Meteora (meh-teh-o-rah) should be a certified Wonder of the World with its magnificent late-14th-century monasteries perched dramatically atop enormous rocky pinnacles. Try not to miss it.
While there were once monasteries on all 24 pinnacles, only six are still occupied: Megalou Meteorou (Grand Meteoron), Varlaam , Agiou Stefanou, Agias Triados ,Agiou Nikolaou (Monastery of St Nikolaou Anapafsa) and Agias Varvaras Rousanou. Strict dress codes apply (no bare shoulders or knees and women must wear skirts; you can borrow a long skirt at the door). Walk the footpaths between monasteries, drive the back asphalt road, or take the bus (€1.20, 20 minutes) that departs from Kalambaka and Kastraki at 9am, and returns at 1pm (12.40pm on weekends).
Meteora's stunning rocks are also a climbing paradise. Licensed mountain guide Lazaros Botelis (meteora.guide@gmail.gr; Kastraki) shows the way.
Local buses shuttle between Kalambaka and Kastraki (€1.20). Hourly buses go from Kalambaka's KTEL bus station to the transport hub of Trikala (€2.30, 30 minutes), from where buses go to Ioannina (€12.50, three hours, two daily) and Athens (€29, five hours, six daily).
From Kalambaka train station, trains run to Athens (regular/IC €18/29, 5½/4½ hours, both twice daily) and Thessaloniki (€15.20, four hours, one daily). You may need to change in Paleofarsalos.
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