Meteora lies near the town of Kalambaka in Thessaly, which is easily accessible by car and bus. Meteora is about a 4-hour drive from Athens and about a 3-hour drive from Thessaloniki.

There are regular public buses between Meteora and the cities of Larissa, Volos, Athens, and Thessaloniki. The nearest airports are Volos, Thessaloniki, and Athens.

Pelion is a mountain range in the Greek region of Thessaly. The mountains form the peninsula of the same name, which separates the Pagasitic Gulf from the Aegean Sea.

Pelion, together with its port city of Volos, is 325 km / 1,066 mi. from Athens. It is about a 4-hour drive by car, though long-distance buses also run regularly between the two regions. The nearest airports are Volos Airport, which operates mainly during the summer months, and Thessaloniki Airport.

Pelion is an outdoor paradise and still a hidden gem in Greece which has so far been completely spared from mass tourism.

Pelion is a worthwhile destination all year round and every season has its own charm. We especially recommend a stay of several days to be able to discover and enjoy the most beautiful places. Volos, the gateway to the Pelion Peninsula, is a small yet lively town. There are numerous cafés and tavernas along the harbour promenade.

To the southeast of Volos, you can find string of charming villages. Interspersed among the villages are numerous small beaches ideal for swimming. The stretch along the coast is also a popular road cycling route. A rich network of trails spans the whole of Pelion.

As a hiker and biker you will get your money worth here. The rustic mountain villages with spectacular views of the gulf create a world of their own with absolute tranquillity and seclusion. All of Pelion’s hiking trails can be found here. Pelion even has its own small ski resort. Between the months of December and February, the mountains often get so much snow that it’s worth taking a skiing trip.

On the north-eastern side of the peninsula lies the Aegean Sea with its beautiful deep blue waters. Here you find sandy beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean. The Sporades Islands off the Pelion coast are also worth a trip. Surely you know Skopelos, the famous location of the film Mama Mia? On the neighbouring island of Alonissos, Greece’s largest underwater museum just opened in 2020 – a paradise for divers. Ferries run daily between Volos and the Sporades Islands during the summer months.

In the midst of this magical place, you will find trails and natural paths. This trail net lead along rivers and into the heart of Meteora’s spectacular mountains. A wide range of natural trails, as well as single trails and paved panoramic roads offer the best terrain for mountain bikers, hybrid cyclists, e-bikers, and hikers.

The Meteora cliffs are also one of the most popular climbing destinations in Greece. It gets even crazier: in 2001, the base jumper Felix Baumgartner jumped from a height of 120 m / 390 ft. from one of the Meteora rocks!

There are also several caves among the formations of the Meteora rocks, including the Theopetra Cave. This huge cave is located just 4 km / 2.5 mi. outside Kalambaka and its main chamber measures about 500 m² / 1,640 square feet.

Also, the oldest man-made structure in the world is located here: a stone wall that closes off two-thirds of the entrance to the cave. It was built around 23,000 years ago. The Meteora Natural History Museum is another highlight well worth visiting!

The name Meteora is derived from meteorizo (μετεωρίζω), which means “to lift up into the air”. This name describes the unique location of the monasteries, which were built on high sandstone cliffs and which seem to float on foggy days.

The founder of the first monastery, now Megaló Metéoro, gave the area its name around 1344. A complex of Greek Orthodox monasteries gradually grew around the site, making Meteora an important spiritual centre to this day.

The entire complex consists of 24 individual monasteries and hermitages, of which only six are inhabited today (monasteries of Metamórphosis, Varlaám, Rousánou, Agía Triáda, Agios Stéfanos and Agios Nikólaos Anapavsás). The remaining eighteen monasteries are either too difficult to reach or have been abandoned because of the danger of collapse.

The six monasteries are each open to visitors on different days. Each of the monasteries has a rest day on a different day, so they are never all open at the same time. You can find all the details on the official Meteora Monasteries page.

In general, we advise you to visit Meteora and its monasteries outside of peak times, such as public holidays, as there is a big rush of tourists during these times. As most monasteries close after 5 pm in summer, we especially recommend visiting Meteora at sunset.

Please note that you must dress appropriately during a visit: arms and shoulders covered, men must wear long trousers and women should wear long skirts.