cliffs formed?
Approximately eleven million years ago, during the Miocene Period, tectonic activity began to push the entire seabed upward, significantly raising the region’s elevation. As the Earth continued to rise, the area now known as the Meteora cliffs in Greece emerged above sea level. Erosion then started to occur, washing away the soft soil and gradually exposing the cemented deposits that were once buried beneath the seabed of this ancient sea. This cemented conglomerate of rocks shifted and rose with the Earth’s movement. Since it was more resistant to erosion, the harder rock gradually became visible as the softer soil was washed away. It is hard to imagine that twenty million years ago, some of the highest peaks of the Greek Meteora cliffs were actually part of the seabed of an ancient ocean.
A Holy Place of Greece
There were 24 monasteries of Meteora, built on the numerous summits of the cliffs between the 14th and 16th centuries, establishing Meteora as one of the most significant monastic centers in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. From their inception, these monasteries played a crucial role in the spiritual and cultural life of the region, embodying the devotion of the monks who sought a life of contemplation away from the world. Today, six of these monasteries remain open for visitors to explore and admire, showcasing their stunning architecture and breathtaking landscapes.
Each monastery is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship and artistic achievements of the Byzantine era, with intricate frescoes, religious icons, and architectural features that reflect the profound spiritual significance of these sacred spaces. Moreover, they house valuable collections of manuscripts and historical artifacts, which are exhibited in their museums, providing insight into the rich monastic traditions and history of the entire Meteora region in Greece.
Why To Book With Us
- Visit Meteora, is a local company.
- Is fully committed to the principles of sustainable tourism.
- We are aiming through our tours and experiences to effectively communicate to all our visitors Meteora’s rich cultural heritage and natural environment while bringing economic benefits to local people.
- We offer a wide range of outdoor activities, cultural tours, and local accommodation, such as family-run guesthouses and reliable local ground transportation.
- You will learn about the culture and history of the place on a deeper level from a local’s perspective.
Read the Code of Ethics of Meteora for responsible tourism
By choosing to visit Meteora you’ve made a choice to visit above all a holy place! A centuries-old monastic community with monks and nuns who still practice their faith and ancient rituals. It is one of the most important monastic centers of the Greek Orthodox Church and Eastern Christianity. Below we give the code of ethics one should follow while visiting Meteora and the monasteries.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Meteora Greece
The opening hours often change from year to year, so beware when relying on information provided in guidebooks or general web sites. We will try to do our best in keeping the timetable of visiting times and days of monasteries up-to-date. Check the opening hours of Meteora monasteries here.
Before we answer this question we have to specify that everything should be taken into account. It depends on how fit you are, the transportation and time available, weather conditions ect. Most people are able to visit between 2 to 4 monasteries per day. The few visitors who visit all 6 of them within one day are missing out a magical, more slow-paced adventure. We recommend at least 2 days stay in Meteora.
Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee for men are prohibited and you‘ll be denied access if dressed that way. For ladies skirts and shawls are available to borrow or buy at the entrance of monasteries in case they don’t have such clothing to cover themselves.
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity and Great Meteoro are the less accessible (over 300 steps). Rousanou, Varlaam and Saint Nicolaos have an average number of 140. Some of the monasteries apart the staircases requires uphill walking in paved paths. The Holy Monastery of St Stephen is connected with a walking bridge, thus making it more accessible than any other monastery.
In each monastery there is an entrance fee of 5 euro per person. Kids up to 12 years old they don’t pay entrance fees in the monasteries.
There are many reasons not to want to drive while exploring Meteora — like if you’re not confident driving on the opposite side of the road, your spouse is a terrible copilot and you just want to have fun instead of arguing; or if you want to enjoy the scenic road and not to feel stress about the narrow and curvy roads. Lack of parking space outside the monasteries is especially frequent phenomenon during the pick period in the summer. So by joining one of our tours might save you a lot of headaches and unwanted distractions.
Parking space is quite limited outside the monasteries. Especially during the high season its impossible to find parking near the popular monasteries like Great Meteoro. Our advise is to start early, before 09.00am so you can have better odds to park near the monasteries entry. Even better let your car at the parking lot of your Hotel and consider joining the half day tour or the hiking tour.
Yes, they are open on Sundays. Actually all the monasteries are open on Sundays.
Its almost impossible and not recommended to try to visit all the six active monasteries in one day. If you have to select a couple of monasteries try to visit the less crowded monasteries which is the Saint Nicholaos and Holy Trinity. If you wish to see the most important with a lot of intresting thing to see inside then visit Great Meteoro and Varlaam. If you have to consider the difficulty level with the staircases then choose Saint Stephen.
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