Monasteries and Sketes

If you are coming to Mount Athos for a pilgrimage for the first time, Karakalou Monastery is one of those places that holds you with its silence and the power of its history. We have seen it move people of every age, especially when they arrive from Karyes by bus or on foot and feel…

If you stay in Ouranoupoli even one night, an experienced pilgrim will almost certainly tell you about it. Konstamonitou has a silence that wins you over, and a path through the forest that sets the mood before you even see the walls. Here in Halkidiki we’ve learned to respect the rhythm of Mount Athos. A…

If you’re staying in Ouranoupoli, you’ve already taken the right first step for the most meaningful pilgrimage to Mount Athos. Megisti Lavra is not just a visit; it’s a journey, a pace and an experience that requires planning and a little patience. The primate monastery of Athos and why it’s worth the distance Holy Monastery…

If you’re staying in Ouranoupoli, it’s natural to feel that Mount Athos is right next door. Vatopedi Monastery is one of those visits that stays with you — not only for faith, but also for the weight of history it carries. Here, as hosts who welcome pilgrims for years, we see the same thing every…

If you’re staying in Ouranoupolis and feel like making a meaningful pilgrimage, Iviron Monastery is one of those visits that stays with you. It sits on the eastern shore of Athos, right by the sea, and has a calm you don’t easily find elsewhere. The Enclosed Garden of Panagia Portaitissa Where it is and what…

If you’re staying in Ouranoupolis, you already feel Mount Athos nearby. Esphigmenou Monastery, on the northeast coast, has that unforgettable “castle on the sea” presence. The seaside bastion on the northern side Ouranoupolis is the main gateway for entering the Athonite state. From here you arrange your diamonitirio (visitor permit), do last-minute shopping, and depart…

If you stay in Ouranoupoli, Mount Athos isn’t just “a day trip.” It’s an experience that needs calm, proper planning and a little time to get into the mood. Philotheou Monastery is one of those places you remember for its silence, order and the view that opens out to the Aegean. The Home of Panagia…

If you’re staying in Ouranoupoli, Mount Athos is right next door. If you want a monastery that’s easy to reach from Dafni but immediately conveys the weight of history and faith, Xiropotamou is one of the strongest choices. I often recommend it to visitors who come for pilgrimage and don’t want to “lose” a day…

When my guests in Ouranoupoli tell me they want to see “a monastery that looks like a castle,” I almost always point them to the Saint Paul Monastery. It’s one of those spots on Mount Athos that makes you fall silent for a moment, not out of obligation but out of awe. It’s located on…

If you stay in Ouranoupolis, you already feel that special weight in the air. The boat, the tower, the distant bells and the Aegean changing colors through the day. From here begins the calmest, clearest route to Xenophontos Monastery, a monastery that nearly touches the sea and wins you over with its hospitality. A seaside…