The Meteora monasteries are unlike anywhere. During my last visit, I was blown away by the incredible beauty I found here. Learn the history, how to visit Meteora, and more in this article.
Nature is like an artist working on landscapes; using small brush strokes on a canvas, taking millions of years to paint, and yet the masterpiece is never completed.
In the case of the Meteora monasteries, it seems that the painter went a bit more abstract than usual by abandoning the typically mild, harmonious lines and replacing them with powerful vertical strokes. Breaking the usual form and creating something that looks more alien than earthly.
The outcome is a place scattered with monumental boulders — many of them column-shaped and rising vertically to the sky, consisting of sandstone and conglomerate that once was part of a delta seabed.
Travel Guide to Visiting Meteora, Greece
Some of the Meteora monasteries are so tightly built on these pillar tops, that it seems as though they’re integrated into the rock.
To make things look even more extreme, a handful of monks climbed several of these columns at the beginning of the 14th century and built more than 20 monasteries at the top of their jagged peaks!
Meteora is one of the best places to visit in Greece for all types of travelers. Make sure it’s firmly placed on your Greece travel itinerary.
How to Get to Meteora (Kalambaka)
There are trains and buses leaving from Athens and Thessaloniki for Kalambaka (the main town to visit Meteora from) on a daily basis. Or if you’d rather join a tour and have it all easily planned out for you, check out the various tours on offer below.
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.
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. It costs €20 – €40 depending on the class you book and it takes around 4 hours.
There are many other choices with a middle stop throughout the day but cost a bit more. Find out more about the train here. An easier way to get to Meteora by train is by joining a day trip.
This highly rated trip includes the train journies, visiting the 8 monasteries, and going inside the hermit caves. A guide, train tickets, pick-up and drop-off, and water are included in this fun day…
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