Best things to do in Meteora

Meteora's Absolute Essentials

Meteora features a cluster of Eastern Orthodox monasteries built atop massive sandstone pillars in central Greece. This UNESCO World Heritage site includes the 15th-century Holy Trinity Monastery and the easily accessible nunnery of St. Stephen. The complex is renowned for its 16th-century frescoes by Theophanes the Cretan at St. Nicholas Anapausas and the dramatic vertical placement of the Roussanou Monastery. These structures offer a glimpse into medieval monastic life and Byzantine art, set against the backdrop of the Peneas Valley and the town of Kalambaka.

Meteora's Absolute Essentials — Map

Thomas Depenbusch / CC BY 2.0

A

The Holy Trinity Monastery

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in central Greece, situated in the Peneas Valley northeast of the town…

B

Monastery

This accessible nunnery is reached via a small bridge rather than steep stairs. It houses a museum displaying ecclesiastical treasures, including 16th-century manuscripts and gold-embroidered vestments.

Ava Babili / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas

The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that is part of the Meteora monastery complex in Thessaly, central…

D

The Monastery of St. Barbara or Roussanou

Founded in the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Barbara, this monastery features a multi-level structure that covers the entire peak of its slender rock pillar. It has functioned as a nunnery since 1988.

E

Monastery of St Antony

A small, secluded monastery built directly into a cave within the rock face, offering a quieter alternative to the larger, more prominent complexes in the area.

F

View of Kalambaka

A panoramic viewpoint offering a direct line of sight over the red-roofed town of Kalambaka and the surrounding Peneas Valley from the high sandstone cliffs.

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Monasteries and Churches Ancient Greek Sites Natural Wonders & Viewpoints