2 Days in Meteora, Greece
Meteora is famous for its monasteries, perched on top of high rock formations. More than 500 years ago, monks built 24 Eastern Orthodox monasteries atop inaccessible peaks in central Greece. Today, Meteora is as renowned for these spiritual structures as it is for its unique geological formations. In Greek, the name Meteora translates to “suspended in the air.”
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How to get to Meteora from Athens:
Tours: There are organized tours from Athens to Meteora. You can find 2-day tours, 3-day tours as well as day trips. I recommend spending at least two days. Three days would be perfect.
We booked a private two-day tour to Meteora through Michael’s Amazing Tours. Our driver/guide picked us up at the Piraeus Port in Athens at the end of our Mediterranean cruise. After two days in Meteora, we spent one magical day in Athens.
Train: You can also get to Meteora from Athens by train. The journey takes about 4 hours, trains depart from the Larissa station (Athens Railway Station) several times a day.
Car: If you prefer to travel from Athens to Meteora by car, the drive is about 215 miles which will take about 4 hours.
Day 1: Saint Luke Monastery:
After leaving Athens, and before reaching Meteora we stopped at the Saint Luke Monastery, also known as the Hosios Loukas Monastery. This is one of the most important and best-preserved monuments of Byzantine culture. It is located in the Phocis region, not far from Delphi. This Byzantine monastery is famous for its well-preserved frescoes and architectural significance.
Next stop: Delphi
Delphi offers a glimpse into the history and culture of ancient Greece and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was considered the center of the world in ancient Greek religion and is associated with the Oracle of Delphi, where people sought prophecies and guidance from the god Apollo the Olympian god of light, harmony, and knowledge. The area was inhabited in the 2nd millennium BC. Important attractions at Delphi include the Temple of Apollo, the ancient theater, Tholos of Delphi, and the Delphi Archaeological Museum. We loved Delphi! It’s not hard to see why this was the chosen location… It’s beautiful! You can book a 2-day tour to Delphi & Meteora from Athens.
To Patriko Mas:
After our visit, we went to dinner at To Patriko Mas, a Greek Mediterranean restaurant in a traditional stone house built in 1850 in the center of Delphi. We sat outside on the terrace under a mulberry tree that's over 100 years old. It was a beautiful outdoor patio. We had delicious food, fantastic service, and stunning views!
Meteroa:
We finally arrived at Meteroa and we were ready for bed. It was a long, amazing day! Our tour company booked our rooms at Iridanos Guesthouse. The rooms were so charming with a balcony to admire the views. It’s in a great location and we had a yummy breakfast that was included. We would have loved to spend more time there.
Day 2: Meteroa
Our tour guide brought us here for pictures and the best views in Meteora.
The monasteries in Meteroa offer unique architectural and historical significance, and the stunning natural surroundings make them a must-visit. This wild and inaccessible place attracted Christian hermits as early as the 10th and 11th centuries, with the official operation of the monasteries beginning in the 14th century. At their peak, there were about 24 monasteries. Today there are six fully functional monasteries that still exist and are open to the public.
Tours don’t include the cost of getting into the monasteries. You’ll need to bring cash (three Euros).
We visited two of the six monasteries. In order to see all six monasteries you’ll need to spend more time here. Not every monastery is open every day. You’ll need to check the schedule when planning your visit and I recommend coming in the morning before tour buses arrive.
Varlaam Monastery
We started our morning at the Varlaam Monastery, the second-biggest monastery in Meteroa. It was founded in the 14th century by a monk named Varlaam. He climbed the cliff around 1350 and was followed by a few other monks.
Varlaam
Varlaam is known for its impressive frescoes and breathtaking views. It has beautiful gardens and a carved rotunda on an open terrace with dramatic rocky landscapes in the background.
Next, we visited the Saint Nicholas Anapafsas Monastery, the smallest of the monasteries. It has the most stairs (300) to reach the top. It is worth the workout because the views are amazing! The murals in this monastery are exquisite and considered to be the best in Meteroa. It has been closed and without monks since 1909.
We drove past all of the monasteries and stopped for pictures along the way.
Some of the other monasteries in Meteora include:
In front of the Monastery of Great Meteoron, with our tour guide, Philip
Monastery of Great Meteoron (Monastery of Transfiguration): This is the largest and oldest of the monasteries in Meteora. It’s supposed to be one of the best, unfortunately, it was closed the day we were here.
Monastery of Rousanou (St. Barbara): A smaller but equally beautiful monastery.
Monastery of St. Stephen: This is the easiest to access, as it doesn't require climbing as many steps as the others.
Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada): Featured in the James Bond film, "For Your Eyes Only". It’s one of the most iconic monasteries.
Two of the monasteries are convents for nuns, (Agios Stefanos & Roussanou) and four are male monasteries with monks.
Sunset in Meteroa:
You don’t have as much control over whether or not you see a sunset when taking a tour. Our tour arrived after dark on our first day. We would have seen the sunset If we didn’t make stops along the way. But we really loved the stops. On a three-day tour, there would be time to see a sunset in Meteroa.
Dress code for Meteroa Monasteries:
-Men need to wear long pants and T-shirts that cover their shoulders.
-Ladies are required to wear long skirts, and shoulders must be covered. The monasteries provide scarves for you to buy if you need to cover your legs or shoulders.
-Make sure to wear comfortable shoes with a good grip. You’ll be walking on a lot of steps, some are slick.
Other activities in Meteora:
Meteora is a paradise for outdoor activities, like hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and cycling. We went back into town for lunch then drove to the location of the Battle of the Thermopylae as we headed towards Athens.
Battle of the Thermopylae:
This battle took place in 480 B.C. during the Greco-Persian Wars. We actually walked around the battleground as we learned about this war. It occurred at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae, located in central Greece, near the modern town of Lamia. The pass was a strategic location that the Greeks, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta, used to defend against the invading Persian forces, led by King Xerxes I. The battle is famous for its bravery and sacrifice, as 300 Spartans and their allies held off a much larger Persian army for several days.
The three musketeers in Kamena Vourla
Kamena Vourla
Next, we stopped in Kamena Vourla to enjoy beautiful views while trying a local treat…loukoumades (Greek donuts with honey).
We loved this tour but it did feel a little rushed since there was so much to see. If I were to do it again I would do the three-day tour, this would be the perfect amount of time. Our tour guide (Phillip) is outstanding! He had so much knowledge about Greek History. Greek tour guides are some of the best in the world. They have lots of rules for those wanting to be a tour guide. We asked so many questions and he had an answer for all of them. We enjoyed learning about his beautiful country and spending time with him made it so memorable!
