Can you kindly send the map for Meteora as well as parking areas family of 6 doing a selfdrive in October. The town of Kalabaka: the popular one The village of Kastraki: the better option How to visit the Meteora Monasteries Bus, hike or car? Provisions and men used to be pulled up the 600 meters high cliff in a net. But once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with stunning panoramic vistas over the Plain of Thessaly and Kalabaka about 300 meters below. The tour will end at around 13:30, have lunch and then in the afternoon around 16:00 you can either explore the area by yourself, or you may choose to join the Meteora Sunset tour that will take to another monastery Agios Stefanos (except on Mondays) including all the hidden gems of this place. Greek nationals enter for free. My email is stellamatsamakis@gmail.com.au, Hello, can you please email me a map for Meteora. The entrance fee to each of the monasteries is 3 EUR per person. this.isValid = true; Many people only take a day trip to view the monasteries from Athens, but we suggest four days to truly take in the awe-inspiring views. var _this = this; this.form.attachEvent('onsubmit', function(e){ All rights reserved. Meteora Greece: Travel Guide 2023 | Greeka var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll(".mimi_field.required"), One of the first things you need to check is the sights you wish to visit during your stay here. There are 6 Meteora monasteries perched on the huge cliffs people can visit today. There are 2 seasons of the visiting hours: the Winter period (November to March) and the Summer (April to October). I am planning to be there in the first week of October. } It is believed to have been constructed in 1288, and it underwent a major renovation in 1545. Monastery of Varlam. The Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest of Meteora and is near the Great Meteoron. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From Athens to Meteora Here are some of the best ways to get to the town of Kalambaka, at the foot of Meteora, from Athens. Passport and Plane ticket | A visual travel diary on Instagram: } else { The main attraction of Meteora is, of course, this out of this world geological marvel and the 6 active monasteries sitting on top of these immense rocks. }); MHTE: 07.27.E.60.00.00159.0.1. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. One of the best ways to explore these sacred sites, which have been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is on foot, hiking between them. (function(global) { } I think I would opt to see the monasteries over a few days so Im not completely exhausted. If you arrive around 15:00 then, immediately after check-in, take the car and drive up on the rocks to visit a monastery. *the Rousanou Monastery may close at 3pm on days in March and May, Winter It is in a wonderful setting, with stunning views across the surrounding landscape. Very big. The cave monasteries in Uchisar are the most impressive. If youre visiting the Meteora Monasteries, youre sure to have an interesting and educational visit. return name; Since its the most popular among tourists,youll want to visit this one either first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. 'submit' : 'disabled'; You'll want to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring water. It is in a magnificent setting with beautiful sweeping views of the surrounding landscapes. Monks also created wooden ladders that could be brought up and thus block any access to their sanctuary. How to Visit Meteora Monasteries. The Holy Trinity in Meteora is also the filming location for the final scenes of a James Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only. A map of Meteora would really help my visit. I would like to get a driving map of Meteora. input.className = 'required invalid'; }, Best regards from Latvia. Most organized tours will only take you to a couple of monasteries and introduce you to the others from a distance. So, I would recommend staying the night somewhere close. These are only some of the words people very often use in an effort to describe the Meteora monasteries. Hydrate and take it slowly. Its also one of the best places to get agreat view of the entirety of Meteora, plus Holy Trinity is only about a 10-minute walk from the Monastery of St. Nicholas, Summer Located on the northern side of Greece, in Thessaly, this spectacular place is included in the World Heritage List. 5.1 St. Stephen's Convent (Agios Stefanos) 5.2 Great Meteoron Monastery; 5.3 Varlaam Monastery; 5.4 Roussanou Monastery; 5.5 The Holy Trinity Monastery; 5.6 St. Nikolaos Anapafsas; 6 Where to Sleep in Meteora? Its one of the best ways to experience Meteora. Required fields are marked *. So, feel safe at Meteora to walk freely without fear, even very late at night. That is the case. planning to do a self drive in meteora and do a 2 days tour. See the details on the visiting days and hours at the end of this post. } else { The small Agios Nikolaos Monastery is easy to access from the road from Kastraki. if (input.id === 'signup_email') return;
} else { The 93 price includes the train tickets from Athens, but youll have to get on the train and get to Kalambaka on your own. this.fieldAndListValidation(); Some monasteries will provide long skirts and scarves for women to wear. It was founded and built in the mid-14th century by a monk named Varlaam. The monastery was founded in 1517 on the site of the old hermitage of the hermit Varlaam (from whom it takes its name). Closed on Thursdays. Monastery of Great Meteoron Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roman Lysogor used under CC BY 3.0 Monastery of Great Meteoron is the largest and the most visited of the remaining monasteries. Important things to know before visiting the Meteora Monasteries Get there early Below we have prepared 2 indicative itinerary examples to consider. It took its name from the first monk climber who went up the rock, the monk Varlaam. Which Is The Most Beautiful Meteora Monastery In Greece? - Travel for a Closed: Wednesday Summer Feel both small and a giant at the same time. However, Meteora cant be reduced to just one post. Thanks for sharing, this looks a lovely place to visit . The village is located only a kilometer away from the town of Kalampaka so you could easily walk back. If you have time to spend the late evening,we highly recommend catching the sunset here. The path is carved inside the rock, and the view from every turn/side is excellent as you can see more of Meteora monasteries. There are a number of truly phenomenal sunset spots near the monasteries. If you are planning to drive your own car here, then you can scroll down on our post to fill the form with your e-mail to send you a map of Meteora. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Moreover, visiting them allows you to discover beautiful frescoes, icons, and old manuscripts. There were originally 24 monasteries built on top of Meteora, but today, only six remain. From there, visit Varlaam monastery and then from the foothills of the rock, where the monastery lies, take the ancient trail and walk down in search of the Dragons cave, located right beneath the monastery. They had to pull themselves up with ladders and ropes just to get to the top of rocky spires reaching 300-500 meters in the air. Open: 9am 5pm, every day var invalidFields = document.querySelectorAll('.invalid'), They are Orthodox monasteries occupied by monks and nuns (mostly monks). Dress Code: Before you visit any of the monasteries . You can stay at the Dellas Boutique Hotel in Kastraki and have a wonderful view of Meteora. Athens to Meteora by Train: There is an express train (number 884) every morning going direct from the central station in Athens (Larissa Station) to Kalambaka at 7:20 in the morning. Its the only monastery that was painted by the Cretan artist Theophanis Strelitzas, making it thebest monastery to visit for art lovers. Inside, youll findstunning frescos and religious relics. return 'text_field'; You can download our map of Meteora from this link: https://www.visitmeteora.travel/our-map/. top.location.href = result.redirect; He builds three temples, a small cell, and a water tank. It was founded in 1356 by Athanasios the Meteorite. Meteora Monasteries - Wanderers Compass Travel Blog _this = this; David Johnston / travelsewhere.net. window.attachEvent('onload', function() { _this.onSubmitCallback(response); The monastery was heavily damaged in WWII fighting but restored in the 1980s. (Book sooner than later for possible upgrades). _this.onFormSubmit(e); this.dropdownValidation(field, input); Founded in 1438, its main church is much newer, dating from 1798. } if (result.has_redirect) { Monastery of Great Meteoron. Just five hours north of Athens you'll find a real-life Game of Thrones location, with 6 working monasteries built on top of impossibly shaped rocks. Learn how your comment data is processed. How To Visit the Meteora Monasteries in 2023 - Your Greece Holidays With very little shade and a closer location to the sun, theMeteora Monasteries can be a seriously hot place to visit. for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; ++i) { Meteora Monasteries: Best Travel Guide for 2023 - Travel the Greek Way this.form.className = this.setFormClassName(); . this.htmlEmbedDropdownValidation(field); if (this.isValid) { Below is the luscious green nature of Meteora, where we were hiking, just a few hours ago. This holy monastery of St. Nicholas contains the Church of St. Anthony,including a mysterious cryptwhere the holy monasterys precious heirlooms are kept safe. text; Plan your experience touring these unique attractions with our list of the top things to do at the Metora Monasteries. Of course, the things that youll do and see always depend on the time and energy you wish to spend in each place you visit. We drove fromThessalonikiand had plenty of time to see the open monasteries in Meteora. What happens after I book? The nuns who live here are welcoming and keep it in perfect order, with a beautiful chapel adorned with frescoes and ornate golden details. The Rousannou Monastery in Meteora was founded in 1529 and is dedicated to Saint Barbara. How to Visit Meteora Monasteries. Tour the Monasteries of Meteora It is hard to believe that monks built these monasteries by hand above massive monoliths. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. FAQ - Visit Meteora We are planning to visit Meteora in May next year We are 4 adults, two of us have walking difficulties If you wish to spare yourself all the hassle of finding train tickets online you can also choose to book our Day trip from Athens to Meteora by train. } Perched atop a 373-meter cliff and reached from the other side by climbing 195 steps, Varlaam is the second biggest monastery, after the Great Metoron. We are storytellers, photographers, and videographers traveling the world full-time in search of outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and ways to make a positive impact on the destinations and communities we visit. Well discover them soon. for (var j = 0; j < inputs.length; ++j) { e.preventDefault(); Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery 09:00 to 17:00. Well, it took us around 6 hours to visit these Meteora monasteries, but the memories are still following us. selected = true; Youll be in and out in just under an hour, leaving plenty of time to explore. We are staying two nights in Meteora and are driving with our own car. You can also reach and leave the monastery in another way. At the end of the day, you get to enjoy the beautiful sunset, sitting on top of a rock in one of the best viewpoints of Meteora. Either way, you'll likely be arriving from Athens or another major city. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact us to get the most out of your tirp to Meteora! } By Shalgk " Out of this world scenery " Oct 2022 We are staying one night in Meteora and are driving there. The rooms are each uniquely furnished and have a rustic theme, most featuring a private balcony where you can have breakfast and enjoy the scenery. The Practical Travel Guide to Visiting the Mystical Monasteries in Closed on Fridays. Alternatively you can always join our Sunset tour, one of the best things to do in the whole area! The following Meteora guide will help you answer questions like, is Meteora worth visiting?, which Meteora monasteries of Greece can you visit, how to get to Meteora monasteries, and more. if (selected) { You may have read our previous article regarding our trip to Meteora Monasteries, about hiking Meteora Greece. Thanks! Visiting Meteora Monasteries: Travel Guide To Greece's Mythical Several restaurants are nearby, making this a perfect mid-day activity. This is how monks were lifted from the rock base. It is believed that Monastery of the Holy Trinity was constructed in 1438, though it was not until 1798 when its main church was built. Some of the Most Exciting Filming Spots Worth Checking Out in Malta, Hurghada Egypt An Unforgettable Experience at the Red Sea, Protecting Your Identity and Finances While Traveling: Essential Tips. Consider joining a tour, walking between the monasteries, or getting there very early in the morning. this.showConfirmationText(result.confirmation_html); Positioned right in the middle of Greece, away from many of the country's other major destinations, Meteora isn't the most convenient place to reach. Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. this.removeTextFieldError(email); Some of these rocks are as tall as 300 meters (984 feet), and on top of some of them rests the monasteries of Meteora. } else { Open: 9am 3pm, Wednesday Monday But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 4 What Is the Best Time To Visit Meteora? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. } Perhaps the most interesting is the museum, showing images of monastic life and the rope basket used to bring up supplies and pilgrims. Can yo send it to me? Holy Trinity Monastery [SEE MAP] Featured as a setting in the 1981 James Bond thriller "For Your Eyes Only," the Holy Trinity Monastery is perhaps the most recognizable of the Meteora monasteries. Driving from Athens to Meteora takes about 4 hours as it is 360 km away. Open: 10am 4pm, Friday WednesdaydropdownValidation: function(field, input) { Thank you for all this information. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Meteora is very touristic but mostly catering to tourists arriving in big tourist buses, so if you have a choice, better visit monasteries first thing in the morning before the arrival of most buses or later in the afternoon after their departure. With each one of the staircases that lead up to the monasteries having approximately 150 to 300 steps! }, It's a wonderful way to experience one of Greece's most breathtaking and off-the . Looking at them, you cant help but think they are hanging out of the skies. if (response.success) { This is perhaps the most precariously perched monastery,located smack on top of a gravity-defying tower of rock. Great Meteoron Monastery is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM every day except Tuesdays. }, submitButtonText: function() {
function extend(destination, source) { You can download a map of Meteora from our site.
this.validate(); In the afternoon you may visit the Natural History Museum of Meteora, located in the town of Kalampaka where you will be able to learn about wildlife and the flora of this place. } else { It was founded in 1356 by Athanasios the Meteorite. Also, you will have to start your day trip early. }, Plan to visit Meteora in 2022 and you are not sure which is the best itinerary for your travel plans? if (input.value) { Out of the six active monasteries the 5 of them they have stairs to climb. 6 Awe-inspiring Monasteries in Meteora (with Map) - Touropia Travel Guides Visit Meteora - Official Travel Site You'll want to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring water. Varlaam Monastery 09:00 to 16:00. All Meteora monasteries and churches were equally beautiful, suspended in the air, and the road leading to them was through clear paths and fantastic enormous rocks. Open: 9am 3pm, Saturday Wednesday Roussanou would be a good choice of a monastery to visit late in the afternoon. This Meteora monastery is not that big but is very well-tended. } Visit Meteora is a highly awarded local travel agency in operation since 2013. From Monday to Friday, one or two monasteries, depending on the season remain closed. if (document.addEventListener) { textAndDropdownValidation: function(field, type) { One day in Meteora - Monasteries and view points This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Could you send us the map? In an effort to increase interior space, the building was built in three levels. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Monasteryisclosed on Fridaysand is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on all other days. Street Food in Thessaloniki and More Where&What to Eat in Thessaloniki, Alba Iulia Citadel A Beautiful Destination in Transylvania, 5 Easy Mountain Biking Tips for Beginners. } else { return text; Best Visit To Meteora Monasteries Greece 2023 - Mindful Experiences Greece Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Before booking our tours check Meteora Monasteries Opening Hours and Days UPDATED 2023, Meteora Thrones - Travel Center 2022 All rights reserved, Summer Timetable April 1st to October 31st, Winter Timetable November 1st to March 31st, Train to Train tour with your own tickets. Thikse Gompa, Ladakh, India this.isValid = false; Some of the monasteries are only open until 3 PM or on certain days of the week. if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) { What about the climate of the area? hi Could you send us the map? }); }, }, } else { if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; In the afternoon make plans to see the Sunset on the rocks either by joining the Sunset tour or by yourself. Open: 10am 4pm, Thursday Saturday Seeking maps and information about parking and sightseeing itineraries. The monastery was founded in 1368 and was later enlarged in 1628. More Than Monasteries - Things to do in Meteora Greece It is the only monastery in Meteora accessible for people with disabilities, being connected with the road by a small stone bridge. This is the kind of activity to remember for a lifetime and the best way to end a memorable stay here at Meteora! Hi An Easy Guide To Visiting Meteora Monasteries In Greece - Useful Tips Buy a ticket headed for Trikala. Perched on top of massive rock columns, the ancient monasteries are truly a sight to behold. The organized tours by bus from Thessaloniki are more convenient than the ones by train. I think spending 2 or 3 days there is a great idea, to see the monasteries but also the surrounding area. if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; }, } Here is another one about the Meteora monasteries we visited. A famous painter from Crete painted the main chapel in the 16th century with Biblical scenes and moments of monastic life. Sunset tours are also very popular in Meteora as its probably the most instagrammable place in Greece. There are 6 functional Greek Orthodox monasteries in Meteora that you can visit during their opening times (provided below in this post). No one came into this world as a writer, but everyone can become one. The famous monasteries date back to the Byzantine era and they lie on the top of massive rock formations. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In fact, it is the oldest holy monastery at Meteora, founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. Closed: Monday. The church itself has a very rare pulpit, utterly different from those you may encounter in Orthodox churches. Can you please send me the map of meteora and details and price of your sunset tour. The monastery with the easiest access is the monastery of Agios Stefanos which has no stairs at all, a perfect choice for people with mobility issues or disabilities. Summer return name += ' mimi_invalid'; Its a beautiful place, worth making a little fuss about it Thanks for reading, Steven. input.placeholder = ''; Modest clothing is required for all visitors to the monasteries of Holy Meteora. Open: 9am 2pm, Friday Monday Want to Save Money on Your Cruise? (The men and women are separated at Meteora.) } This monastery was founded in the mid-14th century by a monk named Varlaam. They are incredible indeed. } else { Would love to have a copy of the map for driving in Meteora. Thanks for the comment, Nic! } The six monasteries and nunneries still functioning in Meteora are below. } else { The ride from Athens (Larissa station) to Kalambaka (or Kalabaka) takes a little more than 4 hours. Cost: If you decide to venture to Meteora solo, the entrance fee for all monasteries is 3 Euro per person. Varlaam Monastery 4. Thanks for the info.nyes we would like to receive your detailed map with parking and sightseeing info. Meteora TRAVEL GUIDE TO METEORA Meteora in Greece is hands down one of the most impressive regions of the country! Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Meteora Monasteries - Greece Travel Ideas The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. field.className += ' invalid'; Meteora Greece is a place of immense beauty located at the center of the Greek peninsula. Late evening, take the public bus or walk from Kalampaka (15 to 20 min.) disableForm: function() { If you aren't up for hiking on your own, or you want to get some perspective on what you are seeing from a local guide, join an organized hiking trip. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Take a taxi and ask the driver to drop you off outside Holy Trinity monastery. Situated atop a lone rocky pinnacle, it's also one of the most challenging monasteries to reach. };
Which monasteries did you visit? Imagine being on top of those gigantic rock formations, while gazing at different monasteries and the horizon. For some reason, we liked this monastery a lot.