Meteora itinerary: seeing the monasteries in one or two days
Six monasteries, one road and a few viewpoints: how to plan a Meteora itinerary for one or two days.
- Six monasteries are open, each with its own closing day and a €5 entry fee.
- In one day you can comfortably see three or four.
- St Stephen is almost step-free; Great Meteoron is the largest.
Check which monasteries are open on your day, arrive early in the morning, and leave time for sunset at a viewpoint.
How many monasteries are there at Meteora?
Meteora once had more than twenty monasteries; today six are open to visitors: Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Roussanou, St Nicholas Anapafsas, Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) and St Stephen. According to Visit Meteora (2026), each has its own weekly closing day and entry to each costs €5. So the first step in planning your route is checking which monasteries are open on your day.
A one-day Meteora itinerary
One road winds between the rocks from Kastraki to Kalambaka. The easy route goes in this order:
- St Nicholas Anapafsas: the first on the way from Kastraki, small, with 16th-century frescoes. Reached by a flight of steps.
- Roussanou: a convent on a narrow rock, with a bridge and a superb view.
- Varlaam: the second largest. You can see the net and winch once used to haul up people and supplies.
- Great Meteoron: the highest and largest of all, with a museum and treasures. Lots of steps, so arrive early.
- Holy Trinity: on an isolated rock, with hundreds of steps. It appeared in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only".
- St Stephen: the closest to Kalambaka and almost step-free. Good for older visitors and families with a pushchair.
In one day you can comfortably visit three or four monasteries and stop at the viewpoints along the way.
Meteora viewpoints and sunset
There are several viewpoints on the road between the monasteries, with small car parks. The best known is between Roussanou and Varlaam, and another above Holy Trinity is where many people watch the sunset. They fill up at sunset, so arrive a little earlier.
A two-day Meteora itinerary
With a night in Kalambaka or Kastraki you can split it like this: on the first afternoon, St Stephen and Holy Trinity, then sunset at a viewpoint. On the second morning, Great Meteoron, Varlaam and Roussanou, before the tour coaches arrive. Walkers can head down to Kastraki on one of the waymarked paths.
What to know before you go
- Dress code: long trousers for men, a long skirt and covered shoulders for women. Some monasteries lend skirts at the entrance.
- Hours: winter opening hours are shorter. Check Visit Meteora before setting out.
- Steps: most monasteries have dozens or hundreds of steps. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
- Photography: usually not allowed inside the churches.
How to get there from Athens and Thessaloniki? See how to get to Meteora. Meteora is also one of the most popular day trips from Thessaloniki, and there is more on our Meteora page.
FAQ
Which Meteora monastery is the best? Great Meteoron is the largest and most impressive, but Varlaam and Roussanou are just as beautiful and smaller.
How many monasteries can you see in one day? Three or four comfortably, with stops at the viewpoints. All six need two days.
Which monastery is most accessible without steps? St Stephen, near Kalambaka, is almost step-free.
What should I wear to the Meteora monasteries? Men in long trousers; women in a long skirt with covered shoulders.
