Women travelers have been staying in monasteries since they started traveling, but these days, finding monasteries that take guests is becoming easier. Here’s what you need to know to stay in a monastery – and how to find one.
Can you stay in a monastery if you aren’t religious? Often, yes. Many monasteries that accept guests are open to people who aren’t members of the community, provided they respect the house’s traditions. But every community is different, so check before you book.
A monastery stay can be peaceful and memorable. It can also involve early mornings, shared bathrooms, silence, curfews or religious observance. In other words, it isn’t simply a hotel with better architecture.
Every monastery stay is different.
I once stayed at a monastery in Thessaloniki in Greece, where the evening meal – prepared lovingly by the resident nuns – consisted of fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, hot home-baked bread, homemade cheese and wine from the monastery’s own vineyards.
The downside was compulsory attendance at a three-hour religious service starting an hour before dawn. The seats were quite ingenious: they worked by pressure. When the armrests were pressed, they stayed down. When you let go or drifted off to sleep, they snapped up, trapping you with a great banging noise that echoed embarrassingly throughout the chapel.
15 things about monastery lodging that may surprise you
There are plenty of assumptions about staying in a convent or monastery, from cost and comfort to religious expectations. Let’s debunk a few of the myths.
Here are 15 things you should know about any stay at a monastery.
1. Many monasteries accept women.
Just because a monastery is run by monks doesn’t necessarily mean women cannot stay. Many guesthouse programs accept women, but policies vary by community so always check the guest policy before making plans.
2. Many are a little traditional.
Communication and booking arrangements vary. Some guesthouses use modern online booking systems; others still ask guests to contact the community directly. Check how reservations work and how far ahead you need to book.
3. You may save money.
Some monastery and convent guesthouses position themselves as alternatives to mainstream hotels, but prices vary widely. Current booking services list everything from modest guesthouses to more expensive accommodation. Treat price as something to compare, not as a defining feature of monastery stays. While some can be cheaper than hotels (or even dorm rooms), some have been converted into luxury hotels, with a price to match.
4. Monastery rooms will usually be simple.
Rooms can range from simple guest rooms to comfortable accommodation with modern facilities – but some can be downright spartan, so don’t assume every stay is basic, and check the individual property’s description.
5. There may be shared bathrooms.
Some properties have private bathrooms; others may have shared facilities. If a private bathroom matters to you, check before booking.
6. They may thrive on peace and quiet.
Quiet is often part of the attraction. Some monasteries are in rural or remote settings; others are in towns or cities but organize their guest accommodation around a quieter rhythm. Many also offer retreats or programs centered on silence or meditation.
7. There may be rules.
A monastery is a community rather than a conventional hotel, and guests are expected to respect its rules and way of life. Rules can be about noise, dress, meals, photography, access to parts of the building and participation in religious activities. Read the guest information carefully. If the rules aren’t clear, ask before you arrive.
8. There probably won’t be a television.
Don’t assume that a monastery stay will offer every hotel convenience. Some retreats deliberately limit phones or internet access, while other guesthouses provide ordinary modern facilities. If you need reliable Wi-Fi, check before booking.
9. There may be a curfew.
Some religious guesthouses have set arrival or closing times, or curfews. Find out when you must return and what happens if you arrive late. A guesthouse may not have a hotel-style front desk operating around the clock, and you don’t want to be locked out just because you went out for an evening.
10. Many don’t take credit cards.
Some properties accept cards or online payment, while others arrange payment directly with the guesthouse. Check before you arrive, especially if you are staying somewhere remote.
11. Some communities grow their own food.
Some religious communities produce food themselves or provide meals to guests, but this varies widely. Ask whether meals are included, what they consist of and whether dietary requirements can be accommodated.
12. You may find a communal kitchen.
Some monasteries provide cooking facilities for visitors; others do not. If you want to prepare your own food, check what facilities are available before booking.
13. Monasteries are usually old.
Many monastery stays take place in historic buildings, but not every monastery is medieval and not every guest room is inside a protected monument. If architecture and history are part of the attraction for you, check the history of the individual property.
Historic buildings may also have practical limitations, including stairs, uneven floors or limited accessibility.
14. Monasteries are often working, active religious communities.
An active religious community continues its normal life even when guests are present. You may hear bells, encounter services or see residents going about their work. Some areas may be reserved for the community.
That is part of the experience of staying in a working monastery rather than a former monastery that now operates as a hotel.
15. Religion doesn’t necessarily have to be part of your experience.
Some monasteries welcome guests without expecting them to participate in religious activities. Others offer or require prayer, meditation, silence or attendance at services.
A Buddhist temple stay in Asia can have a very different structure from a Catholic convent guesthouse in Europe. If you do not want religious participation, ask about it before booking.
Whatever your own beliefs, the basic rule is simple: you are staying in a religious community, so respect its practices.
Not All Monasteries are Created Equal – by Claudine (Canada)
“My mother and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to stay in monasteries for different reasons, mostly quiet surroundings with a clean room. Well, we slept in 5 different monasteries and 2 of them had bed bugs!”
This is a useful reminder that unusual accommodation still needs ordinary travel precautions. Check recent reviews and inspect bedding when you arrive, just as you would in any other accommodation.
Monastic guest rooms have a long history
Hospitality has long been part of monastic life. In the sixth-century Rule of St Benedict, a whole chapter is devoted to receiving guests, reflecting the importance of hospitality in Benedictine tradition. Monastic hospitality has taken many forms over the centuries, and today’s guest accommodation ranges from simple rooms in active communities to organized retreats.
Equally, some monastery stays require meditation or prayer as a condition of residence.
Some monastery stays are structured retreats rather than ordinary accommodation. If a religious practice such as meditation or prayer is part of the program, check the expectations before booking.
What about staying in a convent? Is a monastery or convent the same thing?
The terminology can be confusing, and whether you can stay depends on the individual community.
In English, convent often refers to a religious community or house associated with women, but terminology varies by tradition and historical period. In French, the distinction is also not as simple as English usage sometimes suggests: the Académie française defines couvent broadly as a house in which religious men or women of the same order or congregation live together. For a traveler, the accommodation offered by the individual community matters more than the label.
A place described as a convent may offer guest rooms; a monastery may not. The only reliable way to know is to check the accommodation’s own information.
The monastery hotel trend and how this differs from monastery accommodation
Many unused churches, convents and monasteries have been converted into paying accommodation, often luxurious and expensive, to give you the serene surroundings without actually staying in a monastery.
If what attracts you is the architecture and history, either option may be appealing. If you want to stay within an active religious community, look specifically for a monastery, convent, abbey or religious guesthouse that still operates as such.
However, staying in a monastery that’s still active as a community is a different experience and one that can be empowering and enlightening, and can be a lot of fun.
How to find a monastery stay
You no longer need an old directory of individual properties to start your search. Current booking and program directories can do much of the work, although you should still check the individual property’s rules and facilities before booking.
Monasteries.com currently lists hundreds of European stays and lets visitors search by destination and dates. Its categories include monasteries, convents, abbeys, sanctuaries, religious guesthouses and retreat centres.
Monastery Stays is a current booking service for monastery, convent and religious guesthouse accommodation, with a focus on Italy and Austria. It currently advertises more than 500 stays.
In South Korea, the official Templestay program lets visitors search for and book stays at Buddhist temples. Current programs include temple tours, Seon meditation, tea ceremonies, monastic meals and other experiences of Korean Buddhist culture.
You can also contact a monastery or convent directly. This can be particularly useful for smaller communities that do not use large booking platforms.
What to ask before booking
Before you commit to a monastery stay, check:
- Are women accepted?
- Is the accommodation open to non-believers?
- Is participation in religious services or meditation required?
- Is there a curfew or set arrival time?
- Is there a dress code?
- Is the bathroom private or shared?
- Is Wi-Fi available?
- Are meals included?
- How do you pay?
- Is the building accessible?
- What happens if you arrive after the normal check-in time?
A few questions beforehand can prevent most unpleasant surprises.
So, can you stay at a monastery or convent?
YES!
And you don’t have to be on a pilgrimage to do it.
A monastery stay can give you access to historic buildings and quieter surroundings. You can also experience a form of hospitality that is different from that of a standard hotel. But it can also mean accepting rules and routines that would never appear in a conventional booking.
If you understand that distinction before you arrive, a monastery or convent stay can be one of the more unusual ways to experience a destination — and you may come away with more than just a place to sleep.hand can prevent most unpleasant surprises.
