Experiencing the Mountainous Sacredness - Meteora

Masa Urbancic
Aug 18, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Monastery of St. Stephen, Meteora, Greece

In the middle of northwestern Greece in the region of Thessaly, Greece, lies one of the most important sites of Eastern Orthodox religion, called Meteora. Nestled within mountainous terrain, the monasteries sit atop towering rock pillars, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. The views are breathtaking. And the monasteries are spectacular.

The monasteries of Meteora

The first monastery believed to have been built in Meteora is the Great Meteoron, which still operates today. It was supposedly founded around the middle of the 14th century by a monk from Mount Athos - Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. Other monasteries soon followed, and by the 16 century Meteora was home to 24 monasteries, a time considered their peak. Today, only six monasteries in Meteora remain active all are open to visitors. These are: The Great Meteoron, the Monastery of Varlaam, the Monastery of Rousanour, the Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and the Monastery of St. Stephen. Other monasteries are now mostly in ruins that can mostly still be seen from afar. In 1988, Meteora monasteries have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Recommendations for Visiting Meteora

If you are planning a trip to Meteora, here are some tips to make the most of your visit:

Book a tour: it is really convenient to book a tour to see the monasteries. Not only will you learn about the history of Meteora and the monasteries, but it is also much more practical. There are so many cars all along the road to the monasteries and often you need to park far away. With a tour, you do not have to worry about parking - the bus drops you off right at the entrance and even picks you up from your accommodation. A 4-hour tour typically includes a visit to three monasteries, plus views from the outside. We chose the Meteora Thrones Tour (available here), but you can there are several options you can book either online or directly in town.
Dress appropriately: since you are visiting monasteries, it is important to dress appropriately. This means at least short sleeves and knee-length trousers for men and at least short-sleeve tops and skirts below the knee for women. If you are wearing long trousers as I did, they will still you give you a skirt or something similar to wrap around yourself upon entering.
Bring cash: entry to the monasteries costs 5 euros per person and some monasteries do not accept cards. Make sure you take some cash with you.
Catch the sunset in the evening: If you can, drive or walk up towards the monasteries in the evening before sunset. There are many scenic viewpoints along the road offering breathtaking views of Meteora. Watching the sun set over the rock formations and monasteries is truly unforgettable.

Scenic view in Meteora, Greece — Scenic view from the top in Meteora, Greece

The Great Meteoron

The oldest monastery in Meteora, the Great Meteoron, is truly a sight to behold. Perched high on a massive rock pillar, it requires climbing 300 stairs to get to the entrance.

But it is worth it.

As you step inside, you are greeted by wooden ceilings, beautiful religious icons and a patio that embodies a sense of summer. The monastery is simple in its overall design, yet the details that are embossed onto it - possibly unnoticable at first glance - give a sense of deep sacredness.

Inside you can find a former kitchen, a winery, a museum, a small church and also a small shop , where you can buy religious icons and souvenirs.

In my opinion, the patio with a wide terace gives the best views of the surroundings and there are so many cute details engraved in stones that you almost have to stop every few seconds. Not to mention the small church inside - it is really so full life of lovely icons, emblems, ornaments that you just want to sit down and pray. It definitely gives a sense of sacredness and tranquility that makes you want to breathe deeper. My favourite place in there, but you cannot take any photos or film anything - so, no pictures from there :(

Monastery of Varlaam

The general agreement is supposedly that the Great Meteoron is the most beautiful monastery, but for me, it was Varlaam (also our tour guide said he prefers Varlaam). You will have to decide that one for yourself, but most definitely both are worth visiting!

Monastery of Varlaam was founded around 1350 by a monk named - Varlaam. After his death, the monastery was somewhat abandoned, but was revided again in the early 16th century by two brothers from Ioannina, Theosophanes and Nectarios. As with the Great Meteoron, there are many stairs to climb to get to the entrance, and if you are there in August, like we were, bring a hat. With all the tourists, it takes a while to get in and standing in sun can get a bit overwhelming. Once inside, again, many different rooms to see. The museum collections below are superb. The detailed paintings, the sacred texts ... really exquisite.

The Varlaam monastery is a lot more spread out that the Great Meteoron. You go down to the museum, up the stairs to the small church, pass through small passageways to get to the winery, and to the rope-and-pulley system, which they used to transport supplies (and even monks in the past). Take your time inside, but make sure you don't miss the terrace in the back in front. The views are of course marvelous as you can see Meteora beneath and around you. But also the flowers, trees and the small pavillion are beautiful and worth of spending some time there.