If you want to do something strange, delightful, nerdy, and fun all at once, look no further than the Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum (even the name is a wonder).

Local Birds and Mammals

This museum offers an amazing visit experience. First, on the ground floor, there are displays of taxidermied birds and mammals (some of which are grouped in clear arrangements, like woodlands and marshlands, and some of which are squished together somewhat randomly — like the moose, fox, and kri-kri).

Then you enter a hallway where taxidermied birds fly into painted birds … we couldn’t decide if this was fabulous or disturbing.

Mushroom Models

The real fun begins upstairs, where someone has painstakingly created little mushroom models. You first get to see mushrooms in their three life stages.

The mushrooms are carefully labeled with their Greek and scientific (and sometimes English) names.

The Naming of Mushrooms

Then you enter the Hall of Mushroom Names in Art (my name, not theirs).

Yup, that’s a thing. That fabulous painting is there so that you can learn about the Hercules’ bat mushroom (also known as the giant club, cCavariadelphus pistillaris), which is shaped like a bat and named for the great club of Hercules. You can also see Pan’s goat-footed mushroom (Helvella crispa) next to the fairy ring mushroom Mmarasmius oreades, a.k.a. the Marasmius of Oreades Nymphs mushroom) …

… the giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea), and the parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera), which they observe “has a bicolor that reminds the fur of a young roe deer.”

I loved the merging of painting and mushroom models (and trees, and an owl) coming out of the walls. Here’s one that displays truffle hunting, an activity that the museum offers at an extra cost.

Meteora Dioramas

My very favorite room, though, was the Giant Greek Nature Diorama room (again, my naming, not theirs).

This room has models (and leaves) coming right out on the floor in front of you. And it features so many wonderful mushrooms, all of which you can find in Greece!

A screen that allows you to identify each mushroom in Greek, Latin, and English — and you can find out whether you can (or should) eat them. But the real joy is just seeing them in the grander diorama context.

Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms

At the very end of the visit, there’s a section (roped off when we went) on edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms.

Beyond this is a surprisingly well-stocked gift shop, which is a great place to buy any number of mushroom-flavored things (pasta, oil, and even chocolate).

We had such a great time here — the museum is colorful, informative, and refreshingly unusual. If you find yourself in Meteora, add this to your list!

Tips for Visiting the Mushroom Museum in Meteora

• Open: Daily; check the website for hours
• Entry Fee: €7 for adults
• Time to Spend: The museum doesn’t take long — we spent about 45 minutes.
• Getting There: The museum is walkable from central Kalabaka; there’s also free parking right out front.
• Good for Kids? Absolutely! Little ones will love all of the animals and mushrooms.
• Other Activities: The museum offers truffle-hunting adventures and tasting experiences.

Looking for nine more fun things to do in the area? Don’t miss my guide to the 10 best things to do in Meteora, Greece.