Trip to Marvelous Meteora and its Monasteries, Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora literally means “suspended in the air” in Greek and particularly reflects how the Eastern Orthodox monasteries are perched precariously atop the numerous rock formations in the area. Its breathtaking natural beauty together with its cultural significance undoubtedly puts Meteora among the top gems of the country. In fact, those are the reasons that got Meteora and its monasteries in as one of the 19 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Greece.

A visit to Meteora can be included as part of an itinerary for Athens or Thessaloniki. For more information and tips on planning a trip to Greece, refer to Greece Travel Guide: Planning a trip to Greece.

Meteora is located on the northwestern side of Greece, about 340 km north from Athens and 230 km south from Thessaloniki. Due to the long distance from both major cities, getting to Meteora can be a time consuming journey taking up to 5 hours. And to make matters even worse, a devastating flood in 2023 has at this point, damaged the rail systems in the area.

Despite these challenges, it is still possible to visit Meteora from either cities within a day’s trip if you do not have the luxury of time to stay for 1-2 nights. But do expect a very long day if you plan to do so. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).