There is absolutely no expectation to participate in religious services nor will you be asked about your religion. Each monastery has different opening hours, so check beforehand. The 6 Monasteries of Meteora - A Complete Visitor Guide. Train or bus will take longer, I expect. We loved it! Hence, you can walk to both. So how do I find out what time those buses or trains leave? From Lhasa, one can take the shuttle bus to get to the Drigung Monastery. The dorm rooms are provided with simple beds with mattresses. s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); Of these two I suggest staying in Kalambaka as it is the bigger one and most public transportation ends here. "@type": "Answer", The easiest way to get to Meteora is by driving. ", You can borrow skirts or trousers in most monasteries. My final choice for one of the best places to stay near Meteora, is the Dellas Boutique Hotel in Kastraki. If you have a certain monastery to visit or stay, you are suggested to tell your plan to your travel consultant, so that they can help to arrange the reasonable itinerary for you. Used by Zoominfo to enhance customer data. Is Tibet Open to Tourists? To the east, the Monastery of St. Stephen up close. 5 top day trip destinations in Italy Part 3. So plan well where to stay in Meteora and enjoy your visit! In Kastraki we walked near the hermit cells and climbed a hill just north of the village. But you should know that overall public transport in Greece is not that well. Though Thessaloniki is a bit closer, there are no direct trains. Trains are our favorite means of transport. Follow the 1..2..3.. steps on screen to build and Submit your Travel Plan to us. Tourists always come to visit the nunnery for the famous hot spring here. It is supposedly named after the first hermit-monk who settled on Meteora. A small balcony and basic bathroom. Because at that time every single morning tour bus will be there. . The hotel is the perfect blend of hotel amenities with family welcome - ask for a luxury view room if you possibly can, it is worth every penny and you may not be that way againbreakfast was very fresh and nice - local yogurt, and the owner's grapes and all sorts of other things besides. Where to Stay in Stockholm The Best Neighborhoods and Hotels, Day Trip to Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle from Ljubljana, Where to Stay in Banaue and Batad near the Rice Terraces, Osaka 4 Day Itinerary: Things to See and Do. Before we answer this question we have to specify that everything should be taken into account. "@type": "Question", Also, bear in mind that they all charge a small fee. Don't be fooled by the dramatic scenery. The first monastery you will encounter on your way from Meteora town is the Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas, founded at the end of the 14th century. One can overlook the hot spring from the rooms. It does not store any personal data. Its a great place to stay if you want to be away from the fuss, yet pretty close to the center. #1 Kalambaka - Agia Triada #2 Agia Triada - St Stephen Monastery #3 St Stephen Monastery - Rousanou Monastery #4 Rousanou Monastery - Varlaam Monastery #5 Varlaam Monastery - Great Meteoron Monastery #6 Great Meteoron Monastery - St Nicholas Anapausas Monastery #7 St Nicholas Anapausas Monastery - Kalambaka Practical information TheMonastiri Guesthouse gets consistently good reviews, making it one of the best places to stay near Meteora. Meteora monasteries have two seasons, the winter and summer seasons. In this part of the blog post, we're going to talk about all the monasteries in Meteora. Cheers! Visit Meteora is a highly awarded local travel agency in operation since 2013. Check out my guide to hotels in Greece. Home Where to Stay at Meteora Kalabaka or Kastraki Village? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. So its best to come in between. This awesome place has become today one of the most ideal spots in Greece to join different Meteora tours and to engage in outdoor activities. Meteora is the place where the monasteries are. Received a warm welcome from the owner and were shown to our room which had a lovely view over the hotel garden to the rocks. While only a few of them offer overnight accommodations for guests in xenones, a night spent this way is worth seeking out to add an entirely new dimension to your trip to Greece. The Divani Meteora is a big hotel part of the Divani Greek chain. they are nice towns and if you have a few spare days they are really worth some time but not if your objective is to stay near the Monasteries of Meteora. Indeed, Syros is perfect, Greece is our favorite country in all of Europe. Absolutely incredible views of Kastraki, the mountains, and some of the monasteries. With two settlements Kalabaka & Kastraki village existing on the foothills of this extraordinary site, the region of Meteora in Greece, is an area that covers few square kilometers. You can go directly from Athens by train to Meteora so that part is easy! Should you want to participate in religious activities (e.g. "acceptedAnswer": { The Drirapuk Monastery is about 22 km from Darchen, the beginning and ending point of Mount Kailash kora. Natalie. Is Bangkok Worth Visiting? Since the Monastery of Rousanou covers the entire rock, the views of the cliff are unforgettable. And what kind of Meteora guide would this be if I didnt share some info on the seventh one?! You will be traveling to Kalambaka. At the same time, you can consult more information on taboos or tips on visiting these Tibetan monasteries. Staying in a monastery is a unique cultural experience. There are 6 monasteries you can visit and one you can not enter. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-happyfrogtravels_com-narrow-sky-1-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'happyfrogtravels_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_14',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-happyfrogtravels_com-narrow-sky-1-0');Finally, stay at the Meteora Hotel at Kastraki in summer. Where to stay in Meteora: Pyrgos Adrachti Hotel. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The other church in the monastery is from 1627, with post-Byzantium paintings done in 1637. Meteora Hiking Tour My experiences hiking in Meteora, Best places to visit in Greece on a Road Trip, 2 Days in Pelion : Things To See And Do In Pelion, The Azure Window may be lost, but heres 10 reasons to visit Malta, https://tickets.hellenictrain.gr/dromologia/. On the other hand, the paintings in the chapel of Saint John Babtis date from 1682. Win win we like that! If you think the outside of the 14th century church is cool wait until you see the exceptional mural inside. Unfortunately, Kalambaka was savagely damaged and looted During World War II. Thessalonikis Train Station is northwest of the city center. "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "FAQPage", I did not use trains while traveling between Thessaloniki (where I flew in) and Meteora so I cannot tell you how well the trains run, but I have had many travel friends tell me not pleasant stories. As you can't stay in the monasteries themselves, the best places to stay near Meteora are the nearby villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki. I stayed there for 2 nights. Open every day. However, when the monk died, the place fell into oblivion. What we see today is all modern, including infrastructure for tourists. Closed on Thursdays and Fridays. The opening hours often change from year to year, so beware when relying on information provided in guidebooks or general web sites. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. So prioritize the monastery you wanna see most to visit around 10 am and then visit the others! With two nights you have one full day to spend there and that is enough to see the monasteries. Also, turn the payer wheels clockwise. Want to visit Italy but not sure where to start? As you approach the town of Kalambaka, the nearest big town near Meteora, you will see a complex of giant sandstone rock pillars that climb up into the sky. Read our. You can buy tickets online as well. Reserve Your train tour to Meteora NOW! If you enjoyed this Meteora Guide check out my other travel guides! The views from this quiet traditional Greek hotel are spectacular. Published Apr 11, 2022. Great Meteoron monastery viewpoint Updated on 06/03/19 Greece has many monasteries and convents, with most of them occupying historic buildings in exquisite locations. Daves Travel Pages has a number of affiliate links placed within the travel blog. Is there any lab at town to have a PCR test? The exact purpose of the cookie is not known yet. If you plan to stay in the region for a night or more, you should choose somewhere that gives you convenient access to the sights of Meteora as well as restaurants and other services. Its a 40 min walk (one way) to the monastery? To reach the monastery, you have to go up 300 stairs carved into the rock, including an incredible tunnel. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. However, the main church built in 1475 has frescoes completed in 1741. It has a cosy, intimate feel to it, and the hosts seem to make everyone feel at home. Its a pleasant short walk. This luxury hotel with all modern-day conveniences has a huge outdoor pool with unobstructed views of the rocks. The only negative was that the jacuzzi was just a cabin and was not worth it and the breakfast buffet was poor. So much information!! Unlike Mount Athos, though, Meteora monasteries can be visited by women. The rooms are very nice and clean, the breakfast buffet serves typical Greek food and it's possible to walk from the hotel to some of the monasteries. Since we stayed in Kalambaka, we were able to walk through Kastraki to the St Nicholas Monastery. There are many ways to see the monasteries. "@type": "Question", Or you might consider leaving your car in the hotel and join one of the many tours offered by the locals. We will try to do our best in keeping the timetable of visiting times and days of monasteries up-to-date. Where to Stay in Meteora. "name": "Where is the Holy Trinity Monastery? Women NEED to wear a skirt that goes below the knees and a shirt that covers their shoulders. "text": "You can not stay at the monasteries themselves, however there are many hotels near Meteora in the nearby towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki." }, { The Monastery of Great Meteoron, also known as the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of Jesus, is the oldest and grandest of them all. The hike is around 1.5 hours with stunning wild scenery, and the bus or taxi ride is quite short but takes you directly to the area of the monasteries. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Closed on Wednesdays. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. And the other is Dzultripuk Monastery, where you will stay for the night on the second day. Once you get to Meteora in the afternoon, settle into your room and grab an early dinner, then get a good night's rest. I didn't want to ask if it belonged to the same family, just in case they had fallen out at some time in the past! The Greek train website is not very pretty, but you can check tickets here: https://tickets.hellenictrain.gr/dromologia/ Most are relatively small family-owned hotels and guesthouses. Everybody is friendly and straightforward. Varlaam Monastery: 09:00 to 15:00. I stay at the Holy Rock Hostel and it was great. Whether you are going to visit or stay in a Tibetan monastery, there are certain things that you need to consider. Most people are able to visit between 2 to 4 monasteries per day. Thank you ever so much Dave! This will give you an opportunity to visit other monasteries in addition to the Holy Trinity Monastery, experience the sunrise and sunset, and perhaps even take a short hike along the paths leading through the rock formations." Then the valley of the Peneus, Kalambaka River, the Chaia Mountains, the Monastery of Varlaam, and the Great Meteoron. There are two towns you can stay in when visiting the Meteora Monasteries. Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery: 09:00 to 16:00, Sundays: 9:30 to 16:00. Quality of the bedroom and bathroom were superb and all very clean. We had coffee and cakes at the traditional Vavitsas Bakery. If you are not wearing for example a skirt most of the monasteries have this tie-around-waist skirt for you. From here walk back to all the other monasteries and stop at the view spots and enjoy your day up in the amazing views. No monastery accommodation is open to all! Great Meteoron Monastery: 09:30 to 14:00. Meteora is a site with exceptional rock formations, in Thessaly region in Central Greece, next to town of Kalabaka (also spelled Kalampaka, Kalambaka). 01 of 10 Holy Cross Monastery josepha / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Address "acceptedAnswer": { It is built in 1179 by Drigungpa-Rinchenpai, standing between the mountain cliffs. It would be called a Meteora Guide if I didnt right! And the toilets are located in an outhouse. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Closed on Thursdays. I truly find your tips and style of writing the very best that I have seen!! Kalambaka is a little further down the hill, but it doesnt matter as you will still get up to the monasteries very easily! Read on for practical travel tips including the Meteora dress code and where to stay to help plan your trip to the hanging monasteries of Meteora! } Movie fanatics will recognize it from the 1981 James Bond Movie For Your Eyes Only. (The men and women are separated at Meteora.) They sit at opposite sides of the main monasteries of Meteora, so you can drive or walk from either. If you dont feel like walking at all that is completely okay. Meteora is an extensive complex of gigantic sandstone rocks shadowing the local town of Kalambaka. And one will also need to prepare the Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet. In 1542 two monks and brothers built the first church and revamped the monastery naming it after the original monk. Naturally, we tried the local pudding called Spatoula. The Nyingma School is believed here, and monks and nuns live together to carry out Buddhist activities. Yes, there is a third monastery you can visit, but only on the outside. Tourists can eat hot noodles, rice, stir-fried vegetables and other freshly prepared meals, as well as a variety of convenient, canned food. The villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki are the best places to stay near Meteora due to their close proximity to the monasteries. The detail of the monasteries is exquisite! "acceptedAnswer": { We had a panoramic view room (definitely worth the upgrade). Lock in the lowest price from these sites. I've also linked to Booking which helps you get thebest price for booking a hotel near Meteora. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); This is the BEST Meteora guide you can find! Kastraki is closer to the monasteries. Regardless of the legends, at least it can provide a relaxing experience for tourists. Learn how your comment data is processed. Unlike the mentioned 6, it was built entirely inside a large rock cavity. Unlike many travel operators dealing with trips and holidays, we are actually located here, in Meteora! This is simply the best possible place to stay for the Meteora - the village itself is delightful if you get off the main road, and rather than trailing off to the obvious tourist tavernas why not try the tavernas near the church, which are not full of your felloiw-countrymen?! Word of warning the owners have several cats that roam around, so I'd avoid if you have an allergy. But I know hostels arent for everyone and thats okay. Things to do and what to see at Meteora Plan to visit Meteora in 2022 and you are not sure which is the best itinerary for your travel We did the 4 day, 3 night train tour from Athens to Meteora, the Sunset Tour, Mount Saint Scramble and 2 other hikes just this past week. "@type": "Question", Seize the day to explore this unique World Heritage Site of Meteora Greece, by joining amazing experiences. Kalambaka is a larger town, with more infrastructure and modern accommodation. Go for the day and visit its ancient sanctuary, Byzantine fortress, authentic old town, mosque, and the museum inside a former Turkish bath. Of course, the views are superb too. People who visit Meteora remember the panoramic views and and landscape long after they've forgotten the name of which beaches they visited during the same vacation to Greece. We will make sure to elevate your senses to great heights! Though there are many hotels and restaurants in Kastraki, most close during low season. This is a good choice of Kalambaka hotel for couples, especially if they are on a honeymoon in Greece! MHTE: 07.27.E.60.00.00159.0.1. I visited St. Stephens Monastery at 9:45 in the morning and it wasnt too crowded. Do not take photos inside the monastery, or of the monks, only if you are permitted. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in central Greece, located near the town of Kalambaka in the Meteora area. See and learn about our tours from our valued Visit Meteora customers. It feels good to be in the right direction! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If you can get by the rather garish and kitsch front entrance, you will find that this hotel in Kalambaka offers pretty good value for money. And do get a paper ticket when you get to the station, as they dont always accept online tickets. But sometimes you just want to try something new. "@type": "Question", However, St. Stephen has a special place in the heart of Greeks due to its importance during the so-called Macedonian Struggle. Kastraki's most elegant hotel, decorated in earth tones, stone and wood, has no noisy children to spoil your romantic getaway as it's an adult only hotel. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We had delicious Greek food in front of Kalambakas City Hall while enjoying views of the rocks.