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Do you want to know how to visit Meteora in Greece for a trip 10? This is your post, we explain our experience and best tips to know before going to Meteora.
When we travel, we love to tell you our stories, our experiences, tips and places to go, foods that you must try, activities that we do not recommend contracting or that we do and places to visit yes or yes.
In our adventure through Greece we have come across spectacular sites, a story behind each monument that has left us breathless and lakes and beaches that we never dreamed of seeing there.
Now, it is the turn of Meteora, the most famous monastic center in Greece, dating from the XNUMXth century and currently considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its incredible monasteries suspended on the rocks that the place houses.
It has been one of the places that we liked the most of the trip, although smaller than we thought, but equally incredible (it is also true that we went with very high expectations! and that we are regular visitors to Montserrat, some mountains near Barcelona, which give an air to those of Meteora).
Therefore, in this post we will tell you what to see, what activities you should not miss and how to visit meteora in greece with a basic guide that you will want to save as a favorite, or at least we hope so :P.
What to see in Meteora to know how to visit Meteora in Greece
The history that surrounds the monastic center of Meteora is one of the keys why thousands of tourists arrive every year wanting to know more about this magical and mysterious place.
Although they are currently open to the public 6 monasteries of the 24 that were in their day, all represent the majestic and strange place, full of energy and peace that served everyone to get away from the madding crowd.
His strong desire to achieve and find stillness since ancient times served as a call for those monasteries built on top of immense rocks, gradually to become powerful spiritual oases where to find inner peace.
Located at the end of the immense plain of Thessaly, those high and impossible to reach rocks were filled with hermitages, monasteries and chapels.
The truth is that of the 6 monasteries we believe that only two or three are worth visiting inside, the most, meanwhile, they have a lot of resemblance inside. Of the remaining monasteries, we recommend seeing the Great Meteora and The Saint Trinity which were the ones we liked the most.
On the other hand, when telling you what to see in Meteora, In addition to the monasteries, we advise you to visit the various museums of Kalambaka. And, hopefully, we hope you'll also see the mediterranean turtles! Apparently, they are very common to see around there. We saw a lot.
What to do in Meteora to know how to visit Meteora in Greece
In this guide to how to visit meteora in greece We would also like to tell you about camping places for those who, like us, love to travel in a motorhome. In Meteora is It is totally forbidden to spend the night in a motorhome and it is also very guarded. One afternoon we wanted to stay in the parking lot of a viewpoint to watch the sunset and around 19:300 p.m. a security guard came to tell us that we had to leave. The fine is XNUMX euros for camping or spending the night, which for them is within the camp.
El camping Vrachos from the entrance of Kastraki It's great, you'll have comfort, freedom and good views, as well as being well cared for and having a pool to cool off in summer. But the best? From there you can rent electric bikes to be able to move around Meteora.
On the other hand, when talking about what to do in Meteora, of course we cannot miss the opportunity to recommend the climbing or trekking, there are a thousand trails to get lost!
The latter, for those of you who have never heard of it, is a physical activity in which natural landscapes such as mountains, canyons, forests or rivers are traversed and require a little more physical effort than hiking.
In other words, go prepared to walk and sweat a lot because it is worth seeing the wonders of this place and its mysterious and mystical mountains.
How to visit Meteora in Greece
When traveling, it is important to take into account the distances between places you want to visit, opening and closing times and, as in our case, know where you can park the motorhome or camper or car.
Based on our experience lived in this monastic center that is Meteora, we will tell you how to visit Meteora and when is it best to do it.
In your own car, camper or motorhome on the road
From Kastraki, the gateway, next to Kalambaka, there is a 7km road trip approximately 14 km round trip, which passes through the 6 monasteries that can be visited and which each one has its ample parking. You can get to see them all (remember that there are currently only 6 open) if you get up early, since Some begin to close at 15:XNUMX p.m.. In addition, during the road trip along the road you will enjoy small viewpoints with not very large parking lots, but where you can stop and take a thousand photos.
The good thing is that each monastery also has its own parking lots, the bad thing is that they fill up very quickly and in the end, if you don't arrive on time, you end up leaving the motorhome on the road next to the other cars, poorly parked.
On an excursion with guided tours
If you want to make the most of your visit to Meteora and without moving your motorhome or camper from the campsite or your car, or guided excursions from Kalambaka or Kastraki by Civitatis that are quite well priced and are very complete and you will discover more intensely the charm of this magical place. If you go in high season, it is surely the best option to avoid parking problems and not worry.
Visiting hours to the monasteries
On the other hand, when talking about Schedule, do not think that all monasteries open and close at the same time. All monasteries have a different schedule. the one that closes sooner is at 15:00 p.m., the Great Meteora, which is one of the essentials that we recommend when asking what to see in Meteora.
The rest of the monasteries have a slightly later closing time, some close at 16:00 p.m. and others you can access even until 17: 00 hours.
Accessibility from car parks to entrances
Each monastery has a different access from the parking lot to its entrance, where you will find a box office to pay the 4-5 euros per ticket. The majority to access you have to go down stairs and then climb other excavated in the rock from the meteor, suspended mountain in Greek. So, get ready to do steps :P.
With babies you must leave the carts stored and pull backpacks and back.
Although it must be said that they all have a kind of electric zip line- elevator that allows access to people with reduced mobility.
Our favorite monasteries and locations
As we said at the beginning, of the 6 that there are, we recommend seeing both the Great Meteora and The Saint Trinity, and of course stop to admire the views from the viewpoint above, located after Roussanou monastery and before St Trinity.
Important tip: The parking lot of the viewpoint that we mentioned is very small, it does not fit more than 5 cars, so we recommend going early in the afternoon before everyone goes to see the sunset.
Things to consider before you go: What to wear
To visit the monasteries, ask wear clothing that covers the shoulders and knees, although if you are not prepared they will leave you a handkerchief at the entrance. Think you will find monks and nuns in them, be respectful.
