The first hermits arrived in hopes of finding seclusion and spiritual peace. Centuries later, Meteora is now swarmed by tourists, gawking at the charm of the surrounding landscape and splendor of its monastic tradition. but even amid the the busyness within and around the monasteries, it is obvious why, of all places, it is here that the first occupants chose to dwell. It takes little imagination to see that Meteora, at least back in the day, was as peaceful as slumber and as solemn as a prayer.
It’s not challenging whatsoever to be captivated by Meteora. I had my first peek of it through a viral Facebook video that features the monasteries perched atop lofty rocky pillars. At that moment, I knew I had to set foot in it and see it for myself. There’s this old saying immortalized in memes: If you want something badly enough, the universe will make conspire to make it happen. I’m not one to rely on the wisdom from memes, but it [turned out to be] true in this case. I didn’t think I’d be able to visit Meteora this soon, but a series of fortunate events led me to this.
מה מכוסה במדריך זה?
Understanding Meteora
Best Time to visit Meteora
Where to stay in Meteora
How to get to MeteoraAthens to Meteora by Train
Athens to Meteora by Bus
Things to do in MeteoraMonasteries Tour
Great Saint Scrambling Tour
Church of the assumption of the Virgin Mary
Kastraki Village
Sample Meteora Itinerary
Frequently Asked QuestionsIs Meteora safe?
Should I explore Meteora on my own or ought to I join a guided tour?
What to wear inside the monasteries? Is there a dress code?
Are there restaurants near the monasteries?
What is tipping policy in Kalambaka?
Do I need a visa to visit Greece?
הצעות נוספות ב- YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️ פוסטים:
Understanding Meteora
The name “meteora” implies “high up in the air,” referring to the towering pillars that make up this rock formation, overlooking the plains of Thessaly in Greece. because the first hermits took shelter in its caves, these sandstone columns have seen 24 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, making it one of the faith’s many essential sites, second only to Mt. Athos. because the monasteries were built on the summit of these rocks, they offer complete isolation. For many of its history, the only way to reach them were by long ladders, ropes, and nets.
Today, only six of these monasteries remain standing. Inscribed in the UNESCO world Heritage List, Meteora has been drawing tourists from all around the world for its historical, cultural, and geological importance as well as breathtaking scenery.
Here’s much more info about Meteora.
Language: Greek. However, English is widely spoken.
Currency: Euro (EUR, €). €1 = 1.14 USD, SGD 1.6, PHP 61 (as of October 2018)
Modes of Payment: cash is still the most common.
Electricity Info: 230 V, 50 Hz. Power sockets are type F, which also accept type C plugs.
Best Time to visit Meteora
April to June and November, when the weather is comfortable and the crowd isn’t that big.
July to October is high season, so rates in Greece in general are higher and the site is overrun by tourists. July and August are the driest and the hottest months.
December to March is winter. It’s not just the coldest, it’s also the wettest period. It doesn’t imply though that it rains every day. We went to in December, but it didn’t rain at all, not even a small drizzle. maybe we just got lucky. One essential thing to note when traveling in winter season is that there is no public bus service to Meteora from Kalambaka or Kastraki, which limits your transportation options significantly.
Where to stay in Meteora
There are two towns lying at the foot of the Meteora cliffs: Kalambaka and Kastraki. To get to Meteora, you need to find your way to any of these.
Most independent travelers and backpackers choose to stay in Kalambaka, which provides much more lodging, dining, and trip options than Kastraki. In Greek, the official name of the town is Kalabaka, but it is also often called Kalambaka or Kalampaka. Don’t be confused. They all refer to the same town.
Here are some of the top-rated hotels in Kalambaka and Trikala, as scored by Agoda users.
Epavlis Meteora Suites Hotel, Kalampaka, Greece. check rates & Availability.
Hotel Galaxy, Kalampaka, Greece. check rates & Availability.
Chrysorama Rooms, Kalampaka, Greece. check rates & Availability.
Meteora hotel at Kastraki, Kalampaka, Greece. check rates & Availability.
Hotel Panellinion, Trikala, Greece. check rates & Availability.
Hotel Lithaion, Trikala, Greece check rates & Availability.
Search for much more Meteora Hotels
How to get to Meteora
The nearest airport is Nea Aghialos national airport (aka Volos central Greece airport or Volos Nea Anchialos Airport), located in central Greece, south of Thessaly.
But many tourists come from Athens. If you’re coming from Manila or Singapore, the most affordable way to reach Athens isto fly with Scoot. Scoot fares to Athens start at PHP10,403 from Cebu, PHP10,704 from Clark, PHP11,198 from Kalibo and PHP10,754 from Manila. These can still go lower when there is a promo. תראה:
Actual fares we found for March
All flights from the Philippines will have a layover in Singapore. You can take this opportunity to also trip SG while you’re at it. From SG, the travel time to Athens is 11 hours and 10 minutes. Scoot uses a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, so you can expect the cabin to be spanking clean and well-maintained.
If you want to score ATHENS promotion FARES, keep a lookout for Scoot’s monthly Take-off Tuesday promotions, which happens every first Tuesday-Thursday of every month, available on their official website!
Athens to Meteora by Train
It’s easy to reach Meteora by train. Kalambaka has its own train station and is connected to Larissa Train Station, which is the central railway station in Athens.
Take the Metro Red Line to Larissa Station. If you’re coming from Syntagma, it ought to be easy because Syntagma is also along Red Line, just four stations away. Fare: €1.40. If you’re coming from Athens Airport, you should first take the blue Line to Syntagma station and then transfer to Red Line to Larissa Station. Fare: €10.
At Larissa Station, board the train to Kalambaka. There is only one direct train per day, scheduled to leave Athens at 08:20am and arrive in Kalambaka at 01:18pm. Fare: €18.3 – €25.6. If that’s not an option for you, you may travel to Paleofarsalos first then switch to another train bound for Kalampaka. See the schedule below.
Alight at Kalambaka Station. This is the last stop.
From Kalambaka Station, take the bus to Meteora. From March to November, there’s a bus leaving Kalambaka at 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm. Fare: €1.80 one-way, €3.30 round trip. No public buses in winter. You can either take a cab instead or just hike, which is great and very scenic.
For the train timetable, visit: Athens-Kalambaka Train Schedule.
Athens to Meteora by Bus
There are no buses that go directly to Meteora or Kalambaka. instead you will have to travel by bus to Trikala, the city closest to Meteora, and then transfer to another bus to Kalambaka.
Make your way to LIOSION 260 BUS STATION. This is the terminal where buses bound for Trikala are stationed. It’s at 260 LIOSION STREET.
– If you’re coming from other parts of the city center, you may take the metro. The nearest Metro station is Kato Patisssia Station, which is 900 meters away. If you take the metro, make sure you have enough time allowance for walking. You can also just take a cab.
– If you’re coming from the airport, board City Bus X-93 and alight at Liosion street Bus Station. travel time: 55 minutes.
Take the bus bound for Trikala or Kalambaka. A bus leaves at 7:00am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 6pm, and 9pm daily. An extra 5pm trip is added every Friday and Sunday. travel time: 5 hours.
In Trikala, transfer to another bus bound for Kalambaka. There’s one every hour. travel time: 30 minutes to 1 hour. total fare from Athens to Kalambaka is €31.50.
From Kalambaka Station, take the bus to Meteora. From March to November, there’s a bus leaving Kalambaka at 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm. Fare: €1.80 one-way, €3.30 round trip. No public buses in winter. You can either take a cab instead or just hike, which is great and very scenic.
For the train timetable, visit: Athens-Kalambaka Train Schedule.
Things to do in Meteora
Monasteries Tour
Six ancient monasteries remain standing to this day, and they’re all open to visitors. From Kalambaka, you can take the bus to the monasteries. The bus will stop in all six monasteries. Here’s the bus schedule for March 16 to November 30, 2018. This may change in the coming years so make sure to call your hotel to confirm the schedule. No bus service in winter.
Fare: €1.80 one-way, €3.30 round trip.
As you can see, there are only a few buses per day, so you won’t be able to see all the monasteries if you’re depending on the bus. What many tourists do is they take the bus going up and then they just explore the place on foot, then they take the last bus back to Kalambaka. Ideally, you ought to be able to visit 2-3 monasteries in a day. Although it is possible to see much more than 3 in a day, the pace may be too fast or stressful.
Note that these monasteries are not open all week. Each has its own closing day. We indicated the operating days and hours for summer 2018 and winter season 2019 below. However, please note that these change each year and every season so double check with official sources before your trip.
Great Meteoron Monastery
Summer hours: 9am-4pm (Closed: Tuesdays)
Winter hours: 9am-3pm (Closed: Tue-Wed)
Varlaam Monastery
Summer hours: 9am-4pm (Closed: Fridays)
Winter hours: 9am-3pm (Closed: Tue & Fri)
St. Stephen’s Monastery
Summer hours: 9am-1:30pm, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Winter hours: 9:30am-1pm, 3pm-5pm
Closed: Mondays
Roussanou Monastery
Summer hours: 9am-5pm
Winter hours: 9am-2pm
Closed: Wednesdays
Holy Trinity Monastery
Summer hours: 9am-5pm
Winter hours: 9am-4pm
Closed: Thursdays
St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery
Summer hours: 8am-4pm
Winter hours: 9am-4pm
Closed: Fridays
All monasteries above charge a €3 entrance fee. kids 12 and below can enter for free.
These monasteries offer not just spectacular views. They also house essential historical artifacts. For example, the great Meteoron Monastery also showcases the role of the Orthodox Church in essential events in Greek history including world war II. St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery displays frescoes created by Theophanes in 1527.
The great Meteoron Monastery and the Varlaam Monastery are the most significant and the two many popular. St. Stephen’s Monastery and Roussanou Monastery are the easiest to access.
You can do it on your own, but because of the site’s immense historical importance, joining a guided trip will make your trip not just pleasurable but also enlightening.
Half-day trips typically cost €25 to €35.
Great Saint Scrambling Tour
The great Saint rock is one of the most renowned in Meteora. If you’re up for an adventure and you’re in great shape, this is best up your alley. This is a guided trip that will lead you to the tallest rock in the area, around 400 meters above the ground. There will be some climbing, abseiling, traversing, and lots of hiking, so be prepared physically and mentally.
You should have a guide to be able to do this because it’s a bit dangerous. trips start at €60.
Church of the assumption of the Virgin Mary
Built in 7th century AD, this is one of the oldest churches in Greece. This Byzantine church is often overlooked by tourists even though it’s centuries older than the monasteries perched on the Meteora rocks. It has three aisles and features frescoes that can be traced back to as far as 14th century. Don’t miss the relics of an older green temple can also be found inside.
If you’re staying in Kalambaka, you can easily make your way to this church.
Kastraki Village
Kastraki is one of the two villages at the foot of Meteora. Although Kalambaka harbors much more hotels, restaurants, and trip agencies, Kastraki is quieter and much more picturesque. even if you’re staying in Kalambaka, Kastraki is worth a stop too. The village lies in between two colossal rocks, ensuring an unforgettable view from the base. The 19th-century houses along its streets are well-preserved, too!
Sample Meteora Itinerary
Here’s a sample overnight Meteora itinerary. It assumes you’re arriving in Kalambaka before 2pm. We’ve indicated the entrance fees if you want to explore on your own as well as the typical trip rates if you want to join a guided tour.
DAY 1 – SUNSET TOUR
Arrival in Kalambaka
Hotel check-in
Meteora Sunset Tour: €30
St. Stephen Monastery. entrance fee: €3
Dinner in Kalambaka
DAY 2 – MONASTERIES TOUR
Early check out
Sightseeing Tour: €30
Great Meteoron Monastery: €3
Varlaam Monastery: €3
Roussanou Monastery: €3
ארוחת צהריים
יְצִיאָה
If you’re exploring Meteora DIY-style and on foot, Meteora is going to be one of the most affordable trips you’ll have in Greece. but if you’re joining guided tours, prepare to shell out around €100 for the trip fees, entrance fees, and gratuities.
שאלות נפוצות
Is Meteora safe?
When it concerns crimes, yes, Kalambaka and Meteora are very safe generally. but as in other places, follow the guidelines and don’t leave your things unattended.
If you’re not physically fit, don’t join some of the hiking tours, especially the great Saint Scramble. It is a physically demanding activity.
Because of the rugged terrain and lofty cliffs, there’s always danger especially when it rains, so be extra careful. Don’t go too close to the edge. wear shoes that have a good grip.
Should I explore Meteora on my own or ought to I join a guided tour?
It is possible to explore Meteora on your own. As mentioned, from mid-March/April to November, there are