Kalambaka (Καλαμπάκα, also romanized as Kalampaka or Kalabaka) is a city of 11,500 people in the Thessaly region of central Greece, at the base of the Meteora monasteries. This is the hub of tourist services for the mystical clifftop refuges that loom above it.
This article also includes Kastraki (Καστράκι), a neighboring village at the west approach to Meteora, and Theopetra (Θεόπετρα), a village near a cave occupied by humans for over 50,000 years.
Understand
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Information Office
[edit]- 1 Information Tourist Center of Kalambaka, Vlachava 1 (at Patriarchou Dim), ☏ +30 24323-50245, [email protected]. Offers free maps, brochures and tour recommendations.
Get in
[edit]By train
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Note: The train to Kalambaka via Palaiofarsalos was knocked out of service in 2023 due to storm damage, and is still closed as of Dec 2025. It is expected to reopen in 2026. Until then, the nearest operating stops are Lamia, Palaiofarsalos and Larissa. |
- 1 Kalambaka Railway Station. The station has waiting rooms on platform 1. There is a footbridge from platform 1 to platform 2, via stairs or lift. Luggage storage is no longer available; however, the station is staffed with ticket-purchasing facilities.
By bus
[edit]KTEL Trikala operates local and intercity buses in the Trikala regional unit, which includes Kalambaka. Reservations become available about 3-4 weeks in advance. They do not keep the published routes and schedules up-to-date on their website; use the ticketing cart to verify your itinerary.
- 2 Kalambaka Bus Station (K. Oikonomou & Averof St), ☏ +30 24320 22432. A small ticket office and space for about two buses to park alongside the street.
Most itineraries require taking an intercity bus to Trikala Bus Station, then transferring to the local Trikala-Kalambaka bus. It runs about once an hour, and takes about 45 minutes, making local stops in central Trikala, Vasiliki and Theopetra. Buy a ticket at the bus station, or pay the driver directly at intermediate stops.
- From Athens, buses leave from Liosion Ktel Station (also labeled as Tris Gefires on the KTEL Trikala website). There is sometimes a direct route to Kalambaka that leaves Athens at 7:00 and leaves Kalambaka at 17:15, but other itineraries require a transfer at Trikala. Buses usually leave every two hours, and the journey takes about 5 hours.
- There are also routes to Trikala from Ioannina, Karditsa, Lamia, Larissa, Thessaloniki and Volos.
By car
[edit]The drive from Athens takes about 4 hours.
By plane
[edit]The nearest major airports are Athens (ATH IATA) and Thessaloniki (SKG IATA).
You can fly from a few cities in Central Europe to Volos (VOL IATA) and then drive about two hours. The train and bus from Volos to Kalambaka take much longer.
Get around
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Trikalon St (Τρικάλων) is the heart of the town, lined with restaurants, shops and tourist services for nearly one kilometre.
By bus
[edit]There is a local Kalambaka-Meteora bus (€2) that departs Kalambaka bus station a few times a day, going to Kastraki and each of the six monasteries. The timetables are not published on the KTEL website, so ask at the bus station. You can buy an all day ticket (€5.50) which with some planning would allow you to ride the bus between monasteries.
See
[edit]Meteora
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These clifftop monasteries are the primary reason to come here. There are 6 monasteries at Meteora that are in use and can be visited, from the mountain road running north of Kalambaka and Kastraki.
- 1 St. Nikolaos Anapafsas (Άγιος Νικόλαος Αναπαυσάς) (1 km from Kastraki village). Sa-Th 09:00-16:00, closed Fridays. The Holy Monastery of Saint Nikolas of Anapafsas was founded at the end of the 14th century. It is the smallest monastery in Meteora. €5.
- 2 St. Barbara of Roussanou (Αγία Βαρβάρα Ρουσσάνου). Summer: Th-Tu 09:00-17:00; winter: Th-Tu 09:00-14:00, closed Wednesdays. The main cathedral, celebrating the memory of Santa Barbara, was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated 30 years later. €5.
- 3 Varlaam (Βαρλαάμ). Summer: Sa-Th 09:00-16:00, closed Friday; winter: Sa-W 09:00-15:00. The Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery of Meteora. A monk named Varlaam who scaled the rocks in 1350 and began construction on the monasteries. Varlaam built three churches by hoisting materials up the face of the cliffs. The museum is open to travelers and contains a wide array of relics and ecclesiastical treasures. €5.
- 4 Great Meteoron (Μεγάλο Μετέωρο). Summer: W-M 09:00-17:00, closed Tuesdays; winter: Fri-M 09:00 to 14:00. The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron is the oldest and largest of the monasteries of Meteora. The monastery is believed to have been built just before the mid 14th century by a monk from Mount Athos named Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. €5.
- 5 Holy Trinity (Αγία Τριάδα). Summer: F-W 09:00-17:00; winter: F-W 09:00-16:00, closed Thursdays. The Monastery of Holy Trinity is the most difficult to reach, but once you get to the very top, the panoramic view of the surroundings is simply captivating! €5.
- 6 St. Stephen (Άγιος Στέφανος). Summer: Tu-Su 09:30-13:30 and 15:30-17:30; winter: 09:30-13:00 and 15:00-17:00, closed Mondays. This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. €5.
In town
[edit]- 7 Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum (Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Μετεώρων και Μουσείο Μανιταριών), Pindou 46, ☏ +30 2432024959, [email protected]. The ground floor features a number of dioramas with taxidermy birds and mammals from around the world. The top floor is filled with over-the-top mushroom dioramas, murals and fun facts. Check the gift shop for a variety of dried mushroom treats. 7€.
Nearby
[edit]- 8 Theopetra Cave. A limestone cave that shows evidences of human habitation for much of the past 50,000 years. There are unverified claims that the cave contains a low wall, built in approximately 21,000 BC. If true, this would be the oldest known example of a human-made structure.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- Weekly Farmers Market, Vlachava St (NE from the main roundabout). Friday mornings. A morning street market for fresh produce
Eat
[edit]- 1 Meteora Panorama (Μετεώρων Πανόραμα), 54 Patirarchou Dimitriou St, ☏ +30 2432 078128, [email protected]. With open wifi and view to the mountains and the valley.
- 2 Valia Calda Taverna, Trikalon St 91, ☏ +30 2432-300930, [email protected]. Their menu puts an emphasis on local specialties not commonly seen elsewhere, as well as a few monastery recipes.
- 3 Rombos Patisserie (Ρόμπος Χαλβαδοποια), Trikalon 16. Baking up desserts since 1924. Their signature sweet is the Halvas Sapouné, a big corn flour-based pie with a toasted crust.
Kastraki
[edit]- 4 Taverna-Ouzeri Pappas (on the main road slightly downhill (towards Kalambaka)), ☏ +30 698 985 4834. If you are looking for a light meal, this ouzeri was excellent and cheap. Live music when the owner's friends come along at night.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Kalambaka is a touristy town, full of restaurants, bakeries and shopping. Stay in town to be close to good amenities and have easier access to transit options.
- 1 Dellas Boutique Hotel, Kalambaka-Kastrakiou St, ☏ +30 24 3207 8260, fax: +30 24320 78261, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 24 hr reception, car and motorbike rental, concierge, daily maid service, Doctor (upon request,) fax and photocopy service free wifi throughout the hotel with an 'internet corner', private parking, safe deposit box satellite TV, tour desk. from €60.
- 2 Alsos House, 5 Kanari St (Towards the back of town on the footpath to Meteora), ☏ +30 2432024097. A quality establishment at decent prices, cheaper than most places in the area. If it is not busy, price may be reduced if you don't want breakfast or AC. Great view of the rocks, free internet and Wi-Fi. Clean, comfortable, and nice. You will get your money's worth here. The owner is a great guy as well, speaking excellent English and offering good advice. single private is €35.
- 3 Theatro Hotel Odysseon (on the road towards Kastraki just before you exit the town), ☏ +30 2432022320, fax: +30 2432075307, [email protected]. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. A charming and cheap hotel on the foothills of Meteora with a panoramic view of the rocks. 50.00 euro for a double room breakfast included.
- 4 Hotel Rex, Patriarhou Dim St 7, ☏ +30 2432022042, [email protected]. 3-star hotel. Take your coffee or drink at the rooftop bar with views over the Meteora. All rooms have A/C and there is free breakfast and Internet. Singles: €40, twins: €55, triples: €75.
- 5 Toti Boutique (Totis Theano) (a few blocks off the main square). Clean, comfortable, close to the centre of town. Some rooms have partial views of the monasteries. There have been complaints about the behaviour of the owner. Double without/with breakfast from €30/45; triple with breakfast from €36.
Kastraki
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Kastraki is a small village of guesthouses, boutiques and campgrounds. Stay here to be closer to the rocks, or for a quieter atmosphere. It is very quiet during the off-season - many businesses close for the winter.
- 6 San Giorgio Villa, ☏ +30 24320 75255, fax: +30 24315 00123, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. San Giorgio Villa is small budget accommodation property, the so-called "Meteora's Budget Accommodations", on the road to the holy rocks. from €35.
- 7 Archontiko Mesohori, ☏ +30 24320 77125, +30 6936786418 (Mobile), fax: +30 24320 77164, [email protected]. In the old habitation of one of the most impressive picturesque villages of Greece, this old mansion of the 19th century has been renovated to become a most attractive luxury small hotel. €110 per suite.
- 8 Tsikeli Hotel, ☏ +30 2432022438. Excellent hotel. Comfortable. Air conditioned (silent and efficient). Amazing view to the Cliff of Meteora. Warm and friendly atmosphere. the hotel provides personal care, good breakfast in a beautiful garden. Wi-Fi access. Near cafes and restaurants.