Meteora from Athens – Monasteries on the Rocks and Dress Code

What is Meteora?

Meteora is one of Greece's most unforgettable sights: colossal pillars of rock rising from the plain of Thessaly, topped by monasteries built centuries ago that seem to float in mid-air. The name roughly means 'suspended in the heavens'. Monks settled here in the Middle Ages in search of solitude, and for generations the monasteries could only be reached by rope ladders or by baskets hauled up on ropes. Today Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and several monasteries are still active. Travelling to Meteora from Athens rewards you with a rare mix of dramatic nature, history and spirituality.

The monasteries you can visit

Of the dozens of monasteries that once stood here, six are active and open to visitors. The Great Meteoron is the highest and most imposing, with a small museum and a church covered in frescoes. Varlaam, right next to it, is considered one of the most beautiful. Roussanou sits on a narrow rock reached by a bridge. Holy Trinity is familiar to many from a James Bond film. Each monastery closes on a different day of the week, and hours change between summer and winter – so check ahead and plan your order accordingly.

Why it's too much for a single day

Meteora is roughly four and a half to five hours' drive from Athens each way. A day trip means close to ten hours on the road and only a few hours on site – usually without the sunset, one of the highlights. Our advice: spend at least one night in Kalambaka or in the village of Kastraki at the foot of the rocks. That way you arrive relaxed, watch the sunset from a viewpoint, and start the next morning at the monasteries before the coach tours arrive.

Monastery dress code

The monasteries are working places of worship with a strict dress code. Women are asked to wear a skirt that falls below the knee – trousers are usually not enough – and to cover their shoulders. Men need long trousers and covered shoulders. Most monasteries lend wraps or skirts at the entrance for those who arrive unprepared, but it's easier to keep a scarf or long skirt in your bag. Keep your voice low, be respectful, and look out for signs prohibiting photography inside the churches.

Sunset and sunrise over the rocks

Meteora's most spectacular moments come at either end of the day. At sunset the rocks glow orange and pink and the monasteries light up softly. In the morning, especially in autumn and winter, mist sometimes settles in the valley and the monasteries rise above it like something out of a dream. Several viewpoints line the road connecting the monasteries, some a short walk across the rock. If you enjoy hiking, take one of the old monks' paths down from the monasteries to the village – the most peaceful way to experience the place.

Getting from Athens to Meteora

There's a train from Athens to Kalambaka, sometimes with a change on the way, as well as intercity buses – but schedules vary, and once there you still need transport between the monasteries, which are spread along a mountain road. With a car or a private driver everything is more flexible: stop for lunch on the way, move between monasteries at your own pace and reach a viewpoint right on time for sunset. Yana can arrange an English-speaking driver for a two-day trip, with pickup from your hotel in Athens, so all that's left is to enjoy the views.

Tips for your visit

Wear comfortable shoes – every monastery involves stairs, sometimes dozens or even hundreds. Summer middays are very hot, so make the most of mornings and late afternoons. Winters are cold and roads can be wet, so pack a warm jacket. Leave time for Kalambaka and Kastraki, small villages with tavernas serving northern Greek food and direct views of the rocks. And if you're heading to Meteora anyway, you can stop at Delphi and split the route into two full, rewarding days.

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