We added two days to our trip to Greece to be able to see the Meteora and it was so worth it. We did one night in Kastraki at Hotel Pyrgos Adrachi which was delightful if a tad harrowing to drive to on the narrow streets. Dinner at Taverna Gardenia is not to be missed. One of the best meals of our trip. First afternoon, we made it to Grand Meteoron, Varlaam and St. Nicholas. Took us about four hours to visit all three, driving between each one. Grand Meteoron has stairs down and then stairs back up. 330ish in total. Largest and most impressive. Nice museum area. Varlaam we really loved the exterior architecture and there was plenty to explore here. Nice museum area too. Comparatively easier to get to despite its many steps. St. Nicholas was the most difficult because of the long steep uphill incline before you even get to the steps. There were places to stop and rest along the way. But it was adorable and had many levels. Could also see the ruins of another former monastery from the highest levels. Second morning, we visited Roussanou and St. Stephen’s. We decided to skip Holy Trinity as it is reportedly the most difficult to get to and we didn’t have a goal to hit all six. Five out of six was plenty. Took us about two hours to see the last two, driving to both. Roussanou was a lovely ascent. The newest, widest stone staircase with railings. Covered in shade by surrounding trees. Cross a little bridge to the next cliff, a few more steps and you are there. This may have been our favorite although it is quite small and there is not much to see. St. Stephen’s was the only one where we saw nuns working so that was fun. Worth visiting merely because of ease of accessibility from the road.

This area is so beautiful. Pictures don't do it service. The monasteries are truly a wonder and there is more than just one. There are several in the small area. I strongly recommend taking one of the tours so that you know what the history is and how the best way is to see them all. There are some caves on the sides of these cliffs left from hundreds of years ago that you might miss if you are just driving to and from several of the monasteries. THe towns of Kalabaka and kastraki that lay at the foot of these cliffs are cute and have nice restaurants. Kastraki has more lodgings than kalabaka - I would look their for your stay. Meteora is really the name of this area but the towns are at the foot of the meteora monasteries. We were there 2 days and had time to see all monasteries and do a half day hike. During our trip the train service to kalabaka was unable to complete the route due to fires. It was not completely apparent what the train/bus then bus/train trip was and how to rebook. So I can't speak to the transportation by train to kalabaka except to say the train station really is just a stop with no real amenities. And the buses do not have toilets on them so prepare ahead of time if you are going by bus.

We had a full morning and visited two of the monestaries which from the outside and down below are sat perched high on the rocks and one wonders just how they got built. The insides are equally spectacular with an incredible array of painted icons but our visits coincided with that of several coach parties and it was impossible to stand and admire, or even see, much of the work. I'm attaching a photo to show just how crowded they can get. Go, but try later in the day when the tour groups have left. It will allow you to spend much more time there and to see everything more easily.

We stayed at the Tsikeli hotel in Kastraki and booked a personal tour with MeteoraTrip. The hotel is likely the best in Kalambaka or Kastraki. Staying in Kastraki is closer to the monastaries than Kalambaka. It' difficult to gauge a hotel based on reviews but the Tsikeli hotel was, in reality, a five star hotel. Clean, modern, and romantic. The tour guide, Bill, was great. He made our trip one of the most enjoyable we have ever had. His knowledge was incredible. We especially enjoyed the trip to the church which ad roots dating back to the times before Christ. Actually, that church was our favorite destination. The monastaries are as mind blowing as you have read. Truly jaw-dropping. A couple of words of caution. The train from Athens is nice but the tracks have been damaged by storm and are not going to be repaired for some time. So the train stops at Lamia and there is a 2-3 hour bus ride from there. Also, these monastaries were not built for tourism so I'd suggest not visiting during tourist season as the wait will be considerable. Wear good walking shoes! You will definitely get your exercise in.

Nothing short of amazing the scenery in Meteora, multiple lookouts to see along the road that loops around the valley. In the mountains the higher the better for scenery and you get great views of multiple monasteries, as well as views overlooking the valley and city. A real highlight of my trip to Greece.

We were there in mid November 2023. This is one of the most unique places we have ever visited. Very picturesque. We stayed at the Tsikeli Hotel (Adults only) which is at the base of the road going up to the monasteries. Parking is on a not too busy side road. The hotel is very nice, clean and comfortable. The staff are very nice, polite and helpful. Temperatures were comfortable (we are used to Hawaii weather). The heat and A/C worked well in the room. The hotel restaurant is great. The free breakfast is awesome with many choices of food to get you started on your busy day of hiking. Driving to the monasteries is easy and there are places to park at each one. Keep in mind that we were there during off-season. During peak season, parking, driving, restaurants, etc. will be much more crowded. There are different levels of difficulties of hiking depending on which Monastery you want to visit. The hotel staff pointed this out to us. When visiting the monasteries, there is a dress code for men and women. Enjoy your stay here. A definite bucket-list place to see.

One of the main wonders of the world. This is a place of mindfulness and tranquility. A series of mountain top monasteries. Fish in history. This was the most spectacular sight we saw in Greece and probably beats many other sights outside Greece as well.

Such an overwhelming place that I recommend to visit. Awesome and beautiful landscape. I suggest to go as soon as possible to avoid long queues in the monasteries, and to check in advance which ones are opened to the public and their timetables

What an amazing place! This really is a must-see. We drove from Thessaloniki and then took the 10 km road that goes around the area. At every turn, the views are incredible. Lots of tour buses filling the narrow road so you need to drive carefully. Strong recommendation if you have an opportunity to visit.

Explored the monasteries of Meteora with a private your guide and we were blown away with just how special this area is! The geological formations are just unreal and so beautiful covered in green mosses and trees. The monasteries are incredible and make you wonder just how it was possible to create such complex architecture atop these mountains. We visited two monasteries and each were stunning inside and out. Be ready to take on some stairs and make sure to dress modestly to respect the culture of these religious sites. I wore a comfortable dress that covers my legs and a light jacket to keep my shoulders covered. They enforce these things strictly. A MUST see if visiting Greece.