Best things to do in Meteora, a magical destination in Greece

Meteora has hands down one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen, and it baffles me that a place as stunning as this is so little known outside of Greece! Located in northwestern Greece, Meteora is home to massive sandstone formations that rise vertically from the ground, creating a surreal Avatar-like ‘rock forest’ that towers above the towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki.

On top of these giant rock pillars, six medieval monasteries have been built. It truly looks like something out of a fantasy movie. With its otherworldly landscape and beautiful monasteries, this UNESCO-listed site is the perfect playground for nature lovers, hikers, landscape photographers and those who enjoy learning about history.

I spent a few days exploring the best things to do in Meteora, and in this post, I’m sharing all my tips to help you make the most of your time there. You’ll also find my suggestions on where to stay in the area, as well as some instructions on how to get to Meteora.

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Best things to do in Meteora

1) Go hiking in Meteora

The best way to experience the jaw-dropping nature of Meteora is to go hiking. This allows you to get up close to the rocks and visit the more hidden spots that tour buses wouldn’t take you to.

You can walk in the footsteps of monks on ancient cobbled trails and get an idea of how they used to access the monasteries in the past. It’s one of the best places for hiking in Greece, with mesmerizing scenery and striking views on every corner.

Although the vertical rocks might look intimidating at first, the truth is that hiking in Meteora is not particularly difficult. However, if you visit the area during summer, as we did, what can make the hikes challenging is the heat. Therefore, consider hiking early in the morning to enjoy cooler temperatures, avoid the crowds and perhaps even catch the sunrise. 

We did the following two hikes in Meteora:

Hike to several monasteries and viewpoints

This hike takes you to some of the best viewpoints in Meteora and you’ll also pass two of the famous monasteries on the way. The total length of the hike is about 9 km (5.6 mi), and there’s nothing complicated about it as you’ll be walking on a paved road for the larger part of the hike. 

We decided to walk this trail early in the morning before it gets too hot and before other tourists wake up. But most importantly, we wanted to see the sunrise illuminating the beautiful rocks and valleys of Meteora.

We started the hike at 5 am to be sure that we’d get to the top of the rocks in time. The trail begins just north of Kalambaka town, close to Alsos House hotel and leads you through a forest up a cobbled path to the Holy Trinity Monastery.

Although this section of the trail is only about a kilometer long, it’s the most challenging part with a few steep ascents. From there on, it’s an easy walk along the main road of Meteora, where you’ll already start getting a glimpse of the amazing Meteora views that lie ahead.

Once we reached the first viewpoint, we were in complete awe as the sun peeked up above the horizon and cast a soft orange glow on the majestic rocks in front of us. It was 100% worth the early alarm and the climb up that rocky path. We were so blown away by the views that we spent an hour just sitting on the rocks and admiring the landscape around us.  

Next, we headed to Psaropetra lookout, which offered equally stunning vistas as well as a closer view of the Roussanou Monastery. Note that when you search  ‘Psaropetra lookout’ in Google Maps, it doesn’t give you the right location. The correct location is the one I’ve marked on the map.

This viewpoint is also known as the best spot for watching the sunset in Meteora. We planned to go up there again the following day to see the sunset, but unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side.

Then we continued our walk towards the Kastraki village along the main road, where we were presented with more epic views of the giant rocks. Once down at Kastraki, we fueled ourselves with some pastries from a local bakery before heading to Kalambaka to finish our hike. 

Be aware that if you decide to do this hike at sunrise, you won’t be able to visit the monasteries that you pass on the way since they won’t be open yet. Regardless of the time of day you choose to hike, walking this trail is one of the best things to do in Meteora since you get to see the area from so many different angles.

Hike to Adrachti rock

After randomly spotting the Adrachti rock (also known as the Spindle) from a distance, we immediately knew that we had to make our way to this bizarre-looking pillar to see it up close. This is a very short hike, so it’s a great option if you just want to get a taste of hiking in Meteora or simply take it easy after hiking the longer trail that I described above. 

The path to Adrachti is not on Google Maps, so use the map above to find it.  

The trailhead is located to the east of Kastraki, not far from Archontiko Mesohori Hotel and Qastiro Meteora cafe. It’s a shaded path that leads through a forest and past some large boulders. The first half of the trail consists of a wooden staircase, whereas the second half is a rugged dirt track. 

It only takes about 20 minutes until you reach the Adrachti rock. It’s a really cool spot hidden between the steep mountains of Meteora, with the tall Adrachti rock rising above you. You might even encounter some turtles there. Once you’re done enjoying the views, head back down the same way you came from.

If you’re not comfortable with trekking around Meteora on your own or you’d simply prefer to do it with a guide, consider taking this Meteora hiking tour.

Related posts: Looking to do more hikes in Greece? Then check out Vikos Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Greece and these 7 great hiking trails in Greece.

2) Visit Meteora Monasteries

A trip to Meteora wouldn’t be complete without visiting its centuries-old Byzantine monasteries sitting on top of the monolithic rocks. 

Although it might look like they are difficult to access, stairways have been cut into the rocks and bridges have been built to make it easy for visitors to enter the monasteries. In the past, however, the access was much more complicated, and the only way to transport goods and people up to the monasteries was by using ropes, baskets and removable ladders.

The hermit monks who built the monasteries back in the 14th-16th century chose such inaccessible locations for a good reason. They were looking for solitude and a place to hide from Turkish attacks.

24 Eastern Orthodox monasteries were present in Meteora during their peak era in the 16th century. Nowadays, only six of them are active, and they’ve been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While the monasteries look impressive on the outside, their interiors are equally fascinating. Walking around the mysterious halls and beautiful courtyards, hearing the Byzantine hymns and seeing the old frescoes, will make you feel like you’ve taken a journey to the Middle Ages.

With that said, you probably don’t need to visit all six of them unless you’re particularly into religious sites. We entered just the two largest monasteries – The Great Meteoron and Varlaam – and admired the rest of them from the outside.

The entrance fee to each of the monasteries is 5 euros. Keep in mind that some of the monasteries are closed on specific days of the week. Be sure to check the opening times before visiting.

The Great Meteoron Monastery

Built in the middle of the 14th century, The Great Meteoron Monastery is the largest, oldest and most visited of the six active monasteries in Meteora. Perched on top of the ‘Broad Rock’ more than 600 metres above sea level, it is also the highest of the monasteries, and you need to go up 115 steps to reach it. Walking around this monastery really makes you wonder how the monks managed to construct something so immense using just ropes and ladders!

Varlaam Monastery

While the Great Meteoron Monastery is impressive due to its size, Varlaam Monastery is, in my opinion, more beautiful. Founded in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, it’s the second-largest monastery in Meteora. Make sure to also visit Varlaam’s museum, where you can learn about the daily routine of the monks as well as the process of becoming a monk.

The Holy Trinity Monastery

Perched on top of a huge vertical boulder, The Holy Trinity Monastery is truly impressive but also the most difficult one to access. To get to the monastery, you first need to follow a path to the foot of the rock and then climb up 140 steps. In case you’re a James Bond fan, you’ll definitely want to see this monastery as it was one of the filming locations of the movie ‘For Your Eyes Only’.

Roussanou Monastery

Roussanou Monastery was built at the end of the 16th century and is one of the two monasteries in Meteora that is inhabited by nuns. It is located on a lower boulder compared to the other monasteries, which provides a different angle of the surrounding landscapes.

St. Stephen’s Monastery

St. Stephen’s Monastery is the most accessible one and doesn’t require walking up any steps, which makes it the ideal option for visitors with mobility issues. Just like Roussanou, this 16th-century monastery is inhabited by nuns.

St Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery

This monastery was founded at the end of the 14th century and is the smallest of the six. As it is sitting on a narrow rock with a limited surface, it was built vertically with several floors on top of each other.

Meteora monasteries map

Meteora monasteries dress code

You should dress modestly to enter the monasteries. This means no shorts or sleeveless tops, and women are required to wear a long skirt, not trousers. Although this was stated very clearly in front of each of the monasteries, we still saw lots of people dressed in tank tops, crop tops, shorts and mini skirts.

It seemed that the dress code wasn’t enforced, but since it’s a place of worship, I’d recommend showing respect and covering yourself up anyway. It really isn’t that hard. Before entering the monasteries, I simply threw on a light shirt and tied a beach towel around my hips. 

In case you show up in the wrong attire, the monasteries can provide you with trousers and skirts, but I wouldn’t count on it.

3) Explore Kalambaka and Kastraki

Kalambaka and Kastraki are the two towns located at the foothills of the Meteora mountains.

The town of Kalambaka (also spelled Kalampaka or Kalabaka) was much larger than I expected. That’s because most articles I read referred to it as ‘a tiny village’. The reality is that Kalambaka is a lively town with 12,000 inhabitants and lots of restaurants, bars, bakeries, tour agencies, gift shops and other small businesses. 

Some of the best things to do in Kalambaka are to simply stroll along its main street Trikalon, explore the local food scene, or sit down with a cocktail and people-watch. On weekend nights, the street is buzzing with both locals and tourists. You can also visit Kalambaka’s Natural History & Mushroom Museum if that’s your thing.

Just 1.5 km (1 mi) from Kalambaka is the Kastraki village. It’s a much smaller and quieter place with a more rural vibe, but it still has a handful of cute restaurants and guest houses.

4) Discover Meteora on e-bikes

If you want to visit the monasteries of Meteora but you’re not interested in renting a car and don’t want to join a tour or hike all the way up to the rocks, then renting e-bikes is the perfect option.

It allows you to be the boss of your own time and have the flexibility to make stops and admire the views wherever you want. Having e-bikes is also handy if you want to go up to the rocks to watch the sunset over Meteora.

We rented our e-bikes from Kalambaka for one day, during which we visited the Great Meteoron monastery and Varlaam monastery, and after that, biked all the way east along Meteora’s main road down to Kalambaka – a total of about 16 km (10 mi).

Riding the e-bikes on winding mountain roads while being surrounded by the incredible scenery is such a fun experience and one of the best things to do in Meteora. You can also join an e-bike tour to discover the area with a guide.

5) Do some adventure sports

If hiking or biking around Meteora doesn’t sound thrilling enough for you, there are plenty of more adrenaline-inducing activities to choose from. 

You can join a cliff scrambling tour that offers you the opportunity to walk on narrow trails carved into the edges of the gigantic rocks while you’re attached to a rope. Or you can try your hand at rock climbing with a professional guide to ascend to the awe-inspiring peaks of Meteora.

If you’d like to fly over the mountains of Meteora like a bird, take a tandem paragliding flight and enjoy the views of the landscape from a whole different angle. 

For those who are not too keen on heights, mountain biking or whitewater rafting is the way to go.

Where to stay in Meteora

The vast majority of the hotels in Meteora are located in the towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki. Kalambaka is larger and much livelier, whereas Kastraki has a quieter and more laid-back vibe. They both provide easy access to the Meteora mountains and monasteries. 

How to get to Meteora from Athens

You can get to Meteora from Athens either by bus, by car or by joining a tour.

The bus to Meteora departs from Kato Patissia station in Athens at 6.30 am from Monday to Saturday. The bus company that operates the route is KTEL. The trip takes about 6 hours and costs 36 euros. When searching for the tickets on KTEL’s site, remember to choose ‘Kalampaka’ as your destination (there’s no destination called Meteora).

It used to be possible to get to Meteora from Athens by train in 4 hours, which is what we did when we visited. However, currently (2026), there is no train connection from Athens to Meteora due to repair works.

If you prefer to rent a car, the driving time to Meteora from Athens is less than 4 hours, and the distance is 340 km (211 mi). The route is straightforward and the roads are in great condition. I recommend taking a look at Discover Cars to find good deals on rental cars, because they include a variety of suppliers at very competitive prices.

It’s also very common to visit Meteora on a tour from Athens, such as this highly-rated 2-day tour. You can also find day trips from Athens, which is a great option for those who are short on time. If you do have the time, though, I recommend spending 2-3 days in Meteora to get a deeper sense of what this magical place is all about.

I hope that this post convinced you to add Meteora to your bucket list and that you found these tips useful for planning your trip to this wonderful part of Greece.

Do you have any questions about visiting Meteora? Leave them in the comments and I’ll get back to you.