What Varlaam is
Varlaam is Meteora’s second largest? monastery. It stands on a rock beside the Great Meteoron. The church is dedicated to All Saints. Choose it if you want to see church paintings and the practical details of life on a rock in the same visit.
The museum holds religious objects and manuscripts. The preserved winch shows how people and supplies reached the monastery. Outside, the terrace looks across the surrounding rocks. Varlaam still houses a religious community, with places of worship alongside the objects on display.
A short history
The hermit Varlaam settled on the rock around 1350?. He gave the monastery its name. His community built a chapel dedicated to the Three Hierarchs. The site later fell into disuse.
The brothers Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades came from Ioannina to rebuild the monastery. They renovated the older Chapel of the Three Hierarchs in 1518?. The present All Saints church dates to 1541?. Its nave and sanctuary frescoes date to 1548?. They are attributed to Frangos Katelanos?.
The entrance hall received its painted decoration in 1566?. The winch tower dates to 1536?. Its pulley and net carried people and supplies up the cliff. The surviving equipment helps explain how the monastery functioned before the present visitor route.
Inside
The All Saints church has a cross-shaped plan supported by two columns?. Its domed entrance hall has four columns?. The wall paintings cover the main worship space and the sanctuary. Photography inside churches is forbidden. If you want photographs of the setting, leave time for the terrace.
The former refectory, or dining room, became a museum?. Its collection includes painted icons and manuscripts. Church vestments are also on display. The large oak barrel dates from the 16th century? and stored water for the community. The Chapel of the Three Hierarchs was rebuilt in 1627?. Entry to this chapel requires the monks’ permission.
Varlaam’s monastery buildings above the rock face. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC.
The stair and the way in
The approach includes a small bridge and about 140 to 170 steps?. Published counts differ even between Visit Meteora’s own pages. The steps are steep. A handrail runs beside part of the stair?. Wear shoes suitable for steps if you plan to go inside.
Allow about 1 hour? for the church and museum, with time on the terrace. The local morning monastery tours give Varlaam 45 to 60 minutes? inside. If you climb slowly, add time for both the ascent and the return to the road. Choose St Stephen if stairs are a barrier: its entrance is reached across a bridge with no steps.
Tickets
Fee checked Nov 3, 2026? Bring €5? per person in cash for the door. Entry costs €5 per adult, cash at the door. There are no online tickets or timed slots. Cards are not accepted.
Children under 12? are usually free. Cover your shoulders and wear the required clothing: a skirt below the knee for women or long trousers for men. The gate lends wrap-around skirts to women in trousers and men in shorts. There is no combined ticket for the monasteries. If you plan to enter another monastery, bring cash for its separate fee.
Closing day and hours
Closing day cross-checked Nov 3, 2026? Varlaam closes on Fridays from April to October. Winter schedules disagree over Thursday. From November to March the closure is either Friday alone or Thursday and Friday. Avoid Thursday in winter if Varlaam is the purpose of your trip.
In summer, monasteries open from about 09:30?. Closing is around 16:00? or 17:00? for monasteries other than the Great Meteoron. Use these as broad planning hours for the area. Orthodox feast days can bring closures without notice. Tours replace a closed monastery with an open one. Choose an open day if Varlaam itself is the reason for booking.
How to get there
Taxis wait outside Kalabaka railway station. Agree a fare to Varlaam before leaving. The public bus around the monasteries was withdrawn in 2024. Plan with a taxi, the paths or a tour.? The railway station is about 10 minutes? on foot from the bus station and the hotels.
The old monks’ paths from Kastraki reach the Great Meteoron in about 1 hour?. Varlaam stands nearby. Choose the paths if the walk is part of your reason for visiting. Allow for the stair at the monastery as well as the approach from the village. By car, use the free parking below the monasteries?.
When to go
If you are driving in season, arrive before 10:00? for a better chance of parking. Choose Saturday or Sunday if you want to keep all six? monasteries available in summer. Avoid Tuesday if you plan to pair Varlaam with the Great Meteoron. Friday also closes St Nicholas Anapausas. If Friday is your only day, plan around the other open monasteries.
Check the live weather on the rock before setting out. Choose a clear day if the terrace views are your priority. If heat makes stair climbing difficult, plan for the morning. For sunset, the free viewpoints lie on the road between Rousanou and St Stephen.
Questions
Is Varlaam worth the climb?
Varlaam is worth the climb if church paintings and monastic history interest you. The museum holds icons and manuscripts. The old winch shows how people and supplies reached the rock. The terrace gives views across the surrounding rocks.
Do I need to book tickets for Varlaam?
No. Bring €5? per person in cash for the door. Entry costs €5 per adult, cash at the door. There are no online tickets or timed slots. Cards are not accepted. Children under 12? are usually free.
How long should I allow for Varlaam?
Allow about 1 hour? for the church and museum, with time on the terrace. This is an editorial estimate for looking around. Local morning monastery tours give Varlaam 45 to 60 minutes? inside. Add time for the ascent and descent if you climb slowly.
Can I visit Varlaam and the Great Meteoron on the same day?
Yes, if both are open and you can manage both stairs. They stand beside each other. From April to October, avoid Tuesday and Friday if you want to enter both?. The Great Meteoron closes on Tuesday. Varlaam closes on Friday. Each monastery charges separately.
Which day is Varlaam closed?
Varlaam closes on Friday from April to October?. From November to March the published schedules differ: Friday alone or Thursday and Friday. Avoid Thursday in winter if Varlaam is the reason for your trip. Orthodox feast days can bring closures without notice.
Can I park at Varlaam, or how else do I get up?
Free parking is available below the monasteries. If you are driving in season, arrive before 10:00? for a better chance of a space. For a taxi to Varlaam, agree the fare before you get in. You still need to climb the stair to enter Varlaam.
How difficult is the stair at Varlaam?
Expect a steep stair of about 140 to 170 steps? and a small bridge. Published counts differ. A handrail runs beside part of the stair?. Choose St Stephen if you cannot manage stairs: its entrance is reached across a bridge with no steps.
Sources: Visit Meteora, The Monastery of Varlaam · Meteora Thrones, Varlaam Monastery · Visit Meteora, Athens to Meteora 1 Day Bus Tour: stairs and photograph
