During the October half-term, we visited Meteora as a family during our road trip through northern Greece. I was worried I might be disappointed because I had seen so many photos of this region with its famous perched monasteries! No disappointment at all! Quite the opposite! Once there, we were enchanted by the landscape. You feel as though you are wrapped in this scenery of cliffs and rocky pinnacles shaped by erosion. The natural setting and all the viewpoints from which you can admire the monasteries add to the experience. Visiting Meteora in October meant we avoided the summer crowds. We also had ideal weather, enjoying beautiful sunny autumn days. In the end, I was just as impressed by the geological formations as by the monasteries. The combination of the two is so original! Meteora is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural and cultural importance.
Age of the children: 13 for Titpuce and 16 for Ticoeur. Our two teens enjoyed our two days in Meteora.
Which monasteries should you visit in Meteora?
In total, there are still 6 monasteries that can be visited. In the Middle Ages, there were up to 24 monasteries. You can spot a few scattered ruins on the rocks.
So, one question I have been asked several times is: which monasteries should you visit? This question is relevant because visiting the interiors of all 6 monasteries would be repetitive, could bore your children and would end up representing quite a budget (see practical information). Also, as Titpuce put it, “it’s mainly the paths leading to the monasteries that are beautiful”!
My advice would therefore be to visit the interiors of the two largest monasteries (Great Meteoron and Varlaam) because there is more to see than in the others. Then, for a third visit, I would favour Aghia Triada (the most photogenic from the outside). Roussanou and Agios Nikolaos are too small, in my opinion, to justify paying to go inside. Finally, we were not tempted to visit Agios Stefanos because it is the most accessible one, so it has less charm and there are more people.
In any case, even for those whose interiors you do not visit, I strongly recommend walking the paths that lead to each of the six monasteries.
Here are my comments in more detail, monastery by monastery:
Great Meteoron:
This was the first one we visited, so it had that first-time effect. We loved everything:
- The staircase leading to the monastery has a lot of charm and offers beautiful views of Varlaam.
- The small Orthodox chapel with its beautiful colourful frescoes (afterwards, you realise they are similar in every monastery).
- The museum, which presents several religious objects.
- The medieval kitchen and other small living spaces.
Parking: you can park along the road. Then you need to walk down a path and climb some steps.
Varlaam:
It is right next door. This was my favourite. We liked:
- The layout of its small garden with the different terraces.
- The panoramic views of the surrounding area.
- The small museum gives information about the history of the monasteries and the daily life of the monks. In terms of content, it was the most interesting for the children.
- Once again, a beautiful small chapel with historic frescoes.
You can reach Varlaam from Great Meteoron in a 20-minute walk after a descent and then a climb, or there is a dedicated car park.
Aghia Triada (Holy Trinity):
As I said above, this is the most photogenic one. It almost seems to float in the air. The path up to it is lovely and ends with a staircase carved into the rock. The whole thing has a lot of charm. We hesitated about visiting the interior because there is not much compared with the previous two, but we were the very first ones there at opening time. That made us want to enjoy having it all to ourselves. The views from the terrace are magnificent and, on top of that, the monk at the entrance did not charge us for the children.
In short, if you do not visit the interior, it does not matter, but still walk the path and climb the staircase up to the entrance door. Papa Voyage whispered to me that Aghia Triada Monastery appears in the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”.
Parking: along the main road.
All the monasteries are equipped with this “medieval lift” system, but this was the one where we saw the net and mechanism up close: I would not have liked to use it!
Agios Stefanos:
This is one monastery we reached and admired from the outside without visiting. From what I read about it, I had the impression that the visit would not be as interesting as Great Meteoron or Varlaam. What is more, it is the only monastery where there is no climb to reach it. The car park is on the same level, so there are many more people. Finally, even from the outside, we found it the least charming of the 6 monasteries.
However, we enjoyed the walk to reach it from Aghia Triada, following the path parallel to the road used by cars. Along the way, we came across a lovely viewpoint over Agios Stefanos. We took this photo there:
Roussanou
This monastery is inhabited by nuns. It is clearly cute from the outside because it is small and nicely perched, but we were disappointed to have paid to visit the interior because we saw it in 5 minutes! Basically, there is only the tiny church. It was frustrating for 4 times 5 euros! There is no terrace or outdoor space to stroll around. We could have guessed that, because when we arrived, we said to ourselves that it was small. In the end, the best view is from the bench just in front of the monastery entrance (so it’s free!). I would simply recommend walking up to the entrance, taking lovely photos towards Great Meteoron, Varlaam and Agios Nikolaos, and then turning back without paying to visit the interior.
Parking: we parked at the top, along the main road, but there is another parking option right at the bottom of the rock on which this monastery stands. Both options are equivalent.
Agios Nikolaos
This is the smallest of the 6 monasteries, so after our experience with Roussanou, we decided not to visit the interior but to enjoy the beauty of the walk up to its entrance. The climb and the steps are worth it for the experience of the landscapes and the architecture!
Parking: we parked on the road just below the monastery.
The 2 viewpoints not to miss:
Still on the Meteora road, there are two viewpoints not to miss, not far from Roussanou. They are particularly popular at sunset, but in fact the views are magnificent at any time of day.
Viewpoint 1:
It is called “Viewpoint Meteora” on Google Maps and “Sunset viewpoint and panorama” on Organic Maps. It is just above Roussanou.
We were at this one on the first evening for sunset. Very beautiful panoramas. The sun disappears behind the mountains very early (in October). So, in my opinion, it is not necessarily worth going there with everyone at sunset.
Viewpoint 2:
It is called “Point d’observation” on Google Maps and “Sunrise Rock” on Organic Maps. It is 500 metres from the previous viewpoint.
Practical information for visiting Meteora as a family
What to wear to enter the monasteries:
Be aware that there is a dress code for entering the monasteries. Girls must wear long skirts. Men must wear trousers (no shorts or Bermuda shorts). Shoulders must be covered. Titpuce and I had long skirts for the visits. We put them on over our trousers when we arrived at the entrance because, for walking along the paths and climbing the different steps, it is much easier in trousers! Also note that some monasteries lend long pieces of fabric at the entrance for women who have not planned suitable clothing (at Great Meteoron and Varlaam), but I recommend bringing what you need to save time and to be sure you are not refused entry.
Monastery entrance fees:
In October 2025, each monastery entrance ticket cost 5 euros (for adults and children aged 12 and over). However, very kindly, we were not charged tickets for Ticoeur and Titpuce at Aghia Triada or at Great Meteoron (I make no promises, as I imagine it is at the discretion of the person at the ticket desk, and I think it was a lovely gesture).
How many days in Meteora?
We spent 2 days and 1 night there. That was very good for enjoying Meteora. We visited 4 monasteries, but we could have visited all 6 if we had wanted to. Once again, it is not the interiors that are essential. At least, not all 6! I think the point of staying 2 nights is not to visit more monasteries but to walk more between the monasteries or from Kalambaka and Kastraki, which sit at the base of the rock formations (see photo below). More time to soak up the magnificent natural scenery.
Opening calendar and seasons:
In October, it was practical because summer opening hours were still in place. Also, there were tourists, but not too many. I understand that in summer it gets too crowded. You just need to avoid the public holiday on 28 October (Greek National Day), as many locals come to Meteora. To organise our 2 days in Meteora, I checked the opening days and times. Each monastery has its own closing day, so you need to plan the programme in advance.
Getting to Meteora:
We picked up our hire car at Thessaloniki airport (€15 per day). Then it took us 3 hours to cover 240km. From Athens, allow 3.5 hours by car for 350 kilometres. From Meteora, you can then go on, for example, to the Vikos Gorge, located 140km away (2h40).
Walking and physical effort:
I had often read that visiting Meteora was quite physical, mainly because of the stairs, so I thought we would need to allow a lot of time to climb up to the monastery entrances. But honestly, I don’t think so! I would say it takes a maximum of 10 minutes to reach each monastery (not counting any potential hikes between the monasteries). So yes, this is subjective, but I wanted to share our experience because, if you are in good physical shape like us, it really is not difficult or long! That said, I imagine it must feel completely different in the heat of summer.
For proper hikes, if we had had one more day, we would have taken advantage of the paths to walk directly:
- up from the village of Kastraki to Great Meteoron and Varlaam
- up from the village of Kalambaka to Aghia Triada.
And there, yes, it becomes sporty and much longer.
Meteora as a family: where to stay and where to eat?
Accommodation in Meteora:
There are two villages at the foot of Meteora: Kalambaka (the larger one) and Kastraki, which is much smaller. Both are very practical for visiting Meteora. We had booked a room at the guesthouse San Giorgio Villa in Kastraki. It was very basic and old-fashioned but clean, pleasant and economical, with breakfast included (we paid 115 euros in October 2025). You can even see the Meteora formations from the balconies.
Restaurants in Kastraki:
- Balaliarakia Taverna: we had dinner there and it was very nice, with typical dishes and a warm welcome. We liked being able to sit out on the terrace, although we still needed jumpers and windbreakers.
- Boufidis Taverna: this large taverna was recommended by our hosts. It was busy and also seemed very good.
Even more choice of restaurants in Kalambaka.
Bakeries:
For a quick lunch (savoury pastries with cheese and spinach, for example), there is a wide choice of bakeries in Kalambaka. We bought several savoury snacks from Mekras, but you will see there are plenty of other places.
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That’s it! I hope I have made you want to visit Meteora, for its monasteries and its incredible landscapes!
Fancy continuing your trip through northern Greece? Head to the Vikos Gorge as a family or to the island of Lefkada for a few relaxing days.
More trips in Greece:
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