From Kalambaka
★ 4.8 · 339 reviews
Interior visit
Listed in the itinerary as an interior visit. Entrance fee applies.
From €35
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UNESCO Meteora · Αγίου Στεφάνου
Monastery of St. Stephen
The most accessible Meteora monastery
The short answer
St. Stephen has been a convent of nuns since 1961 and is the easiest monastery to reach: a short footbridge leads from the road to the gate, with no stairs. It is closed on Mondays; admission is €5 in cash, and wrap-skirts are lent to women in trousers. The sunset tour from Kalambaka goes inside, and the day trip from Athens usually does too.
The Monastery of St. Stephen — Agios Stefanos — is the most accessible of the six: instead of a long climb, you cross a short footbridge from the road onto a broad rock plateau. That accessibility, plus a wood-carved iconostasis many visitors call the finest in Meteora, make it a favourite stop on day tours.
Originally founded in the 14th century, the present main church was built in 1798 — the youngest of all the Meteora churches. Damaged and looted during both world wars (when the nuns were thought to be hiding refugees), the monastery was converted into a convent of nuns in 1961 and remains an active women’s community today.
Highlights
- The intricately carved wooden iconostasis in the main church
- The old refectory, now a small museum with icons and manuscripts
- Workshops where the nuns still make icons, embroidery and incense
- Panoramic views from the terraces
Visiting in practice
- No stair climb — a short footbridge connects the road to the monastery.
- Strict dress code; wrap-skirts are loaned to women in trousers.
- Bring €5 in cash per person.
Tours that include Monastery of St. Stephen
Itineraries vary by day of the week and the closing schedule of each monastery. Below shows what each tour says about this site, and whether it’s an interior visit, a likely visit, or a photo stop.
From Athens
★ 4.7 · 6,460 reviews
Usually interior visit
Commonly one of the interior visits, but the itinerary doesn’t name it explicitly.
From €87
See this tourFrom Thessaloniki
★ 4.8 · 4,515 reviews
Possible interior visit
Listed as one of several possible interior visits, depending on the day.
From €41.18
See this tourWant to be sure which monastery a tour visits on a given day? Each operator confirms the day’s itinerary at booking.
Quick answers
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When is the Monastery of St. Stephen closed?
Closed on Monday. On Saturdays and Sundays it is open. -
How much does admission to the Monastery of St. Stephen cost?
€5, cash only, per person at the gate. Cards are not accepted, so bring euros in cash. -
Which tours go inside the Monastery of St. Stephen?
The sunset tour from Kalambaka goes inside. The day trip from Athens usually goes inside. The day trip from Thessaloniki sometimes goes inside.