Kalambaka is the town at the foot of the Meteora, one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Greece. The Meteora are massive sandstone pinnacles that rise from the Thessaly plain, topped by medieval monasteries that seem to defy gravity. Six monasteries are still active today, open to visitors in the mornings and again in the late afternoon, and together they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The monasteries are the reason you come, and they reward two full days. The Great Meteoron — the oldest and largest — sits atop the highest rock and has the finest treasury. Varlaam has the most beautiful frescoes. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is the most isolated and requires the most effort to reach, but repays it with views that stretch across the whole valley. The Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas is the smallest and least visited, which makes it the most contemplative.
The town itself is pleasant but essentially exists to serve the monasteries. The nearby village of Kastraki sits closer to the rocks and is a quieter base. Sunrise and sunset light on the Meteora are spectacular — the sunset viewpoint above Kastraki draws a crowd every evening in summer. The rocks also attract serious climbers, and the hiking trails between the monasteries give the formations a completely different perspective from on foot. Kalambaka is about 340 km northwest of Athens, with regular bus and train connections.