# Meteora Monasteries: Which to Visit and When > Meteora monasteries guide with 2026 opening hours and closing days, entrance fee, dress code, which monasteries to choose, hiking and getting there. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/meteora-monasteries/ Last updated: 2026-10-30 --- Six monasteries are still active and open to visitors at Meteora, perched on sandstone pillars above Kalambaka in Thessaly. If you only have time for two or three, choose the Great Meteoron for its size and museum, Varlaam for its frescoes and old winch tower, and St Stephen or Roussanou for easy access and views. Each monastery closes on one or more days a week and has its own hours, so plan your visit around the timetable below, which was checked in October 2026. ## Quick facts - **Where:** above Kalambaka and the village of Kastraki, Trikala, central Greece. - **Entrance:** around 5 euros per person per monastery in 2026, paid in cash at the door; children under 12 enter free. - **Dress code:** women in skirts below the knee and covered shoulders, men in long trousers; no sleeveless tops for anyone. - **Time needed:** one full day for three or four monasteries; two days to add hiking and sunset. - **Best time:** April to June and September to October; weekends are when all six are scheduled to open but also the busiest days. - **Getting there:** about 350 km from Athens (roughly 4 hours by car) and about 230 km from Thessaloniki. ## What Meteora is The rock towers of Meteora were formed from river deposits laid down millions of years ago and later carved by water and earthquakes into pillars that rise several hundred metres above the plain. From the 11th century hermits lived in caves in the rock, and in the 14th century the monk Athanasios founded the first great monastery on the summit known as Platys Lithos, the Broad Rock. By the 16th century more than twenty communities clung to the pillars. Until the 1920s, when steps were cut into the rock, monks and visitors were hauled up in nets or climbed retractable ladders. Meteora was listed by UNESCO in 1988 for both its natural and cultural value. Today six monasteries remain active: four with monks and two with nuns. The rest are ruins or hermitages you can glimpse from the road. ## The six monasteries ### Great Meteoron (Megalo Meteoro) The largest and highest monastery, founded by Athanasios in the 14th century. There are around 300 steps from the car park, with a short tunnel and a steady climb. Inside you will find the katholikon (main church) with dramatic frescoes of martyrdom, an old kitchen, a wine cellar with barrels, an ossuary lined with monks’ skulls and a museum with icons and manuscripts. If you only see one, see this one. ### Varlaam Just across the road from the Great Meteoron, Varlaam was founded in 1541 by two brothers from Ioannina, Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades. Its church has superb 16th century frescoes, and the tower still holds the old winch and net once used to lift supplies and people. The climb is gentler than at the Great Meteoron, on a well made path with a bridge and steps. ### Roussanou A nunnery built right to the edges of a narrow rock, reached by a short bridge. It is small, with fine frescoes and flower filled corners, and it is one of the most photogenic monasteries from the road. Few steps make it a good choice for travellers who cannot manage long climbs. ### Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) The most isolated looking monastery, on a sheer pillar with about 140 steps cut into the rock after a steep path down and back up. It became famous worldwide after appearing in the James Bond film *For Your Eyes Only* in 1981. The views from the back terrace over Kalambaka are among the best at Meteora. ### St Stephen (Agios Stefanos) Another nunnery, and the easiest to visit: you walk straight in over a short bridge from the road, with no climbing. It sits on the edge of the rocks directly above Kalambaka and has a pleasant museum. A good choice for families, older visitors or anyone short of time. ### St Nicholas Anapafsas The first monastery you pass on the road up from Kastraki. It is small and built on several levels, and its church holds frescoes painted in 1527 by Theophanis the Cretan, one of the great icon painters of the period. Expect a moderate climb on stairs between its levels. ## 2026 opening hours and closing days The monasteries set their own timetables and change them without much notice, especially around religious holidays such as Easter and the feast days of each monastery. The table below shows the published schedule for 2026, checked on 24 October 2026. The summer timetable runs from 1 April to 31 October and the winter timetable from 1 November to 31 March. Confirm locally (your hotel will know) before planning your day around a particular monastery. | Monastery | Summer hours (1 April to 31 October) | Closed in summer | Winter hours (1 November to 31 March) | Closed in winter | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Great Meteoron | 09:30 to 15:00 | Tuesday | 09:30 to 15:00 | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | | Varlaam | 09:00 to 16:00 | Friday | 09:00 to 16:00 | Thursday, Friday | | Roussanou | 09:00 to 16:30 (Sunday to 16:00) | Wednesday | 09:00 to 14:00 (Sunday to 16:00) | Wednesday | | Holy Trinity | 10:00 to 16:00 | Thursday | 10:00 to 16:00 | Thursday | | St Stephen | 09:00 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 17:30 | Monday | 09:00 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 17:00 | Monday | | St Nicholas Anapafsas | 09:00 to 17:00 | Friday | 09:00 to 16:00 (Sunday from 09:30) | Friday | In practice this means Saturday and Sunday are the only days when all six are scheduled to be open. Midweek, at least one monastery is always closed, and in winter Wednesday and Thursday are the weakest days because the Great Meteoron shuts. Note also that St Stephen and Roussanou have historically run reduced hours in early spring before their full summer timetable starts in mid May. ## Entrance fee and dress code In 2026 each monastery charged around 5 euros per person, paid separately at each entrance, usually in cash only. Children under 12 enter free. There is no combined ticket, so visiting four monasteries costs around 20 euros per adult. Carry small notes and coins. The dress code is enforced at every door. Women need a skirt that covers the knees and a top that covers the shoulders; trousers are often not accepted for women, though wrap skirts are usually provided at the entrance to tie over them. Men need long trousers and must not wear sleeveless tops. Bring a light scarf or shirt in summer, as it is easier than relying on the loan pile. Photography is generally not allowed inside the churches. ## Which monasteries to choose - **Only one:** the Great Meteoron. - **Half a day:** the Great Meteoron and Varlaam, which face each other and share a car park area. - **Limited mobility:** St Stephen, then Roussanou. - **Best views:** Holy Trinity, especially from the terrace. - **Best frescoes:** Varlaam and St Nicholas Anapafsas. A sensible full day starts at St Nicholas at 09:00, continues to the Great Meteoron and Varlaam before the tour buses arrive in force around 10:30, breaks for lunch in Kastraki, and finishes with Roussanou or St Stephen in the afternoon, followed by sunset from the rocks near Holy Trinity or from the viewpoint known as Psaropetra. ## Hiking, sunset and the villages Old monks’ paths link Kastraki and Kalambaka with the monasteries, and walking up through the oak woods and rock gullies is far more memorable than driving. The path from Kastraki to the Great Meteoron and the path from Kalambaka to Holy Trinity are the classics, each taking around one hour uphill. Guided hikes are widely offered if you prefer company. Kastraki, directly below the rocks, is the most atmospheric place to stay; Kalambaka is larger, with more restaurants and the railway station. For sunset, the rocks beside the road near Holy Trinity and St Stephen face west over the valley, and the light on the pillars is spectacular. Arrive early in summer, as the spots fill with tour groups. ## Getting to Meteora Most visitors come from Athens, about four hours by car on the motorway via Lamia and Trikala. The direct train to Kalambaka has been suspended since storm damage to the line in 2023; in 2026 the rail route ran only as far as Palaiofarsalos, with a connecting bus for the rest of the way, and coaches also run from Athens. Check the current situation before relying on public transport. From Thessaloniki it is about three hours by car, which makes Meteora an easy stop between the two cities; see our [Thessaloniki travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/thessaloniki-travel-guide/). Many travellers include Meteora on a mainland loop with [the sanctuary of Delphi](https://theauthenticgreece.com/delphi-travel-guide/), roughly three and a half hours to the south, or continue northwest to [the stone villages of Zagori](https://theauthenticgreece.com/zagori-travel-guide/). A car gives you the most freedom; read our tips on [renting a car in Greece](https://theauthenticgreece.com/renting-a-car-in-greece/) first. If you start in the capital, our [Athens travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/athens-travel-guide/) and our advice on [where to stay in Athens](https://theauthenticgreece.com/where-to-stay-in-athens/) will help with the first nights. ## Practical tips - **Cash:** bring enough cash for all the entrance fees; card payment is not reliable at the doors. - **Go early:** tour buses from Athens arrive late morning. The first hour after opening is the calmest. - **Respect:** these are working monasteries. Keep voices low, follow signs and do not photograph monks or nuns without asking. - **Weather:** winters are cold and can bring snow and fog; summers are hot on the steps. Spring and autumn are ideal. - **Stay overnight:** a day trip from Athens is possible but exhausting. One or two nights in Kastraki or Kalambaka lets you see the rocks at sunrise and sunset. - **Check hours:** closing days can change, so check again the day before your visit. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much does it cost to visit the Meteora monasteries? In 2026 each monastery charged around 5 euros per adult, paid separately at each entrance and usually in cash. Children under 12 enter free. There is no combined ticket. ### Which day are all the Meteora monasteries open? On the 2026 timetable, only Saturday and Sunday have all six monasteries scheduled to open. On every weekday at least one is closed, and in winter the Great Meteoron closes Tuesday to Thursday. Hours can change around religious holidays. ### What is the dress code for Meteora? Women must wear a skirt covering the knees and cover their shoulders; men must wear long trousers and no sleeveless tops. Wrap skirts are usually available at the entrance, but bringing your own clothing is easier. ### Which Meteora monastery is best if you can only visit one? The Great Meteoron, the largest and oldest, with a museum, old kitchen and striking frescoes. If you cannot manage steps, choose St Stephen, which you enter directly from the road. ### Can you visit Meteora as a day trip from Athens? Yes, by car or on an organised tour, but it means about eight hours of travel in one day. Staying a night in Kastraki or Kalambaka is far more rewarding. ### Is there a train from Athens to Meteora? The direct line to Kalambaka has been suspended since storm damage in 2023. In 2026 trains ran to Palaiofarsalos with a connecting bus, and direct coaches also run. Check the current timetable before you travel. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does it cost to visit the Meteora monasteries? In 2026 each monastery charged around 5 euros per adult, paid separately at each entrance and usually in cash. Children under 12 enter free. There is no combined ticket. ### Which day are all the Meteora monasteries open? On the 2026 timetable, only Saturday and Sunday have all six monasteries scheduled to open. On every weekday at least one is closed, and in winter the Great Meteoron closes Tuesday to Thursday. Hours can change around religious holidays. ### What is the dress code for Meteora? Women must wear a skirt covering the knees and cover their shoulders; men must wear long trousers and no sleeveless tops. Wrap skirts are usually available at the entrance, but bringing your own clothing is easier. ### Which Meteora monastery is best if you can only visit one? The Great Meteoron, the largest and oldest, with a museum, old kitchen and striking frescoes. If you cannot manage steps, choose St Stephen, which you enter directly from the road. ### Can you visit Meteora as a day trip from Athens? Yes, by car or on an organised tour, but it means about eight hours of travel in one day. Staying a night in Kastraki or Kalambaka is far more rewarding. ### Is there a train from Athens to Meteora? The direct line to Kalambaka has been suspended since storm damage in 2023. In 2026 trains ran to Palaiofarsalos with a connecting bus, and direct coaches also run. Check the current timetable before you travel.