Going to Meteora - what is the best and most scenic trail?

Posted by Josee (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 05/27/16 01:36 PM

We will be in Meteora at the end of June, for about 4-5 days and we are wondering what is the best way to see a few monasteries in that period of time? Is there a trail we can walk and see 2-3 monasteries in the same day? As we will be driving, is there a public parking lot where we can leave the car and take a taxi back? Which monastery has the ossuary open to the public? Any lodging recommandations? We are not fond of chain hotels and prefer lodgings with character (we have a budget of + - 100E a night).

Thank you in advance for your help!

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

05/27/16 07:05 PM

16893 posts

You can walk along the paved road or mix it up and start with a bus up the hill and walking downhill. It's common to see 2-3 monasteries in one day, but you have time to take it slower and explore more of the monk paths. See also this previous advice to a poster who was making only a very short day trip. The Lonely Planet guide was enough for me (I drove the route) together with a map picked up locally there (which probably was useful to walkers). My hotel had parking; street parking in the business center of town was miserable, however (cars double and triple parked).

Posted by Joe Aloha

Honolulu, HI

05/27/16 09:07 PM

180 posts

If you have a car, it makes it easier as you can stay at a number of B&B's a few blocks from the central town area and can drive to all the monasteries. If not, there are plenty of tour operators and buses. I suggest you ask at the hotel you are staying at for a recommendation.

All the monasteries are located along a loop road that goes up and back down the mountain. On any given day, usually one of the monestaries is closed. If you hurry, you may be able to visit as many as four in a day but since June is a busy time, expect long waits to get into the more popular ones.

Most hotels and B&Bs will have a map of the area and route to the monasteries. The one at this site was the one we were given (http://jaytravels.travellerspoint.com/66/). We stayed at this B&B list outside of town. Large rooms and good breakfast. Not sure of you can get it for under 100 euro but...

Guesthouse Iridanos
http://www.iridanos-guesthouse.gr/indexeng.html
Kalambaka, 42200, Greece
+30 243 2024552

Posted by Josee OP

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

05/30/16 12:19 PM

21 posts

Thank you Joe and Laura for your advice - this should be very helpful!

Posted by tacomaherbs

Tacoma, WA

06/01/16 11:33 PM

4 posts

I was In Meteora a few weeks ago, stayed in a sweet, clean, quiet guesthouse above the old town. Check out Alsos House on Booking.com. I am a solo traveler recovering from a knee injury, and instead of hiking up to the monasteries, I did, for the first time in my life, a 4 hour sunset tour with Visit Meteora, for 30euros, and it was killer. So fab that I did a daytime tour the next day... this from the woman who has always preferred solo journeys. Check out their website, the wealth of knowledge about the topography, history, iconography, from local folks who love their history and place in a comfortable van, hotel pickup to boot.