Ever visited Meteora in Greece? This place was on my photography bucket list for quite some time. After exploring Athens and its historical sights, I hired a car and drove in 4,5 hours from Athens to the stunning rock formations and monasteries of Meteora. If you haven’t been there, I would definitely recommend to add Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to your travel bucket list.
During 4 amazing nights in Meteora, I stayed in the fully renovated boutique Theatro Hotel Odysseon in Kalabaka, which is a great base to explore this incredible area. In this article I will share my top reasons to stay in Theatro Hotel Odysseon.
Lovely decorated boutique hotel inspired by a theatrical play
Theatro Hotel Odysseon brings fairytales to life with 17 unique rooms, inspired by world-famous theatrical plays.
This is your chance to sleep in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet suite or in a room decorated as the musical of My Fair Lady, Zorba or Evita. I was given the Phantom of the Opera junior suite.
I always prefer to stay in boutique hotels because of the unique and characterized setting. Theatro Hotel Odysseon definitely offers a one-of-a-kind experience because of their art and theatrical influences. In 2016 the hotel has been completely renovated. They managed to create a cozy and welcoming ambience that gives a real personal feel.
Located in the shadows of the magical Meteora cliffs
Theatro Hotel Odysseon is located at the foot of the Meteora cliffs, close to the main street that leads to the Meteora mountains and monasteries. The hotel is also located nearby the center of the lively town of Kalabaka. All Meteora monasteries are reachable by car within 5 to 15 minutes. The hotel is situated 600 meters from the bus stop and 800 meters from the train station. You can also easily walk to several nearby restaurants and taverns in the city center and explore Kalabaka town by foot.
Apart from the magical landscape of the Meteora rock formations and monasteries, there’s a lot more to discover in and around Kalabaka. Kalabaka is a city of rich history and monuments. The most important monument in Kalabaka is the Byzantine church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. This church was consecrated in the 11th century, built on the ruins of the much older Christian “basilica” church.
Other places to visit in Kalabaka are the St. John the Baptist and the National History Museum of Meteora & Mushrooms. If you’re curious about the geology of Meteora, you might be interested in visiting the Hellenic Culture Museum or the 3D visualization of Meteora museum, describing the creation of the rocks.
Comfortable and well-equipped rooms
All rooms of Theatro Hotel Odysseon are comfortable, whether you choose a suite, the classic, deluxe- or premium rooms. The deluxe rooms have bathrooms with hydro massage jets and the exclusive suite offers a spa bath for 2 people. Many rooms have balconies with good views of the Meteora rocks.
The beds are very comfortable, the bed linen is soft and smelled fresh. As said before, all rooms are furnished and decorated in the theme of a theatrical play what creates a unique touch.
The rooms are spacious, there are complementary bathroom amenities available which include conditioner and body lotion. You can also find a hairdryer in the bathroom and the mirror makes you think you’re about to get on stage ;-)
Last but definitely not least is the junior suite equipped with an espresso machine, kettle and tea bags are provided in the room. The hotel has no elevator, but the staff will help you carry your luggage.
The only flaw I can think of is that there were some issues with the WiFi connection. The staff was super helpful to reset the WiFi after which the connection became better, however the WiFi inside the Phantom of the Opera junior suite wasn’t the best connection I had.
Free parking
In my opinion, the best way to explore Meteora and its surroundings, is by car. That’s why it’s so convenient the hotel has a parking available. Theatro Hotel Oddyseon offers a free self-parking next to the hotel.
The parking spots may be limited, but we haven’t got any problems parking our car. There are also free parking spots available along the street. These may be even more convenient, because the parking of Theatro Hotel Oddyseon is a gravel parking area with a bit of a steep slope.
Great breakfast
One of my favorite reasons to stay at Theatro Hotel Odysseon is the delicious breakfast they serve. It’s no coincidence that guest of Booking.com rate the breakfast with a 9.3!
The buffet breakfast (7.30 to 10.30) is full of choice with sweet and savory options and daily changing Greek delights. They serve yoghurts, toast, fresh eggs, cereals, fresh fruits, cakes, quiches and much more accompanied with coffee, tea and a fresh juice.
I love it, a good healthy breakfast is a great way to start your day. The hotel also offers breakfast boxes and early breakfast is upon request.
Good value for money
When I’m searching for a place to stay, the price isn’t my only consideration. There are a few things that are important for me like a decent night’s sleep, a nice shower, hospitality, the location and the food.
This time, the free-parking was ideal and I always have the preference to stay in a boutique hotel. Before contacting or booking an accommodation, I always check guests reviews on TripAdvisor, Booking or other travel blogs to verify if an accommodation meets my expectations. Theatro Hotel Odysseon is definitely meeting all my expectations and offers a great value for money.
The ancient Greek art of Philoxenia
Hospitality can mean many things, but for me, it means respect, honesty, being truly caring and offering the sustainability to meet customers’ requirements. Theatro Hotel Odysseon has a great eagerness to show their hospitality. It’s their aim to show the values of the authentic Greek Philoxenia, translated as the (uncountable) love for strangers and serving its guests.
Honor and respect are two high ranking values in the ancient Greece hospitality. Theatro Hotel Odysseon managed to express the authentic values of the Greek Philocenia in a magical environment, with respect to the marvelous past.
The staff gives you a welcome-feeling from the moment you enter the hotel.
Cultural theme evenings and concerts
Theatro Hotel Odysseon offers a charming backyard in a green scenery, facing the beautiful Meteora rocks. This is also the place where they organize fancy theme evenings and movie nights. Even a summer concert with different musical performances took place in this garden. I think it’s really nice to see how they dare to distinguish their self from others.
The new Jacuzzi Spa and Thymeli Jacuzzi Bar
The latest addition of Theatro Hotel Odysseon is Jacuzzi spa for 4, that’s hidden at the Thymeli Jacuzzi Bar at the backside of the garden. Enjoy a plunge in the Jacuzzi Spa after a whole day exploring Kalabaka or the monasteries of Meteora.
It’s the first and only Jacuzzi Bar in Kalabaka. You can enjoy a cocktail, grab a snack or simply appreciate the ambience while relaxing in the garden with a view of the Meteora Rocks.
Thymeli Food and Drinks
If you’re looking for a restaurant to have dinner after a day of exploring, you don’t have to go far. Theatro Hotel Odysseon has its own restaurant called ‘Thymeli Food & Drinks’. During the day, they offer lunch meals and snacks and for dinner they offer 3 different menus to choose from.
I haven’t had dinner in the restaurant myself, because I love to go out for dinner, to explore other places and Greek Taverns. The restaurant is open for hotel guests as well for visitors of Kalabaka.
Family friendly
There are a few things that make Theatro Hotel Odysseon a family-friendly accommodation. Apart from the kids-friendly courtyard and a play area in the dining room, your children will definitely enjoy the movie nights. There is even a babysitting service available if you plan to enjoy a night out without the kids.
Where to stay in Meteora, Greece?
There are two places very close to the Meteora rock formations: Kalabaka and Kastraki. Theatro Hotel Odysseon is located in Kalabaka, central Greece. The center of Kalabaka is livelier than Kastraki but both places are a good base to explore Meteora.
I had a great time in Theatro Hotel Odysseon, the staff was very friendly, we slept like a baby in their comfy beds and the breakfast was just perfect. You’re on top of the rocks in no time (by car). What more do you need? Go check out the hotel here and book your stay right away
This article is written bytravel photographer Kim Paffen, part of the Traveltomtom team. Check out here page to get to know more about her. She also wrote amazing Africa articles about Uganda, Madagascar and South Africa.