12 Epic Travel Destinations for Fans of Fantasy and Science Fiction

13. Meteora, Greece: A Real-Life Sky Temple

With towering rock pillars crowned by ancient monasteries, Meteora feels like a skybound fortress plucked from the pages of a high fantasy novel or a Studio Ghibli dreamscape. These sandstone spires rise almost vertically from the valley floor, with six surviving monasteries perched precariously atop their summits—soaring sanctuaries that appear to defy gravity. The sense of elevation and isolation is otherworldly, making it easy to imagine dragons circling above or celestial beings descending through the mist. Originally built by monks in the 14th century seeking refuge from political unrest, the monasteries were accessible only by rope ladders or winched-up baskets, enhancing their mystical, unreachable aura. Even today, ascending the steep, winding staircases carved into the rock feels like a spiritual pilgrimage. At sunrise, the fog lingers like a veil across the valley, and golden light casts long shadows that bring the entire landscape to life. For fantasy fans, Meteora is a place where the heavens and the earth seem to meet—a living sky temple built on devotion, mystery, and sheer defiance of nature.