Meteora

Six monasteries open to visitors crown sandstone towers above the Thessaly plain, close enough together that you can see several in one day by road or on the old footpaths between them. Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas Anapausas are the ones that make you earn the view, with a steep walk and stairs to the door. The catch is the schedule. Each monastery keeps its own closing day, Great Meteoron shuts on Tuesdays in summer and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in winter, and the monks can change hours without notice. Men need long pants, sleeveless tops are refused for everyone, and modest dress is expected throughout, so pack your own cover-up rather than count on a borrowed wrap.