RegionOutline guide

Mount Athos

Mountain and peninsula in northeastern Greece

Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Mount Athos (Άγιο Όρος Ayio Oros, classically Ἅγιον Ὄρος Hágion Óros) is a mountain and a peninsula in Macedonia, northern Greece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Entering Mount Athos
Two ferry companies operate regular passenger services to Mount Athos.athos.guide/en/pilgrimage/ferry-boatmicroathos.gr/comewus_e.html

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Getting around

The monasteries on Mount Athos can be reached only by ferry, either from Ouranoupoli (for west coast monasteries) or from Ierissos for those on the east coast.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Kavala Alexander the Great International Airport

Kavala · International · KVA

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Read before you go to Mount Athos

Articles and travel topics about Mount Athos and Greece.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThis 390-km² peninsula houses some 2,000 monks in 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, and 400 other men who work in the monasteries.

TalkGreek is the main language spoken at Mount Athos. Some English is spoken by many monks, but some monks, especially at the smaller sketes, may speak only Greek.

Get inA fair bit of advance preparation and bureaucracy is necessary to visit Mount Athos, because of the monastic community's strict entry controls.

Get aroundThe monasteries on Mount Athos can be reached only by ferry, either from Ouranoupoli (for west coast monasteries) or from Ierissos for those on the east coast.

See

Do5 hours before sunset at the monastery of his overnight stay.

Buy"Souvenirs" are mostly of religious nature. Shops are available at Dafni, Karyes and some monasteries. The following is an incomplete list of items you may buy to take with you:

EatProvided you stay at the monasteries, or you are just passing by at the right time, you will eat meals and dinners with the monks in the monastery's refectory (trapeza).

DrinkSome of the larger monasteries sell wine and spirits. Beer, wine and spirits can also be purchased in Karyes or Dafni.

SleepThe only places to sleep in Mount Athos are the monasteries and sketae, which offer spartan dormitory-style accommodation in guesthouses (archontariki). Most, but not all, require reservations in advance.

RespectMount Athos is where monks go to escape the modern world, and as you're visiting as a guest, you have to respect their rules and behave as they expect you to.

Stay safeBecause Athos is a monastic community with strict entry controls, violent crime is largely unheard of.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mount Athos" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mount Athos", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Athos-simonos-petra.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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