FAQ

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.

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.

Yes all the monasteries are open on weekends

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 3 euro per person. Kids up to 12 years old they don’t pay entrance fees in the monasteries.

During the pick period from May till late October be prepared to face issues with finding parking space or brief traffic jams outside the monasteries of Great Meteoro, Varlaam, and Agios Stefanos; even more during the rush hours between 10:00 am to 14:00. This happens due to the limited width of the roads and the limited parking spots available outside those monasteries.

If possible, try to be outside those monasteries way before 09:00 am to avoid any big crowds. Or you might consider leaving your car in the hotel and join one of the many tours offered by the locals.

Meteora is an area of few square km, encompassing a rock forest with over 100 giant rock pillars of different shapes and sizes, some of them 400 meters above the ground. The monasteries are built on top of those pillars like a natural extension. The best way to explore such a unique site is by spending quality time here and by combining walking and driving. That will allow you to explore deeper the region and get out the most of your visit here. Make sure to allocate at least 2 days here to have the best experience.

Kalambaka is fairly easy to reach by train or bus. There are two convenient direct trains from Athens, as well as several trains connecting with the main Athens-Thessaloniki line at Palaiopharsala. You may also find buses from Athens, or Metsovo and Ioannina, two beautiful areas towards the Pindos mountains. There are frequent local buses from Kalambaka to Kastraki and to Trikala, which is the principal town of the area, 20 minutes from Kalambaka. Trikala also has a big bus station for a wider range of bus connections. Find more info on how to get to Meteora here.

There are public buses between April and October starting from Kalambaka at 09:00 in the morning and every 2 hours till 17:00 in the evening. So it’s not very convenient if you wish to use it from monastery to monastery like a hop-on, hop-off bus. Mostly serves as a one way trip to reach the monasteries and then you will be on your own. You can check the buses timetable to Meteora here.

The mountain range to the east and north of the site experiences a wide climatic variation from very hot summers to cold winters with heavy snowfall. Summer is the driest time, storms occurring all year round especially at higher altitudes.

Yes, there are few labs at Kalampaka town where you can have a test. For more details you can send message.