The Meteora Monasteries are the ‘miracle of Greece’. The Greek word Meteora means “suspended in the air” and brilliantly describes the way these Greek Orthodox Monasteries seem to balance on the cliff edges. When visiting this bucket-list Unesco World Heritage site, most visitors base themselves at the nearest town, Kalabaka.
We visited these impressive rock formations of Meteora when holidaying in nearby Thessaloniki and Halkidiki, combining the beach holiday with a dose of mountain air away from the bright lights of the big city.
1. Getting to the Meteora Monasteries
The closest international airport is Thessaloniki. It is possible to get a bus or train from Thessaloniki to Meteora however we hired a car for the duration of our trip. We would recommend this too if you are traveling independently as it comes in handy when visiting the vast site that unfolds before you.
Driving from Thessaloniki to Meteora is easy, it took us around 3 hours but we chose a scenic route to see more of the countryside. A satnav is necessary if you are going off-highway as the country roads aren’t well signposted.
2. Where we stayed
Hotel Meteora, in Kalampáka, was the perfect mid-range bed and breakfast for us just off the center of town. For our 2-night stay we booked the Superior Double Room which included a private bathroom. balcony and terrace, and air conditioning.
Breakfast was a hearty affair, served to individual tables rather than buffet style, with fresh eggs cooked to order.
The owner was extremely helpful in advising us which Meteora Monasteries to visit on the days we were in town (they open/close on different days of the week) and marking on a map the best spots to capture epic views.
He also recommended a tavern down the road for dinner as they have traditional live music playing each night. We loved the food and tavern so much that we went on both evenings of our two-night stay!
3. Catching The Best Sunset
As you can imagine the sunsets in Meteora are epic! There are several viewing points along one of the main roads, but they do get very busy so it’s best to go early to get a good spot. We went in low season, so I can’t imagine what it would be like in high season.
Whilst we were waiting patiently for the sun to set we watched a couple in wedding outfits having a photo shoot. It was unclear whether it was for their actual wedding or whether it was a fashion shoot, either way, they would have had amazing images I’m sure!
The photos we took did no justice at all to the sight we saw before our eyes. It truly is a magical experience and one we will not be forgetting quickly. You really must go and see for yourself!
4. What We Ate
We very much enjoyed all the food we ate in Greece, but especially the evening meals we had at the To Paramithi – Tavern. Daryroush really enjoyed their lamb ribs and red wine, whilst I ordered a selection of hot and cold mezze plates. They have both outdoor and indoor tables, but we opted for inside as we really liked the decor and being able to watch the two guitarists strumming away and singing.
Lunches were at the Yamas Taverna which is a large restaurant catering to tourist coach parties on the high street. The food was good, the staff attentive, and it was great for people-watching. I enjoyed the best beetroot salad and grilled aubergines after several meat-heavy meals in previous days.
Things To Consider Before Going The Meteora Monasteries
- Make sure you book ahead for accommodation, especially in the high season, when it gets very busy and the prices will reflect demand.
- Hire a car to get around, unless you seriously love hiking up steep mountains. We did see people explore on mountain bikes too, but we found the steep steps up to the Monasteries was as much as our thighs could handle!
- Drones are banned from flying in this Unesco World Heritage Site. However, it isn’t very obvious as we didn’t spot any signage and we did fly our drone on the first day until we looked it up and realised our mistake. A few people did fly drones, so I think it is a common mistake to make when you are traveling independently and do not have a guide to advise you.
- Ladies need to be covered from the waist down when entering the Monasteries. I thought I’d be fine wearing ankle-length trousers but I still had to buy a shawl to wrap around myself. They are available at the entrances for the larger sights. To avoid the added expense, bring one with you.
Hopefully, we’ve given you a good idea of what it’s like to visit the Meteora Monasteries and you add it to your bucket list if you haven’t already done so. And if do go, let us know what your favourite part was – we’d love to hear back from you!
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