The Meteora monasteries of Greece will take your breath away.
Carved by wind and rain over thousands of years, Meteora's landscape is unique with massive stone spires reaching to the sky.
Meteora Monasteries of Greece
[e-toc]Atop dozens of magnificent rock monoliths are ancient monasteries dating back to the 9th century.
The hermit monks that first settled Meteora couldn't walk up stairs or over bridges to access the monasteries, they had to reach their secluded and safe retreat by scaling the walls with ropes and ladders reaching as high as 500 meters (1500 feet).
By the 14th century the community of Meteora grew to 24 monasteries suspended in the sky.
Monks would hoist themselves up the towering rocks by putting a basket on a rope and hand cranking the person up to safety. It was a life of solitude and reflection.
Today, six Meteora monasteries remain and tourists can visit them and this magical region whose name translates to “suspended in air. “
- Planning on Travel to Greece? Enjoy Our Photography Guide to Santorini or check out our Greece Travel Guide
Visit Meteora
Visit Meteora Greece invited us to witness the majesty of Meteora and its Monasteries. Owner George is as passionate about Greece as he is his home right here among the monoliths.
It won't be long until travellers flock to see the stone forest in the centre of the country.
How long should you stay in Meteora to see the Monasteries?
4 Days.
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.
You can hike through the monasteries and visit the chapels high in the sky all while enjoying the Greek hospitality of Meteora.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Meteora stand heads above other sites in Greece.
Meteora is Old
Meteora's surreal landscape houses the oldest known man-made structure on earth. Civilizations dates back 23,000 years in Meteora.
And you thought the Acropolis was old! This ancient land dates back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.
Plus, rare species of birds and flowers can be found in the area causing the Greek Ministry of Environment to designated it a Natura 2000 Ecological Zone.
Discover the Monasteries with Visit Meteora
There are six remaining monasteries in Meteora and we explored them all.
The Great Meteoron Monastery takes you up steep steps (you no longer need to be winched up by hand) to explore the peaceful and picturesque grounds.
Time stands still in Meteora and the old kitchens look exactly as they did years ago.
When standing on top these magnificent rocks, one can understand why the monks chose here as their refuge.
Meteora feels like a little slice of heaven.
Visitors can explore all the six remaining monasteries.
A winding road connects the monasteries, but one of the most fascinating ways to tour the Meteora monasteries is to hike through the landscape.
You can hike with VisitMeteora and their professional local guides who tell interesting personal stories as well as in depth information of Meteora's history and culture.
See our Video: Hiking Meteora Monasteries
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Each monastery contains holy relics, painted frescos, and historic manuscripts.
Photos are not allowed within the chapels, but you are allowed to take photographs of the grounds and other rooms inside the monasteries.
Hiking the Monasteries of Meteora
We took a guided hike to view the Meteora monasteries from below and we highly recommend it.
The hike offered unique views and perspectives of the monasteries of Meteora. It let us enjoy quiet moments in nature away from the tour busses and crowds.
There are some abandoned and ruined monasteries that you are not able to view from the road and there are different angles that cannot be caught from a tour bus.
We love to inspire people to get away from the organized tours to explore, and Meteora is the place to do that.
There are some abandoned and ruined monasteries that you are not able to view from the road and there are different angles that cannot be caught from a tour bus.
We love to inspire people to get out from the organized tours to explore, and Meteora is the place to do that.
Getting Around Meteora
We recommend using a rental car or private guide to tour the Meteora monasteries and surrounding villages.
It is highly recommended to get out at sunrise and sunset for stunning moments free from crownds.
The tour buses from Athens have yet to arrive and you have uninterrupted views of this ancient landscape all to yourself.
Many of the rocks and cliffs are high, so be careful not to get so involved in the view that you fall off the ledge.
The drops are vertical and deadly.
What to do in Meteora
There are many other things to do in Meteora than just exploring the monasteries. There is a thriving community filled with friendly Greek traditions.
We danced to Greek musicians playing guitar at the Archontariki Restaurant and we ate countless incredible meals celebrating our favourite Greek cuisine.
We enjoyed beautiful views of the monoliths from Meteoron Panorama Restaurant as we savoured gastronomical delights.
Mushrooms are popular in Meteora. We ate a 6-course sampler meal served in every possible way.
Drinks and desserts were made from mushrooms.
You can book this experience at Neromilos Restaurant after a visit and tour of the fascinating Mushroom Museum.
Other recommended restaurants in Meteora:
Meteora Restaurant
Panelinion Restaurant
Paramithi Restaurant
Gardenia Restaurant
Palazzo Restaurant
Interested in Greek Cuisine? Read our Greek Food Guide to Zante.
Important Meteora Greece Information
Book Meteora Monsatery tour with VisitMeteora
Travel around Greece by car is easy. We had a rental car from AvisGreece – www.avis.gr that we booked in Athens at the airport. Rentals are affordable, and to truly explore the country, highly recommended.
A great start to your trip in Athens is at the Divani Meteora Hotel.
Stay at Divani Meteora Hotel . It is situated in the heart of the Meteora mountains right at the base of the massive Meteora Rocks.
It's located in the town of Kalabaka and is walking distance to many restaurants. It also has a pool, fine dining and bar.
Meteora in Pop Culture
Two popular franchises featured Meteora. Game of Thrones and James Bond both shot in Meteora.
You'll recognize it as Eyrie castle in the sky on Game of Thrones (Remember the castle above the clouds where Tyrion had his cell in the sky?) and in scenes of For Your Eyes Only.
Meteora is a magical destination that everyone should visit when traveling to Greece.
We have witnessed similar landscapes in Yanghuo, China, Vietnam's Ha Long Bay and even Krabi Thailand.
But monasteries perched above stone pillars reaching to the sky took it to another level. There is a reason Meteora and its monasteries are growing in popularity, they are awe-inspiring.
Get there soon before the entire world finds out about this one of a kind destination.
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Raymond Abbott says
I can’t imagine what geanuis of a builder it took for topping the mountain with such beauty.
Mirtica says
My next stop is Meteora in a couple of days. Any recommendations on a place to stay (town vs village)?
ANJANA says
METEORA IS AN AMAZING PLACES IN GREECE… AND YOU NAILED RIGHT WITH WONDERFUL IMAGES. THE OUTDOORS, SKIES, MOUNTAINS, & THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE MAKES METEORA MONASTERIES MORE WONDERFULL…
Mary @ Green Global Travel says
Lovely photos! These buildings are filled with history, and built in such a beautiful place.Thanks for the tips!
Lorraine Messore says
Amazing photos! I have never heard of this place before so I am now adding it to my list. How long of a hike did you do? I love the idea of a hike but with a not so great knee I might have difficulty. Thought I had Greece ticked off of my list but will go back for sure.
Serhat Engul says
What a view! Stunning photos, incredibly beautiful landscapes. Moreover the beauty of the hidden monastery! The temple reminds me of Sumela Monastery in Turkey but of course this is even more daring architecture. Such an inspirational post. Thank you very much.
Bella Mare says
Meteora is one of the most beautiful places of Greece , do you know that 80% of Greek territory is mountainous ?
Our Wanders says
Wow, these pictures are very dramatic! Greece was the first place where we travelled together and it was quite a good start, we will always think back to our visit to the Olympos and the monasteries of Meteora that time with sweet nostalgia. But nostalgia or not it’s a wonderful place anyway, it would worth a second trip, maybe for an upcoming anniversary. 🙂
Snow Holidays says
What a beautiful place. Photographs are amazing. One would really love to viisit this place after seeing the photographs.
Glen says
It looks like some place dreamed up for a fantasy movie of some sort. Just incredibly beautiful. Sometimes it is hard to know that there are such beautiful places in the world. I’d love to see this with my own eyes.
Silke says
Wow – these are just absolutely stunning photographs. I really just want to get there, like, right now! Leave it to the Planet D duo to introduce you to places you never even dared dreaming about. Just wonderful. Thanks!
Tim says
Beautiful photos as always! Meteora just moved a few notches higher on my bucket list. It must be amazing to wake up to the morning light crawling across those beautiful monasteries and mountains.