Meteora
Meteora is a group of sandstone pillars in Thessaly, northwestern Greece, topped by Orthodox monasteries. Visitors reach them by stairs and paths cut into the rock.
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Meteora is a group of tall sandstone pillars in Trikala, Thessaly, in northwestern Greece, topped by Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Six of the monasteries still stand and form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, added in 1988. The name means lofty or elevated and is related to the word meteor. Travelers come for the monasteries, the views from the rock tops and the walking trails across the area.
Monks first settled the rocks as hermits around the 800s CE, and monasteries were built from the 1300s, when people sought refuge from raids. Early access relied on ladders, ropes, baskets and nets. Steps and tunnels cut into the rock in the 1920s let visitors reach the sites by bridge and staircase. Frescoes and icons decorate several churches inside the monasteries. Be ready for stairs and rock-cut paths. Kalambaka and Kastraki sit closest to the pillars, and summer is the peak season for hiking and climbing.
Meteora in five
- Check which monastery is closed todayEach of the six monasteries closes on one weekday, and hours are shorter in winter. Plan two or three visits around the closures.
- Dress for the monasteriesShoulders and knees must be covered. Women are asked to wear skirts, and wraps are lent at the doors.
- Carry cash for entryEach monastery charges a small entry fee, and not all take cards.
- Walk the old pathsFootpaths from Kastraki climb to the monasteries through the rocks, avoiding the busy road.
Things to do in Meteora
See all attractions in Meteora
Need to know
- Airport
- Thessaloniki (SKG) or Athens (ATH), both about 3–4 hours away
- Getting there
- Train from Athens to Kalambaka about 4.5–5 hours, some with a change
- Getting around
- Local bus to the monasteries, taxis, or walking paths
- Best base
- Kastraki for the rocks, Kalambaka for the train and shops
- Time needed
- 1–2 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Cold, short hoursJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, short hours
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Mild, greenMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low7°Spring, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, clearMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Hot, busyJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Very hotJulyClear
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low19°Very hot, busyAugustClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot, busy
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Warm, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Mild, colorOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, color
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Cool, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Kalambaka, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Meteora
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 99%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Meteora
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°12°100%Monday: Rain. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue16°12°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed18°10°8%Wednesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu13°10°5%Thursday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Fri13°9°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat13°7°10%Saturday: Fog. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun11°8°11%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 07:53 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- TrikalaCheck the drive time on a mapProvincial town linked to Simeon Uroš, who sponsored the monastic community.
- Theopetra CaveAbout 4 km from KalambakaTraces of human presence about 50,000 years old, in layers that record the move from Neanderthals to modern humans. Open to the public after restoration.
- Natural History Museum of MeteoraIn Kalambaka itselfNatural history exhibits and a Mushroom Museum, both in Kalambaka. An indoor option for a wet day.
Before you go to Meteora
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Rules for Meteora, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- The sources do not list dress codes or opening hours. Check with each monastery before you visit.
- Meteora is a Natura 2000 site (GR1440003). Keep to marked paths, as illegal hunting and overgrazing threaten the habitat.
- Rockfall is a constant risk. Check whether a trail or the access road is closed before you set out. The road was closed for days in 2005.
Plan around Meteora
Islands, ferries, entry rules and money
Read the guideAthensThe usual starting point, about 4.5 hours by train
Read the guideDelphiAnother central Greece sanctuary on the same trip
Read the guideThessalonikiThe northern gateway, also about 3 to 4 hours
Read the guideBest time to visit GreeceWhich months suit islands and cities
Read the guideFerries, buses and trainsGetting around Greece by sea and land
Read the guideMeteora FAQ
Can I visit Meteora as a day trip from Athens?
It is possible by train or tour but makes a very long day. A night in Kastraki or Kalambaka lets you see the monasteries at opening.
What should I wear to the Meteora monasteries?
Cover shoulders and knees. Women are asked to wear a skirt; wraps are provided at the entrance.
How many Meteora monasteries can I visit?
Six are open to visitors, each closed on a different weekday. Two or three in a day is comfortable.
How do I get from Athens to Meteora?
Take the train to Kalambaka, about 4.5 to 5 hours, some with a change. Intercity buses and organized tours also run, so compare current timetables.
When is the best time to visit Meteora?
April to June and late September to October are warm and clear. Midsummer is very hot, and winter has shorter monastery hours but far fewer people.